With thanks to Gavin
Willacy's 'england schoolboys international players' records 1907-99' (English
Schools' Football Association 1999), which was an invaluable reference for this research.
Organised football was first played on state school playing
fields in England in the 1880s and was followed by the formation of several
local schools' football associations, but it was not until 9 July 1904 that the
concept of a national association was formally discussed. A curiously-named
schoolmaster, Thomas Thomas, from Llanwrst in north Wales, attended a meeting at
Llandudno, of the National Union of Teachers, and proposed that a competition for schools' football associations in England and Wales be held to
raise money for the Benevolent and Orphan Fund which would benefit retiring
teachers and/or their families.
Four months later, following a letter received
from Frederick Wall, secretary of the Football Association, indicating that the
FA did not seek to control schoolboy football and that their consent was not
necessary, a further meeting was held in Birmingham, chaired by William
McGregor, founder of the Football League.
It was attended by representatives from Aston
Manor, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Derby, Hertfordshire and Luton, Leicester,
Liverpool, London, Northampton, Nottingham, Sheffield and St Albans. Thomas
attended as secretary. It was agreed that an "Elementary Schools' Football
Association be formed" which may have been the original name, though it shortly
became the English Schools' Football Association (ESFA).
Rules were drawn up for the inaugural Charity
Shield competition (which became the English Schools' Trophy in 1938) that
included a smaller ball (size 4), a crossbar that was twelve inches lower, matches of seventy minutes' duration (35 in
each half), with boys to be under 14 years of age at the beginning of the season,
and still enrolled in elementary education, as the statutory school leaving age
was still set at twelve.
In February
1906, the prospect of international matches was raised, although there were no
other national schools' teams in existence. This obstacle was removed by
Tom Thomas selecting a Welsh team to face England in the world's first schoolboy
international, 14 months later.
Season 1906-07 |
Class of 1907 (born after 31 August 1892 - 14 or under on
31
August 1907):
Football League debuts: Bob Musgrove (Barnsley) 1913
(Division 2) Bill Lockett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 1913
(Division 2) Harry Sherwin (Sunderland) 1914 (Division 1)
James Lawton (Nottingham Forest) 1919 (Division 2) Eric
Tomkins (Northampton Town) 1920 (Division 3)
Bertie Denyer (Swindon Town) 1920 (Division 3) Len
Grant (Reading) 1921 (Division 3 South) |
x |
International Selection Committee |
Friendly matches |
1 |
13 April 1907
- England 3 Wales 1
[1-1]
Hillary Street, Walsall
(2,000) |
Musgrove, Hodkinson, Lawton
Pryde |
HW |
England: W.Heyne, E.Tomkins, A.Cornell, H.Sherwin, R.Musgroveᶜ,
L.Grant, A.Denyer, E.Hodkinson, J.Lawton, W.Lockett, E.Taylor. Reserves:
Gregory, Allen. |
England wore white shirts with no crests, and dark shorts and socks
(probably either black or navy blue). In a ceremonial start to the game, the
Mayor of Walsall, Alderman Ben Dean, kicked off for Wales, who had a
twelve-year-old, Fred Keenor playing up front. Twenty years later, he
captained Cardiff City to become the first, and so far, only club to take
the FA Cup out of England. |
Season 1907-08 |
Class of 1908 (born after 31 August 1893 - 14 or under on
31
August 1908):
Football League debuts: Fred Flanders (Derby County) 1910
(Division 2) - aged 16 Arthur Grimsdell (Tottenham Hotspur)
1912 (Division 1) Simpson Bainbridge (Leeds City) 1912
(Division 2) Harry Sherwin (Sunderland) 1914 (Division 1)
Thomas Robinson (Gillingham) 1920 (Division 3) Bert Knight
(Charlton Athletic) 1922 (Division 3 South)
Full internationals:
Arthur Grimsdell (1920) |
2 |
22 April 1908
- Wales 0 England 8
[0-4]
Ynys Field, Aberdare
(2,500) |
Flanders, Grimsdell (2), Henderson, Bainbridge
