1965–66 British Home Championship

The 1965–66 British Home Championship was a cause of great excitement as it supplied spectators and commentators a view of England prior to their contesting the 1966 FIFA World Cup on home soil at which they were one of the favourites. None of the other Home Nations had qualified for the World Cup and so were determined to spoil England's preparation, leading to some very dramatic and heavily contested matches, particularly England's final game in Glasgow.

1965–66 British Home Championship
Tournament details
Host countryEngland, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates2 October 1965 – 2 April 1966
Teams4
Final positions
Champions England
Runners-up Ireland
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored25 (4.17 per match)
Top scorer(s)Northern Ireland Willie Irvine (3)

The England team began with a subdued goalless draw with the Welsh side whilst Ireland beat Scotland 3–2 in a close fought game at home. Both England and Scotland improved in their second games, England beating a tough Irish side at home 2–1, whilst the Scots put four goals past the struggling Welsh. Wales suffered further in their final match of the series, losing 1–4 at home to the Irish, who claimed a surprise second place in the tournament. England and Scotland then played a thrilling game in Glasgow, which England finally won 4–3 to take the title of British Champions, a title they would add to at the World Cup three months later.

Table

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  England (C) 3 2 1 0 6 4 +2 5
  Ireland 3 2 0 1 8 5 +3 4
  Scotland 3 1 0 2 9 8 +1 2
  Wales 3 0 1 2 2 8 −6 1
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Champions

Results

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Ireland  3–2  Scotland
Dougan   42'
Crossan   60'
Irvine   89'
Gilzean   17', 81'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Jack Taylor (England)

Wales  0–0  England
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Archibald Webster (Scotland)

Scotland  4–1  Wales
Murdoch   1', 22'
Henderson   15'
Greig   86'
Allchurch   14'
Attendance: 49,888
Referee: Jim Finney (England)

England  2–1  Ireland
Baker   19'
Peacock   73'
Irvine   21'
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Leo Callaghan (Wales)

Wales  1–4  Ireland
Davies   74' Irvine   2'
Wilson   42'
Welsh   53'
Harvey   55'
Attendance: 12,860
Referee: Jim Finney (England)

Scotland  3–4  England
Law   41'
Johnstone   62', 81'
Hurst   18'
Hunt   34', 47'
Charlton   73'
Attendance: 123,052
Referee: Henri Faucheux (France)

References

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