Arse 'Friends' Dyslexic? Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Firstly, apologies if this has already been discussed - went back three or four pages and couldn't spot anything. Am I right in thinking that under some "gentleman's agreement" between the Home Nations FAs it's not (currently) possible for Andy to play for Scotland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Weathers Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Firstly, apologies if this has already been discussed - went back three or four pages and couldn't spot anything. Am I right in thinking that under some "gentleman's agreement" between the Home Nations FAs it's not (currently) possible for Andy to play for Scotland? Yes. And rightly so, he's not Scottish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambos are go! Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Driver came to Scotland as a Schoolboy and played at School and youth level. I think he played for Scotttish Schools. I think that qualifies him to play for Scotland even under the Home International agreement. But he currently opts for England and thats fair enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainmac Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Driver came to Scotland as a Schoolboy and played at School and youth level. I think he played for Scotttish Schools. I think that qualifies him to play for Scotland even under the Home International agreement. But he currently opts for England and thats fair enough. Jhudas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Sexington Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Driver came to Scotland as a Schoolboy and played at School and youth level. I think he played for Scotttish Schools. I think that qualifies him to play for Scotland even under the Home International agreement. But he currently opts for England and thats fair enough. He doesn't opt for England. Because of the gentleman's agreement between the FA's, he's been told he has no chance of playing for Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamboinheaven Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 no just no he is not scottish born so no,and novo no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arse 'Friends' Dyslexic? Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 He doesn't opt for England. Because of the gentleman's agreement between the FA's, he's been told he has no chance of playing for Scotland. That's what I thought. The thing is though, for who's benefit is this agreement? I'd imagine it was originally brought in at the insistance of Scotland (and maybe Wales/NI) so as not to steal away talented players (yes, we used to have some! ) who thought they'd have a greater chance to win silverware with England (sound familiar? ) I think it may be time to ditch this agreement. Home is where the heart is (ooh that sounds good - I may copyright it! ) and if a player is eligible, and willing, to put it on the line for Scotland then that's good enough for me. But maybe not Nacho Novo - unless he scores against England like that other "great Scot" Don Hutchison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudi Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Driver came to Scotland as a Schoolboy and played at School and youth level. I think he played for Scotttish Schools. I think that qualifies him to play for Scotland even under the Home International agreement. But he currently opts for England and thats fair enough. Nah mate,I sure it was the same with Giggs,played for English schools but didn't qualify for full international so stuck with Wales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beverley Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Nah mate,I sure it was the same with Giggs,played for English schools but didn't qualify for full international so stuck with Wales. i'm sure i read that he chose to play for wales rather than england cos he wanted to, rather than any agreement? i may be wrong though, but i remember that from somewhere in the murkiness of my memory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudi Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 i'm sure i read that he chose to play for wales rather than england cos he wanted to, rather than any agreement? i may be wrong though, but i remember that from somewhere in the murkiness of my memory Played for England at school boy level,but because he was born in Wales(although brought mainly up in England) he had really no choice but to play for Wales,whether he wanted to or not. Still,I'd love to see Driver in a Scotland shirt though,think he's more scottish than English. If the EFA U-21 asked him to play for them he'd be bonkers not to IMO though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vulture Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Nah mate,I sure it was the same with Giggs,played for English schools but didn't qualify for full international so stuck with Wales. Ryan Giggs born in Cardiff but was educated in Salford, so hence how he played for England schools. Giggs always claimed he never wanted to play for England as he is Welsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Tolbooth Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'm sure I saw him drinking a pint of McEwans last year, that should just about qualify him in the SFA's corrupt eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamcow1 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Yes. And rightly so, he's not Scottish. hold on he has been here since he was 13, he played english boys level i think and thats it,if he wants to ply for scotland then i say get him in i wasnt born here but have been here ten years(ok my man nda are scottish) but if i were capable of actualy playing football then id like to think i could play for my adopted(and ancestral) homeland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chester copperpot Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 hold on he has been here since he was 13, he played english boys level i think and thats it,if he wants to ply for scotland then i say get him in i wasnt born here but have been here ten years(ok my man nda are scottish) but if i were capable of actualy playing football then id like to think i could play for my adopted(and ancestral) homeland I actually though he'd been here since he was 10, but may be wrong. I'd love and have no problem with him playing for Scotland. Unless he feels English and is just using Scotland as a way to gaining some international recognition. Considering Scotland isn't exactly blessed with left sided midfielders, I'd take him in a second. I'd like to think I'd say that regardless of the club he played for though. Nacho Novo can GTF though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambos are go! Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Michael Owen was born in Wales but played for England at SchoolBoy and International level. How was this allowed if place of birth/parentage were the only criteria? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthVodka Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'm pretty sure Ive read Driver has checked possible avenues to see if he was eligible to play for Scotland - all dead ends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake Plissken Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Has Driver not been called up to England U-21 squads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vulture Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Michael Owen was born in Wales but played for England at SchoolBoy and International level. How was this allowed if place of birth/parentage were the only criteria? He was born in Chester, not Wales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambos are go! Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 He was born in Chester, not Wales. He was born just outside Chester in Wales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossi_1983 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Giggs was born in Wales, but his dad was English, so he could have chosen to play for England. He didn't though as his folks had split up and he blamed his dad (Also why he is known by his mother's maiden name Giggs...can't remember what his father's name was, but he changes it shortly after they split) I don't think Driver's parents were born in Scotland, so he doesn't have that choice. Normally nationality rules would apply, but as has been mentioned, the home nations have an agreement so there is no way Driver can currently play for Scotland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jambojim52 Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 The whole international thing is a farce. Some seem to saying that if someone with Ronadhinio's talent, moved to Scotland aged 3months and wanted to play for us, they would refuse. That seems a bit daft to me. However in no way am I infavour of Novo playing for us. He has not stayed here long enough IMHO. As for A Driver, I personally want him fit and well in a Hearts shirt and not getting injured playing meaning less games like Argentina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarthVodka Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Giggs was born in Wales, but his dad was English, so he could have chosen to play for England. He didn't though as his folks had split up and he blamed his dad (Also why he is known by his mother's maiden name Giggs...can't remember what his father's name was, but he changes it shortly after they split) I don't think Driver's parents were born in Scotland, so he doesn't have that choice. Normally nationality rules would apply, but as has been mentioned, the home nations have an agreement so there is no way Driver can currently play for Scotland Yeah his parents and sisters moved up here when Driver got picked up by Hearts from Oldham I believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedp6873 Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Fact and i am sure there will be someone along the now to confirm this: Andrew Driver was a Scotland International Schoolboy scoring a goal against England in the Victory Shield Competition 2003. As a senior player, however, Driver is only eligible to play for England and is on the fringes of Stuart Pearces England U21 squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portobellojambo1 Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 He was born just outside Chester in Wales Michael Owen was born in Chester (think the nearest hospital was there) but grew up in a place called Hawarden, a few miles outside of Chester, and just over the border in Wales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudi Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Michael Owen was born in Chester (think the nearest hospital was there) but grew up in a place called Hawarden, a few miles outside of Chester, and just over the border in Wales. Just read his dad's is infact English,so really no argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ribble Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 The whole reason the gentlemans agreement still stands id down to the fear that if residency was allowed ie novo or driver then it would possibly give fifa more ammo in trying to merge the home nations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbo Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Giggs was born in Wales, but his dad was English, so he could have chosen to play for England. He didn't though as his folks had split up and he blamed his dad (Also why he is known by his mother's maiden name Giggs...can't remember what his father's name was, but he changes it shortly after they split) The father's name is Wilson and Giggs's change of name took place after his appearances for England Schoolboys, hence he played for them as Ryan Wilson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_R Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 I think driver would do a job for scotland if he avoids injuries but priority is he delivers for us and stays clear of injuries first. I think if the likes of matt elliot, don hutchison, neil sullivan etc can play for scotland in my opinion Driver who has grew up here as more right to play for the nation than some who have never even visted the capital or barely been in the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdoffstl Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Fact and i am sure there will be someone along the now to confirm this: Andrew Driver was a Scotland International Schoolboy scoring a goal against England in the Victory Shield Competition 2003. As a senior player, however, Driver is only eligible to play for England and is on the fringes of Stuart Pearces England U21 squad. Spot on - Andy has also checked out all the possible avenues regarding playing for Scotland at U/21 level as that was his preferred choice but under current rules he can't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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