Preston North End’s Scotland World Cup links recalled after 2026 qualification

With Scotland qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada, older Preston North End supporters may well recall the days when PNE’s Scotland contingent took part on the international stage, writes Keith Johnson.

It was a pity British interest in the World Cup only began in 1950, otherwise North End could have had a quartet representing Scotland in 1938, with Andy Beattie, Bill Shankly, Tom Smith and George Mutch having all played against England at Wembley that April.

Shankly and Mutch both gained their first caps in that match and, to the delight of the North End Scots, Scotland won 1-0, with Tommy Walker scoring after six minutes.

The first North End player to represent Scotland, who tended to only select home-based players in the earlier days, was goalkeeper Peter McBride. He joined PNE from Ayr United in 1897 and played six times for Scotland between 1906 and 1909.

He was a fearless goalkeeper, noted for punching his way out of trouble, with neither man nor ball standing in his way. He played more than 440 times for PNE until 1912, when failing eyesight led to his retirement.

The next North Ender to be selected by Scotland was Alex James, one of the finest midfielders of his time, who made his debut in 1926 against Wales.

He played eight times for Scotland — four while at Deepdale — including the famous 5-1 victory over England at Wembley on a rain-soaked afternoon in April 1928, when he scored twice.

James left North End after 153 appearances and 53 goals to join Arsenal in 1929, going on to enjoy league and cup success with the Gunners.

Aberdeen-born Andy Beattie played seven times for Scotland before the Second World War, making his debut against England at Hampden Park in April 1937 as Scotland won 3-1.

Described as a cultured full-back, he enjoyed FA Cup success with PNE in 1938 and played more than 140 times for North End.

Robert Beattie joined his namesake Andy in the Scotland side in November 1938 as Wales were beaten 3-2 in what proved to be his only appearance for Scotland.

In April 1939, midfielder Jimmy Dougal made his one and only Scotland appearance, opening the scoring at Hampden Park in a 2-1 defeat to England watched by more than 149,000 spectators, as he captained the side.

Bill Shankly’s spell as a Scotland international ended with the arrival of the Second World War after four appearances.

Striker George Mutch had only that solo outing in 1938, while left winger Frank O’Donnell, who first played against England in 1937, made four appearances for Scotland while at Deepdale, adding two more after his transfer to Blackpool.

For Tom Smith, the call-up for Scotland in 1938 was his second and last appearance in the dark blue, having earlier made his Scotland debut while at Kilmarnock in 1934.

In the immediate post-war years, Andy McLaren was called up by Scotland, making the first of four appearances against England and scoring the opening goal in a 1-1 draw in April 1947.

No North End players were selected for the Scotland team which took part in the Home International Championship of 1949-50. That competition was used as a qualifying tournament for the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, with the top two invited.

Scotland beat Ireland 8-2 and Wales 2-0 to set up a showdown with England, which they lost 1-0.

Scotland had declared before the Hampden Park clash that they would only go to Rio if they topped the Home International table, and the SFA remained true to its word by declining the opportunity.

Tommy Docherty made his Scotland debut in October 1952 against Wales in Cardiff as Scotland secured a 2-1 victory.

Further outings followed against England in a 2-2 draw at Wembley in April 1953 and in a 2-1 loss to Sweden in Glasgow the following month.

The Home Internationals were once again used as qualifiers for the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, with Scotland finishing second after losing 4-2 to England at Hampden Park.

That apparently dismal showing led to changes in the Scotland line-up, with both Tommy Docherty and Willie Cunningham earning places in the team that beat Norway 1-0 in early May 1954, as well as in the World Cup squad.

That created extra interest for PNE fans, along with the fact that Andy Beattie was Scotland team manager.

In their opening match, Scotland were described as inspired, with new captain and full-back Willie Cunningham, along with Tommy Docherty, playing starring roles.

Despite their heroics, the Scots lost 1-0 to an Austria team that later put in some high-scoring performances.

Scotland’s World Cup adventure ended in their second match when world champions Uruguay outplayed them on a sun-baked afternoon, winning 7-0.

The eventual winners of the 1954 World Cup were West Germany, who surprised favourites Hungary with a 3-2 victory.

Willie Cunningham would play eight times for Scotland in total, including a 7-2 defeat at Wembley against England in April 1955, when Tommy Docherty scored a late consolation goal.

For the 1958 World Cup, the British sides were split into European qualifying groups and an impressive Scotland got the better of Switzerland and Spain to reach the finals.

Docherty was still going strong with North End and Scotland in 1957 and was a key midfielder in the side that clinched qualification against Switzerland at Hampden Park, winning 3-2.

With England, Wales and Northern Ireland also qualifying, the stage was set for a strong British challenge in Sweden.

Although Docherty was in the Scotland squad that travelled to Sweden, he was out of favour with the selectors and did not play in any of their fixtures.

Scotland opened with a promising 1-1 draw against Yugoslavia, were then beaten 3-2 by Paraguay, before exiting the competition after a 2-1 defeat to France.

By August, Docherty was on his way to Arsenal, and by October he was back in Scotland colours as they won 3-0 against Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff.

His last outing for Scotland came in April 1958 after 25 appearances, including eight as skipper.

Those heady days of the 1950s, with Deepdale players and their Scotland adventures, have never quite been repeated.

Coventry-born Graham Alexander, who played 421 times for PNE, made his debut for Scotland while at Deepdale in 2002 and went on to make 40 appearances.

Left-back Callum Davidson, at Deepdale from 2004 to 2011 and with more than 160 PNE appearances, was recalled to the Scotland team in 2009 for a couple of outings, ending with 19 caps.

When Craig Brown was appointed PNE manager in 2002, North End fans were reminded of Scotland’s World Cup exploits in 1998 under his guidance.

Brian O’Neil was signed by Brown and earned the last of his seven Scotland caps in 2005 while at Deepdale.

In October 2009, Ross Wallace earned his only Scotland cap in a friendly against Japan while starring for North End.

Older PNE fans may also recall midfield dynamo Archie Gemmill, who made 99 appearances for PNE before joining Derby County in 1970.

He was capped 43 times by Scotland and scored a memorable goal against Holland at the 1978 World Cup.

Liam Lindsay was called up to the Scotland squad in 2024 but has not earned a place in the 2026 squad.

Nonetheless, PNE fans may well raise a cheer if Scotland do well — although should England stand in their way, those cheers may yet turn to jeers.