We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Scott Hastings, a true servant of our club and proud Scotland international.
Scott represented the club with distinction during his time here, earning the respect of teammates, supporters, and opponents alike. His achievements on the field were matched by the character and commitment he showed away from it.
Everyone at Northern sends sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew him.
Scott arrived at Northern as an unheralded 18-year-old. He turned up on a Saturday afternoon, with a Newcastle Polytechnic mate, bag on his shoulder, and asked if there was any chance of a game. He was told he could turn out for the 3rd team on the far pitch. But such was his impact on the game, the 3rd team skipper, Eric Armstrong, ran across to the main stand at half time, and asked if there were any selectors there, pointing out they should come and watch as he had a player “who could play a bit”. Selectors duly watched the second half, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Club Press Officer, Walter Ritchie, added that ‘once we had seen him play, Scott’s credentials were never in doubt, and we further realised the class of the player a couple of weeks later, when the 1st XV, with Scott selected at full back, had a home game against Durham University. The ball was cleared by the university into touch on the halfway line. Scott fielded the ball in touch, threw the ball into himself and cooly dropped a goal from about 60 meters’ (taking into account the angle). Walter and selector John Ward, we're rather impressed. He arrived in 1982 and returned to Edinburgh in 1985. Scottish selectors came to watch him in several games while he was playing for Northern and Northumberland. He won his first cap, with his brother Gavin in 1986. He played for Scotland 65 times, a record number of caps at that time.
