It is ten years since Andy Irving first pulled on Scotland’s famous dark blue kit.
Irving had been selected for Scotland’s U14s for a trip to the Netherlands where, wearing the No17 shirt, he scored on his debut.
A decade on, the West Ham United midfielder is dreaming of scoring on his senior debut for his country, having received his maiden senior call-up for UEFA Nations League A Group 1 ties with Croatia and Portugal to be played during the October international break.
A proud Scot, the 24-year-old is relishing the opportunity to link up with Steve Clarke’s 23-man squad, where he will be joined by, among others, his former Heart of Midlothian teammates Craig Gordon and John Souttar, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Napoli duo Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay.
Now, he is focusing on impressing Clarke in training and earning a debut, whether that comes at the Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb against Croatia on 12 October or on home turf against Portugal at Hampden Park three days later.
“It feels amazing, I'm just over the moon, to be fair!” he smiled. “Obviously, it’s every boy's dream to play for their country and having played for Scotland going up through the age groups, it was always my absolute dream to play for the national team so I’m just buzzing and a bit overwhelmed at the moment and just really, really happy.
“I am proud to be Scottish, I think it has something particular about it, to be Scottish, and to be a part of that culture is something that makes me really proud.”
For Irving, whose father Andy Senior played for Edinburgh City and Cowdenbeath and won promotion from Scottish Division Two in 1992, his call-up is a proud moment not just for himself, but his whole family.
He continued: “My Dad played football for Cowdenbeath, Edinburgh City and Civil Service Strollers in Scotland, so he was always a keen footballer and, from what I've heard from his pals, he was a really good player, so he was very keen to get me into football and I think he must have seen something in me.
“My Mum and Dad and my little brother [Robbie] have supported me ever since I was a little boy, and my girlfriend now, as well. My extended family, all my friends, have all been extremely supportive, and those are the ones I go to for help and advice. My Dad's opinion on how I play in a game is the most important; if he says I was good, then that usually means I was, because he's my biggest critic. We talk a lot about football, so the journey we’ve been on as a family has been class.”
For Irving himself, his inclusion is reward for his hard work and willingness to take himself out of his comfort zone. After going out on loan to Berwick Rangers and Falkirk in 2018, then breaking through at Hearts as a teenager in 2019, Irving moved to German side Türkgücü München in 2021, then to Austria Klagenfurt the following year.
Two superb seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga have earned Irving the opportunity to impress at West Ham, who initially signed him in summer 2023, and he has taken it, making his Premier League debut and establishing himself in Julen Lopetegui’s squad.
“Football and life has its own journey and takes different directions, and it's been full of experiences, some good, some bad,” he explained. “I'm just happy to be at this point and the hard work that I've put in over those ten years, and even longer than that, is all paying off at the moment so I'm really happy.
“It's mad. It's a ‘pinch yourself’ kind of moment, you know? I think a journey through a football career is something that you have to work at and be really proud of where you've come from and where you started. When I look back to my time at Berwick, it’s great memories. It was a welcome to first-team football and professional football and an amazing experience. And now I've got the chance to become a Scotland national team player which is something quite amazing and something I’m really proud of.”
