Left Magpie: Jimmy Sirrel, Don Masson and the Anglo Scottish Cup

The Anglo-Scottish Cup was a strange configuration, a less than best laid scheme. At the start of the 1970s, the football leagues of England, Scotland and Ireland created a tournament for teams who had not made it into Europe, initially known as the Texaco Cup. When Irish clubs withdrew due to political challenges and then Texaco stopped their sponsorship, the short-lived Anglo-Scottish Cup came into being. It seems the Scottish teams then withdrew due to the poor quality of English opposition, although only once did a Scottish team win the cup. All very strange and it is unclear ‘wha’ this tale o' truth shall read.’

There is no evident understanding as to how clubs qualified for the Anglo-Scottish. In Notts’ 1980-81 group, for example, Bristol City had just been relegated to Division Two, County and Orient were lower mid table and Fulham were relegated to Division Three. 

Notts’ first game was a scoreless draw against Forest. This was followed by defeats to Bristol City and West Brom and a swift exit. The Magpies returned to it in the next season and progressed to play some actual Scottish teams.

Fellow Pie alumni Martin Clark has notable memories: 

“For the tie with Motherwell, I treated myself to a seat on the club’s chartered plane up to Prestwick.  £35 was a tidy sum in 1977, substantially more than my weekly wage. They were defeated, before a two-legged semi-final against St. Mirren. Losing on aggregate away in extra time, that match is memorable for the near constant chants of ‘We hate the English’ and ‘Get stuck inta the English bastard.’ Staying mute until after the game, we let the natives go home happy and were staggered to see the pitch-length terrace strewn with empty wine and spirit bottles. Never disparage a national stereotype.”

More English-only failures followed, before the final-reaching campaign in 1980-81 – to this, we turn our attention for this Burns-Night-themed reflection. After Morton were dispatched, Notts overcame Kilmarnock in a 5-2 victory, before a two-leg final defeat to Chesterfield. It later transpired that English and Scottish league officials had met in London and agreed to cancel the tournament just before the first leg of the final. So, for County, this international journey started against Forest and ended with Chesterfield. 

But that Anglo-Scottish runner-up Notts County team was also our 1981 promotion team. We were promoted at Stamford Bridge; in the first game of the next season, we beat the Champions at Villa Park. I had no sense then of ‘misfortune’s bitter storms’ to come, how it would ‘gang aft a-gley’. That team was not only coached by the legendary Scot Jimmy Sirrel but some highly notable fellow countrymen appeared in the Anglo-Scottish games, so we shall remember them here, ‘for auld lang syne.’

Iain McCulloch became Nottingham’s record signing two years before, for the princely sum of £80,000. His goal at Villa Park kicked off our top-flight season with the new three points (it had been two for win up to then). His career was tragically curtailed in a collision with Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey. Otherwise, I am sure he would have rampaged on for Notts ‘till a' the seas gang dry and the rocks melt wi' the sun.’

Eddie Kelly had won the league with Arsenal, and came to Notts for just this momentous season, having ‘wander'd mony a weary fit’ before taking up the reins as partner to Don Masson in a veteran Scottish midfield.

Don Masson makes no mention of the Anglo-Scottish cup in his memoirs, but he does write in some detail about one Gerry Gow, who he cites as his most difficult opponent. When he lined up against this man, he recalls: “I knew it was going to be a nightmare. He used to ignore the ball.” In the same biography, Kenny Dalglish expressed surprise at Masson’s lack of upwards elevation in the club football – “Maybe he just felt comfortable at Notts County. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Well, it was certainly Notts’ gain and who knows what would have happened if Masson had ‘some power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us.’

Finally onto Jimmy Sirrel. In 2012, Martin Naylor interviewed Masson for LeftLion and requested memories of his times with Sirrel. This recollection is perfect for capturing their Celtic alliance, and mutual understanding: “He and I had a unique relationship, maybe because I was his captain, maybe because we were both Scottish. One day we had finished training and I was walking past his office and he collared me. ‘Hey, little fella’ he said, ‘what are you doing this afternoon? I want you to come and watch a football match with me, I’ll pick you up at about four.’ I didn't know where we were going or who he had his eye on. Jimmy was a terrible driver, and I remember sitting in his car for hours until eventually we arrived in Exeter. Ten minutes into the game, Jimmy nudges me and says, ‘Come on, I’ve seen enough, we’re going home’. All that way to Exeter for ten minutes of a match. To this day I still have no idea which player he was watching.”

With thanks to Martin Clark, Jim Cooke, That 1980s Sports Blog, Vince Cooper and Robert Burns.