Elisha Scott, Billy Cook, Tommy Willighan, Billy Mitchell, Jack Jones, Billy McCleery, Billy Houston, Sam English, Jimmy Dunne, Jack Doherty, Jimmy Kelly
Wales ended up winning the 1932-33 British Home Championship and would win several of the tournaments in the 1930s. Ireland meanwhile had a terrible tournament and finished with three defeats conceding nine goals in the process. Four of the goals conceded were against the Welsh in this game in Wrexham. Wales had to win against Ireland and hope Scotland could take a result against England at Hampden which they duly did 2-1 to award the title outright to Wales. One positive for Ireland is that they only lost 1-0 away to England at Bloomfield Road in their second match!
Wales began on the offensive through William Evans (Tottenham Hotspur), Walter Robbins (West Bromwich Albion) and David Richards (Fulham) it was Ireland who opened the scoring after 26 minutes. Billy Mitchell (Distillery) had passed the leather to Jimmy Kelly (Derry City) who dribbled into the centre subsequently hit an accurate pass to Sam English (Glasgow Rangers) who shot from distance and scored.
Welsh attacks followed from Thomas Griffiths (Bolton Wanderers) and Eugene O’Callaghan (Tottenham Hotspur) with the former failing to score from a few yards out, but the scored remained 1-0 to Ireland at the break.
Two minutes after half-time Wales equalised after Evans had chipped the ball over Mitchell’s head to Robbins resulting in a goal by David Astley (Aston Villa).
From the restart Wales snatched the lead when a great solo effort from Robbins brought Wales’ second goal of the game.
Ireland had lost Jimmy Dunne (Sheffield United) for a period but he returned to the field to see another two goals for Wales by Astley and Robbins to provide an easy victory in the end for the Welsh.
14/04/1923 Wrexham Wales 3-0 Bobby Irvine (2), Billy Gillespie
Tom Farquharson, Alex Mackey, Andy Kennedy, Sam Irving, Bert Smith, Billy Emerson, Davy Lyner, Patsy Gallagher, Bobby Irvine, Billy Gillespie, Joe Toner
Ireland, playing for pride comprehensively beat Wales in the last match of the 1922–23 British Home Championship competition to finish third.
IRISH TRIUMPH OVER WELSH AT FOOTBALL
Fair weather and a large attendance were in evidence here Saturday afternoon for the Wales-Ireland international soccer match, which the latter won 3 to 0. The ground was in capital condition. Lyner, of Glentoran, replaced Lacey on the Irish team. while Vizard, of Bolton, came In for Nicholas, on the Welsh eleven. Ireland won the toss and took advantage of the strong wind. Wales immediately took the offensive, but Kennedy relieved. Ireland forced a corner, from which Gillespie put the ball over the bar with a wild kick. The Irish forwards attacked, Irvine struck; with a perfect drive. The Welshmen tested Farquharson who cleared. Ireland then once more’ attacked and Gillespie headed a corner from Toner into the net. Just before half time Irvine scored a third goal for Ireland from a drive from 25 yards out. At the interval the score stood: Ireland 1, Wales 0. On the resumption of play the Welshmen played up strongly and were frequently attacking. Evans missed with a hot shot and Len Javles sent the ball right across tha Irish goal mouth. The Welshmen forced a couple of corners near the end of the game, but without result.
Ireland’s goalkeeper Tom Farquharson who was winning his second IFA cap would declare in 1931 that he no longer wished to be picked for the IFA Ireland side but instead that he would represent the new FAI Ireland side after earning two FAI caps already. In April 1931 he was called up by the IFA to play against Wales but opted instead to play for the FAI XI against Spain.
During his career Farquharson became known as the ‘Penalty King’ for his many fine saves from spot kicks. One of his tactics was to move along the line to unsettle the penalty-taker. This tactic was so effective that in 1929 the law was changed to require the goalkeeper not to move his feet until the ball had been kicked.
