1903 British Home Championship

The 1903 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. Unusually, the trophy was shared by three of the Home Nations all of whom scored four points. At the time, goal difference was not used to differentiate teams. In addition to the usual favourites of England and Scotland, Ireland also took their first ever share of the championship, after scoring their first ever victory over the Scots with a 2-0 win in Glasgow and subsequently beating Wales. The tournament was played under the shadow of the previous years finale, when a wooden stand at Ibrox Stadium had given way under the mass of supporters and 26 people had fallen to their deaths.

Ireland and England began the competition with the English scoring four without reply to take an early lead. England extended their advantage in the second match with a 2-1 victory over Wales and seemed to be on course for the championship. Scotland began their challenge against Wales in a match they narrowly won before stumbling against Ireland in a match the Irish dominated in front of the Scottish home support. Just two years previously at the same stadium, Scotland had beaten Ireland 11-0 in what is still their record win. On the back of this result, Ireland beat Wales 2-0 ending a miserable tournament for the Welh who had scored only one goal and faield to gain a single point. In the final match between England and Scotland, Scotland needed a win to draw level with Ireland and England whilst England needed only a draw to take to competition undisputed. In a tough match in Sheffield both sides played well, but Scotland eventually won 2-1 taking their share of the trophy.

Table

The points system worked as follows:
* 2 points for a win
* 1 point for a draw

Results

footballbox
date = February 14, 1903
team1 = fb-rt|ENG
score = 4–0
team2 = fb|IRE
goals1 = Vivian Woodward 2, Harry Davis, "Own Goal"
goals2 =
stadium = Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton----footballbox
date = March 2, 1903
team1 = fb-rt|ENG
score = 2–1
team2 = fb|WAL
goals1 = Joe Bache, Vivian Woodward
goals2 = Walter Watkins
stadium = Fratton Park, Portsmouth----footballbox
date = March 9, 1903
team1 = fb-rt|WAL
score = 0–1
team2 = fb|SCO
goals1 =
goals2 = Finlay Speedie
stadium = Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff----footballbox
date = March 21, 1903
team1 = fb-rt|SCO
score = 0–2
team2 = fb|IRE
goals1 =
goals2 = Maurice Connor, Jack Kirwan
stadium = Celtic Park, Glasgow----footballbox
date = March 28, 1903
team1 = fb-rt|IRE
score = 2–0
team2 = fb|WAL
goals1 = Archie Goodall, James Sheridan
goals2 =
stadium = Solitude Ground, Belfast----footballbox
date = April 4, 1903
team1 = fb-rt|ENG
score = 1–2
team2 = fb|SCO
goals1 = Vivian Woodward
goals2 = Finlay Speedie, Bobby Walker
stadium = Bramall Lane, Sheffield

References

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