13 August 1966 - Gemmill's First History-Making Moment

On 13 August 1966, St. Mirren midfielder Archie Gemmill became the first substitute in Scotland.

The use of substitutes in football dates back to the 1860s, but as the rules became codified, they became disfavored and disallowed. By the 1950s, however, people began reintroducing them, with FIFA allowing them in qualification matches for the 1954 World Cup.

England and Scotland slowly began to reconsider the rule, with England adopting the use of a single substitute per team starting with the 1965-66 season, but even then only to replace an injured player. One year later, Scotland applied an identical rule.

Gemmill, then just 19 years old and two years into his career with St. Mirren, was the first player in Scotland to come on as a substitute, replacing an injured Jim Clunie after 23 minutes in a Scottish League Cup match against Clyde. Unfortunately for Gemmill and St. Mirren, it was a milestone made in a losing effort, as they fell to Clyde 1-0.

Gemmill went on to enjoy a lengthy career in Scotland and England (and a brief spell in the United States) that lasted until his retirement in 1984. He also earned 43 caps for Scotland, for whom he scored one of the World Cup's most memorable goals in a 1978 match against the Netherlands.

13 August 1966 - Gemmill's First History-Making Moment

On 13 August 1966, St. Mirren midfielder Archie Gemmill became the first substitute in Scotland.

The use of substitutes in football dates back to the 1860s, but as the rules became codified, they became disfavored and disallowed. By the 1950s, however, people began reintroducing them, with FIFA allowing them in qualification matches for the 1954 World Cup.

England and Scotland slowly began to reconsider the rule, with England adopting the use of a single substitute per team starting with the 1965-66 season, but even then only to replace an injured player. One year later, Scotland applied an identical rule.

Gemmill, then just 19 years old and two years into his career with St. Mirren, was the first player in Scotland to come on as a substitute, replacing an injured Jim Clunie after 23 minutes in a Scottish League Cup match against Clyde. Unfortunately for Gemmill and St. Mirren, it was a milestone made in a losing effort, as they fell to Clyde 1-0.

Gemmill went on to enjoy a lengthy career in Scotland and England (and a brief spell in the United States) that lasted until his retirement in 1984. He also earned 43 caps for Scotland, for whom he scored one of the World Cup's most memorable goals in a 1978 match against the Netherlands.

29 April 1967 - For Those Of You Keeping Count, That's A Quintuple

On 29 April 1967, Celtic defeated Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, one of the five trophies claimed by the Glasgow club that season.

Celtic roared through the early stages of the Cup, beating Arbroath 4-0 in the first round, then crushing Elgin City 7-0 in the second round. Queen's Park proved a more difficult opponent before succumbing 5-3, and Clyde actually held Celtic to a 0-0 draw in the semifinals, but lost 2-0 in the replay.

The final was played at Hampden Park, Glasgow, before a crowd of over 126,000. Scotland was well represented, as the only non-Scottish player for either side was Aberdeen's Danish midfielder Jens Peterson. Even both managers were Scottish, with Eddie Turnbull for the Dons and Jock Stein for Celtic. Celtic won the match 2-0, with both goals coming from forward Willie Wallace (pictured with the Scottish Cup).

Celtic had already won the Glasgow Cup and the Scottish League Cup that season, and would go on to claim the league title as well. The season is best remembered, however, for their 2-1 win over Inter Milan in the European Champions Cup in Lisbon.