(2), Radley, Robinson |
AW |
England: L.Wrighton, A.Gallehawk, F.Flandersᶜ, H.Sherwin, Arthur
Grimsdell, F.Spiller, S.Bainbridge, R.Henderson, T.Robinson, J.Radley,
B.Knight. Reserve:
Bushell. |
Wales' first home game and there was, again, a ceremonial kick-off for them,
this time by a local doctor, but they were playing "up the gradient" in the
first half. The Merthyr Express remarked that the "Welsh boys were
handicapped in size and weight" and the "Welsh custodian showed a little
indifference". Harry Sherwin was the only England player to make his second
appearance, though there were three in the Welsh team, including Fred
Keenor, now 13, who made his league debut for Cardiff in 1920. The first
goal may have been Henderson's first of two goals, rather than being scored
by Flanders. Arthur Grimsdell became the first England schools'
international to go on to win a full England cap, and also captained
Tottenham Hotspur to their FA Cup win in 1921. |
Season 1908-09 |
Class of 1909 (born after 31 August 1894 - 14 or under on
31
August 1909):
Football League debuts: None |
3 |
12 April 1909
- England 3 Wales 1
[3-0]
Deepdale, Preston
(9,000) |
Bell (2), Foord
Allan |
HW |
With five minutes remaining, Foord shot wide from a penalty |
England: A.Bradshaw, H.Bull, W.Smith, R.Tonks, H.Jarvis, E.Pinckston,
W.Taylorᶜ, E.Foord, A.Lovell, H.Henson, G.Bell. |
Staging the game on Easter Monday attracted a bumper crowd to see a third
successive England victory, and it was sewn up in the first half. Scorers
are from the Preston Herald, as that had the most detailed report. Alternative reports had England's scorers as
Henson and Foord (2), and Henson (2) and Bell, whilst the Daily Mirror
credited Henson, Foord and Lovell as the scorers, and the Manchester
Guardian gave the goals to Henson (2) and Foord. ESFA honorary secretary and founder,
Tom Thomas was referee. This was the first schoolboy international from
which no England players went on to appear in the Football League. One Welsh
player (Jack Newnes) did so and also went on to win a full Welsh cap, but
for the rest, it can only be presumed that the war got in the way of their
development at the most crucial time. |
Season 1909-10 |
Class of 1910 (born after 31 August 1895 - 14 or under on
31
August 1910):
Football League debuts: Syd Hetherington (Exeter City) 1920
(Division 3) Charlie Hannaford (Millwall Athletic) 1921
(Division 3)
George Thompson (Reading) 1923 (Division 3 South) |
4 |
16 April 1910
- Wales 0 England 1
[0-1]
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
(tbc) |
Sanders |
AW |
England:
F.Middleton, H.Short, H.Sandersᶜ, G.Lister, G.Thompson, R.Tarratt,
B.Bennett, C.Hannaford, H.Gascoyne, S.Hetherington, A.Elliott. Reserve:
Jones. |
Elliott appears in the ESFA records as 'Elliot', but his father was former
Everton player, Jock Elliott. |
Season 1910-11 |
Class of 1911 (born after 31 August 1896 - 14 or under on
31
August 1911):
Football League debuts: Jack Crisp was only a reserve
for the schoolboys but scored on his league debut for West
Bromwich Albion in the first division in 1914. Harry Chambers (Liverpool) 1919
(Division 1) Warney Cresswell (South Shields) 1919
(Division 2) Benny Cross (Burnley) 1920 (Division 1)
Full internationals:
Harry Chambers and Warney Cresswell (1921) |
5 |
15 April 1911
- England 8 Wales 3
[-]
Prenton Park, Birkenhead
(7,000) |
Winterhalter, Chambers (3), Vasey (2),
Newby (2) Nicholas, Wiggins (2) |
HW |
England:
W.Allen, H.Pinches, J.Ferguson, B.Cross, Warney Cresswell, W.Armitage, W.Vasey,
A.Winterhalter, W.Newbyᶜ, Harry Chambers, F.Rogers. Reserves: A.Jones,
Liversedge. |
Played at Tranmere Rovers' old Prenton Park ground, not the one that they
moved to, a year later, in 1912. Harry Chambers became the first schoolboy
to score an international hat-trick. Eight years later, he scored in his
first two league games for Liverpool and went on to win his first full cap
in the same match as Warney Cresswell, in 1921. |
6 |
13 May 1911
- England 1 Scotland 1
[1-0]
St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
