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List of Scotland national football team hat-tricks

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A head and upper shoulders shot of a statue of a footballer
Denis Law, who scored three hat tricks for Scotland, pictured here in a statue outside Old Trafford.

Since Scotland's first international association football match on 30 November 1872,[1] 33 players have scored three goals (a hat-trick) or more in a game. The first player to do so was John McDougall,[2][3] in a match against England on 2 May 1878.[1] The most goals scored by a single player in a match is five, scored by Hughie Gallacher in a 1928–29 British Home Championship match against Ireland on 23 February 1929[4][5] and Joe Harper in a friendly against a Canada Olympic team on 13 June 1967,[6] although some reports credit at least one of their goals to other players.[7][8] Denis Law is the only player to have scored four goals in a single match more than once. Robert Smyth McColl, Gallacher and Law are tied for the most hat-tricks for Scotland's international team, with three hat-tricks each.

The most recent player to score a hat-trick for Scotland was John McGinn, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against San Marino on 13 October 2019.[9] Steven Fletcher (twice), Robert Snodgrass, James Forrest and McGinn all scored hat-tricks for Scotland between 2015 and 2019,[10][11][12][13][9] ending a long wait dating back to 17 May 1969, when Colin Stein scored four goals in the 8–0 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifying win over Cyprus.[10][14]

Scotland have conceded eight hat-tricks in total, with the first scored by England's Fred Spiksley in 1893 – this does not appear in all records, with the last goal of a 5–2 scoreline being mistakenly attributed to Jack Reynolds for some time.[15] The second instance 62 years later, featuring four goals by Dennis Wilshaw of England on 2 April 1955 in a 1954–55 British Home Championship match,[16] remains the highest individual player total for either team in the fixture and the only occasion an opposing player has scored four times in a match.

Nico Claesen of Belgium was the first player from outside the Home Nations to score a hat-trick against Scotland, in the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying match on 1 April 1987.[17] Scotland had only conceded five hat-tricks until the 2003–04 season when the feat was achieved against them in successive matches, first by Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Netherlands in a UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying playoff match against the, and then by Robert Earnshaw for Wales in a friendly.[18] The most recent hat-trick conceded by Scotland was in May 2012, when Landon Donovan scored three times in a 5–1 win for the United States in a friendly.[19]

Hat-tricks for Scotland

[edit]
Key
More than a hat-trick scored *
Table

Wartime internationals, not regarded as official matches, are not included in the list. The result is presented with Scotland's score first.

