It was the worst shower seen at Hampden since Berti Vogts was picking the team.
A watershed moment in Scottish football.
And totally unexpected. I was personally assured there’d be no rain in Glasgow on Tuesday night by Boris Johnson …
I’m talking, of course, about the monsoon madness six minutes into Scotland v Georgia.
I reckon it’s the first time the Hampden pitch has been waterlogged since the Dundee Utd players couldn’t stop greetin’ after the 1991 Scottish Cup Final.
(It reminded me of the time Motherwell Baths played Airdrie Baths at water polo - and two of the Airdrie horses drowned.)
The match was delayed for an incredible hour and a half! It was like a VAR check for a stonewall penalty against Rangers.
Having checked the record books, I can tell you it was the latest finish to a professional football match in the UK since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd were chasing a 0-1 deficit.
There was talk of abandoning the game and playing it last night at St.Mirren Park. Apparently, Hampden was already booked on Wednesday for a concert by Wet Wet Wet.
I only saw the highlights on Sportscene (rescheduled for 2.30am) and I salute my wee pal Jonathan Sutherland. He must have been KNACKERED when he went to school in the morning.
Up in the radio gantry, I’m told my other BBC chum Steven Thompson was down to his boxers at one point. He’d overheard a Hampden official saying some good drainpipes would help…
Thank goodness the pundits were under cover. If that rain had got into Leanne Crichton’s hair, I don’t think she’d have been able to walk to the car-park.
Hats off to everyone who grabbed a squeegee and valiantly tried to clear the pitch.
Personally, I’d have got the Hampden DJ to announce the park was actually flooded with vodka and the Tartan Army would have hoovered it up in no time.
The Scotland fans haven’t seen so many sweepers on the pitch since Craig Levein was in charge.
Plans are now afoot for a movie about the clear-up operation. It’s going to be called Weegies With Squeegees. (And it’ll probably be available from The Barras later this week…)
When the rain first came pouring down, I’d have used Lawrence Shankland’s forehead as a dam.
Pundits often talk about “playing in the channels”. This was like playing in the English Channel.
Think how much could have been raised for charity if Graeme Souness was on the bench? (Aye, it was definitely a great night for the subs…)
I’m still laughing at all the people insisting Hampden isn’t fit for purpose and should be bulldozed. Get a grip FFS! Mount Florida got about eight years’ rain in five minutes.
I suggest we just enjoy another great victory which I personally celebrated at full-time by pouring champagne on my cornflakes.
Just how late did the game finish? With half an hour still on the clock, young Aaron Hickey got shouted in by his mum.
And most of the post-match interviews were on the Lorraine show.
It was a particularly special night for Scott McTominay. Apart from adding to his impressive goals tally and picking up the Man of the Match award, he also got his badge for the 50m backstroke.
(I remember when my sister was last in the 100m breaststroke at high school. She later complained that all the other girls were using their arms…)
As expected for a game that eventually finished close to midnight, travel chaos ensued.
One guy I know only got home after thumbing a lift from a passing canoe, while another pal managed to hitch a ride on a milk float.
Overall, though, a great night for Scotland: another three points, miles clear at the top of Group A and a huge step closer to qualifying for Euro 2024.
And it wasn’t such a bad night for the Hampden ground staff.
When they brought in the nets at full-time, they were apparently full of salmon…
PS. Next year’s hosts are Germany. I’d now fancy us to win the tournament if it was Atlantis.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
