In 1965 Birstall members Tom Hendry and Tony Bull decided it would be a good idea to start a match between the Scots and English players at the Club. Little could they have expected the match to still be going strong some 60 years later.

At the outset each team had 12 players and over the years this has swelled to 24 per side and sometimes more. To bolster the Scots team, players from other local clubs on occasion make guest appearances and in the past this has included some famous names.

Jock Wallace, manager of both Leicester City and Glasgow Rangers, appeared on occasion with his assistant Ian McFarlane, a member at Birstall for many years. Walter McGowan, the World Flyweight Boxing Champion, played in the late sixties and delighted everyone at the post match dinner by jumping up and waltzing round the dining room throwing punches when the dining bell sounded. Jim Melrose and various other Leicester City players also regularly featured as well as players from Leicester Tigers.

With a piper and occasionally a full pipe band seeing the players off the first tee and with the haggis being piped in at the post match dinner, the match represents one of the most memorable days in the Birstall golf calendar. It remains the largest Scotland v England gathering in the East Midlands with the famous Claymore being presented to the winning captain at the dinner. The stories of post match antics are legendary and on the 60th anniversary of the match it was wonderful to see both the Hendry and Bull families attending on a very special day for the Club.