This is the Scotland team who played in the first international on 7^th May in 1949 in London. Scotland lost to England by 3 goals to 25 and narrowly lost to Wales 14-13.

Are you in contact with any of the Scottish Thistles who played that day? Do you have any stories to share about them? We’d love to hear them. Sadly not all the squad are still with us but we do have contact with some of their families who have shared precious memorabilia with us such as the handmade badge on their playing kit featuring a hand-drawn thistle. Wonder where that ball is now.

Image courtesy of England Netball

Back row (l-r) Stella McGuire, Beth Smith, Doris Breen (nee Fitzpatrick), Helen McLeish (nee Fleming), Eileen (Binkie) Mclean, Rena Johnston, Catherine Sweeney

Front row (l-r) Helen Glen, Mary Noel Milne (nee Brebner), Rita Renfrew (captain), Lily Keith (nee Hunter)

Rita went on to become a Thistles coach in the 50’s; Lily also represented Scotland at hockey; Helen Glenn become a Scottish umpire and her college nickname was Flum.

12 May 1951

Scotland hosted our first home international against Northern Ireland but we don’t know much about this match!

We know that we played in Glasgow, we won by 21 goals to 7 and the NI shooter Miss Peggy Curran had to go off injured in the first five minutes. According to the press she injured her ligaments and had to be flown home, we guess the rest still went home by boat.

Lily Keith (nee Hunter) had been selected to play for the Thistles but her place in the squad was taken by Kathleen McGinley (nee Farrell) as Lily had been previously chosen to play for the Scottish hockey team and were due to meet England on the same day.

The squad was

M Hall, Kathleen McGinley (nee Farrell), Elizabeth Gavigan, M. Murray, Maybridge Pirie (nee Cosgrove), Ethel Edgerton, Elizabeth McNeil, Margaret Devlin, W. Gates

We are looking for any photos of this first home international, the venue it was played in as well as confirmation of who actually got on court. In those days reserves only played if someone was injured and had to come off, subs weren’t allowed for any other reason.

02 June 1951

Scottish Thistles played against England Wales again as part of the Festival of Britain, also referred to as the International and Commonwealth Festival in Birmingham. We lost to England 32 – 3 and to Wales by 15 – 13.

We know the names but we need help matching them to the faces. Do you know any of these players?

We do know that Maybridge Pirie (nee Cosgrove) is wearing bib no 6 and was a pupil of Notre Dame school. She was very good at sport but ended up training as an Art teacher.

North region – M. Hall, Lily Keith (nee Hunter), Elizabeth (Lally) Gavigan, M. Murray

West region – Maybridge Pirie (nee Cosgrove), Ethel Edgerton, Elizabeth McNeil, Margaret Devlin

Midlands – W. Gates

This was before the names and initials of the positions were agreed internationally and for some reason we played in bibs with numbers on that day. Thistles were still playing in an all-white strip.

Action shots from 02 June 1951, do you know if this is against Wales or England?

Images courtesy of England Netball

The Wales game was much more closely fought.  Scotland, after a poor start (6-0 down) took the lead at 10-9.  The Welsh team however fought back and pipped Scotland to win 14-13.

Doris Breen (nee Fitzpatrick) third from left in all-white kit

Images courtesy of Mirrorpic & England netball

Badges courtesy of Doris Breen’s (nee Fitzpatrick) family

May 7^th 1949 – the first netball international was played on the grounds of the General Electric Company, Preston Road, Wembley. Three internationals were played on that day:

1^st game               England v Scotland

2^nd game             Scotland v Wales

3^rd game              England v Wales

England won both their games, the scores on both matches were the same.

England    25   Scotland and Wales    3

Programme courtesy of Doris Breen’s (nee Fitzpatrick) family

Post match meal for all teams and officials

Images courtesy of England Netball

Menu courtesy of Doris Breen’s (nee Fitzpatrick) family

The 50’s saw the Scottish Thistles play in 20 matches, largely against the home nations, and featuring Australia and South Africa for the first time.