(12,000) |
Winterhalter Templeton |
HD |
Jones had a second-half penalty saved
by McLaren |
England:
W.Allen, H.Dawson, J.Ferguson, H.Bull, A.Jonesᶜ, T.Johnson, W.Vasey,
S.Hartnell, A.Winterhalter, Harry Chambers, F.Rogers. Reserve: J.Crisp. |
The Scottish Schools' Football Association was formed in 1903, the year
before England's, but it took them eight years to field a national
team. The equaliser, from Scotland's captain, came four minutes from time,
and ended England's four-year winning run. |
Season 1911-12 |
Class of 1912 (born after 31 August 1897 - 14 or under on
31
August 1912):
Football League debuts: Peter Holland (Blackburn Rovers)
1919 (Division 1) Benny Cross (Burnley) 1920 (Division 1) Ben Timmins (Walsall) 1921
(Division 3 North) Stan Earle (Arsenal) 1922 (Division 1)
Charlie Butler (Gillingham) 1923 (Division 3 South) William
Kirby (Durham City) 1926 (Division 3 North)
Full internationals: Stan Earle (1924) |
7 |
20 April 1912
- England 0 Wales 1
[0-1]
Elm Park, Reading
(tbc) |
Clode |
HL |
England:
J.Exford, N.Cartledge, R.Bishop, J.Bevan, B.Timmins, W.Gardner, G.Wilson, G.Walls, Stan
Earleᶜ, S.Perrin, S.Hilton. Reserves: F.Atherton, B.Slade, S.Renwick. |
The Welsh Schools' Football Association was formed in 1911, and thus, took
over selection of the team. They were due to host the match on 13 April, but
with Wales meeting Ireland at Ninian Park, Cardiff in a full international
on that date, and the national coal strike causing all sorts of problems, it
was decided to play it in England again. To great surprise, the hosts
suffered their first defeat, and the visitors were worthy winners for the
first time, England's boys reportedly playing too much as individuals,
rather than combining as a team. |
8 |
18 May 1912
- Scotland 5 England 0
[4-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(14,000) |
Miller (3), Templeton, Park |
AL |
England:
W.Kirby, C.Butler, F.Atherton, B.Crossᶜ, G.Langford, W.Gardner,
J.Herber, G.Walls, P.Holland, G.Pennance, S.Renwick. Reserves: H.Tait,
R.Latimer. |
England were overwhelmed by their opponents' attacking capabilities on their
first trip over the border into Scotland. |
Season 1912-13 |
Class of 1913 (born after 31 August 1898 - 14 or under on
31
August 1913):
Football League debuts: Dicky York (Aston
Villa) 1919 (Division 1) Jimmy Skinner (Tottenham Hotspur)
1919 (Division 2) Tom Phillipson (Newcastle United) 1920
(Division 1) Jock McMillan
(Newport County) 1920 (Division 3) Joe Robson (South Shields) 1921 (Division 2)
Archie Archer (Swindon Town) 1921 (Division 3 South) Billy Cox (Charlton Athletic) 1921 (Division 3
South)
Full internationals: Dicky York (1922) |
9 |
22 March 1913
- England 9 Wales 2
[5-1]
Vicarage Road, Watford
(tbc) |
Phillipson
(2), Cox
(4), York, Temple,
Jones OG
Davies, Jones |
HW |
England:
E.Love, J.Spencerᶜ, F.Dyson, J.Skinner, R.Garner, J.Robson, Dicky York,
W.Phillipson, W.Cox, E.Cousins, H.Temple. Reserve: A.Hollis. |
After three games without a victory, England found their winning way again
and hit nine goals for the first time, with Billy Cox's four first-half
goals making him their new record scorer. |
10 |
19 April 1913
- Wales 0 England 4
[0-1]
Penydarren Park, Merthyr Tydfil (4,000) |
Cox (3), Whittingham |
AW |
England:
W.Hamilton, W.Caldwell, A.Archer, J.Skinner, J.Carverᶜ, J.Robson,
Dicky York, W.Phillipson, H.Whittingham, W.Cox, H.Temple. Reserve: E.Goldsmith. |
A second fixture was played and Cox added another hat-trick to his record
score. |
11 |
3 May 1913
- England 6 Scotland 0
[1-0]
St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
(12,000) |
Whittingham
(4),
Cox (2) |
HW |
Carver had a second-half penalty saved
by Godfrey |
England:
W.Hamilton, J.McMillan, A.Archer, J.Skinner, J.Carverᶜ, J.Robson,
Dicky York, W.Phillipson, H.Whittingham, W.Cox, H.Temple. Reserves:
W.Caldwell, R.Garner. |
The crossbars were apparently dropped to a very low height of around five
feet and eight inches, but they did not stop the England team from securing
a very comfortable first victory against the Scots.
