The Scotch Professors and the 150th anniversary of the world's first international football match

That this House recognises the 150th anniversary of the world’s first international football match, which took place between Scotland and England on 30 November 1872 at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick, Glasgow; acknowledges that the match, which finished nil-nil, has huge historical significance as it was a very early example of the distinctive Scottish style of playing football, one which was predicated on a passing, combination game, with a greater emphasis on teamwork, as opposed to the individualistic, dribbling style that was prevalent in England at the time; further notes that this distinctive style of football which by 1872 had become the hallmark of the game in Scotland, and became known the Scotch Professor style of play, is credited by historians of the game as having changed the nature of football around the world; congratulates Mr. Ged O’Brien, founder of the Scottish Football Museum for all his research into the origins of the game in Scotland; and thanks him for sharing that knowledge with his pupils at St. Andrew’s RC Secondary in Carntyne, Glasgow, who are actively promoting the legacy of Scotch Professors and how their innovative footballing philosophy was quickly adopted by every country which has played the game since.