1885–86 British Home Championship

The 1885–86 British Home Championship was the third edition of the British Home Championship annual international football tournament played between the British Home Nations. As common for the time, the matches were punctuated by some high scorelines and for the first time two teams finished level on points at the top of the table, thus sharing the championship; goal difference would not be introduced to separate teams for over nearly 90 years.

England and Scotland were the joint winners, with Wales third and Ireland last with zero points. The tournament began in February 1886 with a match between Wales and Ireland which Wales won comfortably 5–0. Ireland next played against England and Scotland, suffering two heavy defeats in which they conceded 13 goals for three in reply. With the three leaders therefore equal on points, England and Scotland played their match, sharing points in a 1–1 draw. Wales then played against England and Scotland in the final games but lost both, resulting in England and Scotland sharing the title.

Table

Results

Winning squads

NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal WALMonday, 29 March 1886 Wales 1 England 3, England Football Online IRESaturday, 13 March 1886 Ireland 1 England 6, England Football Online SCOSaturday, 27 March 1886 Scotland 1 England 1 , England Football Online Apps GoalsTinsley Lindley11/11/132Ralph Squire11130Percy Walters11130Benjamin Spilsbury1/4124Fred Dewhurst1/11/122George Brann1/1121Herby Arthur1120Norman Bailey1120Charles Bambridge1120Nevill Cobbold1120Jimmy Forrest1120Andrew Amos1/111Arthur Walters110Richard Baugh110Charles Dobson110John Leighton110Thelwell Pike110William Rose110George Shutt110

NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal WALSat 10 Apr 1886 Scotland 4 Wales 1, London Hearts Supporters Club IRESat 20 Mar 1886 Ireland 2 Scotland 7, London Hearts Supporters Club ENGSat 27 Mar 1886 Scotland 1 England 1, London Hearts Supporters Club Apps GoalsCharles Heggie1/114George Somerville111Michael Dunbar1/111James Gourlay1/111James Kelly1/111David Allan1/111William Harrower1/111James McCall1/111Bob McCormick1/111Ralph Aitken110Walter Arnott110Charles Campbell110Woodville Gray110Alexander Hamilton110Joe Lindsay110James McAulay110John Macdonald110Michael Paton110William Sellar110John Cameron110James Connor110Robert Fleming110Leitch Keir110William McLeod110Andrew Thomson110Willie Turner110George Gillespie110Andrew Jackson110Bob Kelso110James Lundie110John Marshall110James McGhee110William Semple110

References