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

13 December 1983

Northern Ireland	2 – 0	Scotland
Norman Whiteside 17' Sammy McIlroy 56'	Report Page 22

Windsor Park, Belfast

28 February 1984

Scotland	2 – 1	Wales
Davie Cooper 37' (pen.) Mo Johnston 78'	Report Page 26	Robbie James 47'

Hampden Park, Glasgow

4 April 1984

England	1 – 0	Northern Ireland
Tony Woodcock

Wembley Stadium, London

2 May 1984

Wales	1 – 0	England
Mark Hughes

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

22 May 1984

Wales	1 – 1	Northern Ireland
Mark Hughes		Gerry Armstrong

Vetch Field, Swansea

26 May 1984

Scotland	1 – 1	England
Mark McGhee 13'	Report Page 15	Tony Woodcock 36'

Hampden Park, Glasgow

References

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

v t e British Home Championship
Football in the United Kingdom: England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales
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