UK NEWS
THATCHER WAS TERRIFIED BY SCOTLAND THE BRAVE
Thatcher’s government feared allowing the Scottish football team to use Scotland the Brave
By Rod Mills
IN Victorian times it was a tune that struck fear into the hearts of the enemies of the British Empire on the battlefield.
Now it has emerged that Margaret Thatcher’s government feared allowing the Scottish football team to use Scotland the Brave as its anthem at the 1982 World Cup.
Newly published documents reveal that ministers and government officials believed letting Jock Stein’s side ditch God Save the Queen in favour of the rousing tune would stoke nationalist sentiments.
And they worried it would be indicative to the outside world of a national breakaway movement, and could legitimise the campaign for independence.
By the late 19th century, the sound of the pipes was universally recognised as heralding the arrival of Scottish regiments, whose military prowess was feared throughout the world. When Scotland players took to the football field to its strains in the 1982 World Cup, it was the first time the side strode out to an unofficial national anthem.
However, it failed to prevent the team from crashing out in the first round, despite David Narey’s spectacular opening goal in the team’s 4-1 defeat by Brazil. The files, newly released by the National Archives of Scotland, show that, in the run-up to the tournament, the then Scottish sports minister, Alex Fletcher, the Scottish Office and the Department of the Environment (DoE) were seriously concerned by the Scottish Football Association’s plan to switch anthems.
A Scottish Office memo to the DoE, sent shortly before the tournament, stated: “When a team from the UK plays abroad, it does not seem appropriate for anything to be played but God Save the Queen. To play the national anthem for one team, but not another, could lead some countries to think that the separate tune is indicative of a national breakaway movement. Presentationally, for the outside world, it might be best if the main flag seen at all the games was the Union Flag.”
A follow-up letter, sent after the SFA’s decision had been made, noted “with disappointment that the Scots will play under the St Andrew’s Cross and use Scotland the Brave.” Fletcher said: “The question of which tune is to be played is left to the sport’s governing body. As such, the secretary of state has no formal locus, and there is no case for intervening.”
Ernie Walker, the SFA’s chief executive during the 1982 World Cup, said the Government was acutely sensitive to the burgeoning independence movement in Scotland, led by the SNP’s Jim Sillars. The Conservative government took serious notice of what they regarded as the threat of a Scottish breakaway, he said. Anything that was seen as predominately Scottish was played down.
In the 1982 and in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the Scottish national team used Scotland the Brave as its anthem. It was later replaced by Flower of Scotland, following its success in rallying the national rugby team.
New Scotland boss Craig Levein yesterday said he was “excited” after being drawn against European champions Spain in the qualifiers for Euro 2012. Scotland will also face the Czech Republic, Liechtenstein and Lithuania in Group I when fixtures begin in September.
