1908–09 British Home Championship

1908–09 British Home Championship
Tournament details
Host countryEngland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates13 February – 3 April 1909
Teams4
Final positions
Champions England (16th title)
Runners-up Wales
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored23 (3.83 per match)
Top scorer(s)7 Players (2 goals)

The 1908–09 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. England dominated the competition with three wins over their opponents. When placed in the context of their overseas tours to Europe in 1908 and 1909, this made a run of ten victories for the English side led by prolific goalscorer Vivian Woodward. Wales, who were enjoying one of their most successful periods of international football, came second with two victories and Scotland finished third. Ireland finished last with no points and only two goals.

England and Ireland began the tournament with England starting well, scoring four without reply. Wales and Scotland began their competition in March, the Welsh winning a close game in Wrexham 3–2. Scotland's response was a 5–0 thumping of the Irish in a strong display of goalscoring ability. England reaffirmed their position as favourites with a 2–0 win over Wales before Wales too made a final push for the title, becoming the only team in this edition of the tournament to win a match away, beating Ireland 3–2 in Belfast. In the final game, England needed only a draw to win the championship undisputed. In the event they did better, scoring twice against Scotland without reply to take the title.

Table

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 England (C) 3 3 0 0 8 0 +8 6
 Wales 3 2 0 1 6 6 0 4
 Scotland 3 1 0 2 7 5 +2 2
 Ireland 3 0 0 3 2 12 −10 0
Source: [1]
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

England 4–0 Ireland
Woodward 60', 80'
Hilsdon 50', 87' (pen.)
 
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: James Stark (Scotland)

Wales 3–2 Scotland
Davies 23', 39'
L. Jones 26'
Walker 70'
Paul 73'
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Thomas P. Campbell (England)

Scotland 5–0 Ireland
McMenemy 15', 77'
MacFarlane 20'
Thomson 48'
Paul 84'
 
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: James Mason (England)

England 2–0 Wales
Holley 15'
Freeman 42'
 
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: David Philp (Scotland)

Ireland 2–3 Wales
Lacey 30'
Hunter 75'
L. Jones 42'
Wynn 62'
Meredith 67'
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: James B. Stark (Scotland)

England 2–0 Scotland
Wall 3', 10'  
Attendance: 23,667
Referee: James B. Stark (Scotland)

Winning squad

Name Apps/Goals by opponent Total
Wales
WAL[2]
Ireland
IRE[3]
Scotland
SCO[4]
Apps Goals
Bob Crompton 1 1 1 3 0
Sam Hardy 1 1 1 3 0
Ben Warren 1 1 1 3 0
William Wedlock 1 1 1 3 0
Vivian Woodward 1 1/2 2 2
Bert Freeman 1/1 1 2 1
George Holley 1/1 1 2 1
Evelyn Lintott 1 1 2 0
Jesse Pennington 1 1 2 0
Fred Pentland 1 1 2 0
Arthur Bridgett 1 1 2 0
George Wall 1/2 1 2
George Hilsdon 1/2 1 2
Harold Fleming 1 1 0
Colin Veitch 1 1 0
Arthur Berry 1 1 0
Joe Cottle 1 1 0
James Windridge 1 1 0

References

  1. ^ "British Championship 1909". EU-Football.Info. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. ^ Monday, 15 March 1909 | England 2 Wales 0, England Football Online
  3. ^ Saturday, 13 February 1909 | England 4 Ireland 0, England Football Online
  4. ^ Saturday, 3 April 1909 | England 2 Scotland 0, England Football Online
  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.