• With 11 wins and 10 losses as well as playing on a slippery ice rink it was quite a decade of competition
• The results for our six matches against England were all losses and in one match we only scored one goal in 1956, however, we won all six games against Northern Ireland, and against Wales we won 5 games and lost two
• Our first game against Australia in 1956 was played in North Shields, England and we lost 7-25
• Our first match against South Africa in 1959 also resulted in a loss with the score being 8-31. 4000 spectators watched the game
• Out of 37 players representing Scotland in the 50’s, 35 earned their first cap in the decade
• We hosted our first home international in Glasgow in 1951 against Northern Ireland
• Scotland scored 286 goals with an average of 13.6 goals per match. Goals scored against Scotland were 405 with an average of 19.2 goals per match

Scottish Thistles captains in the 50’s included:

• Lily Keith (Hunter) #4
• Theresa Rice (McCartney) #20
• Margaret Devine #19
• Lena Fraser (Calder) #23
• Sheila Donald (Ferguson) #22
• Celia Shields (Breslin) #26

Scottish Thistle coaches in the 50’s included:

• Eileen “Binky” McLean
• Nan Naughton (Cranie)
• Helen Glen
• Sarah Gracie

Scottish umpires in the 50’s included:

• Helen Glen
• Janie Goodier
• Liz Kelly
• Sarah Gracie

Scottish Netball officers in the 50’s included:
Presidents – Janie Goodier, Lily Hunter, Eileen ‘Binky’ McLean
Secretaries – Rita Rice (Renfrew), Helen Glen, Catherine O’Donnell, Lena Fraser (Calder)
Administration/finance – Nancy Bathgate, Lydia Muir (Curley), Grace Heenan, Margaret McCarthy, Miss M. Gorman

12 May 1951 Scotland vs Northern Ireland

Scotland hosted our first home international against Northern Ireland, the match was played in Glasgow, and we won by 21 goals to 7. According to the press, NI shooter Miss Peggy Curran injured her ligaments in the first five minutes of the game. She had to be flown home, we guess the rest still went home by boat. Lily Keith (Hunter) #4 had been selected to play for the Thistles but her place in the squad was taken by Kathleen McGinley (Farrell) as Lily had been previously chosen to play for the Scottish hockey team and were due to meet England on the same day.
The players were:
Maisie Hall (Young) #10, Kathleen McGinley (Farrell) #18, Elizabeth Loudon (Gavigan) #11, Mhairi Pfeil (Murray) #13, Maybridge Pirie (Cosgrove) #12, Ethel Edgerton #14, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ McNeil #15, R. Devlin #16, Sheila Wendy Ferrier (Gates) #17.

02 June 1951 Scotland vs England, and Wales

Scottish Thistles played against England, and Wales again as part of the Festival of Britain, also referred to as the International and Commonwealth Festival in Birmingham. We lost to England 3-32 and to Wales by 13-15.

Scotland team June 1951
Back row left to right, Umpire Helen Glen, R. Devlin #16 or Sheila Wendy Ferrier (Gates) #17?, Lily Keith (Hunter) #4, Elizabeth Loudon (Gavigan) #11, Maybridge Pirie (Cosgrove) #12, Mhairi Pfeil (Murray) #13
Front row left to right, Ethel Edgerton #14, Elizabeth ‘Betty’ McNeil #15, R. Devlin #16 or Sheila Wendy Ferrier (Gates) #17?, Maisie Hall (Young) #10

This was before the names and initials of the positions were agreed internationally and for some reason we played in bibs with numbers on that day. Thistles were still playing in an all-white strip.

Action shots from June 1951

31 October 1953 Scotland vs Northern Ireland

We travelled to Belfast in Northern Ireland in 1953 for our first away game against them. The team went by boat and knitted purple cuffs to wear on their ankles on the journey.

Scotland’s first away game against Northern Ireland 1953
Image courtesy of Kathleen McGinley

Scotland team (right of picture) from centre – Theresa Rice (McCartney) #20 captain, Margaret Devine #19, Kathleen McGinley (Farrell) #18, Susan Hepburn (McLennon) #21, Elizabeth Loudon (Gavigan) #11, Sheila Donald (Ferguson) #22, Lena Fraser (Calder) #23

8 May 1954 Scotland vs Wales and England

Nan Miller (Hoggan) #25 achieved two caps playing netball for Scotland in 1954. She was an Attack player, this position is now called Goal Attack. She was introduced to netball at Notre Dame High School and loved it. According to Nan the players all had to makes their own playing tunics; someone bought a pattern and the material, and they all sewed them. Nan played in our first match against Wales and England which was played at Cathays High School, New Zealand Road in Cardiff. Scotland lost to England by 4-29 and also lost to Wales by 10-15. It’s likely that the matches were two halves of 20 minutes at this time.