McMillan appears in the ESFA records as 'Macmillan', but becomes 'McMillan'
in the Football League records. |
Season 1913-14 |
Class of 1914 (born after 31 August 1899 - 14 or under on
31
August 1914):
Football League debuts: Eric Cutler (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 1920 (Division 2)
Alec Wall (Everton) 1920 (Division 1) Clarence Gregory (Queen's Park Rangers) 1920 (Division 3)
Edward Watson (Sunderland) 1920 (Division 1)
George Hebden (Leicester City) 1921 (Division 2) George
Harris (Southend United) 1921 (Division 3 South) Charlie Radford (Manchester
United) 1921 (Division 1) Bill Thompson (Nottingham Forest) 1922
(Division 1) James Nicholson (Ashington) 1922 (Division 3
North) |
12 |
7 March 1914
- Wales 0 England 5
[0-2]
Vetch Field, Swansea
(10,000) |
Gregory, Clixby (4) |
AW |
England: A.Scott, W.Thompson, E.Watson, J.Nicholson, S.Collins, E.Goldsmithᶜ,
E.Cutler, C.Gregory, C.Radford, H.Whitehead, G.Clixby. Reserve: G.Wilson. |
England's fourth visit to Wales and they had yet to concede a goal. |
13 |
14 April 1914
- England 3 Wales 1
[0-1]
Molineux, Wolverhampton (7,000) |
Bowley, Cutler (pen),
Wall Scott |
HW |
England:
G.Hebden, W.Vigor, A.Ross, G.Harris, J.Nicholson, E.Goldsmith, E.Cutlerᶜ,
B.Thompson, A.Wall, R.Bowley, H.Whitehead. |
Once again, home and away fixtures were arranged with Wales, with England's
home game played on the day after Easter Monday. Clixby withdrew from the
original selection and was replaced by Ross, who then had to switch to
full-back on the day to replace Watson, as Bowley, the other original
reserve, took his place. With an unfamiliar defence, England looked shaky in
the first half, but recovered well after the interval and finished strongly. |
14 |
16 May 1914
- Scotland 0 England 0
[0-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(17,000) |
|
AD |
England:
G.Hebden, F.Foster, E.Watson, J.Nicholsonᶜ, A.Dennis, E.Goldsmith,
E.Cutler, B.Thompson, C.Radford, H.Whitehead, G.Clixby. Reserve:
W.Thompson. |
Two weeks earlier, Wales had met Scotland at schoolboy level for the first
time, at Ninian Park, Cardiff, and thrashed them 6-2, after conceding in the
first attack of the game and being two goals down at the interval.
In front of the biggest-yet schoolboy international crowd, Scotland's defence was more secure against England and the first goalless
draw was due, by a large part, to the brilliance of Hebden in England's
goal, as they laid claim to be the first unofficial British champions. |
In July 1914, the Schools' Football International Board was formed to govern the specific rules
for matches between the three British nations. Ireland would not be invited to
join them for another twenty years, due to the fact that schoolmasters had no
input to the local schoolboys competitions and there was no over-arching
governing body on the island. The new rules established that matches were to be forty minutes each way (some had already been)
and each player did not have to have been born in the country that he was
playing for, he merely had to attend an elementary school in that country. and
have been selected by a local schools' association.
