Old Firm Scots. Celtic & England

Q Two posers from Robert Houston: "Was the latest Old Firm match a record for the least amount of Scots-born players on the pitch at the start of play? And since the 1980s how many Celtic players have gained full caps for England?"

A Yes. Celtic's Jackie McNamara was the only Scot on the field at kick-off in the match at Ibrox on October 4th 2003 - a new, and unwanted, record. Regarding your second question, as far as I am aware NO Celtic players have EVER been capped for England at any time in the club's history and certainly none since the 1980s. You may be thinking about Chris Sutton who came on as a substitute against Cameroon in 1997-98 while he was with Blackburn Rovers.

Baxter's Last Match. Jim Kirkland

Q Roger Campbell asks: " Which team was the opposition when Jim Baxter played his last (league) game for Rangers? Did a Jim Kirk or Kirkland play against him and what was that player's record with Aberdeen?

A The late 'Slim' Jim's last outing for any Rangers first team match was a League fixture against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on December 20th 1969 (though Baxter didn't officially retire from playing until the following November) and, yes, Jim Kirkland played at left-back for the Dons. Rangers won the match 3-2.

Kirkland made his Aberdeen debut at left-half in Iceland on September 13th 1967 when Aberdeen won 4-1 against KR Reykjavik in a Cup-Winners Cup tie but didn't feature again until 1969-70. His first League appearance was at home to Celtic on October 29th 1969 - a clash the Dons also lost 3-2.

That was the start of a run of thirteen appearances in fourteen League games for Kirkland. The Rangers match was his ninth outing. Although he wasn't a member of Aberdeen's victorious Scottish Cup side of 1970 he also took part in the first two ties of that campaign. The second of these - a 2-1 home win over Clydebank on Feb 11th 1970 - was his last appearance for the first eleven.

All in all he played sixteen times for the Dons - thirteen League, two Scottish Cup and one match in Europe. Kirkland was transferred to Grimsby Town in the summer of 1970.

Bertie Auld and Partick Thistle

Q "I'd love to know who the Partick Thistle manager was after Bertie Auld?", asks Carol Hamilton.

A Auld was actually in charge of Thistle twice. He replaced Davie McParland as manager in 1974 and in this spell in charge led the Jags to the First Division title in 1976 and then kept them in the Premier Division. He was succeeded in 1980 by Peter Cormack.

With Thistle languishing near the foot of the First Division, Bertie returned as boss in April 1986 taking over from Benny Rooney. He didn't stay long and was succeeded later that year by Derek Johnstone.

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