Wembley Wizards

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"Wembley Wizards" is the name given to the Scottish national team which defeated England at Wembley Stadium in 1928 by 5 goals to 1 in a comprehensive display of teamwork that has become somewhat mythologised.

1 Background
2 The Game
3 England v Scotland 1928
4 Trivia
5 References

[edit] Background

The result was made particularly memorable partly as a result of the fact that Scotland had failed to win either of their matches in that season's British Home Championship against Ireland (to whom they lost 0-1 in Belfast) or Wales (whom they had drawn 2-2 in Wrexham) and therefore the Scottish Football Association had sidelined some seasoned internationals (Davie Meiklejohn and Jimmy McGrory) in favour of a side that contained 1 debutant (Tom Bradshaw) and an untried five man forward line, all of whom were no taller than 5 foot seven and, of which, only one of whom had featured in the international trial game between the Anglos and Home Scots. The two sides for that game (date and result presently unknown) were as follows:

Home Scots: Jack Harkness (Queens Park); Douglas Herbert Gray (Rangers), Willie McStay (captain) (Celtic); Kennedy, Lambie, Thomas Craig (Rangers); Gavigan, Stewart Chalmers (Queens Park), David McCrae (St Mirren), Bob McPhail (Airdrie), Adam McLean (Celtic).

Anglo Scots: Jock Crawford (Blackburn Rovers); James Nelson (Cardiff City), Smith; Duncan, Tom Bradshaw (Bury), Jimmy McMullan (Manchester City); David Robbie (Bury), Arthur Lochhead (Leicester City), Tommy Jennings (Leeds United), Alex James (Arsenal), George McLachlan (Cardiff City). [1]

What should not be forgotten, however, is that England too had had a difficult season losing to the Irish (0-2 in Belfast) and to the eventual champions Wales (1-2 in Burnley). Moreover their record against the Scottish in the 1920s was appalling: one victory in 8 attempts dating back to 1920. Against that is the fact that 4 of the England side were playing for Huddersfield Town - one of the strongest League sides at the time; Dixie Dean was nearing the end of his record 60-goal League season. Despite this there is some debate as to just how the Scottish side rated their chances; the night before the game Jimmy McMullan is attributed as having said: "The President (of the SFA Robert Campbell wants us to discuss football but you all know what's expected of you tomorrow. All I've got to say is, go to your bed, put your head on your pillow and pray for rain." And so, as luck would have it, throughout the preceding night and on the day of the game itself March 31, 1928 there was heavy rain in London.

[edit] The Game

The game itself had a dramatic opening, Billy Smith hitting the post beyond the Scottish 'keeper Harkness after the first attack of the game. Immediately Scotland attacked and Alan Morton receiving a pass from Alex James crossed for Alex Jackson to head home. A persevering rearguard kept Scotland, who clearly favoured their chances in the wet conditions, from extending their lead but with a minute to go before the break Alex James beat Ted Hufton in the England goal with a left foot shot.

The momentum was with the Scots in the second half; with short, rapid passing they were easily able to advance on the English goal. Alex Jackson increased the lead 20 minutes into the second half; James made the score 0-4 following a through pass from Hughie Gallacher and Jackson converted another cross from Morton with 5 minutes on the clock: 0-5. With a minute to go, Bob Kelly struck a free-kick past Jack Harkness to make the score England 1, Scotland 5. Ivan Sharpe, the ex-player and writer, commented on the victory for the Athletic News: ‘England were not merely beaten. They were bewildered – run to a standstill, made to appear utterly inferior by a team whose play was as cultured and beautiful as I ever expect to see.’

[edit] England v Scotland 1928

Wembley Stadium, London, May 31, 1928

England

1 - 5

Scotland

Attendance: 80 868 spectators
Referee: Willie Bell (Scotland)

Scorers:
England: 89' Bob Kelly 1-5
Scotland 3' Alex Jackson 0-1, 44' Alex James 0-2, 65' Alex Jackson 0-3, 74' Alex James 0-4, 85' Alex Jackson 0-5

England: Ted Hufton (West Ham United) - Roy Goodall (c) (Huddersfield Town}, Herbert Jones (Blackburn Rovers) - Willis Edwards (Leeds United), Thomas Wilson (Huddersfield Town}, Henry Healless (Blackburn Rovers) - Joe Hulme (Arsenal) , Bob Kelly (Huddersfield Town}, Dixie Dean (Everton), Joe Bradford (Birmingham City), William Smith (Huddersfield Town}

Scotland: Jack Harkness (Queens Park), James Nelson (Cardiff City), Tommy Law (Chelsea), Jimmy Gibson (Aston Villa), Tom Bradshaw (Bury), Jimmy McMullan (Manchester City), Alex Jackson (Huddersfield Town}, James Dunn (Hibernian), Hughie Gallacher (Newcastle United), Alex James (Preston North End), Alan Morton (Rangers)

[edit] Trivia

The practice of an 'away' side providing the referee was well-established in the 1920s. Tom Doughray had refereed the previous 4 England v Scotland matches in 1920, 1922, 1924 and 1926;
Jack Harkness was an amateur player for Queens' Park at the time;
The Wizards were never selected again en masse for an international; Bradshaw never played another game for Scotland;