Season 1914-15 |
Class of 1915 (born after 31 August 1900 - 14 or under on
31
August 1915):
Football League debuts: Jack
Townrow (Clapton Orient) 1919 (Division 2) Billy Charlton
(South Shields) 1919 (Division 2) Chris Swan (Newcastle
United) 1920 (Division 1) Harry Wake (Newcastle United)
1920 (Division 1) Len Thompson (Birmingham) 1921 (Division
1)
Full internationals: Jack Townrow (1925) and
Edgar Kail (1929) |
15 |
24 April 1915
- Wales 1 England 1
[1-1]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
(4,000) |
Scott Swan |
AD |
England: T.Moyse, R.Pinckney, L.Wright, Jack Townrowᶜ,
W.Charlton, H.Wake, H.Leigh, C.Swan, A.Sly, Edgar Kail, L.Thompson. Reserve:
S.Griffiths. |
England conceded and failed to win for the first time in Wales. A second
fixture was not played, perhaps due to the sensitivities of impacting the
war effort. |
16 |
1 May 1915
- England 6 Scotland 2
[2-2]
Molineux, Wolverhampton
(4,000) |
Reed, Kail (3), Swan,
Townrow Thomson, Lister |
HW |
England:
R.Knight, H.Leigh, L.Wright, Jack Townrowᶜ, S.Griffiths, H.Wake,
W.Reed, C.Swan, W.Charlton, Edgar Kail, H.Melson. Reserve:
T.Moyse. |
Edgar Kail, who won his first cap for the England amateur team, five years
later, and was the last full international that only played non-league club
football, gave an impressive display of firepower to defeat the Scots, who
suffered a 5-1 loss to Wales, at Hampden Park, Glasgow, three weeks later. |
Season 1915-16 |
Class of 1916 (born after 31 August 1901 - 14 or under on
31
August 1916):
Football League debuts:
Sam Hopkinson (Rotherham County) 1919 (Division 2) Maurice
Wellock (Halifax Town) 1921 (Division 3 North) Dick Hughes
(Bristol City) 1921 (Division 2) Billy Cowell (Huddersfield
Town) 1922 (Division 1) Tommy Glidden (West Bromwich
Albion) 1922 (Division 1) George Smith (Gillingham) 1923 (Division
3 South) |
17 |
15 April 1916
- England 2 Wales 1
[1-0]
Burnden Park, Bolton
(4,000) |
Wellock, Roberts Morgan |
HW |
England: G.Fell, R.Rodden, R.Hughesᶜ, J.Bannister, W.Girvan,
R.Wardhaugh, H.Maynard, G.Smith, M.Wellock, W.Roberts, S.Hopkinson. Reserve:
A.Roberts. |
The Football League and FA Cup were halted because of the war. There
was no such restriction for schools' football, though
Wales did not play again until after the war.
They signed off with another closely-contested
game between the two countries. |
18 |
24 April 1916
- Scotland 4 England 1
[3-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(3,000) |
Anderson (2), McFadyen, White
Maynard |
AL |
England:
W.Cowell, E.Phillips, R.Hughesᶜ, R.Wardhaugh, E.Collingwood, R.Ronald,
H.Maynard, T.Glidden, M.Wellock, W.Roberts, S.Hopkinson. Reserve:
W.Girvan. |
A humbling defeat for England on Easter Monday. |
Season 1916-17 |
Class of 1917 (born after 31 August 1902 - 14 or under on
31
August 1917):
Football League debuts:
Sam Hopkinson (Rotherham County) 1919 (Division 2)
Frank Townrow (Arsenal) 1922 (Division 1) Reserve,
Tommy Maskill (Maskell in the ESFA records) debuted for Coventry City in the second division
in 1923 Charles Haigh (Accrington Stanley) 1924
(Division 3 North) Cyril Rhodes (Rotherham County) 1924
(Division 3 North) |
19 |
5 May 1917
- England 1 Scotland 0
[0-0]
Valley Parade, Bradford
(4,000) |
Townrow |
HW |
England:
W.Keill, G.Hollis, C.Rhodes, W.Barrett, C.Haighᶜ, T.Mason, A.Andrews,
F.Townrow, H.Jakeman, C.Fenwick, S.Hopkinson. Reserve:
T.Maskill. |
Frank Townrow followed in his older brother, Jack's footsteps, from two
years earlier, and netted the only goal of the game, seven minutes from
time. |
There was no class of 1918, as the war had taken its toll, but all three
countries returned afresh in 1919. The school-leaving age had been raised to 14
which would have a minimal effect, but there were more schoolboys still in
education and available for selection.
