1907 British Home Championship

The 1907 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. For the first time ever it was won undisputed by the Welsh team, who secured two victories and a draw to take them to the top of the table. They were followed by England and Scotland, who both played well but could not overhaul the Welsh points advantage. All three teams beat Ireland, who finished without a point.

As usual, England and Ireland began the tournament, England winning a close game by a single goal from Harold Hardman. In Belfast during the second match, despite a close contest and five goals, Wales managed to beat the Irish 3–2 and join England at the top of the table. Wales then beat Scotland in a surprise result, winning 1–0 in Wrexham by a goal from veteran Grenville Morris to become tournament favourites. Scotland recovered in their second game with a three goal rout of Ireland, finishing a miserable tournament for the Irish. Wales and England then played, the Welsh needing a win to take the competition undisputed whilst a draw would leave them waiting for the result of the England versus Scotland game. In the venet the match finished 1–1 and England played Scotland in Newcastle needing a win to draw level with Wales. In the event, Scotland proved too good and the game finished with a 2–2 draw, handing the trophy to Wales for the first time.

Table

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Wales 5 3 2 1 0 5 3 +2
 England 5 3 1 2 0 3 2 +1
 Scotland 4 3 1 1 1 4 2 +2
 Ireland 0 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5

The points system worked as follows:

Results


16 February 1907
England  1 – 0  Ireland Goodison Park, Liverpool
Harold Hardman  

23 February 1907
Ireland  2 – 3  Wales Solitude Ground, Belfast
Charlie O'Hagan, Harold Sloan Richard Morris, Billy Meredith, William Jones

4 March 1907
Wales  1 – 0  Scotland Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Grenville Morris  

16 March 1907
Scotland  3 – 0  Ireland Celtic Park, Glasgow
Francis O'Rourke, Michael O'Connor, Charlie Thomson (P)  

18 March 1907
England  1 – 1  Wales Craven Cottage, London
Jimmy Stewart William Jones

6 April 1907
England  1 – 1  Scotland St James' Park, Newcastle
Steve Bloomer Own Goal (Robert Crompton)

References