David Mathers
Encyclopedia
David Cochrane Mathers is a retired Scottish
football
left-half
.
He joined Partick Thistle
from school in 1947 and turned professional two years later aged 17. He remained there until September 1959 joining Southern League team Headington United, which changed their name to Oxford United
the following summer. He returned to Partick in December 1960 but did not make any more first team appearances before joining East Stirlingshire
the following summer, but retired after one season.
He won his only cap for Scotland
in their final preparation match for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
Finals against Finland
. Although named in Scotland's 22 man squad for Switzerland
, Scotland decided to take only 13 of the 22 to the finals. Mathers stayed at home on reserve with the likes of Bobby Combe
and Jimmy Binning
. Inside forward George Hamilton
was also on reserve but travelled after Bobby Johnstone
withdrew through injury.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
left-half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
.
He joined Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
from school in 1947 and turned professional two years later aged 17. He remained there until September 1959 joining Southern League team Headington United, which changed their name to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
the following summer. He returned to Partick in December 1960 but did not make any more first team appearances before joining East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
the following summer, but retired after one season.
He won his only cap for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in their final preparation match for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
Finals against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
. Although named in Scotland's 22 man squad for Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Scotland decided to take only 13 of the 22 to the finals. Mathers stayed at home on reserve with the likes of Bobby Combe
Bobby Combe
James Robert "Bobby" Combe was a Scottish international association football player, who spent his entire senior career with Hibernian....
and Jimmy Binning
Jimmy Binning
Ian "Jimmy" Binning was a Scottish footballer who played for Arbroath and Dumfries side Queen of the South.-Arbroath:From season 1948-49 until his departure Jimmy Binning scored six goals in his 84 league games for Arbroath....
. Inside forward George Hamilton
George Hamilton (footballer)
-External links:* *...
was also on reserve but travelled after Bobby Johnstone
Bobby Johnstone
Robert "Bobby" Johnstone was a Scottish association football player, mainly remembered as one of the Famous Five forward line of Hibernian....
withdrew through injury.
External links
- Dave Mathers, Neil Brown