06/04/1960 Wrexham Wales 2-3 Danny Blanchflower pen, Billy Bingham
Harry Gregg, Alex Elder, Alf McMichael, Danny Blanchflower, Willie Cunningham, Wilbur Cush, Billy Bingham, Jimmy McIlroy, Ian Lawther, Jimmy Hill, Peter McParland
The 1959-60 British Home Championship finished with a three-way tie for the title between England, Scotland and Wales on 4 points each. Northern Ireland unfortunately finished last having lost all their games having shared the trophy each of the previous two seasons. Goal difference was not used but if it had of been Scotland would have won with a goal difference of +4 while Wales and England’s was +2. The three countries sharing the trophy only won a single game each, all against a Northern Ireland side containing the heroes of the 1958 World Cup. The matches between the three sides ended in draws.
Wales were nearly kicking themselves at the end of the match as they were 3-0 up after 65 minutes but let Northern Ireland back into the game with two goals in the space of fifteen minutes. Northern Ireland in fact could have equalised but the score remained 3-2 to Wales.
Wales opened the scoring in the 4th minute when a Terry Medwin (Tottenham Hotspur) shot flew past Harry Gregg (Manchester United). The score remained 1-0 to Wales until the second half.
Medwin scored Wales’ second in the 57th minute from another powerful shot this time low along the ground.
A penalty kick was awarded to Wales ten minutes later after Jones was knocked over by Northern Ireland defender Willie Cunningham (Leicester City). Jones himself dusted himself down to score Wales’ third.
Wales having dropped their heads after taking a substantial lead allowed Northern Ireland to get back into the game. Billy Bingham (Luton Town) scored with a great header in the 67th minute, while in the 80th minute Jimmy McIlroy (Burnley) was brought down in the area and up stepped captain Danny Blanchflower to score Northern Ireland’s second goal of the match.
Wales hung on to take the victory while the Irish Football Association were left scratching their heads as to why Northern Ireland had lost all their matches. Was this the beginning of the end for the heroes of ’58 in Ireland shirts?
02/04/1906 Wrexham Wales 4-4 Jimmy Maxwell (2), Harold Sloan (2)
Fred McKee, George Willis, Johnny Darling, Jack Wright, Bob Milne, Joe Ledwidge, Andy Hunter, Jimmy Maxwell, Charlie O’Hagan, Harold Sloan, Jack Kirwan
Football film was world first in Wales
THE earliest surviving footage of an international football match will be marked by a plaque at a North Wales soccer stadium.
When Wales took on Ireland on April 2, 1906 at Wrexham’s Racecourse ground the moment was caught on camera by film pioneers Mitchell and Kenyon.
In 2006, on the centenary of the 4-4 draw, a plaque will be unveiled at the Mold Road stadium as part of the North Wales Film and Television Trail created by the Wales Screen Commission.
Organisers say the timing is particularly appropriate as the World Cup 2006 kick off will be just weeks away.
Mitchell and Kenyon’s silent black and white film, which lasts for 2 minutes 10 seconds, is now lodged for safe keeping with Aberystwyth’s National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales.
It was, by all accounts, an eventful match – the ball burst just before half time – watched by a crowd of up to 6,000 fans.
Three of Wales’ goals were scored by Notts County player Williams Green from Aberystwyth.
Wrexham MP Ian Lucas, part of the long-running campaign to save the Dragons, said:
“Wrexham is the birthplace of football in Wales. The Welsh FA was set up here, we have an excellent football museum – this is a huge football area by tradition. I think it’s a tremendous thing for us to be able to commemorate this historic landmark in World Cup year.
People right across the world will be fascinated by this. These films by Mitchell and Kenyon record history that we can see re-lived and I’m really excited about it. It’s a source of great pride to me, the club and the town that this pioneering event happened in Wrexham. The fact that we have a record of it because somebody took the trouble to do something entirely new is tremendous.”
Mr Lucas said: “It’s a very important year coming up for Wrexham because I think we can establish a firm footing for the club.”
Wrexham council deputy leader Bob Dutton said: “The plaque will serve as a permanent reminder of the importance of sport to Wrexham and the national significance we have played in Wales’ football history.”
The match between Wales and Ireland in the British Home Championship took place at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham in good conditions. The attendance was estimated to be around 5,000 spectators.