Season 1918-19 |
Class of 1919 (born after 31 August 1904 - 14
or under on 31 August 1919):
Football League debuts: Billy Williams
(West Ham United) 1922 (Division 2) - aged 16 Billy Dixon
(Grimsby Town) 1924 (Division 3 North) Jimmy Hanson (Manchester United) 1924
(Division 2) Gordon Bell (Wrexham) 1929 (Division 3 North) |
20 |
22 March 1919
- Wales 3 England 1
[1-0]
Vetch Field, Swansea
(9,000) |
Bradley, Ludvigsen, Price Charlton
(pen) |
AL |
Bower saved a penalty from Bradley, who
scored from the rebound |
England: F.Bower, A.Quinnell, A.Hetherington, W.Dixon, J.Kendall, W.Charltonᶜ,
J.Anderson, J.Hanson, H.Noyce, T.Hammond, W.Williams. Reserve:
A.Cashmore. |
The first post-war schoolboy international saw England's first defeat in
Wales. |
21 |
22 April 1919
- England 3 Wales 0
[2-0]
Anfield, Liverpool (10,000) |
Hanson, Williams, Bell |
HW |
England:
C.Hutchinson, A.Richardson, A.Hetherington, W.Dixonᶜ, A.Cashmore,
W.Charlton, L.Scarffe, G.Bell, J.Hanson, W.Williams, V.Welsh. Reserve:
L.Goad. |
A good crowd on the day after Easter Monday as England secured their first
post-war victory with relative ease in their second meeting of the year.
Wales made substitutions at the break, including changing their goalkeeper. |
22 |
10 May 1919
- Scotland 5 England 0
[2-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(20,000) |
Hislop, Drummond (2), Marshall, McKenzie |
AL |
England:
C.Hutchinson, A.Richardsonᶜ, A.Cashmore, W.Charlton, W.Dixon, L.Goad,
L.Scarffe, G.Bell, J.Hanson, W.Williams, V.Welsh. Reserve:
A.Hetherington. |
Seven days earlier, Scotland had beaten Wales for the first time, 2-0 at
Vetch Field, Swansea, and an impressive start to the post-war period saw
them claim their first unofficial British championship in front of another
record crowd. England made only one change from the previous game, but the
Scots were unchanged, and recorded their biggest win since England's first
visit to Hampden, in 1912. |
Season 1919-20 |
Class of 1920 (born after 31 August 1905 - 14
or under on 31 August 1920):
Football League debuts:
Billy Williams
(West Ham United) 1922 (Division 2) - aged 16 Tom Jones
(Aston Villa) 1925 (Division 1) William Drew (Queen's Park
Rangers) 1926 (Division 3 South) Eddie Beats (Queen's Park
Rangers) 1928 (Division 3 South) Harold Houghton (Everton)
1928 (Division 1) Walter Buckley (Bradford) 1929 (Division
2) |
23 |
24 April 1920
- Wales 0 England 2
[0-0]
Mid Rhondda Ground, Tonypandy
(10,000) |
Williams
(2) |
AW |
England: S.Andrews, H.Homley, C.Olsen, W.Charlton, T.Jones, W.Buckley,
G.Goodman, G.Bell, W.Williamsᶜ, E.Beats, W.Eltringham. Reserve:
H.Houghton. |
England had the advantage in height and weight which were often significant
at this level of football. |
24 |
8 May 1920
- England 4 Scotland 0
[2-0]
Blundell Park, Cleethorpes
(14,000) |
Bell (2),
Houghton (2) |
HW |
England:
S.Andrews, H.Homley, C.Olsen, W.Charlton, T.Jonesᶜ, W.Buckley, W.Drew,
G.Bell, E.Beats, H.Houghton, W.Molloy. Reserve: E.Goulden. |
Billy Williams was in the original line-up, but was replaced by Molloy.
