1902–03 British Home Championship Explained

Tourney Name:1902–03 British Home Championship
Country:England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates:14 February – 4 April 1903
Num Teams:4
Champion Other:

(shared)
Matches:6
Goals:15
Prevseason:1901–02
Nextseason:1903–04

The 1902–03 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations.

Unusually, the trophy was shared by three of the Home Nations all of whom scored four points. At the time, goal difference was not used to differentiate teams. In addition to the usual favourites of England and Scotland, Ireland also took their first ever share of the championship, after scoring their first ever victory over the Scots with a 2–0 win in Glasgow and subsequently beating Wales. The tournament was played under the shadow of the previous year's finale, when a wooden stand at Ibrox Stadium had given way under the mass of supporters and 26 people had fallen to their deaths.

Ireland and England began the competition, with the English scoring four without reply to take an early lead. England extended their advantage in the second match with a 2–1 victory over Wales and seemed to be on course for the championship. Scotland began their challenge against Wales in a match they narrowly won before stumbling against Ireland in a match the Irish dominated in front of the Scottish home support. Just two years previously at the same stadium, Scotland had beaten Ireland 11–0 in what is still their record win. On the back of this result, Ireland beat Wales 2–0 ending a miserable tournament for the Welsh who had scored only one goal and failed to gain a single point. In the final match between England and Scotland, Scotland needed a win to draw level with Ireland and England whilst England needed only a draw to take the championship outright. In a tough match in Sheffield both sides played well, but Scotland eventually won 2–1 taking their share of the title.

Table

Results

--------------------

Winning squads

NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal

WAL[1]

IRE[2]

SCO[3]
AppsGoals
Vivian Woodward1/11/21/134
Harry Davis11/1131
Harry Johnson11130
George Molyneux11130
Tom Baddeley1120
Bob Crompton1120
Albert Houlker1120
Joseph Bache1/111
Jack Sharp1/111
Tom Booth110
Percy Humphreys110
Arthur Capes110
Jack Cox110
Rex Corbett110
Frank Forman110
William Garraty110
J. W. Sutcliffe110
Harry Hadley110
Tom Holford110
Arthur Lockett110
Jimmy Settle110
Howard Spencer110
NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal

WAL[4]

SCO[5]

ENG[6]
AppsGoals
Jack Kirwan11/1131
James Sheridan1/11131
Johnny Darling11130
Billy Scott11130
Archie Goodall1/1121
Joe Connor11/121
Jimmy Maxwell1120
Bob Milne1120
Peter Boyle1120
Alec McCartney1120
Hughie Maginnis1120
Johnnie Mercer1120
James Campbell110
Billy McCracken110
George McMillan110
Harold Sloan110
Tom Shanks110
NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal

WAL[7]

IRE[8]

ENG[9]
AppsGoals
Finlay Speedie1/111/132
Bobby Walker111/131
Alex Smith11130
Andy Aitken1120
Andy McCombie1120
Alex Raisbeck1120
Harry Rennie1120
Jackie Robertson1120
Bobby Templeton1120
Jimmy Watson1120
Ned Doig110
Bob Hamilton110
John Cross110
Jock Drummond110
Archie Gray110
David Lindsay110
Willie Orr110
Willie Porteous110
Peter Robertson110
John Campbell110

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1900-39/1902-03/M0078Wal1903.html Monday, 2 March 1903 England 2 Wales 1
  2. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1900-39/1902-03/M0077Ire1903.html Saturday, 14 February 1903 England 4 Ireland 0
  3. http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1887-88/M0034Ire1888.html Saturday, 7 April 1888 Ireland 1 England 5
  4. https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4463 Ireland v Wales, 28 March 1903
  5. https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4464 Scotland v Ireland, 21 March 1903
  6. https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4458 England v Ireland, 14 February 1903
  7. https://londonhearts.com/scotlandunoff/games/19030309.html Mon 09 Mar 1903 Wales 0 Scotland 1
  8. https://londonhearts.com/scotlandunoff/games/19030321.html Sat 21 Mar 1903 Scotland 0 Ireland 2
  9. https://londonhearts.com/scotlandunoff/games/19030404.html Sat 04 Apr 1903 England 1 Scotland 2