Date Goals Player Opponent Venue Competition Result Ref[a]
2 March 1878
3
 John McDougall England England Hampden Park [I], Glasgow Friendly
7–2
 [1]
13 March 1880
3
 George Ker England England Hampden Park [I], Glasgow Friendly
5–4
 [1]
12 March 1881
3
 John Smith England England Kennington Oval, London Friendly
6–1
 [20]
14 March 1885
3
 Alex Higgins Ireland Ireland Hampden Park [II], Glasgow 1884–85 British Home Championship
8–2
 [20]
23 March 1885[b]
3
 Joseph Lindsay Wales Wales Acton Park, Wrexham 1884–85 British Home Championship
8–1
 [20][b]
20 March 1886
3
 Charles Heggie Ireland Ireland Ulster Ground, Belfast 1885–86 British Home Championship
7–2
 [20]
24 March 1888
4*
 William Dickson Ireland Ireland Solitude Ground, Belfast 1887–88 British Home Championship
10–2
 [20]
9 March 1889
3
 Willie Groves Ireland Ireland Ibrox Park [I], Glasgow 1888–89 British Home Championship
7–0
 [20]
22 March 1890
4*
 William Paul Wales Wales Underwood Park, Paisley 1889–90 British Home Championship
5–0
 [20]
29 March 1889
3
 Gilbert Rankin Ireland Ireland Ulster Ground, Belfast 1889–90 British Home Championship
4–1
 [20]
18 March 1893
3
 John Barker Wales Wales Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 1892–93 British Home Championship
8–0
 [21]
18 March 1893
4*
 Jake Madden Wales Wales Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 1892–93 British Home Championship
8–0
 [21]
19 March 1898
3
 James Gillespie Wales Wales Fir Park, Motherwell 1897–98 British Home Championship
5–2
 [21]
18 March 1899
3
 Robert Smyth McColl Wales Wales Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 1898–99 British Home Championship
6–0
 [21]
25 March 1899
3
 Robert Smyth McColl Ireland Ireland Celtic Park, Glasgow 1898–99 British Home Championship
9–1
 [21]
7 April 1900
3
 Robert Smyth McColl England England Celtic Park, Glasgow 1899–1900 British Home Championship
4–1
 [21]
23 February 1901
4*
 Sandy McMahon Ireland Ireland Celtic Park, Glasgow 1900–01 British Home Championship
11–0
 [22]
23 February 1901
4*
 Robert Hamilton Ireland Ireland Celtic Park, Glasgow 1900–01 British Home Championship
11–0
 [22]
1 March 1902
3
 Robert Hamilton Ireland Ireland Grosvenor Park, Belfast 1901–02 British Home Championship
5–1
 [22]
14 March 1908
4*
 Jimmy Quinn Ireland Ireland Dalymount Park, Dublin 1907–08 British Home Championship
5–0
 [22]
27 February 1926
3
 Hughie Gallacher Ireland Ireland Ibrox Park, Glasgow 1925–26 British Home Championship
4–0
 [4]
27 February 1928
3
 Alex Jackson England England Wembley Stadium, London 1927–28 British Home Championship
5–1
 [4]
27 October 1928
3
 Hughie Gallacher Wales Wales Ibrox Park, Glasgow 1927–28 British Home Championship
4–2
 [4]
23 February 1929
5*
 Hughie Gallacher[c] Ireland Ireland Windsor Park, Belfast 1928–29 British Home Championship
7–3
 [4]
26 May 1929
3
 Alec Cheyne Norway Norway Brann Stadion, Bergen Friendly
7–3
 [4]
26 May 1932
3
 Neil Dewar France France Stade Olympique, Colombes Friendly
3–1
 [23]
1 October 1949
3
 Henry Morris Ireland Ireland Windsor Park, Belfast 1949–50 British Home Championship /
1950 FIFA World Cup qualifying
8–2
 [24]
1 November 1950
4*
 Billy Steel Ireland Ireland Hampden Park, Glasgow 1950–51 British Home Championship
6–2
 [24]
20 May 1951
3
 George Hamilton Belgium Belgium Stade Heysel, Brussels Friendly
5–0
 [16]
30 April 1952
3
 Lawrie Reilly United States United States Hampden Park, Glasgow Friendly
6–0
 [16]
8 May 1957
3
 Jackie Mudie Spain Spain Hampden Park, Glasgow 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification
4–2
 [25]
7 October 1961
3
 Alex Scott Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Windsor Park, Belfast 1961–62 British Home Championship
6–1
 [26]
7 November 1962
4*
 Denis Law Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Windsor Park, Belfast 1962–63 British Home Championship
5–1
 [26]
4 June 1963
3
 Denis Law[d] Norway Norway Brann Stadion, Bergen Friendly
3–4
 [26]
7 November 1963
4*
 Denis Law Norway Norway Hampden Park, Glasgow Friendly
6–1
 [26]
13 June 1967
5*
 Joe Harper[f] Canada Canada Olympic team Alexander Park, Winnipeg Friendly
7–2
 [7][27][8]
17 May 1969
4*
 Colin Stein Cyprus Cyprus Hampden Park, Glasgow 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification
8–0
 [14]
29 March 2015
3
 Steven Fletcher Gibraltar Gibraltar Hampden Park, Glasgow UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
6–1
 [10]
11 October 2015
3
 Steven Fletcher Gibraltar Gibraltar Estádio Algarve, Faro UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
6–0
 [11]
4 September 2016
3
 Robert Snodgrass Malta Malta Ta' Qali National Stadium, Ta' Qali 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
5–1
 [12]
20 November 2018
3
 James Forrest Israel Israel Hampden Park, Glasgow 2018–19 UEFA Nations League
3–2
 [13]
13 October 2019
3
 John McGinn San Marino San Marino Hampden Park, Glasgow UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
6–0
 [9]

Hat-tricks conceded by Scotland

[edit]

Wartime internationals, not regarded as official matches, are not included in the list. The result is presented with Scotland's score first.

Scotland have conceded eight hat-tricks, five of which have been scored by players from the Home Nations.

