It is the world's oldest international fixture, dating back to 1872 and, the war years aside, was played annually until 1989.
And that history all began in front of just 4,000 spectators at Hamilton Crescent, home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Partick, just outside Glasgow, and ended in a 0-0 draw.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at 12 facts from that 1872 encounter between England and Scotland - a game that spawned the most enduring rivalry of all and one that is set to be renewed in a World Cup qualifier on Friday night.
- England and Scotland representative sides had already met five times between 1870 and 1872. England won three times and the other two were drawn. However, the Scottish team was almost exclusively made up of London-based players and was selected by the English FA.
- Twenty months after the first rugby international between the countries, the first official football fixture was arranged after leading Scottish club Queens Park responded to a challenge from FA secretary Charles Alcock, who agreed to send an English team north.
- The match was arranged for St Andrew's Day - November 30.
- The leading Scottish player of his generation, Arthur Kinnaird, was unavailable, so the entire Scotland team was made up of Queens Park players.
- Alcock, a player as well as FA secretary (and also the man responsible for the formation of the FA Cup a year earlier), was ruled out through injury so carried out referee's assistant duties instead.
- The England team was drawn from nine clubs, including three players from Oxford University.
- Four thousand supporters paid a shilling (5p) entrance fee. The game was delayed by 20 minutes due to fog.
- England wore white shirts with three lions on the front, plus caps. Scotland wore blue, with one lion, and red cowls.
- Scotland had one goal disallowed as, in the opinion of the umpire, the shot would have cleared the tape, effectively used as a crossbar. In addition, Robert Leckie struck the top of the tape in the second half.
- At some point, England goalkeeper Robert Barker swapped positions with striker William Maynard.
- Although Scotland were the better side in the first half, England came into their own in the second, but neither side could manage a goal.
- It was subsequently agreed both countries should meet again, with the game arranged for The Oval in London the following March, when Scotland prevailed 4-2.
Source: PA
