First Forever

About the Book

When the Secretary of the Football Association, Charles W. Alcock, wrote to the GLASGOW HERALD in 1870 expressing an interest in arranging matches between the best Scottish and English players, little could he have realised that his concept for regular international competition between the two nations would develop into the greatest sporting phenomenon in world history. Following a series of unofficial matches between England and Scotland at The Oval in London, the first-ever official international football match took place in Glasgow on 30th November 1872. Although the match ended in a goal-less draw, a number of ‘firsts’ were created in international football history.

Fast-forward 134 years to the 27th June 2006. In the World Cup second round match between Brazil and Ghana in Dortmund, Germany, the Brazilian striker Ronaldo scored the opening goal to create a new goalscoring record in the competition. This was the player’s 15th goal in World Cup tournaments, a feat which surpassed the 32-year-old record held by the legendary West German striker Gerd Muller.

Ronaldo’s goalscoring record was just one of a number of ‘firsts’ in the same tournament, proving that international football history is being written and rewritten all the time.

FIRST FOREVER brings together for the first time a unique collection of occurrences and achievements by players, coaches, managers and administrators who have helped to make association football the most popular sport the world has ever known.

This is a tribute to all of the people who have made a unique contribution to ‘the beautiful game’.

About the Author

While at Lasswade High School in Midlothian, Scotland, Jim Henderson was an all-rounder in sports and other activities. He was the first pupil at the school to appear in the 1st XI at football and the 1st XV at rugby (and in successive seasons), was captain of the athletics team and also house captain of St. LeonardÕs in his final year. He was a member of the swimming team, sang in the choir and was a member of the all-male jury in the schoolÕs production of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera entitled ÔTrial by JuryÕ. As a footballer, he enjoyed a twelve year career with well-known, successful local teams in the East of Scotland Ð Penicuik BoyÕs Club, Loanhead United, Craiglea Thistle, Penicuik Athletic, Bilston A.F.C. and Tweeddale Rovers Ð before succumbing to a knee injury which brought the playing career to a premature end at the age of 25. Jim was introduced to professional football in 1952 and attended his first international match at Hampden Park in 1958 when he, and another 127,873 people, saw Bobby Charlton score his first-ever goal for England in a 4-0 demolition of the home side! In his professional career, Jim was a concrete specialist and in 1985 he designed the strongest concrete ever produced in the U.K. and had it featured on the BBC TomorrowÕs World programme. Previous published work: The Repair and Protection of Concrete Structures. Married to Euna, another ex-Lasswade pupil, since 1967, they have one son and live in Abington, South Lanarkshire.