Old Baggies

DEREK McINNES
SCOTLAND, 2 CAPS
(CAREER: 2)

V DENMARK, HAMPDEN PARK, 21 AUGUST 2002
V PORTUGAL, ESTADIO PRIMEIRO DE MAIO BRAGA, 20 NOVEMBER 2002

Some Albion watchers will go to any lengths to see members of our team run out and represent their national side, to see them exchange the stripes for the relevant national dress. It’s been easier to catch a glimpse of more recent internationals as transport has improved, and as Albion have had more of them, a reflection of our recent successes and of the change in the domestic game, its United Nations character. Our fans may have caught Larus Sigurdsson, Igor Balis, Andy Johnson, Junichi Inamoto in action, while going a little further back, perhaps our fan strained to be in the right place at the right time to watch Jeff Astle, Don Howe, Bobby Robson, Willie Johnston, Cyrille Regis or Ronnie Allen earn a cap.

Photo by Laurie Rampling - www.wbapics.com

Personally, I’ve seen two Albion internationals in action, and on the same night at that. Scott Dobie was the first, coming on for Scotland after 55 minutes against Denmark at the new Hampden Park. Left sitting on the bench as Dobie ran on, and, admittedly a little surprised to be sweating on his debut at the age of 31, was Derek McInnes.

Derek’s call up to the colours came on the back of what was perhaps the best year of his playing career, 2001/2, when he was an incredible inspiration to the side that was a lap behind the Wolves with 200 metres to go and still overhauled them to win the most remarkable, and unlikely, promotion of recent years and inflict a psychological blow from which Staffordshire still hasn’t recovered. The relish with which Derek still recalls watching his then near neighbour Colin Cameron heading off to pre-season training a whole week earlier than Albion had to report back underlines just how quickly he understood that local rivalry and became a central part in it.

Photo by Laurie Rampling - www.wbapics.com

McInnes was perhaps the single most important figure at The Hawthorns in that relentless drive towards automatic promotion, his remorseless pursuit of Wolves, his insistence on Albion continuing to pick up points and “keep them honest” ultimately proving crucial as Molineux endured a collective nervous breakdown and we picked up the pieces.

That gave Derek an opportunity to play in the Premier League for this first time – this side of the border at least, having already made a reputation in the all-conquering Rangers team that won nine titles in a row. Playing in that elevated company heightened McInnes’ profile, essential if he was to catch the eye of new national team manager Berti Vogts, himself in only his fifth game, and whose knowledge of the Scottish game was fairly limited if his selection and training policy was anything to go by.

Having been behind to the Danes’ Ebbe Sand goal from the 8th minute, and struggling to impose any kind of control on the game, it wasn’t until the 81st minute that McInnes got the call, replacing skipper Paul Lambert as the game ebbed away. With little opportunity to get involved, Derek did enough to stay in and around the squad and a second cap followed when the Scots went out to Braga to take on Portugal. The game was in doubt because of torrential rain, but it went ahead, much to Scotland’s discomfort as they went 2-0 behind inside 17 minutes, Rab Douglas also saving a Figo penalty.

Photo by Laurie Rampling - www.wbapics.com

Aberdeen’s Russell Anderson was forced off with injury after 24 minutes and Derek replaced him. Giving a typically feisty, energetic performance, he stiffened the Scottish revolve and though they never looked as if they might get back into the game, at least they stopped the rot and headed back home beaten 2-0, a scoreline that had looked unlikely 20 minutes in.

By the time international football returned in February 2003, Derek had picked up a couple of injuries, Albion’s one dimensional football was slowly taking us out of the top flight, and McInnes’ career with Scotland and, almost, with Albion was over. He left that summer, heading home to Scotland and three seasons as the skipper at Dundee United, a spell that included leading the side out at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final.

After a brief spell with Millwall, Derek joined First Division St Johnstone, and led them to a Scottish Cup semi-final and to within minutes of the SPL, Gretna’s late goal on the final day snatching the prize from them. He lifted the Scottish League Challenge Cup Trophy and then was given the job as St Johnstone’s manager in succession to Owen Coyle after his move to Burnley.

Everybody at The Hawthorns wishes Derek all the best in his new management career. Not that he’ll need any luck. He’ll be a success. Nailed on.