WATCHING Liverpool playing Seville in the Europa Cup final brought back happy memories of a time when it wasn’t quite so difficult to obtain a ticket to watch a match at Basel’s St Jakob Stadium.

It was way back on May 19, 1957 when my new wife Wyn and I had flown from Manchester to the Swiss city en route for our honeymoon hotel in Lucerne.

We suddenly realised Scotland were playing Switzerland in Basel that evening in a World Cup qualifier and, as keen soccer fans, we wanted to be there.

We got a taxi, rolled up to the front entrance a couple of hours before kick off and asked to see Scotland coach Jackie Mudie, whom we had known a couple of years before as Northwich Vics player-manager.

We explained we were on our honeymoon and could he get us in as a special treat?

He told us: “I can’t, but I know someone who can” and disappeared into the stand.

Inside a couple of minutes a large, imposing-looking man appeared and introduced himself as none other than Sir George Graham, secretary of the Scottish FA and he understood we wanted to break our honeymoon to shout for the Bonny Lads. Yes, we did and could he help us?

“I certainly can”, replied Sir George, producing a massive brown envelope stuffed with complimentary tickets.

He peeled two off, told us they were in the VIP seats with half-time refreshments included. He wished us a happy game – and a long life together.

Scotland went on to win 2-0 with two great goals by Bobby Collins and they went on to qualify for the World Cup finals in 1958.

We later made our way to Lucerne by taxi, laid on for us by our generous tour organisers. Fifty-nine years on and Wyn and I are still watching football together.

We now follow Mid-Cheshire’s most recently-formed club, the fan- owned and brilliantly-run 1874 Northwich for whom we forecast a very bright future once they are able to find a ground of their own.

Mike Talbot-Butler

Sandiway