Don Hutchison

Donald "Don" Hutchison (born 9 May 1971) is an English-born Scottish sports television pundit, commentator and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and forward from 1989 to 2008.

He was a much travelled player and had spells in the Premier League with Liverpool, West Ham United, Everton and Sunderland, as well as in the Football League for Hartlepool United, Sheffield United, Millwall, Coventry City and Luton Town. He earned 26 full caps for the Scottish national team and scored six international goals.

Hartlepool United

Hutchison started his career at Hartlepool United as a trainee. He was a member of the promotion winning squad of the 1990–91 season. However, he left long before the season's end with his last game being on 24 November 1990, a 2–0 win against Scarborough.

Liverpool

His talents were quickly spotted by bigger clubs and he moved to Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool. Hutchison said of his time at Anfield, "I got on well with (Dalglish's successor) Graeme Souness and I think he quite liked my style of play because I got stuck in."

West Ham United

In August 1994 Hutchison was signed by manager Harry Redknapp for West Ham United for a fee of £1.5 million. He scored on his debut for West Ham on 31 August 1994 in a 3–1 home defeat to Newcastle United. Hutchison had a poor disciplinary record at West Ham. In his 39 games in his first spell with the club, he received eleven bookings and was sent off once, on 5 November 1994 in a home game against Leicester City. Known to fans and fellow players as "Budweiser" following a drunken incident in Ayia Napa when he had appeared covering his genitals with a Budweiser beer label, he was allowed to leave the club in January 1996.

Sheffield United

Hutchison next moved to First Division club Sheffield United where he flourished under the management of Howard Kendall. Hutchison enjoyed good form, so much so that when Kendall left to manage Everton, he made Hutchison one of his signings.

Everton

Hutchison was one of a small group of players that played for both Liverpool and Everton, after joining the Toffees in March 1998. Kendall spoke highly of Hutchison after his performance in a 1-0 win against a Blackburn side chasing European qualification on 14 March 1998, praising the range and vision of his passing in the face of some typically robust challenges by Tim Sherwood and Billy McKinlay. "I've given Don a role and he's got the opportunity to show people in the Premiership how good a player is," the Everton manager said. "I thought he was outstanding. Word will get round and I'm sure it will reach Craig Brown."

Hutchison found himself out of the side at the start of the 1998–99 season due to new manager Walter Smith's preference for his new signings Olivier Dacourt and John Collins. However, an injury to Collins that would keep him out for 6 months saw Hutchison return to the side and help Everton avoid relegation for the second season running.

1999-2000 saw Hutchison become captain when Dave Watson was out the side, and Hutchison produced great form both in midfield and when asked to play upfront, so much so he was courted by other Premier League sides. Hutchison turned down a new deal in March 2000, stating that he wanted parity with other top earners at the club, but had only been offered an extension on his current terms. He was subsequently dropped from the squad for these comments, but injuries to Kevin Campbell and Francis Jeffers saw Hutchison return to the side as a striker for the away game at Leicester City in April, where he scored the equalising goal. Despite his history with Liverpool, Everton fans were unhappy at the apparent future sale of Hutchison, who had only one year left on his deal. Although he retained his place until the end of the season, no new contract offer was made by the club and Hutchison moved onto Sunderland in a deal worth £2.5 million.

Sunderland

Hutchison transferred to Sunderland in July 2000 after failing to agree to a new contract with Everton. His good form continued and was a key player in the Wearsiders' second consecutive seventh-placed finish, so much so that he was the subject of another big offer.

Return to West Ham

In August 2001, Hutchison re-signed for West Ham United for £5 million for what was again a club record transfer fee. However, Hutchison sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2002. When he finally regained full fitness, he found himself out of favour, having missed most of the 2003–04 season through injury, and was unable to force his way back into the first team in the 2004–05 season.

Millwall

Hutchison joined Millwall in August 2005 after being released at the start of the 2005–06 season by West Ham. He spent barely three months at the New Den, during which time he struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting XI. He left Millwall by mutual consent in November 2005, saying "I have left because of a lack of first-team football. At my age I need to be playing regularly."

