I have to say that I consider it a tremendous honour to be asked to commentate on the forthcoming England v Scotland game at Wembley next month.

I was a child of the Seventies and grew up at a time when this fixture was regarded as the pinnacle of the football year, when it was taken seriously by all parties.

As a kid, I sat glued to the television screens listening to every word that Archie MacPherson and Arthur Montford uttered – and to be asked to now do the same and for another Scottish audience is a real thrill for me.

Bizarrely enough, my second ever game as a commentator when I was just 19 was an England v Scotland game at Wembley back in 1986.

I had made by 'debut' on BBC Scotland just the Saturday before when I was working at a Kilmarnock v Dumbarton game. Within four days I'd swapped that for one of the biggest games on the calendar and a trip to Wembley.

The late David Francey, who was a huge hero of mine growing up and who helped me an awful lot in those early years of my career, had picked up an injury and couldn't travel, so I was drafted off the bench to go and cover the game.

At that age you have no fear because you don't quite understand the magnitude of what you are doing.

I also was naive enough to think that the fixture would always be around.

On that occasion Scotland, under Sir Alex Ferguson, lost 2-1. We lost two early goals before Graeme Souness got us back into the game with a penalty.

Although it is changed days since then and the game has moved on significantly, I don't think that Scotland should approach this tie with any fear.

Yes, on paper England can look quite formidable, but we all thought that about Croatia too.

Gordon Strachan devised a plan to neutralise them and it proved to be hugely successful.

I like the fact that he is trying to create a club culture within the national team and I do think he will reward players who are loyal to him. I definitely see no reason to believe that Scotland will go down there and come away with a thrashing.

I have to say I would also welcome the return of this game on a more regular basis.

It's perhaps unrealistic these days with such a busy calendar to expect that it could be an annual occurrence, but I do think having a game like this every two years would excite both sets of supporters.

In recent years there hasn't always been a great feeling towards the national side, but a game like this can rekindle a bit of passion and generate a lot of interest.

I'd like to think that perhaps a charity could sponsor the game, a trophy could be created for the fixture and we could play it every other year. These are the two oldest football associations in the world and in football I think it is always good to appreciate and celebrate your history.

For many people around the world, Wembley – rightly or wrongly – is seen as the home of football and this game is a chance for the Tartan Army to go there and enjoy the night, sing their hearts out and be proud of their country. They'll get behind the team without there being any animosity.

Like I said, it is a huge privilege for me to go and commentate on the match for STV.

It is a fixture that carries so much historical weight. The icing on the cake, of course, would be a Scotland victory.