In the latest of our series of features in the build up to the historic first international match at Hill Dickinson Stadium, between Scotland and Ivory Coast, we take a look at Everton’s Scottish links
Don Hutchison celebrates what proved to be the winning goal for Scotland against England at Wembley(Image: Ben Radford /Allsport)
He was born in Gateshead, 70 miles south of the Scottish border. His career embraced 10 different clubs, every single one English. And his accent was more Tyneside than Tartan.
But few players burned with a fiercer fire of Scottish patriotism than Don Hutchison.
Fuelled by his father Donald, a Scottish miner from the Highland village of Nairn, the midfielder who played for Everton and Liverpool consistently stated his desire to play for Scotland.
He got his wish in 1994, representing Scotland B in an international against Wales B in Wrexham, but after a disappointing display saw him substituted he refused to write off his international career.
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“That night at Wrexham was a bit of an anti-climax, but I never thought that was the end of it,” he said.
Five years later, playing some of the best football of his career in the Royal Blue of Everton, he was called up by Craig Brown for a Euro 2000 qualifier against Czech Republic.
Even better was to follow. In only his second match for the full international side he scored the winner against Germany – in Germany.
He was on target again in his next outing, a Euro 2000 qualifier in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a month later opened the scoring against Lithuania.
But his greatest moment in a Scottish jersey came at Wembley on the night of November 17, 1999.
Hutchison scored the only goal of a Euro Play-Off against the Auld Enemy, England.
He later said: “The happiest I ever saw my dad was when we beat England at Wembley thanks to my goal.
“Playing for Scotland for my dad was something I really wanted to do because it made him feel proud. I will never forget his face when we played England at Wembley.”
Scotland’s quest to reach a third consecutive major tournament finals had already unravelled thanks to two Paul Scholes goals at Hampden Park four days earlier, but Hutchison’s winner was still wildly celebrated by the Tartan Army.
“I remember Christian Dailly playing a good pass to Neil McCann and him delivering a great cross,” Hutchison explained. “I finished it off and nothing was going to stop me celebrating a goal in front of the Tartan Army at Wembley.”
Hutchison’s next international goal was in Dublin in a 2–1 friendly win against the Republic of Ireland. His last was in a World Cup qualifier away to San Marino, meaning that Scotland won all six games in which Hutchison scored for them.
His international career ended in November 2003, after his 26th cap.
It was a winning farewell, victory over Holland this time earned by a goal from a young striker who had just signed for Everton, James McFadden.
Not bad for a passionate Scotsman who had spent his entire professional career south of the border.
Scotland face Ivory Coast at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Tuesday, March 31 in a FIFA World Cup warm-up match. It will be the first senior men’s international fixture to be staged at Everton’s new waterfront home, and the first time the club has hosted the Scots since 1911.
Tickets are now available for this latest fixture on general sale online via the Everton website, by phone on 0151 556 1878, or in person at Hill Dickinson Stadium’s Box Office during opening hours, with prices starting from £27 for Adults and £16 for Under-16s.