Coventry City

In January 2006, Hutchison was given a contract with Coventry City until the end of the 2006–07 season, and signed a new one-year deal in June 2006. Manager Micky Adams said of him, "There's a saying that class is permanent and that applies to Don. He may not have the legs he had when he was younger but he possesses a fantastic ability to read the game." He was released by Coventry at the end of the 2006–07 season after an ankle injury restricted his appearances for the first team.

Luton Town

Hutchison signed for Luton Town on a one-year deal in July 2007. After scoring once for Luton, in the Football League Trophy against Northampton Town, he was released at the end of the season. He refused to take his final two wage packets from cash-strapped Luton, instead offering to sponsor two youth team players from the 2008–09 season.

Born and raised in Gateshead in north-eastern England, Don Hutchison consistently stated his desire to play for Scotland, citing a strong relationship with his Scottish father. Hutchison's father, a miner for 35 years, was from Nairn. Hutchison first represented Scotland B in an international against Wales B in Wrexham in 1994. However, Hutchison had a disappointing game and was substituted, prompting an international exile of five years. He later said, "That night at Wrexham was a bit of an anti-climax, but I never thought that was the end of it."

Hutchison debuted for Scotland under Craig Brown, coming on as a substitute in the Euro 2000 qualifier at Celtic Park on 31 March 1999, while Hampden Park was under reconstruction. The result was a 2–1 won for the Czech Republic. In his next game he scored the only goal of the game to give Scotland a 1–0 victory against Germany in Bremen.

Hutchison scored in the Euro 2000 qualifier 2–1 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo, along with Billy Dodds. Hutchison also scored in the 3–0 home win against Lithuania in the same competition. He scored at Wembley in the Euro 2000, 1–0 play-off second leg win over England in November 1999. Hutchison recalls: "I remember Christian Dailly playing a good pass to Neil McCann and him delivering a great cross. I finished it off and nothing was going to stop me celebrating a goal in front of the Tartan Army at Wembley." Scotland lost the tie 2–1, their quest to reach three consecutive major tournaments unravelled by a Paul Scholes first leg double at Hampden. Brown lobbied hard for a postponement of the Old Firm derby the week before. His fears were confirmed when Paul Lambert sustained a fractured cheekbone. As Brown said, “The SPL went ahead with an Old Firm game a week before. I was furious because they did not legislate for a play-off, especially not for one against England. Predictably, we get a major injury and my holding midfielder, who performed with such distinction in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund, cannot play. Barry Ferguson played brilliantly but he was not a holding midfielder. Scholes scored two goals and that was the guy Paul Lambert was going to pick up …”

Hutchison's next international goal was in Dublin in a 2–1 friendly win against the Republic of Ireland. His last international goal was in a World Cup qualifier away to San Marino. Scotland won all six games in which Hutchison scored for them. Craig Brown said of Hutchison, "Don has the all-round game to make things happen, he is good in the air, has an excellent touch and is a terrific passer, lacking only pace. But he makes up for this by being tough and determined. He is a fierce tackler who can mix it, and so is a real presence in any team."

Hutchison said in 2003, "My father died recently and he was my biggest fan. I cried when they played the national anthem before the Iceland game because Flower of Scotland was played at my dad's funeral. The happiest I ever saw him was when we beat England at Wembley thanks to my goal." He added, "Playing for Scotland for my dad was something I really wanted to do because it made him feel proud. I will never forget his face when we played England at Wembley."

International

International goals

Scotland goals listed first

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition	Scored
1	28 April 1999	Weserstadion, Bremen	Germany	1–0	Friendly match	1
2	4 September 1999	Olympic Stadium, Sarajevo	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–1	Euro 2000 qualification	1
3	9 October 1999	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Lithuania	3–0	Euro 2000 qualification	1
4	17 November 1999	Wembley Stadium, London	England	1–0	Euro 2000 play-off	1
5	30 May 2000	Lansdowne Road, Dublin	Republic of Ireland	2–1	Friendly match	1
6	7 October 2000	Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle	San Marino	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification	1