It is many people’s childhood dream to be capped by Scotland, but not everyone gets to do it in tandem with a friend who has shared that aspiration every step of the way.
When Josh Doig and Andy Irving came on for the last half hour of the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein, it cemented a bond and a vision which had first taken shape in the playground of Edinburgh’s Newcraighall Primary School.
“It was just after half-time myself and Andy got the shout,” Doig, the 23-year-old Sassuolo left back said. “It’s funny because we’re really close. I grew up with Andy all the way through primary school and we’ve been pals for ages. So to come on [for their respective debuts] at the same time, we were like, ‘oh my god’. We didn’t know what to say.
“We knew we had a job to do, obviously, but I was like, ‘this is unbelievable’. You just need to try and calm yourself down.
“Andy’s two years older, but we grew up together. His dad and my dad are best friends. They played together at Edinburgh City and stuff, so we grew up together. I’m talking primary school to spending every New Year together, so it’s just mental for us to come on and make our Scotland debuts at the same time. I’m buzzing for Andy and myself.
“There are only about 100 people there [on the Newcraighall roll], which is what makes it so crazy because it’s so small. It’s a nice story for the school, Andy and myself.”
Having first been called up to the Scotland squad in September 2022, Doig — who also attended Portobello High School with Irving — has had to be patient, but this first appearance capped an excellent season in which he helped his club back to Serie A at the first time of asking.
Thriving under the tutelage of Fabio Grosso — who won the World Cup with Italy in that same left back position — Doig has built on a strong 18 months with Hellas Verona, the club he joined from Hibernian in the summer of 2022.
His form has been such that Juventus — now managed by the former Verona boss Igor Tudor — have opened conversations about a prospective £10m summer transfer, while Celtic were also linked in recent days.
“It [his time with Sassuolo] has been mad with the obvious ups and downs, but to get promoted at the end of it and obviously to get capped now, it’s just been such a good season for myself.
“It’s my first trophy I’ve won with a team, so that’s a first, and then obviously I’ve come here and got my first cap. I’m just bursting with pride to get it all done and now I need to focus on next season.”
If Doig stays put in Emilia Romagna, he will welcome another couple of Scottish scudetto winners to the Mapei Stadium on the opening night of the Serie A season. Napoli’s Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour have continued a recent tradition of Scots making a splash in the bel paese, with Lewis Ferguson having also captained Bologna to their first trophy in 51 years when they defeated Milan in the Coppa Italia final last month. Aaron Hickey — a former team-mate of Doig’s in the Hearts youth set-up — had previously earned a £20m move to Brentford on the back of two excellent seasons at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
“We’ve got a good name over there: obviously Scotty and Billy are big names, Ché [Adams] is doing well [at Torino], Liam [Henderson, the Empoli midfielder about to begin his eighth season in Italy] and Fergie as well.
“There are so many Scottish players over there just now making their mark. For young boys coming through, it’s a place that you can look and see there are opportunities. It’s exciting times.
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“Hickey kicked it off. It seems to be a good market for them [Italian clubs]. When I first went over, I spoke to Hickey. He said it was just such a different lifestyle altogether, but I’m loving it, absolutely loving it. I couldn’t be happier over there.”
Doig’s parents — Tommy and Lynda — are regular visitors to Modena, the town 12 miles from Sassuolo where junior has set up camp. A pre-arranged holiday prevented them from being in Vaduz for his international bow, but when he emerged from the bench for an energetic cameo, you could just about hear the cheers coming all the way from their vantage point in Ibiza’s Highlander Bar.
“I texted my mum and dad right after the game and they were delighted for me,” Doig said. “What am I going to do with my shirt? I’ll probably have to give it to my mum and dad when I get back home. I’ll put it up somewhere for them.”
