1887–88 British Home Championship

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 nearly 120 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 London, 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

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 England 63300152+13
 Scotland 43201158+7
 Wales 231021310+3
 Ireland 0300332623

The points system worked as follows:

Results



10 March 1888
Scotland  5 – 1  Wales
William Paul  6'
Neil Munro  30'
Alexander Latta  33', 75'
Willie Groves  65'
 41' Jack Doughty
Hibernian Park, Edinburgh
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: John Charles Clegg (England)

17 March 1888
Scotland  0 – 5  England
   32' Tinsley Lindley
 34' Dennis Hodgetts
 40', 49' Fred Dewhurst
 43' Johnny Goodall
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: John Sinclair (Ireland)

24 March 1888
Ireland  2 – 10  Scotland
William Dalton  18', 24'  5' Geordie Dewar
 8', 33', 40', 45' William Dickson
 15' Thomas Breckenridge
 30' Ralph Aitken
 53' Neil McCallum
 77' (o.g.) Robert Wilson
 83' Allan Stewart
Oldpark Avenue, Belfast
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Robert Parlane (Scotland)

References

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