Whereas Scotland were quite slow to take to international football, the opposite could so easily have been true. Scotland would have been trailblazers on the international scene had it not been for the early death of William Dick.
When Dick passed away in 1880 he was in the process of organizing a Scottish FA tour of Canada. The tour never took place. Dick was only 29 when he died. He had been the Secretary of the Scottish FA for 5 years. He had also founded the Scottish Football Annual in 1875.
Dick officiated as referee in 2 international matches- both of which resulted in wins for Scotland, 2-0 over Wales at Wrexham on 05.03.1877 and a 7-2 win over England at 1st Hampden on 02.03.1878.
