Footballing legend Harry Hood has been honoured with a Scotland cap decades after he played for the national team.
The well-known Bothwell businessman and footballer passed away almost a year ago but his footballing talents have finally been recognised by the Scottish Football Association.
He appeared in matches against Israel, Hong Kong and Canada which the opposition considered to be full internationals, but the SFA at the time did not.
Now, a posthumous cap has been presented to Harry’s widow Kathleen, in recognition of the games.
The cap was due to be presented to Harry’s family in the match against Israel on March 26, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was instead delivered to a delighted Kathleen, who is beyond proud that her late husband has finally been recognised by the SFA.
Despite regularly scoring goals for Clyde and Celtic, he never got closer to the full Scotland cap his talent deserved than appearances for the Under-23 and Scottish League XIs, and a place on the 1967 world tour by ‘a Scotland XI’.
Siobhan Edwards, Harry’s daughter, said: “We were, as a family, due to attend the Scotland versus Israel game on March 26 to accept dad’s cap. But, totally understandably the game has been postponed.
“My mum has been self-isolating at the age of 75, and as much as this has been difficult for all of us, the cap came as a welcome surprise. My mum was delighted to have the physical cap.”
Harry, who fought cancer for five years, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, May 26, 2019, surrounded by family.
He was a beloved husband to Kathleen, loving father to Lisa, Siobhan and Nicholas and grandfather to five.
Harry enjoyed a glittering football career, playing for Celtic between 1969 and 1976.
He scored a famous hat-trick against Rangers in 1973, a feat no Celtic player managed again until 2016.
Hundreds attended Harry’s funeral last year at St Bride’s Church in Bothwell, to pay tribute to a remarkable man and footballer.
Over the years Harry raised thousands of pounds for the Beatson Cancer Charity, who cared for him throughout his illness.
In 2018 he made an emotional presentation to those who cared for him, handing over a cheque for £50,000.
Harry was also a proud businessman and his Lisini Pub Co’s portfolio consists of Angels Hotel and Castle Rooms in Uddingston; Dalziel Park in Motherwell; Parkville Hotel in Blantyre and the West End Bar in Blantyre.
