1984 British Home Championship

The 1984 British Home Championship was the one hundredth anniversary of the British Home Championship and the final football tournament between the Home Nations to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games, crowded international fixture lists and a sharp rise in hooliganism. Although the football competition was instituted in 1884, it was only the eighty-seventh tournament to be completed due to a five year hiatus during World War I, a seven year gap in World War II and the cancellation of the 1981 competition following threats of violence during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The tournament was surprising in its outcome, as the favourites in England and Scotland actually played each other into a 1-1 draw in the final game, thus allowing Northern Ireland to claim victory on goal difference, with Wales second. This was only the third time in 87 tournaments that (Northern) Ireland were undisputed champions and the fifth time goal difference was used. The trophy was permanently awarded to the Irish FA.

Table

The points system worked as follows:
* 2 points for a win
* 1 point for a drawThe teams were then divided on goal difference.

Results

footballbox
date = December 13, 1983
team1 = fb-rt|Northern Ireland
score = 2 – 0
team2 = fb|Scotland
goals1 = Sammy McIlroy goal
Norman Whiteside goal
goals2 =
stadium = Windsor Park, Belfast----footballbox
date = February 28, 1984
team1 = fb-rt|Scotland
score = 2 – 1
team2 = fb|Wales
goals1 = Davie Cooper goal
Mo Johnston goal
goals2 = Robbie James goal
stadium = Hampden Park, Glasgow----footballbox
date = April 4, 1984
team1 = fb-rt|England
score = 1 – 0
team2 = fb|Northern Ireland
goals1 = Tony Woodcock goal
goals2 =
stadium = Wembley Stadium, London----footballbox
date = May 2, 1984
team1 = fb-rt|Wales
score = 1 – 0
team2 = fb|England
goals1 = Mark Hughes goal
goals2 =
stadium = Racecourse Ground, Wrexham----footballbox
date = May 22, 1984
team1 = fb-rt|Wales
score = 1–1
team2 = fb|Northern Ireland
goals1 = Mark Hughes goal
goals2 = Gerry Armstrong goal
stadium = Vetch Field, Swansea----footballbox
date = May 25, 1984
team1 = fb-rt|Scotland
score = 1 – 1
team2 = fb|England
goals1 = Mark McGhee goal
goals2 = Tony Woodcock goal
stadium = Hampden Park, Glasgow

References

*cite book
author= Guy Oliver| title=The Guinness Record of World Soccer
date=1992
publisher=Guinness
id=ISBN 0-851129-54-4