1956 British Home Championship

The 1956 British Home Championship was a football tournament played during the 1955–56 season between the British Home Nations. It was the only occasion during the hundred year run of the Home Championship in which all four teams finished level on points. As goal difference was not used to determine position until 1979, all four teams shared the trophy, holding it for three months each. Had goal difference been used to determine the winner, then England would have won with Scotland second.

The competition began unusually with victories by underdogs Wales and Ireland over England and Scotland in their opening matches. This gave added incentive to the favourites in the following matches, which England and Scotland both won easily. Nevertheless, all four teams stood a good chance of victory going into the final round, with both Wales and Ireland seeking a rare undisputed tournament success. Unfortunately for all concerned the teams cancelled each other out, both matches resulting in 1–1 draws leaving all four equal on points and thus sharing the trophy.

Table

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

The points system worked as follows:

• 2 points for a win
• 1 point for a draw

Results

8 October 1955	Ireland	2 – 1	Scotland	Windsor Park, Belfast
	Jackie Blanchflower, Billy Bingham		Lawrie Reilly

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22 October 1955	Wales	2 – 1	England	Ninian Park, Cardiff
	Derek Tapscott, Cliff Jones		Own Goal

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2 November 1955	England	3 – 0	Ireland	Wembley Stadium, London
	Dennis Wilshaw 2, Tom Finney

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9 November 1955	Scotland	2 – 0	Wales	Hampden Park, Glasgow
	Bobby Johnstone 2

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11 April 1956	Wales	1 – 1	Ireland	Ninian Park, Cardiff
	Roy Clarke		Jimmy Jones

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14 April 1956	Scotland	1 – 1	England	Hampden Park, Glasgow
	Graham Leggat		Johnny Haynes

References

• Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.