Date Goals Player Opponent Venue Competition Result Ref[a]
1 April 1893e
3
 Fred Spiksley  England Athletic Ground, Richmond 1892–93 British Home Championship
2–5
 [15]
2 April 1955
4*
 Dennis Wilshaw England England Wembley Stadium, London 1954–55 British Home Championship
2–7
 [16][28]
15 April 1961
3
 Jimmy Greaves England England Wembley Stadium, London 1960–61 British Home Championship
3–9
 [26]
19 May 1979
3
 John Toshack Wales Wales Ninian Park, Cardiff 1978–79 British Home Championship
0–3
 [29]
1 April 1987
3
 Nico Claesen Belgium Belgium Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
1–4
 [17]
19 November 2003
3
 Ruud van Nistelrooy Netherlands Netherlands Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying playoff
0–6
 [18]
18 February 2004
3
 Robert Earnshaw Wales Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Friendly
0–4
 [18]
27 May 2012
3
 Landon Donovan United States United States EverBank Field, Jacksonville Friendly
1–5
 [19]

Notes

[edit]

a A full list of Scotland results for 1872–1880, 1881–1890, 1891–1900, 1901–1910, 1911–1920, 1921–1930, 1931–1939, 1946–1950, 1951–1955, 1956–1960, 1961–1965, 1966–1970, 1971–1975, 1976–1980, 1981–1985, 1986–1990, 1991–1995, 1996–2001, 2002–2005, 2006–2010, 2011–2015, 2016–2020, 2021–2022 are listed on the RSSSF website. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
b Some sources attribute another goal in this match, elsewhere credited to Robert Calderwood, to William Anderson – this would make a hat-trick for Anderson, completed earlier chronologically than that of Joseph Lindsay.[30][31]
c Hughie Gallacher is credited with Scotland's sixth goal (his fifth) in some sources,[4][5] although RSSSF credit it to Alex James.[4]
d This is Scotland's only hat-trick in a game that they lost.
e One of the goals is credited to Jack Reynolds in some sources.[15]
f Joe Harper is credited with five goals in some sources, but only three in others.[8]

References

[edit]
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d "Scotland – International Matches 1872–1880 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  2. ^ Murray, Scott (11 February 2011). "The Joy of Six: Great comebacks". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  3. ^ "John McDougall – A Squad". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Scotland – International Matches 1921–1930 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Snap Facts". The Scottish Football Association. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  6. ^ Nap-Hand Harper, Evening Times, 14 June 1967, scan via London Hearts Supporters Club
  7. ^ a b "Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. 9 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Mitchell, Andy (7 February 2023). "Did Joe Harper really score five? The conundrum of Scotland's 1967 World Tour". Scottish Sport History. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Lamont, Alasdair (13 October 2019). "Scotland 6–0 San Marino". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Lamont, Alasdair (29 March 2015). "Scotland 6–1 Gibraltar". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  11. ^ a b Lamont, Alasdair (11 October 2015). "Gibraltar 0–6 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Malta 1–5 Scotland". BBC Sport. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  13. ^ a b Lamont, Alasdair (20 November 2018). "Scotland 3-2 Israel". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Scotland – International Matches 1966–1970 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  15. ^ a b c "England 5 Scotland 2 (1 April 1893)". englandfootballonline. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  16. ^ a b c d "Scotland – International Matches 1951–1955 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Scotland – International Matches 1986–1990 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  18. ^ a b c "Scotland – International Matches 2002–2005 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  19. ^ a b "USA cruise to comfortable win over Scotland in Jacksonville". BBC Sport. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h "Scotland – International Matches 1881–1890 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Scotland – International Matches 1891–1900 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  22. ^ a b c d "Scotland – International Matches 1901–1910 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  23. ^ "Scotland – International Matches 1931–1939 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  24. ^ a b "Scotland – International Matches 1946–1950 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  25. ^ "Scotland – International Matches 1956–1960 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  26. ^ a b c d e "Scotland – International Matches 1961–1965 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  27. ^ "Scotland Unofficial Matches 1964-1967". RSSSF. 23 July 2020.
  28. ^ England v Scotland 1955 video footage from Pathé News
  29. ^ "Scotland – International Matches 1976–1980 – Details". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  30. ^ Mitchell, Andy (2021). The men who made Scotland: The definitive Who's Who of Scottish Football Internationalists 1872-1939. Amazon. ISBN 9798513846642.
  31. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
General

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