It’s coming, football fans! The big one, the one you’ve been waiting for, the only game that matters. The oldest football international in the world between the Auld Enemy, Scotland and England.

Since the match was announced, the fan interest has been intense, especially the nearer it gets. And the players, well they’re ready, believe me! When they line up on  opposite sides at Cerros Del Agilla, all the build-up, all the mind games, all the trash-talk will go out the window!

Sorry, what’s that you say, Cerros Del Agila? Not Wembley? Is there some other Scotland – England game taking place at Wembley? Well, maybe so, but the real deal, the football game where there’s no conning the referee, no time-wasting and no boring offside tactics, will indeed be kicking off at Cerros De Aguilla on Sunday May 9th at 12 o’clock, comprising the Walking Football Spain Sunday group. Movie buffs are already nicknaming it “High Noon”, the “Duel In The Sun” or “Where Aguillas Dare” (sorry!), but it’s anybody’s guess who’ll “Escape To Victory” on the day.

Seriously though, this fun game came about when the WFS Sunday group was talking about the much-anticipated full international European Championship tie between the two home nations in June and realised that within our own membership there might just be enough players of each nationality to play our own version of the tie.

It’s been agreed that the format will comprise a six-a-side match with a rolling sub for each team. The venue will be the tight, enclosed, AstroTurf pitch at the scenic Cerros Del Agilla sports facility just outside Fuengirola and there will be a referee, even though he is, of necessity, likely to be an Englishman! There will be no no VAR, which means no chance of either side benefitting from say, a Geoff Hurst goal-line or Joe Jordan hand-ball type of decision.

As for the nationalities of the squads available for selection, unsurprisingly, the majority of our group has always comprised mostly Englishmen. Injuries permitting they should have more than enough players from which to choose a competitive team. Not that they will be at their absolute full-strength as their talisman Ant has sportingly withdrawn to leave the field to his older compatriots to hopefully do the job. Other notable absentees for them, due to injury, include Steve Loasby, a more than capable goalkeeper who also likes to play outfield given the chance, defensive stalwart Adrian, commanding centre back Dave Smedley, midfield maestro Cec and the two canny Kevins, but they will be encouraged by the appearance of their prolific striker Alan, who since recently returning to active duty after a lengthy period on the sidelines, has been scoring goals for fun and must be considered a major threat to the Scots. Another big player for England will be the wily John Wright, who will present another clear and present goal-danger to the Tartan Lads. Supporting these two will be the free-running Keith while across the back and marauding forward at every opportunity will be the solid trio of Robert, Steve Maughan and Tony, whose collective miserliness in defence could qualify them as honorary Scots. It’s difficult to see a real weakness in their line-up and just like in the real game, they will probably start favourites.

But don’t rule out the Bravehearts just yet. They will play with courage and no little skill. Leading them will be non-stop midfielder Joe, while he’ll be ably supported by the skilful Ian, whose distance shooting will provide a real goal threat. Up front, the Scots will be expecting Dave Stewart to get on the score-sheet as usual and hoping that Jim’s mobility can trouble the English back three. In goals, the Scots will be boosted by having dedicated keeper Chris on duty and will expect solid defence from Alex, playing for the first time in a Sunday match and honorary Scot for the day, Celtic tiger Darren who will undoubtedly contest every ball with John and Alan. Darren bites your legs!

Both teams can look to their own country’s history in the official games for inspiration. The Scots can look all the way back to 1928 when the Wembley Wizards humbled a strong English side 5-1 in the pouring rain or to 1967 when an irrepressible Scots side containing Denis Law and Jim Baxter (of keepie-uppie fame), tamed the then World Champions 3-2 in their own backyard, in fact handing the English their first defeat since they had won Jules Rimet’s gleaming trophy the year before, which the Scots always say made them World Champions at least for a day!

Admittedly there have been more downs than ups for the Scots down the years, notably the infamous 1963 Wembley 9-3 hiding dished out by Jimmy Greaves et.al when the joke going round the English fans after the game was to ask the time and get the answer “9 past Haffey”, Frank Haffey being the name of the hapless Scottish goalkeeper on the day. Then there was the equally embarrassing 5-1 thrashing of 1975 by an unstoppable England side containing a rampant Gerry Francis and buzz-bomb Kevin Keegan which wrapped up the career of another dodgy Scottish goalkeeper, one Stewart Kennedy, who for one of the goals he conceded, managed to indeed wrap himself around the post. And of course there was the last time the sides met in 1996 at the Euros which is remembered for Uri Geller making the ball move just before Gary McAllister’s fateful penalty miss for Scotland and Gazza’s unforgettable clinching goal at the other end for England.

In the three years since the Sunday group has been meeting, there have been many times when the personnel was almost available to set up a Scotland v England game like this but Sunday coming will indeed be the inaugural match of its type here in Spain.

There may only be national pride and bragging rights to play for but these are motivation enough for both teams, although it goes without saying that we’re all friends off the pitch and that the game will be played fairly and in the true “spirit of the game” on it.

We’re all looking forward to what should be a fun occasion and invite anyone who’s interested to come and watch the game while rooting for your team. This applies whether or not you’ve ever played Walking Football before. You’ll see a bunch of enthusiastic over 50’s rolling back the years, enjoying themselves participating in the game they love and who knows their efforts might even inspire you to want to join a WFS group near you.

So, may the best team win on the day and if the day is a success, the hope is that it could become an annual event. Maybe to be called the Far From Home Internationals!