1950–51 British Home Championship

The 1950–51 British Home Championship football tournament was the Home Nations follow-up to England's disastrous appearance at their first World Cup, the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. There the much vaunted English had been beaten by the USA and Spain. The Scots had refused to go, and the Welsh and the Irish had failed to qualify. The Scots went on to capitalise on the demoralised English by taking the Home Championship away from them too.

The tournament began with wins for the favourites away from home, England beating the Irish and Scotland the Welsh. In the second matches, this dominance was emphasised with powerful wins by England in Sunderland over the Welsh and Scotland who beat the Irish 6–1 including four goals from Billy Steel. In the final game at Wembley Stadium, a tense and furious game brought the trophy to Scotland, who finished 3–2 winners. Wales had already beaten Ireland to claim third spot.

Table edit

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Scotland (C) 3 3 0 0 12 4 +8 6
  England 3 2 0 1 10 6 +4 4
  Wales 3 1 0 2 5 8 −3 2
  Ireland 3 0 0 3 3 12 −9 0
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Champions

Results edit


Wales  1–3  Scotland
Aubrey Powell   68'   23', 57' Lawrie Reilly
  72' Billy Liddell
Attendance: 60,000

Scotland  6–1Ireland  
John McPhail   8', 13'
Billy Steel   53', 57', 66', 79'
  43' Kevin McGarry
Attendance: 83,142
Referee: Benjamin Mervyn Griffiths (Wales)



England  2–3  Scotland
Harold Hassall   26'
Tom Finney   63'
  33' Bobby Johnstone
  48' Lawrie Reilly
  54' Billy Liddell
Attendance: 98,750
Referee: George Mitchell (Scotland)

References edit

  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.