Ireland had made three changes to their team from the original squad announcement. Jimmy Maxwell (Belfast Celtic) took teammate Tom Mulholland’s (Belfast Celtic) position at inside-right.
In the 25 previous meetings between the sides Wales had the better record winning 11, losing 9 and drawing 5. The previous meeting in 1905 ended in a 2-2 draw in Belfast while Ireland won 1-0 in Wales in 1904.
Wales began the match more brightly than their hosts but Ireland were the first to score on 10 minutes, a throw-in from the right with Harold Sloan (Bohemians) forcing the ball past Leigh Roose (Stoke City).
Wales were not to go into their shells and soon equalised on 13 minutes. William Green (Notts County) passing to Robert Evans (Wrexham) who rushed in and squared the ball back for Green to score.
Wales grew in confidence as their wing-halfs supported their forward line. Wales’ second goal came on 20 minutes again from Green. A long range shot which should have been saved by Irish goalkeeper Fred McKee (Cliftonville) but he could not hold onto the leather and it slipped into the net.
Ireland this time fought for the equaliser from the restart. Jimmy Maxwell passed to Charlie O’Hagan (Tottenham Hotspur) after good wing work from the Irish left-wing. Sloan smashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar and into the net. The goal coming in the 25th minute.
The next goal followed the pattern of the game so far in the early stages in that one side scored and the other scored soon after. Wales retook the lead only 3 minutes later in the 28th minute. The Welsh centre-half dribbled the ball and could have had a shot on goal himself however, he passed to Green who shot from long range to score his hat-trick goal and Wales’ third.
Ireland had chances to equalise prior to half-time but the Welsh defender Edwin Hughes (Wrexham) cleared the ball after an attack from O’Hagan. Hunter (Distillery), Maxwell and O’Hagan continued to be the focus of Ireland’s attacking play but Wales counter attacked and on one occasion should have scored through Jones but his shot hit Irish goalkeeper McKee.
The score at half-time was Wales 3 Ireland 2.
Wales came out in the second half aggressively and searching for the killer goal. This came on 55 minutes after a cross across the Irish goalmouth from Jones. Bob Milne (Linfield) did not clear the ball a great distance and it went straight to Hugh Morgan-Owen (Oxford University) who hit a long shot into the net.
Ireland never game up and pulled a goal back on 72 minutes. Sloan ran on goal only for Welsh goalkeeper Roose to leave his area to attempt to clear the ball. Sloan passed to Maxwell who had the easy task of scoring into the empty net.
Ireland of course pressed hard for the equaliser and it duly came only 2 minutes later straight from the restart. A team attack on the Welsh goal allowed Sloan to score his own hat-trick and bring the scores level at 4-4. This is how the match finished with Ireland probably being the happier of the two sides with the result.
The press were critical of Ireland’s goalkeeper Fred McKee for his inability to deal with speculative long shots at his goal with The Glasgow Herald describing him as appearing “weak.” Johnny Darling (Linfield) was praised for working hard and Jack Wright (Cliftonville) was the “most affective” Irish defender while Charles O’Hagan “proved a smart centre.” Irish hat-trick hero Harold Sloan “deserved every credit for the goals he scored.”
Wales’ players were also given mixed ratings. Welsh goalkeeper Leigh Roose “did not reach his usual standard of excellence.” Ralph Stanley Jones (Millwall) was “smart and tricky”, Arthur Green was “always a source of danger” while Morgan-Owen was “a worker”.
* Trivia –
Welsh goalkeeper Leigh Roose was killed during the Battle of The Somme, aged 38, in October 1916 and he was the sole reason that The FA changed the laws of the game which meant that goalkeepers could only carry the ball in their own penalty area.
Maik Taylor, Chris Baird, Tony Capaldi, Stephen Craigan, Mark Williams, Danny Sonner (Michael Duff), Phil Mulryne (Grant McCann), Jeff Whitley, David Healy, Steve Jones, Andy Smith
Lawrie Sanchez –
“It is nice to win a football match again – it has been a long time for us. Not only was it nice to win it was a great goal that sealed the victory in what was a good contest. It is my first win in charge and hopefully it is the first of many. It was hard work but very enjoyable. At the end we were on our uppers a little bit but defensively we were strong. Defensively we looked solid. In midfield we disrupted them and got about them. Up front the two players worked their socks off. I am sure the people back in Northern Ireland will have enjoyed the win enormously.”
