1887–88 British Home Championship Explained

Tourney Name:1887–88 British Home Championship
Country:England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates:4 February – 7 April 1888
Num Teams:4
Champion:ENG
Count:2
Second:SCO
Matches:6
Goals:46
Prevseason:1886–87
Nextseason:1888–89

The 1887–88 British Home Championship was the fifth edition of the annual international football tournament played between the British Home Nations. It was the first edition of the tournament in which Scotland did not at least share in the trophy and was also notable for a record flood of goals, 46 in six games, 26 of them conceded by Ireland, who suffered a disastrous competition.

England began the tournament in the same vein as they finished it, winning the opening match 5–1 against Wales at the Alexandra Recreation Ground in Crewe. Wales responded to this, and to their shock defeat by Ireland the year previously with an 11–0 thrashing of the visiting Irish, a Welsh record scoreline which remains standing after years. Any hopes of a recovery for the Welsh were however dashed in their final game when Scotland administered a 5–1 beating in Edinburgh.

England returned to the fray and gained revenge for their narrow defeat in the deciding match of the previous year when they in turn thrashed Scotland 5–0 in Glasgow, leaving only the weak Irish in between them and the trophy. Before this however, Ireland received another massive defeat at the hands of Scotland, who beat them 2–10 in Belfast to take second place. In the final game, England needed only a draw to secure the title but managed a win by five goals to one to take their first undisputed championship.

Table

Results

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Winning squad

NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal

WAL[1]

IRE[2]

SCO[3]
AppsGoals
Fred Dewhurst1/31/11/236
Tinsley Lindley1/11/1132
Dennis Hodgetts111/131
Harry Allen11130
John Goodall11/121
George Woodhall1/1121
Percy Walters1120
Cecil Holden-White1120
Bob Howarth1120
Billy Moon1120
Albert Allen1/313
George Haworth1/111
Frank Saunders110
Charlie Mason110
Bob Roberts110
Albert Aldridge110
Bob Holmes110
Charlie Shelton110
Billy Bassett110

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1887-88/M0032Wal1888.html Saturday, 4 February 1888 Wales 1 England 5
  2. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1887-88/M0034Ire1888.html Saturday, 7 April 1888 Ireland 1 England 5
  3. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1887-88/M0033Sco1888.html Saturday, 17 March 1888 Scotland 0 England 5