AS Scotland caps go, making your only international appearance on an away trip against a Hong Kong League XI is rather unique.
And that’s exactly what happened for one former Chelsea youngster.
The match was played in May 2002, with Berti Vogts’ side taking on a team made up of players from Hong Kong’s league.
Despite the fact they weren’t actually playing a Fifa member nation – Hong Kong do also have an official international team – players who featured in the match were awarded caps.
And it was here that Warren Cummings made his one and only international appearance.
Kevin Kyle, Steven Thompson, Christian Dailly and Scot Gemmill all scored as Scotland rounded-off a disappointing Asian tour with a win.
They’d previously lost to South Korea and South Africa, who were both preparing to take part in the World Cup.
It was an experimental squad that included then 21-year old defender Cummings.
The Chelsea starlet had just enjoyed a loan spell at West Brom, helping the Baggies secure promotion to the Premier League.
He go his debut in Hong Kong, coming on as a half-time substitute for Rangers defender Maurice Ross.
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It would end up being his only Scotland appearance ever.
Aberdeen-born Cummings came through the youth ranks at Chelsea and was a teammate of Blues legend John Terry.
But like so many players at Stamford Bridge even today, he couldn’t make a first team breakthrough.
His early career consisted of several loan moves, firstly with Bournemouth in 2000/01 before back-to-back spells at West Brom.
He got a taste of Scottish football in 2002 when he joined Dundee United in the 2002/03 season.
Cummings made a handful of appearances for the Tangerines before returning to Bournemouth.
He would leave Chelsea for the Cherries permanently in 2003 and went on to become a club legend.
Cummings spent a decade with Bournemouth, making more than 300 appearances.
He even recovered from a horror leg break injury in 2005 to reclaim his spot and continue his career.
It was a very different Bournemouth to the modern day success the club enjoys.
During Cummings’ time at the club, the Cherries moved between the third and fourth tiers of English football.
He was part of the Bournemouth side that pulled-off a ‘great escape’ from relegation out of the Football League in 2009, a campaign that almost saw the club go out of business altogether.
He left in 2012 just before their unprecedented success began with Bournemouth being promoted to the second tier for the just the second ever time – and then of course the Premier League a further two years down the line.
At the time, he spoke of his disappointment of being informed of his release via a 30-second phone call.
Cummings had spells with Crawley, AFC Wimbledon, Poole Town and Havant & Waterlooville following his Bournemouth exit.
But after hanging up his boots, he returned to Bournemouth in an academy coaching role.
A hugely respected figure at the club, Cummings was awarded for his many years of service with a glamour testimonial clash in 2016.
He was welcomed back to Dean Court by a sell-out crowd as the now-Premier League side faced AC Milan in a glitzy friendly clash.
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Cummings was given the last ten minutes for a Bournemouth side that featured the likes of debutant Jack Wilshere, Tyrone Mings and ex-Rangers man Emerson Hyndman.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