Harry Gregg, Len Graham, Alf McMichael, Danny Blanchflower, Billy Dickson, Bertie Peacock, Billy Bingham, Jackie Blanchflower, Billy McAdams, Jimmy McIlroy, Peter McParland
Northern Ireland defeated Wales in this joint British Home Championship and qualifying match for the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland, at Wrexham in front of 32,817 spectators. The attendance was surprising considering the Wednesday afternoon kick-off time and that the match was only to decide the wooden spoon position.
Northern Ireland had too much for Wales on the day, especially from the left, as left-half Bertie Peacock (Glasgow Celtic) and outside-left Peter McParland (Aston Villa) worked in tandem to break down the Welsh defence.
Northern Ireland were more direct and quicker at moving the ball and opened the scoring in the 1st minute through McParland, who was making his debut for his country. Harry Gregg (Doncaster Rovers), Jackie Blanchflower (Manchester United) and Billy McAdams (Distillery) were also making their international debuts for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland went 2-0 in front on 52 minutes again from debutant McParland. Wales did pull one goal back however, in the 80th minute through their star player John Charles (Leeds United).
In the end Northern Ireland deserved the win which meant Wales would finish bottom of the qualifying group and Northern Ireland third. Scotland who finished 2nd and England 1st both qualified for the 1954 tournament.
* Trivia –
This was Northern Ireland’s first win since October 1947 (a 2-0 win over Scotland at Windsor Park).
Ted Hinton, Con Martin, Bill Gorman, Willie Walsh, Jackie Vernon, Peter Farrell, Davy Cochrane, Sammy Smyth, David Walsh, Peter Doherty, Tommy Eglington
Wales deservedly defeated Ireland in this British Championship match in Wrexham, but the Welsh were to miss out on the championship as England defeated Scotland 2-0 at Hampden Park, Glasgow a month later. England were crowned champions while Scotland ended up with the wooden spoon.
Ireland went into this game in good form defeating Scotland 2-0 at Windsor Park in October 1947 and drawing with England 2-2 at Goodison Park, a match remembered for Peter Doherty’s final minute equaliser.
Wales had mixed fortunes beginning with a 3-0 home defeat by England in October 1947 but defeating Scotland at Hampden Park a month later 2-1.
A then record attendance for The Racecourse Ground of 33,160 as the Town End has recently had concrete terracing installed (a record held until January 1957) witnessed Ireland went into this match with missing the services of Manchester United’s Johnny Carey, however, the performance of the Irish side failed to match those of their previous two British Championship games. Wales using their home field advantage secured the victory with the goals coming in each half by their Midlands based players, George Lowrie of Coventry City in the first half and George Edwards of Birmingham City in the second.
Hugh Kelly, Gerry Bowler, Bud Aherne, Danny Blanchflower, Con Martin, Reg Ryan, Johnny McKenna, Sammy Smyth, David Walsh, Bobby Brennan, Norman Lockhart
The winds of discontent erupted into open hostility in the 1950-51 season as the Football Association of Ireland and the Irish Football Association came to loggerheads over player selection within the island of Ireland. The situation came to afore when Sean Fallon of Glasgow Celtic refused to represent the IFA side in a match against the British Army. Pressure was applied to other players born within the territory of the Republic of Ireland which eventually led to the last ever senior ‘All Ireland’ football side being selected in 1950 against Wales.
During the match against Wales at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, the IFA fielded an all-Ireland team for the last time. The team included four players – Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Davy Walsh and the captain Con Martin – who were born in the Irish Free State, and all four of whom had previously played for the FAI international team in their qualifiers and as a result had played for two different associations in the same FIFA World Cup tournament.
