THE ANGLO-SCOTTISH CUP

SAM TODD LOOKS BACK AT A COMPETITION THAT FLEETINGLY PITTED ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH CLUBS AGAINST EACH OTHER...

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IT WAS, according to Brian Clough, a trophy that most managers “didn't want to piss in”. Yet, from 1975 to 1981, the Anglo-Scottish Cup enabled non-European qualifiers from England and Scotland to clash in a cross-border competition that flickered with moments of glory, rivalry and indifference.

The tournament, succeeding the British Isles-encompassing Texaco Cup (1970-1975), saw 16 English clubs compete in four groups of four and play each of the other teams in their group once. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw, and (except in 1976-77) a bonus point for scoring three or more goals in a match.

Meanwhile, eight Scottish sides played a two-legged elimination round to determine who would join the English group winners in the quarterfinals. The event then continued as a straight knockout, with each tie - including the final - played on a home and away basis.

The first edition in 1975-76 carried some prestige as six of the English contingent were drawn from that season's topflight.

One of those half-dozen were Middlesbrough, managed at the time by Jack Charlton. They beat Fulham in the final thanks to an own goal by Les Strong, who inadvertently turned a Terry Cooper cross into his own net during the first leg at Boro’s old Ayresome Park ground before a goalless Craven Cottage return.

However, many clubs south of the border thought the Anglo-Scottish Cup was beneath them.

Newcastle United were expelled from the competition in 1976-77 for playing a weakened team in their quarterfinal first leg against Ayr United, while only three top tier sides from England participated in 1979-80 and none in 1980-81 when representation stretched down to Fourth Division Bury.