Rod Stewart made 2 Scotland stars an offer of a lifetime but nightmare result grounded trip for the ages

The first cut is the deepest.

But for Don Hutchison, missing out on a major tournament AND a ride on Rod Stewart’s private jet is the blow which really stings. The former Scotland ace is packing his microphone and heading to Germany this month as he joins up with the commentary team working for US telly giants ESPN at the Euros. But Hutchison, 53, is still kicking himself that he never got to sample the big finals playing experience awaiting Steve Clarke’s class of 2024 himself. In fairness, the ex-Liverpool, West Ham, Everton and Sunderland striker came close on a couple of occasions.

No Tartan Army foot soldier will ever forget his Wembley winner in 1999 as Craig Brown’s side were edged out 2-1 on aggregate by the Auld Enemy in the Euro 2000 play-offs. Four years later he was involved in another two-legged shoot-out as Berti Vogts’ Scots squad headed to Amsterdam holding a 1-0 lead from the opener at Hampden. The prize on offer, though, wasn’t just a place in the 2004 finals in Portugal.

Taking up the story, Hutchison told Record Sport: “Missing out on a major tournament is still such a huge regret.

“I was part of a squad that lost in two play offs. Obviously I was in the team that lost to England at Wembley in 1999. But I was also in the squad that took on Holland for a place at Euro 2004. We were in such a good position in that one after James McFadden scored his wonder goal at Hampden. There’s a funny story about the second leg actually. Christian Dailly and I were playing for West Ham at the time so we roomed together while on international duty. We were sitting in the hotel room and Christian’s phone rang. It was Rod Stewart on the line. I think they knew each other as they lived close by.

“Now our routine after