The FAI took steps to prevent players from what was now the Republic of Ireland turning out for the IFA’s Ireland team. All UK-based players from the Republic were pressured to sign an undertaking not to play for the IFA. Jackie Carey was the last to comply, in April 1950. Rule 35(b) of the FAI articles provided that players based in the Republic would be denied clearance certificates for transfers abroad unless they gave a similar undertaking. The IFA complained to FIFA; in April 1951, FIFA replied that the FAI rule 35(b) was contrary to its regulations, but also that the IFA team could not select “citizens of Eire”. An exception was for British Home Championship games, as a 1923 IFAB agreement at Liverpool prevented FIFA intervention in relations between the four Home Nations. However, the exception would only apply “if the F.A. of Ireland do not object”, and was never availed of.
IFA and FAI teams both continued to compete as Ireland. At FIFA’s 1953 congress, its Rule 3 was amended so that an international team must use “that title … recognised politically and geographically of the countries or territories”. The FAI initially claimed Rule 3 gave them the right to the name Ireland, but FIFA subsequently ruled neither team could be referred to as Ireland, decreeing that the FAI team be officially designated as the Republic of Ireland, while the IFA team was to become Northern Ireland. The IFA objected and in 1954 was permitted to continue using the name Ireland in Home Internationals, based on the 1923 agreement. This practice was discontinued in the late 1970s.
02/02/1929 Wales 2 – 2 Wrexham Jackie Mahood, Andy McCluggage pen
Elisha Scott, Andy McCluggage, Billy McCandless, Joe Miller, Jimmy Elwood, Alex Steele, Jimmy Chambers, Dick Rowley, Joe Bambrick, Lawrie Cumming, Jackie Mahood
During this period Ireland were no longer the whipping boys of the yearly British Home International Championship series and gave a good account of themselves in most matches, pulling off some credible results in the process. For example, a year previously Ireland had defeated Scotland 1-0 in Glasgow while in 1927 they had defeated England 2-0 in Belfast. Nearly a year to the day in the future, Ireland would record their biggest ever international win when they would defeat Wales 7-0 in Belfast. Six of the goals that day would come from ‘head, heal or toe… slip it to Joe [Bambrick]’ who also featured in this game in 1929.
The Glasgow Herald started their match report quite bluntly complaining that “the game did not reach international standard, neither side settling down to effective combined work. The Irishmen were certainly more accomplished in the fine arts of football, but the characteristic grit of the Welshmen earned them an honourable draw.”
Lawrie Cumming, Dick Rowley and Joe Millar were making their international debuts for Ireland.
It was a rainy day in Wrexham which made the pitch of the Racecourse Ground “heavy”. Ireland started the game the strongest with good possession with passing rarely leaving the ground. The Welsh defenders stood off the Irish wingmen allowing Ireland to play deep into Welsh territory.
It was not all one way traffic as Wales did have their fair share of possession but their forward line who found good positions did not have their shooting boots on. The Welsh half-back line took charge of the game and nullified any Irish attack creating counter-attacks with swift passes to their forwards.
It was Ireland however who opened the scoring in their first meaningful attack. Jimmy Chambers (Bury) and Dick Rowley (Southampton) on the right wing made progress with the ball with the former aiming a cross across the front of the Welsh goal. Jackie Mahood (Belfast Celtic) met the ball and scored with a low shot past Albert Gray (Manchester City).
Wales restarted the match and immediately tried to push into the Irish half but with the soaking turf the ball was greasy which brought errors out of the players. Ireland meanwhile seemed to take to the conditions better when Joe Bambrick (Linfield) brought out a diving save from Gray. Wales did come close to equalising when a pass from Fred Warren (Cardiff City) to Eugene O’Callaghan (Tottenham) but he missed.
The first half ended with the Irish leading one nil.
Almost straight from the match restarting for the second half William Davies (Notts County) burst down the right-wing for Wales and put in a cross which Billy Mays (Notts County) met and scored to bring the scores level.
Wales were soon in front for the first time. Outside-Left Warren beat two Irish players on a mazy run and subsequently beat goalkeeper Elisha Scott (Liverpool) with a fine goal.
Ireland kept their heads and during an attack the leather struck the hand of Stan Bowsher (Burnley) which the referee subsequently awarded a penalty to Ireland. It was Andy McCluggage (Burnley) who took the spot-kick and with a powerful strike scored for Ireland.
