1983–84 British Home Championship
The 1983–84 British Home Championship was the one hundredth anniversary of the British Home Championship and the final football tournament between the Home Nations to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games, crowded international fixture lists and a sharp rise in hooliganism. Although the football competition was instituted in 1884, it was only the eighty-seventh tournament to be completed due to a five-year hiatus during World War I, a seven-year gap in World War II and the cancellation of the 1981 competition following threats of violence during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The tournament was surprising in its outcome, as the favourites in England and Scotland actually played each other into a 1–1 draw in the final game, thus allowing Northern Ireland to claim victory on goal difference, with Wales second. This was only the third time in 87 tournaments that (Northern) Ireland were undisputed champions and the fifth time goal difference was used. The trophy was permanently awarded to the Irish FA.
Table
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Northern Ireland
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
 Wales
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
 England
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
 Scotland
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
The points system worked as follows:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
The teams were then divided on goal difference.
Results
References
- Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
