The 1888–89 British Home Championship was the sixth international football tournament between the British Home Nations and as with all but one of the previous tournaments, Scotland won, beating England by one point to take the championship. Wales achieved third place whilst Ireland finished bottom, as they had for five of the previous competitions.
England began the strongest team, scoring ten goals in their first two matches against Wales and Ireland for just two in reply. Scotland then showed their intent with a 7–0 defeat of Ireland at home in their first game. In what would turn out to be the deciding game of the competition, England and Scotland then played out a very fast-paced match which Scotland won 3–2 despite England's home advantage. Only needing a single point against Wales in their last match, Scotland only just achieved it, finishing with a rare scoreless draw. Ireland and Wales then played the decider for last place, Wales comfortably beating the Irish 3–1.
Table
Results
Winning squad
NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal WALMon 15 Apr 1889 Wales 0 Scotland 0, London Hearts Supporters Club IRESat 09 Mar 1889 Scotland 7 Ireland 0, London Hearts Supporters Club ENGSat 13 Apr 1889 England 2 Scotland 3, London Hearts Supporters Club Apps GoalsFrank Watt11/222Willie Groves1/313James McLaren1/111Jimmy Oswald1/111Neil Munro1/111Tom McInnes1/111David Black1/111Walter Arnott110William Berry110Geordie Dewar110James Kelly110Alex Latta110John McPherson110Bob Smellie110James Wilson110James Adams110Bob Boyd110John Buchanan110David Calderhead110Ned Doig110Thomas McKeown110Thomas Robertson110John Auld110Harry Campbell110Jimmy Hannah110William Johnston110Alexander Lochhead110John McLeod110Willie Paul110John Rae110Allan Stewart110Andrew Thomson110
References