14 May 1955 England vs Scotland

We travelled to Harringay, London to play England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Extract from match programme 1955

21 April 1956 Scotland vs Australia

Celia Shields (Breslin) #26 was the most capped Thistle in the 50’s with 16 caps. She played every game for seven consecutive years from 1954-1960 receiving 20 caps in total, she played at WA or WD and was captain in 1957. Celia went to Clerkhill Convent School and Notre Dame Training College where she trained as a teacher. When she was selected to do a course in Outward Bound activities she retired from netball. Her proudest moments were “playing at Wembley in 1960 and in 1958 being invited to the opening of the Inverclyde new sports centre in Largs. The team was invited to take part in the activities and to see the new facilities. I attended a course given by Chris Brasher on relay running. This proved very helpful when coaching athletics teams during my teaching career.” Celia moved to Uganda with her husband and then later to Swaziland where she continued with her teaching career as a Primary school teacher and where she also taught netball. She has retired and still lives in Swaziland, and we tracked her down through her family on Facebook.

Celia Shields (Breslin) #26 is the player on the far right in the match vs Australia in 1956.

23 March 1959 Scotland vs South Africa

Moira Ord MBE #41 earned her first Thistles cap playing in the match against South Africa in 1959 and recalls that “the match was played on an ice rink that had been covered by a wooden flooring. By the time the South Africa vs Scotland match was due to start the ice had begun to melt and made the wooden flooring very slippery and extremely dangerous. Within a short space of time Scotland’s attack [GA Sheila Ferguson (Donald)] player fell and badly sprained her ankle. Some quick changes were made to the Scottish team, I went to attack [GA], May Rooney to centre and Agnes Woulfe (reserve) moved to an attacking centre. No wonder we didn’t win!!!”

Moira went on to achieve 39 caps for Scotland between 1959 and 1967, captaining her country 16 times, coaching the team at 18 matches, and was an international umpire. As well as a full and busy working life, Moira was committed and passionate about making sure that netball in Scotland was supported through sound administration. She held many roles in administration of netball including President and Vice-President, non-executive Director, and Chair of the Board. Her most notable achievement was bringing the World Netball Championships to Scotland in 1987, leading the delivery of the event on many levels. Moira is in the Netball Scotland Hall of Fame and was awarded an MBE for her services to netball.

The 60’s was momentous for netball as it featured the inaugural World Tournament held in Eastbourne in 1963 and the second World Tournament held in Perth, Australia in 1967 and Scotland entered a team in both competitions. In total Scotland played 49 matches, more than double their total in the 50’s.

• The World Tournaments gave an opportunity for Scotland to play against teams from all round the world exposing them to different styles and forms of play and with mixed results
• Scotland won 21 of their matches in the decade against:
  • Wales 11 games
  • Northern Ireland 7
  • Ireland, Ceylon, and Singapore 1 each
• The 28 losing matches were against:
  • England 14 games
  • Jamaica 3
  • Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Trinidad 2 games each
  • Northern Ireland, Wales, and West Indies 1 game each. Interestingly all three games were only lost by one goal
• Our lowest score was 6, both times against England, and our highest score (losing the match) was 33 against West Indies, and also against Wales
• Highest score against us was by New Zealand who scored 85 goals to Scotland’s 7
• Our highest score in a match we won was 51 goals against Ireland
• Scotland scored 1172 goals with an average of 24.5 goals per match. Goals scored against Scotland were 1852 with an average of 37.7 goals per match
• 34 players represented Scotland in the 60’s, with 27 players receiving their first cap
• Most capped player in the 60’s was Moira Ord MBE who earned 39 caps and played in 2 world tournaments
• Information in the tournament programme for 1963 says that “Scottish Netball Association is divided into six District Associations ….. strongest districts are those able to draw upon students from various colleges and universities …. northern counties very thinly organised … inter-district league matches are played throughout the season, rounded off by Inter-District tournament in June …. Scotland has participated in home internationals since 1949.”
• Purple blazers were first worn in 1960 when the team travelled by train to London to play against England at Wembley, 8500 spectators watched this match
• Scottish Netball Association produced their first ever handbook in 1961 thanks to Sarah Gracie, President