Wales were the superior side until the final whistle as they sought to score a winning goal on their home turf. The Irish defenders McCluggage and Billy McCandless (Glasgow Rangers) were singled out for praise as they “took the ordeal with pluck and confidence” and kept the Welsh at bay until the final whistle was blown by referee Pennington.
Fred McKee, Bill McConnell, Alex Craig, Val Harris, Pat O’Connell, David Rollo, Edward Seymour, Sam Young, Billy Gillespie, Billy Lacey, Louis Bookman
The year 1914 has been written into history within the annuals of the Irish Football Association. That year was the first time that Ireland had won the British Home Championship tournament outright after victories over Wales, England and a draw to Scotland.
It was in the first match of the tournament against Wales at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham in which Ireland took the first steps towards being crowned champions. A shame that only 5,000 supporters turned up to watch.
In the previous tournament Ireland had defeated England for the first time in their history but lost to both Wales and Scotland. However, the seeds were sewn for the establishment of the best ever Irish side to take to a football pitch since the IFA’s founding in 1880. Star players such as Sheffield United’s Billy Gillespie, Liverpool’s Billy Lacey and Everton’s Val Harris brought a sense of professionalism to the Irish side for the first time. Ireland’s record against the Welsh was not great having only won once in the past five meetings between the sides. The Welsh side had the majority of their players playing their trade in England so went into the match as slight favourites.
Ireland started on the attack with Sam Young (Linfield) bringing out a save by Welsh goalkeeper Edward Peers (Wolverhampton Wanderers). Wales hit back after good work on the left-wing by Edward Vizard (Bolton Wanderers), Billy Mederith (Manchester United) crossed but the header by Evan Jones (Bolton Wanderers) went over the crossbar.
Wales soon hit the underside of the crossbar from a shot by Lloyd Davies (Northampton) and came out to Evan Jones to head towards goal. With Irish goalkeeper Fred McKee (Belfast Celtic) beaten Alex Craig (Greenock Morton) managed to kick it away from danger. Wales were showing the greater attacking presence and they hit the woodwork once more when a Mederith shot struck the bar.
Ireland who were riding their luck for the first ten minute period were able to mount an attack themselves through Billy Gillespie who scored after 11 minutes.
Wales restarted on the offensive. Vizard went on another fine run and crossed for Mederith but the Welsh forward misjudged the flight of the ball and Craig was able to clear.
Val Harris twisted his ankle and had to leave the field leaving Ireland with only 10 men, but the team coped well and had the majority of the territory. Wales did have the best chance to score before half-time when Evan Jones only had to place the ball into the open goal but kicked wildly over the bar to the amazement of the crowd.
The half-time score read Wales 0 – 1 Ireland
Harris failed to return for the second half and because substitutions were not permitted in these early days of association football, Ireland would have to play out the remainder of the game with only 10 players.
Irish defenders Alex Craig and Bill McConnell (Bohemians) were kept busy due to Harris’ absence but the shooting from the Welsh forward line was wayward with Vizard guilty on one occasion shooting into the side netting.
Wales as was to be expected with the extra man kept possession and were on the offensive for the majority of the second half, but they could not turn any of the stats into goals. Ireland played on the counter-attack and managed to score their second goal through Gillespie’s shot after a Louis Bookman (Bradford City) cross.
Wales’ pressure on the Irish team was finally rewarded but not through open play. A penalty was awarded after Vizard was brought down in the area and Evan Jones converted it on 60 minutes.
Wales however, could not obtain an equalizing goal as the Irish defence held firm to the increased Welsh pressure. The whistle was blown to end the match and the luck of the Irish was seen at first hand by the spectators.
In this British Championship match Irish outside left Louis James O. Bookman from Bradford City AFC made his debut for the national team. He was born on 10th June 1890 in Lithuania as Louis James O. Buchalter. His father, a Jewish emigrant, fled to Dolphin‘s Barn (Dublin), where he settled with his family and changed his name to Bookman. Louis James was also an international Irish cricketer. He died on 8th June 1943.
Today In Northern Ireland's Footballing History 