1898–99 British Home Championship

The 1898–99 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. A very high scoring affair, the competition featured the highest scoreline ever achieved in the Home Championships when England defeated Ireland 13–2 in Sunderland, including a hat-trick in four minutes from Gilbert Smith.[1] It was the first of two particularly heavy defeats for the Irish side, who nevertheless still managed to finish third, courtesy of a victory over Wales.

1898–99 British Home Championship
Tournament details
Host countryEngland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates18 February – 8 April 1899
Teams4
Final positions
Champions England (9th title)
Runners-up Scotland
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored39 (6.5 per match)
Top scorer(s)Scotland Bob McColl (6 goals)

England's win over Ireland was the start of the tournament and placed them immediately on top of the table, a position Ireland joined them in with their 1–0 victory over Wales in the second game. Scotland began their bid for the title in the third match with a strong 6–0 win over Wales in Wrexham. Wales' poor competition was finished in their next game when England again took top position by beating them 4–0. In the penultimate game, Scotland joined England at the top of the table with a 9–1 demolition of Ireland, who had conceded 21 goals in two games but still finished third. In the deciding match, England and Scotland both played a strong game but England eventually proved stronger, winning 2–1.

Table

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  England (C) 3 3 0 0 19 3 +16 6
  Scotland 3 2 0 1 16 3 +13 4
  Ireland 3 1 0 2 4 22 −18 2
  Wales 3 0 0 3 0 11 −11 0
Source: [2][3]
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  13–2  Ireland
Smith   39', 59', 60', 63'
Settle   53', 55', 80'
Bloomer   40', 89'
Forman   20', 52'
F. Forman   15'
Athersmith   25'
(Match summary) McAllen   65' (pen.)
Campbell   88'

Ireland  1–0  Wales
Meldon   60'  

Wales  0–6  Scotland
  Campbell   22', 55'
McColl   50', 75', 85'
Marshall   70'
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Charles E. Sutcliffe (England)

England  4–0  Wales
Bloomer   44', 86'
Forman   60'
Needham   30'
 

Scotland  9–1  Ireland
McColl   5', 25', 47'
Christie   10'
RC Hamilton   20', 65'
Bell   35'
Campbell   70', 80'
Goodall   54'
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Charles E. Sutcliffe (England)

England  2–1  Scotland
Smith   25'
Settle   40'
RC Hamilton   52'
Attendance: 25,590
Referee: James Torrans (Ireland)

Winning squad

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Name Apps/Goals by opponent Total
 
WAL[4]
 
IRE[5]
 
SCO[6]
Apps Goals
Gilbert Smith 1 1/4 1/1 3 5
Steve Bloomer 1/2 1/2 1 3 4
Jimmy Settle 1 1/3 1/1 3 4
Fred Forman 1/1 1/2 1 3 3
Charlie Athersmith 1 1/1 1 3 1
Frank Forman 1 1/1 1 3 1
Ernest Needham 1/1 1 1 3 1
Jimmy Crabtree 1 1 1 3 0
Jack Robinson 1 1 2 0
Harry Thickitt 1 1 2 0
Billy Williams 1 1 2 0
Raby Howell 1 1 0
Philip Bach 1 1 0
Jack Hillman 1 1 0

References

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  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
  1. ^ "England v Ireland". EU Football.Info.
  2. ^ Reyes, Macario; Morrison, Neil (1 October 1999). "British Home Championship 1884–1899". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. ^ "British Championships 1899". Scotland Football Stats. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  4. ^ Monday, 20 March 1899 | England 4 Wales 0, England Football Online
  5. ^ Saturday, 18 February 1899 | England 13 Ireland 2, England Football Online
  6. ^ Saturday, 8 April 1899 | England 2 Scotland 1, England Football Online