Scottish Thistles captains in the 60’s included:

• Ann Boyle (Gillespie) #44
• Mae Lavery (Rooney) #40
• Moira Ord MBE #41
• Priscilla Kerr #60
• Marie Fairie #59

Scottish Thistle coaches in the 60’s included

• Elizabeth Kelly
• Muriel Getty
• Katie Pye
• Lena Fraser (Calder)

Scottish umpires in the 60’s included

• Sarah Gracie
• Jane Goodier
• Helen Glen
• Elizabeth Kelly
• Catherine Clarke
• Eileen ‘Binky’ McLean
• Ann Boyle
• Maeve Wilson

Scottish Netball officers in the 60’s included

Presidents – Sarah Gracie, Nancy Bathgate, Nan Naughton (Cranie), Muriel Getty

Secretaries – Nancy Bathgate, Muriel Getty, Maeve Wilson, Ann Ventisei, Ann Stoddart

Administration/finance – Miss M Gorman, Margaret Cameron (McCarthy), Clare Stuart (Campbell)

1963 1^st World Tournament

• Captain – Mae Lavery (Rooney) #40
• Coach – Muriel Getty
• Manager – Nancy Bathgate
• Umpire – Lily Keith (Hunter)

1967 2^nd World Tournament

• Captain – Moira Ord MBE #41
• Coach – Katie Pye
• Manager – Margaret Urquhart
• Umpire – Maeve Wilson
• Delegate – Muriel Getty

Jean Inkster (Browning) #48

Jean shared stories with Netball Scotland about her life and her netball career, telling us that “Probably my most proud moment was standing with my team members as the National Anthem was played while each other nation in attendance was also proudly standing to attention as their national anthems were played. That was the opening ceremony of the 1st World Tournament in Eastbourne.”

Jean and her twin sister, Dorothy Browning, played netball at primary school but their teacher told them that Dorothy wasn’t allowed to play in the team as she couldn’t tell them apart so only one could play. Dorothy somehow continued with her netball career and did manage to become a reserve for Scotland but sadly never got on court to earn a cap.

Jean trained as a teacher at Dunfermline College of Physical Education, DCPE and, following her marriage, moved to the Bahamas where she introduced netball and set up the Bahamas Netball Association. She played for the Bahamas in the 3^rd World Tournament in 1971 and returned as an international umpire for the Bahamas in the 5^th World Tournament in 1979.

Margaret Cameron (McCarthy) #38

Margaret shared an album with us full of netball treasures including a copy of the first ever Scottish Netball Association Handbook produced by Sarah Gracie, President. Margaret was SNA Treasurer in 1961-1962 and earned 32 caps starting in 1958 and ending her playing career after the World Tournament in 1963. In June 1962 Margaret McCarthy, Margaret McKenna and Ann Gillespie went to Holyrood House to meet Queen Elizabeth who had invited 600 young Scottish people to attend a royal garden party where netball was represented by Margaret, Margaret and Ann.

Invitation to the Holyrood garden party, with kind permission of Margaret (Cameron) #38

SNA handbook 1961-62 extracts, with kind permission of Margaret (Cameron) #38

1960 Scotland vs England

We travelled by train to London from Glasgow Central staton, where we played England at the Empire Pool in Wembley.

Top left to right Sarah Gracie, Mae Lavery (Rooney) #40, Cathie Campbell (Nicholson) #34,

Ann Gillespie (Boyle) #44

Bottom left to right Kathleen Cunnion (Christie) #45, Celia Shields (Breslin) #26

Top right left to right Margaret Cameron (McCarthy) #38, Maureen Gallagher (Lightbody) #35,

Grace Heenan #32

Dark (purple) dresses Scotland (L) Kathleen Cunnion (Christie) #45 and (R) Grace Heenan #32

1963 First World Netball Tournament, Eastbourne

Left to right Margaret Cameron (McCarthy)#38, Nancy Bathgate Manager,

Mae Lavery (Rooney) #40 captain, Jean Inkster (Browning) #48, Margaret Thompson (Fay) #51,

Celia McDermott (Kerrigan) #52, Agnes O’Brien #54, Moira Ord MBE #41,

Margaret McDermott (McKenna) #49, Mary Pat Forrest (Bocker) #50, Isabel Halkett (Johnston) #53

The headline in the Herald Chronicle on Saturday, August 10, 1963, said

“They come far and near with one aim in mind ….. BEATING THE WORLD AT NETBALL”.

