JIMMY JOHNSTONE was regarded by many fans as one of Scotland's greatest-ever players, but during his successful career he won only 23 caps for his country...
JOE DP (Simshill) - Am I correct in thinking Jimmy Johnstone was a member of the Scotland World Cup Finals squad in 1974 but did not play in any of the matches and that this was the end of his International career?
Almost right. Despite playing in the Home international victories against Wales and England in May 1974 and also against Belgium and Norway in two warm-up matches in June, Jinky took no part in the matches against Zaire, Brazil or Yugoslavia when Scotland arrived in West Germany.
This was not the end of his International career, however.
Jimmy Johnstone's final appearance in a Scotland shirt came five months later on November 20, 1974, against Spain.
The game was a European Championships qualifier and Scotland lost 2-1 in front of almost 95,000 fans at Hampden Park.
TEAMSTER (Glasgow) - I was at a Celtic v Rangers game around 1973, when Old Firm youth players took part in a half-time game with the Celtic players wearing Rangers tops and vice versa. Which players were involved and was the idea ever repeated?
The match you are probably thinking about was a Scottish League Cup tie at Celtic Park in Saturday, August 25, 1973, to provide entertainment for the fans.
A six-a-side game between Celtic Boys' Club and Rangers Boys' club took place during the half-time interval.
The Celtic boys wore light blue shirts, white pants and red socks, while the Rangers boys wore the traditional green and white hoops.
Celtic and Rangers had been drawn in the same League Cup section along with Arbroath and Falkirk.
Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 at Ibrox on the August 18 and Rangers won 3-1 on August 25.
Both teams qualified from their section with Rangers topping it on goal difference.
They later met in the semi-final with Celtic winning 3-1.
Celtic lost the final 1-0 to Dundee, whose captain was ex-Celt Tommy Gemmell and were managed by ex-Rangers manager Davie White.
We have no record as to who was involved in the six-a-side game, and to the best of our knowledge the idea has not been repeated.
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