A HISTORY of Scottish football is the subject of a six-part series being broadcast on STV, from Thursday.
Narrated by Scots actor, Peter Capaldi, The Football Years looks at six significant years in Scottish football history, including 1967, which saw Celtic become the first British football club to win the European Cup, Rangers reach the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Scots national team defeat then World Champions, England – on their home turf.
The other years are 2003, 1979, 1998/ 1971/2 and 1982.
Says Alan Clements, director of Content at STV: “I’m a massive football fan and I’m genuinely excited about this series. However, I’m confident that this is a series that will appeal to a broad range of people. We’ve had some true footballing greats and experienced sports journalists through our studio doors during the course of filming, and each of them brings something special to the programme. Their memories are fascinating to hear and I’m delighted that STV has committed to a high-quality production that allows viewers across Scotland to hear their stories.”
The Football Years
1967 – The Year of the Scots. Scotland beat newly-crowned world champions, England, Celtic won the European Cup and Rangers came within a whisker of claiming their own European silverware. 9pm, January 7
2003 – Judgement Day. The most dramatic end to the season in the history of Scottish football, Rangers achieved a record-winning league title and the treble, yet all of this is arguably overshadowed by Celtic’s remarkable European drama. 9pm, January 14
1979 – The Year Everything Changed. Alex Ferguson and Jim McLean established a new order within Scottish football that has never been repeated. 9pm, January 21
1998 – The Year of Reckless Ambition. The inaugural SPL season unfolds and great football is played by a host of stars brought to Scotland on the promise of Sky’s big bucks deals. However, the financial arms race started that year sowed the seeds that have led to the game’s present malaise. 9pm, January 28
1971/2 – From Tragedy to Triumph. From the depths of the Ibrox disaster, Rangers lift themselves to win their first European trophy. 9pm, February 4
1982 – Viva Espana. The best Scottish team never to win the World Cup. How did the greatest national team ever assembled fail to qualify for the knock-out stages of the 82 World Cup? 9pm, February 11.
