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If you are going to score one international goal, you might as well make it special. José Luis Brown scoring for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final takes some beating. Kieran Trippier scored his only England goal in a World Cup semi-final. Gary Mackay’s only goal for Scotland helped the Republic of Ireland reach Euro 88. And the general hilarity of Davide Gualtieri’s sole strike for San Marino ensures that it lives on in the memory.
Another player who can be added to this list is David Narey. His only goal for Scotland was a screamer against Brazil at the 1982 World Cup. The response to Narey’s moment of glory has added to its impact. Little did he know the story his right boot was about to tell as he let fly on that sweltering evening in Sevilla.
Narey’s journey to the World Cup in Spain started a decade earlier. Signed by Dundee United on a schoolboy contract in 1972, he made his debut the following year as a 17-year-old. Narey started his career in midfield before developing into a fine centre-back and having a legendary club partnership with Paul Hegarty.
Capped by Scotland in April 1977 – Dundee United’s first player to represent Scotland at full international level – Narey’s career was on the rise. Dundee United won the Scottish League Cup in 1980 and 1981, and reached the last eight of the Uefa Cup in 1981-82. Jim McLean was building a team that would go on to win the Scottish Premiership and reach the semi-finals of the European Cup.
As well as Narey’s superb club form, his versatility appealed to Scotland manager Jock Stein. Narey played his way back into the international picture just before the tournament and was seen as a viable option at right-back, centre-back and midfield. He was not picked for the opening match against New Zealand but came off the bench with seven minutes to go, replacing Gordon Strachan in midfield.
The 5-2 victory was very welcome after the scars left by the 1978 World Cup, but the sloppy goals they conceded dented Scotland’s goal difference – which would prove important come their final group match against the USSR. But, before that crunch game, they had a meeting with a Brazil side that was thrilling the world. The names still roll off the tongue: Zico, Sócrates, Éder, Júnior, Falcão. Brazil were playing football from a different planet.
Stein tinkered with his team after the New Zealand match. Out went captain Danny McGrain, Allan Evans, Alan Brazil and Kenny Dalglish. Narey was brought in to replace McGrain at right-back and he quickly made his mark. New skipper Graeme Souness started the move that led to Narey’s stunning goal. His diagonal ball into the Brazil penalty area was nodded into Narey’s path by John Wark. Driving towards two Brazilian defenders, Narey let fly. His shot faded away from keeper Waldir Peres and found the top corner of the net. Bounding away with a smile as wide as the Tay, Narey held his arms above his head before celebrating with Souness, Asa Hartford and Steve Archibald.
Scotland were leading Brazil in a World Cup match. Sadly, the goal had come 70 minutes too soon. If anything, it woke up Scotland’s opponents. We Made Them Angry is an appropriate title for a book about Scotland’s 1982 World Cup experience. Zico equalised with a deadly free-kick before Oscar headed in from a corner to edge Brazil in front. With Scotland tiring in the stifling conditions, superb goals from Eder and Falcão gave Brazil a 4-1 win and, crucially, eroded Scotland’s positive goal difference.
There was no shame in losing to that Brazil team and Narey’s goal provided a small crumb of comfort. Described as “tremendous” by BBC commentator John Motson, and “splendid”, “spectacular” and “magnificent” in various newspaper reports, there could be no doubting the quality of Narey’s goal. But a line from co-commentator Jimmy Hill made the biggest impact.
Hill did not mean any disrespect when he described Narey’s goal as a “toe poke”. Indeed, he later defended himself, claiming that this particular way of striking the ball was a skill. But the damage had been done. The Tartan Army were not in a forgiving mood. For years to come, Hill would be derided.
The chant “We hate Jimmy Hill” would often be heard at Scotland matches in subsequent years and fans were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Nous Detestons Jeemie Heel” as late as France 1998. Apparently Hill was more amused than upset by his role of a pantomime villain. His remark still resonates today. An Edinburgh fringe play called The Toe Poke can be seen later this year and there is also a Scottish football podcast with the same name.
Scotland failed to qualify from their group at that World Cup – they drew 2-2 with the USSR and went out on goal difference – but Narey’s goal lived on and on.
This article is by Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog
