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.

1887–88 British Home Championship
Tournament details
Host countryEngland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates4 February – 7 April 1888
Teams4
Final positions
Champions England (2nd title)
Runners-up Scotland
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored46 (7.67 per match)
Top scorer(s)Wales Jack Doughty (6 goals)

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 136 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

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  England (C) 3 3 0 0 15 2 +13 6
  Scotland 3 2 0 1 15 8 +7 4
  Wales 3 1 0 2 13 10 +3 2
  Ireland 3 0 0 3 3 26 −23 0
Source: [1][2]
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

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England  5–1  Wales
J. Doughty  
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: John Sinclair (Ireland)

Wales  11–0  Ireland
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Tom Hindle (England)

Scotland  5–1  Wales
J. Doughty   41'
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: John Charles Clegg (England)

Scotland  0–5  England
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: John Sinclair (Ireland)

Ireland  2–10  Scotland
Dalton   18', 24'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Robert Parlane (Scotland)

Ireland  1–5  England
Crone  
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: James McKillop (Scotland)

Winning squad

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Name Apps/Goals by opponent Total
 
WAL[3]
 
IRE[4]
 
SCO[5]
Apps Goals
Fred Dewhurst 1/3 1/1 1/2 3 6
Tinsley Lindley 1/1 1/1 1 3 2
Dennis Hodgetts 1 1 1/1 3 1
Harry Allen 1 1 1 3 0
John Goodall 1 1/1 2 1
George Woodhall 1/1 1 2 1
Percy Walters 1 1 2 0
Cecil Holden-White 1 1 2 0
Bob Howarth 1 1 2 0
Billy Moon 1 1 2 0
Albert Allen 1/3 1 3
George Haworth 1/1 1 1
Frank Saunders 1 1 0
Charlie Mason 1 1 0
Bob Roberts 1 1 0
Albert Aldridge 1 1 0
Bob Holmes 1 1 0
Charlie Shelton 1 1 0
Billy Bassett 1 1 0

References

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  1. ^ Reyes, Macario; Morrison, Neil (1 October 1999). "British Home Championship 1884–1899". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  2. ^ "British Championships 1888". Scotland Football Stats. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. ^ Saturday, 4 February 1888 | Wales 1 England 5, England Football Online
  4. ^ Saturday, 7 April 1888 | Ireland 1 England 5, England Football Online
  5. ^ Saturday, 17 March 1888 | Scotland 0 England 5, England Football Online
  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.