05/04/1893 Belfast Wales 4-3 John Peden (3), James Wilton
John Clugston, Willie Gordon, Robert Stewart, Alex Crawford, Nathaniel McKeown, Sam Johnston, James Small, George Gaffikin, Olphert Stanfield, James Wilton, John Peden
This game was played at Solitude in Belfast the home of Cliftonville. The crowd was estimated to be only 4,000 strong. It was a fine day with a hard pitch which may indicate a period of good weather in the week(s) leading up to the match.
Ireland had lost 6-1 their two previous matches to both Scotland and England in the 1892-93 British Home Championship. However, Wales had fared even worse losing 6-0 to England and 8-0 to Scotland. This match was therefore a ‘Wooden Spoon’ match with the losing side finishing bottom of the group.
Wales won the toss and instructed Ireland to play into the wind. Ireland attacked almost immediately through George Gaffikin but was successfully tacked by Lee for Wales. Ireland retrieved the ball and rushed forward with their entire forward line allowing John Peden to score after 5 minutes of the game.
Only 3 minutes later Wales had equalised through George Owen. Ireland had the better chances for 10 minutes after the Welsh goal but failed to score at the critical moments. The teams were making passing errors giving the ball away until the 34th minute when Owen scored his second goal of the game from a long shot at goal.
Wales went into the half-time break 2-1 to the good with all to play for in the second half.
Wales had possession of the ball with James Vaughan but was dispossessed by Alex Crawford. Crawford passed to team mate James Wilton who passed to Peden who hit a long dropping shot into the net on 50 minutes.
Peden was to score his hat-trick goal and Ireland’s third on 58 minutes. Vaughan was stopped in the Irish half by Robert Stewart with Peden picking up possession. Peden was able to dribble the ball up close to the Welsh net and shoot which produced a goal.
For the final half hour of the match Ireland pressed the Welsh team when they had the leather.
Wales still fought on and didn’t accept defeat. Owen scored his own hat-trick outwitting Irish goalkeeper Clungston on 80 minutes.
The final goal was scored by Ireland who won the ball in the Welsh box were Wilton slotted home on 82 minutes.
The match finished Ireland 4 – 3 Wales, therefore Wales finished with the wooden spoon and Ireland third.
Author: Magheramesk
* Trivia –
Ireland fielded outside right James Mark Small (7.7.1867-27.12.1963). He also was a good referee and an outstanding track-and-field athlete who was 4-mile race champion of Ireland twice. He later became an official, and eventually IFA general secretary. Ireland’s inside left James McIlmunn Wilton fought in World War I as captain of the Royal Irish Regiment’s 36th division and was seriously wounded. He later was knighted, and was IFA president from 1914 to 1945.
The Glasgow Herald Match Report
Northern Ireland Footballing Greats
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05/04/1979 Manchester Wales 2-1 Norman Whiteside, Tony Murtagh
Tom Mullen (Dundonald); Michael Fegan (Gransha), David Patterson capt (Lurgan College), Alan McDonald (Rathcoole), Paul Murnin (De La Salle), John Magowan (Larkfield) [David Smyth (St Louis Grammar)], Norman Hayes (Ashfield), Sam Troughton (Lisnagarvey), Tony Murtagh (Lismore Comp.), Garnet Cromie (Grosvenor), Norman Whiteside (Cairnmartin)
The Northern Ireland Schoolboys defeated Wales to win the European Schools Championship in 1979 with a team that included future stars, Alan McDonald and Norman Whiteside.
To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the English Schools F.A.
30th March – 4th April 1979, England
Group A
Pl W D L GF GA Pts
Wales 1 0 Switzerland 1 Wales 3 2 0 1 3 2 4
Wales 0 1 Netherlands 2 Switzerland 3 1 1 1 1 1 3
Wales 2 1 England 3 Netherland 3 1 1 1 3 5 3
Switzerland 0 0 Netherlands 4 England 3 1 0 2 6 5 2
Switzerland 1 0 England
Netherlands 2 5 EnglandGroup B
Pl W D L GF GA Pts
N. Ireland 4 3 W. Germany 1 Northern Ireland 3 3 0 0 9 3 6
N. Ireland 1 0 Scotland 2 West Germany 3 2 0 1 7 6 4
N. Ireland 4 0 Rep. Ireland 3 Scotland 3 1 0 2 6 4 2
W. Germany 3 2 Scotland 4 Rep. of Ireland 3 0 0 3 0 9 0
W. Germany 1 0 Rep. Ireland
Scotland 4 0 Rep. IrelandSeventh Place play-off
Rep. Ireland 1 0 EnglandFifth Place play-off
Netherlands 0 0 Scotland [6-5 pens]Third Place play-off
Germany 4 0 SwitzerlandFinal
N. Ireland 2 1 WalesFinal
Thursday, 5 April
Maine Road, ManchesterNorthern Ireland 2 (Whiteside, Murtagh)
Wales 1 (Hughes)NIR: Tom Mullen (Dundonald); Michael Fegan (Gransha), David Patterson capt (Lurgan College), Alan McDonald (Rathcoole), Paul Murnin (De La Salle), John Magowan (Larkfield) [David Smyth (St Louis Grammar)], Norman Hayes (Ashfield), Sam Troughton (Lisnagarvey), Tony Murtagh (Lismore Comp.), Garnet Cromie (Grosvenor), Norman Whiteside (Cairnmartin)
WAL: Richard Mullan (Rhonda); Clayton Blackmore (Afan Nedd), Kevin Rogers (Merthyr Tydfil), Dean Holtman (Rhonda), Alan Sanders capt (Newport), Chris Taylor (Wrexham), Steve Jones (Newport), Mark Hughes (Wrexham), Joseph Jones (Flint) [Huw Lake (Swansea)], Anthony Rees (Merthyr Tydfil), Mark Bowen (Afan Nedd)
Today In Northern Ireland's Footballing History 