Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead.

However unofficial internationals featuring scratch teams representing Scotland continued.

Scotland faced England in a wartime international on 10 October 1942 at Wembley Stadium in front of 75,000 fans.

The Scotland team that day comprised: Jerry Dawson, Jimmy Carabine, Andy Beattie, Bill Shankly, Willie Corbett, Matt Busby, Willie Waddell, Tommy Walker, Jock Dodds, Gordon Bremner and Billy Liddell The two teams met again at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 17 April 1943 in front of a crowd of 105,000.

The Scotland team that day comprised: Jerry Dawson, Jimmy Carabine, Jock Shaw, Bill Shankly, George Young, Sammy Kean, Willie Waddell, Willie Buchan, Dougie Wallace, Alex Venters and Billy Liddell.