1886–87 British Home Championship

The 1886–87 British Home Championship was the fourth international football tournament between the British Home Nations. Played during the second half of the 1886–87 football season, the competition was won by Scotland for the fourth consecutive time (although they had once shared victory with England). Ireland also achieved their first placing above the bottom of the table, finishing above Wales due to victory at home in their final match.

England and Ireland began the competition in early February, England comprehensively defeating their visitors 7–0 in Sheffield and taking the initial tournament lead. Scotland joined them with a strong victory over Ireland in their first game, but England again seized the top slot with their own defeat of Wales. In their final match, Ireland succeeded in achieving their first ever international victory with a 4–1 win over Wales in Belfast, to put them in third position. England and Scotland then played a deciding match in Blackburn, Scotland only just running out 3–2 winners after a very tough game. In the final match, Scotland beat Wales in Wrexham to outstrip England's points total and win the trophy.

Table

Team	Pts	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD
Scotland	6	3	3	0	9	3	+6
England	4	3	2	1	13	3	+10
Ireland	2	3	1	2	5	12	−7
Wales	0	3	0	3	1	10	−9

The points system worked as follows:

2 points for a win
1 point for a draw

Results

5 February 1887

England	7–0	Ireland
Tinsley Lindley 3 Fred Dewhurst 2 William Cobbold 2

Bramall Lane, Sheffield

19 February 1887

Scotland	4–1	Ireland
Willie Watt 5' Thomas Jenkinson 43' William Johnstone 55' James Lowe 75'		41' Frederick Browne

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Attendance: 1,000

Referee: Alexander Hunter (Wales)

28 February 1887

England	4–0	Wales
Tinsley Lindley 2 William Cobbold Own goal

Kennington Oval, London

12 March 1887

Ireland	4–1	Wales
Olphie Stanfield Frederick Browne Jack Peden Joe Sherrard		Henry Sabine

Cliftonville Cricket Ground, Belfast

19 March 1887

England	2–3	Scotland
Tinsley Lindley 32' Fred Dewhurst 69'		30' James McCall 68' Leitch Keir 70' James Allan

Leamington Road, Blackburn

Attendance: 12,000

Referee: John Sinclair (Ireland)

21 March 1887

Wales	0–2	Scotland
		40' William Robertson 80' James Allan

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

Attendance: 2,000

Referee: Albert Bertram Hall (England)

References

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

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