It further noted that the flags of 11 nations were fluttering in the breeze over the grandstand and the tournament, “sponsored by the International Federation of Women’s Basketball and Netball Associations, the exchange of badges and souvenirs among players has been a symbol of the international friendship and understanding players have promoted.”

Extract from Jean Inkster’s (Browning) #48 world tournament diary – opening ceremony

Extract from Jean Inkster’s (Browning) #48 world tournament diary – closing ceremony

Scotland squad enjoying some shopping on their day off

Left to right Margaret Thompson (Fay) #51, Margaret Cameron (McCarthy) #38, Agnes O’Brien #54, Moira Ord MBE #41, Mae Lavery (Rooney) #40, Celia McDermott (Kerrigan) #52, Margaret McDermott (McKenna) #49

Action shots Scotland vs South Africa

GK Margaret Thompson (Fay) #51                                                 GS Celia McDermott (Kerrigan) #52,

GD Margaret McDermott (McKenna) #49                                     GA Margaret Cameron (McCarthy) #38

C Mae Lavery (Rooney) #40

1965 4 nations tournament, Crystal Palace, England

The team was largely made up of players from Glasgow with Dundee and Lanark also represented.

Scotland team back row left to right Moira Ord MBE #41, Margaret McDermott (McKenna) #49, Nan Cameron #55, Margaret Thompson (Fay) #51

Front row left to right Linda Nicholl #56, Jean Inkster (Browning) #48, Ann Bryceland #57

Programme image courtesy of Margaret Thompson (Fay) #51

1967 Second World Tournament, Perth, Australia

The squad image was taken in St Enoch’s Square, Glasgow where the BEA terminal (British European Airways) was located. Moira Ord MBE kept the photos and also shared that the squad are in their traveling unform – suits provided by Geoffrey Laird-Portch, hats, blouses, and gloves provided by M and S, shoes and handbags provided by Stead and Simpsons.

The squad travelled via New York and San Francisco to Auckland where they were hosted by the New Zealand Netball Association and played some friendly matches. Jill Galbraith shared this newspaper clipping with us from her scrapbook. The squad raised £100 each to go to the tournament and paid for their food and accommodation themselves. To put this in perspective, Jill noted on a postcard to her husband that it was very expensive in new York and the hotel cost £3.10 shillings, if you imagine what a hotel room in new York might cost today it gives us a sense of the enormity of the fund raising the players had to do.

Evening Times clipping courtesy of Jill Galbraith

Scotland squad image George Outram and co

Left to right Ann Davidson #61, Jill Galbraith (Batchelor) #64, Moira Ord MBE #41,

Elizabeth ‘Lally’ Greenan (Gavin) #58, Clare Stuart (Campbell) #65, Joan Forrest (Church) #66,

Agnes O’Brien #54, Nan Cameron #55, Margaret Urquhart Manager,

Alice Callaghan (McAuley) #62, Maeve Wilson Umpire, Katie Pye Coach, Priscilla Kerr #60

Marie Fairie #59, Muriel Getty President

Poster for the 2^nd World Tournament courtesy of Marie Fairie. Note its title – basketball!

Back row left to right Agnes O’Brien #54, Clare Stuart (Campbell) #65, Nan Cameron #55,

Ann Davidson #61, Jill Galbraith (Batchelor) #64, Joan Forrest (Church) #66,

Alice Callaghan (McAuley) #62

Front row left to right Priscilla Kerr #60, Moira Ord MBE #41, Elizabeth ‘Lally’ Greenan (Gavin) #58,

Marie Fairie #59

Scotland vs Trinidad                                                                        Scotland vs Australia

GK Jill Galbraith (Batchelor) #64                                                   GS Ann Davidson #61

GD Alice Callaghan (McAuley) #62

Opening ceremony 2^nd World Tournament 1967

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