Meetings between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, who clash in a Euro qualifier in Glasgow tonight, go back to 1961 - and Town were represented in the first.

Pat Saward was a cultured left-sided midfielder who won the 15th of his 18 Eire caps in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden in May 1961 which the Scots won 4-1.

He had joined Town from Aston Villa the previous March, and made 63 appearances for his third club, where he was only the second Republic international after Bill Hayes.

While born in Cobh, near Cork, Saward lived in Singapore and Malta before his family settled in Croydon, and he had trials at Crystal Palace, for whom his elder brother Len played.

But it was Millwall who have him his break into League football, although he was far from a hit with the fans, who nicknamed him after the contemporary cartoon character Useless Eustace.

At one stage, manager Charlie Hewitt hit out at those who barracked Saward, who made his debut for the Republic against Luxembourg during the 1953-54 season.

Keen to escape his critics, he joined Villa for £7,000 in August 1955, the formalities being completed at Paddington Station.

Saward helped Villa won the FA Cup in 1957, and in 1959-60, skippered them to the Second Division (now Championship) title.

He was 32 when he joined Town, with whom he won his final four caps, and his switch to Coventry City in October 1963 signalled a move into coaching.

Saward was assistant to Jimmy Hill during the Sky Blue revolution of the sixties, when the club burst into the top-flight scene, and became manager of Brighton in July 1970.

He recruited former Town teammate Peter Dinsdale as his assistant.

Saward’s extrovert personality, infectious sense of humour and success on the pitch (promotion to Division II in 1972) made him a popular figure.

But Brighton were relegated alongside Town in 1973, and he was sacked after a poor start to the 1973-74 campaign, a 1-0 home defeat by Halifax proving his final undoing.

With Brian Clough taking his place at the Goldstone Ground, Saward had a spell managing in the Middle East before setting up a business in Menorca.

His final years were spent in Newmarket, where he died aged 74 in 2002.