New Addition: Stanley Rous Cup-Part 1 (1985)

A new five part series on the Stanley Rous Cup that was played between 1985 through 1989.

The Rous Cup was formed out of the ashes of the Home Championship. The Home Championship had drawn its last breath in 1984.

However, England and Scotland were keen to continue their annual meeting, continuous since 1872.
A new competition was designed that only involved the two teams (for the time being). This new Tournament would be named after Sir Stanley Rous, the former English President of FIFA (until 1974).

Sir Stanley Rous was still living (he would pass away the following year, 1986) and would be present in the stadium for this inaugural match.

Due to Security concerns this first match was not held at Wembley. This first match would be held at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on May 25^th, 1985.  

Scotland had an upcoming World Cup qualifier at Iceland, just three days later, on May 28^th at Reykjavik that took precedence over this match.

England had tied Finland in a World Cup qualifier, just three days prior, on May 22^nd (1-1) and were preparing for a summer Tour of Mexico to participate in the ‘Ciudad de Mexico Cup / Azteca 2000’ Tournament.

This match was also played just four days before the Liverpool and Juventus Champions Cup Final that would lead to the Heysel Tragedy.

As a result of Liverpool’s participation, Scotland were missing Kenny Dalglish, Steve Nicol and Alan Hansen.     

Aberdeen’s Neil Simpson had to withdraw, while Manchester United defender Arthur Albiston was also out injured.

In addition, the Everton striking Pair of Andy Gray (recalled after nearly two years) and Graeme Sharp (still uncapped) were also unavailable.

England were missing their own Everton player Trevor Steven.

Everton had just finished off a magnificent season where they had won the League Title as well as the Cup Winners Cup.

England Manager Bobby Robson selected virtually the same squad as the match vs. Finland. The only change being Glenn Hoddle started in the place of the absent Trevor Steven.

For Scotland, Barcelona’s Steve Archibald started in place of Maurice Johnston.

Chelsea striker David Speedie also started earning his first cap for Scotland, while Dundee United defender Maurice Malpas was only earning his second cap.

For this match Scotland unveiled its new shorts. It was the traditional white short, but with a thick Navy Blue strip across.

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  England v Scotland, 1986

(Team captains Bryan Robson and Graeme Souness, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

It turned out to be a poor match played on a wet day.

England Captain Bryan Robson had a disappointing match, though Glenn Hoddle was lively and was taking the rare chance offered to him at the International level.

In a tough and tight match that inevitably lead to some rough physical play, Wilkins and Archibald were booked after a clash.

Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1985

(Glenn Hoddle, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Scotl;and 1-England 0)

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  England v Scotland, 1986

(Viv Anderson and Roy Aitken, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotl;and 1-England 0)

England improved its play once Chris Waddle entered the match replacing John Barnes in the 63^rd minute.

Surprisingly, it was against the run of play that Scotland scored its winning goal.

In the 70^th minute, Alex McLeisch found Jim Bett on the left side. Bett crossed for Richard Gough who headed in from the six yard line past Shilton.

Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1985

(Trevor Francis and Maurice Malpas, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1985

(Ray Wilkins and Alex McLeisch, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1985

(Kenny Sansom and Willie Miller, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Immediately afterwards, Scotland Manager Jock Stein sent on Murdo MacLeod in place of Gordon Strachan to tighten the midfield and hold on to the lead.

Graeme Souness took control of the midfield for the hosts and the English could not break through.

Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1985

(Richard Gough heading in the winner, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Bobby Robson decided to send on an extra striker, he replaced Hoddle (who had appeared the best of the English) with Gary Lineker.

It was to no avail as Scotland held on to the win. It had been their first win over England in four years.

They would not defeat England again until 1999.

In a precursor to the events that would take place in four days, there were some minor disturbances in the stands with the presence of some hooligans (with neo-nazi emblems) at the match.

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  England v Chile, 1989

(Richard Gough, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Photo From: Wizards and Bravehearts, A History of the Scottish National Side, Author: David Potter, 2004

(Scotland Captain Graeme Souness lifting the first Rous Cup)

Scotland Manager Jock Stein would die of a heart attack just a few months later on September 10^th, 1985 during a World Cup qualifier vs. Wales at Cardiff (1-1) that qualified the Scots to the World Cup.

Scotland won this initial encounter but the future of this Tournament would still in doubt due to continuous security concerns.

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  England v Scotland, 1986

(Scotland’s Richard Gough with an exchanged England Jersey and the Rous Cup, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

Photo From: Shoot, June 15, 1985

(Scotland’s victorious squad, May 25, 1985, Rous Cup, Scotland 1-England 0)

References:

England, The Complete Post-war Record, By Mike Payne, 1993

Scotland, The Team By Andrew ward

Wizards and Bravehearts, A History of the Scottish National Side, Author: David Potter, 2004

Shoot, June 15, 1985

World Soccer, July 1985

Official Match Programme,  England v Scotland, 1986

May 25, 1985

England 0-Scotland 1

Stanley Rous Cup 1985

Venue: Glasgow -Hampden Park

Attendance: 66,489

Referee: Michel Vautrot (France)

Goalscorers:

(England): Mone

(Scotland): Richard Gough 70

Lineups:

England:

1- Peter Leslie Shilton (Southampton Football Club)
2- Vivian Alexander Anderson  (Arsenal Football Club-London)
3- Kenneth Graham Sansom (Arsenal Football Club-London)
5- Terence William Fenwick (Queens Park Rangers Football Club-London)
6- Terence Ian Butcher (Ipswich Town Football Club)
4- Glenn Hoddle (Tottenham Hotspur Football  Club-London) (15-Gary Winston Lineker (Leicester City Football Club) 79^th)
7- Bryan Robson (captain) (Manchester United Football Club)
8- Raymond Colin Wilkins (Associazione Calcio Milan / Italy)
11- John Charles Bryan Barnes (Watford Football Club) (16-Christopher Roland Waddle (Newcastle United Football Club) 63^rd)
9- Mark Wayne Hateley (Associazione Calcio Milan / Italy)
10- Trevor John Francis (Unione Calcio Sampdoria-Genova / Italy)

Coach: Robert William Robson

Booked: Ray Wilkins

Other subs:

Gary Richard Bailey (Manchester United Football Club)

David Watson (Norwich City Football Club)

Kerry Michael Dixon (Chelsea Football Club-London)

Scotland:

1-James Leighton (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

2 - Charles ‘Richard’ Gough (Dundee United Football Club)

3 - Maurice Daniel Robert Malpas (Dundee United Football Club)

4- Robert Sime ‘Roy’ Aitken (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

5-Alexander McLeish (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

6- William Fergus Miller (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

7- Gordon David Strachan (Manchester United Football Club / England) (14-Murdo Davidson MacLeod (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow) 71^st)  

8- Graeme James Souness (captain) (Unione Calcio Sampdoria / Italy)

9- Steven Archibald (Fútbol Club Barcelona / Spain)  

10- James Bett (Koninklijke Sporting Club Lokeren / Belgium)

11-David Robert Speedie (Chelsea Football Club-London / England)

Coach: John ‘Jock’ Stein

Booked: Maurice Malpas, Steve Archibald

Other subs:

Alan Roderick Rough (Hibernian Football Club – Edinburgh)

Paul Michael Lyons McStay (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

Maurice Johnston (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

Note: Some sources show that Graeme Souness was booked for a foul on Trevor Francis, but most sources show Malpas as being booked.