England were too powerful for their opponents and established themselves as
the top British team in front of their biggest home crowd to date. Scotland
beat Wales, 3-0 at Hampden Park, Glasgow, two weeks later. |
Season 1920-21 |
Class of 1921 (born after 31 August 1906 - 14
or under on 31 August 1921):
Football League debuts: George Taylor (Notts County) 1925
(Division 1) George Maskill (York City) 1932
(Division 3 North) Reserve, George Heywood debuted for
Port Vale in the second division in 1935 |
25 |
30 April 1921
- England 1 Wales 1
[1-1]
Hillary Street, Walsall
(tbc) |
Webb Callaghan |
HD |
England: A.Parrish, A.Taylor, W.Dunwoody, G.Maskill, J.Evansᶜ,
R.Fairfoull, G.Taylor, A.Barrett, L.Webb, A.Newton, J.Bushnell. Reserve:
G.Heywood. |
A return to the scene of the very first schoolboy international, as the
visitors put up a strong challenge to hold the favourites to a draw. |
26 |
21 May 1921
- Scotland 1 England 2
[0-2]
Cathkin Park, Glasgow
(23,000) |
McNeil Barrett, Reinke |
AW |
England:
W.Parkinson, W.Dunwoody, P.Jennings, G.Maskill, L.Holfordᶜ, J.Evans,
G.Taylor, A.Barrett, C.Fraser, A.Reinke, C.Delahay. Reserve: F.Wilkins. |
Seven days earlier, Scotland had beaten Wales for the third successive year,
by 3-0, at Ynys Field, Aberdare, but they then suffered the first home
defeat
of either side in their tenth meeting with England, before yet
another record crowd, in their first game away from Hampden which was being
used for the Scottish Junior Cup Final. England claimed a second successive
unofficial British championship. |
Season 1921-22 |
Class of 1922 (born after 31 August 1907 - 14
or under on 31 August 1922):
Football League debuts: Frank Cresswell (Sunderland) 1926
(Division 1) Sep Rutherford (Portsmouth) 1927 (Division 1)
Alec Sheffield (Exeter City) 1929 (Division 3 South)
William Clarke (Notts County) 1934 (Division 2) |
27 |
25 March 1922
- Wales 1 England 1
[1-1]
Vetch Field, Swansea
(9,000) |
Pattimore (pen) Rutherford |
AD |
England: W.Parkinson, G.Small, G.Clarke, J.Pegg, B.Bartonᶜ, H.Andrews,
J.Loader, M.Churchill, J.Gibbs, F.Cresswell, S.Rutherford. Reserve:
B.Bridge. |
Two younger brothers of full internationals appeared for England; Frank
Cresswell (Warney, who also played for England schoolboys) and Sep
Rutherford (Jock) who went on to score the opening goal in the 1934 FA Cup
Final for Portsmouth, before they succumbed to Manchester City. |
28 |
13 May 1922
- England 0 Scotland 0
[0-0]
Stamford Bridge, Fulham
(20,000) |
|
HD |
England:
W.Parkinson, B.Bridge, G.Clarke, A.Sheffield, B.Bartonᶜ, A.Reveler,
M.Dempsey, G.Heath, J.Pegg, F.Cresswell, J.Gibbs. Reserve: H.Andrews. |
The Duke of York, who became King George VI, 14 years later, attended and
presented the caps to each player at the first schoolboy international to be
played in London. England's first 20,000 crowd (also
reported as 15,000 and 25,000!) saw a competitive match, but England failed
to beat the Scottish goalkeeper, Jack Harkness, who was a member of the
famous Wembley Wizards that won 5-1 against England, six years later.
Scotland went on to take the unofficial British title from England, two
weeks later, by beating Wales 3-0, at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, extending
their run to eleven goals without reply against the Welsh. |
Season 1922-23 |
Class of 1923 (born after 31 August 1908 - 14
or under on 31 August 1923):
Football League debuts:
Frank Cresswell (Sunderland) 1926
(Division 1) Ron Stainton (Birmingham) 1927 (Division 1) Tommy Tait (Southport) 1927 (Division 3 North)
Hugh McLenahan (Manchester United) 1928 (Division 1) George
Hickman (Halifax Town) 1929 (Division 3 North) Original
reserve, Jack Morfitt debuted for Birmingham in the first
division in 1931 Reg Spencer (Tranmere Rovers) 1932 (Division 3
North) |
29 |
21 April 1923
- England 7 Wales 2
[4-1]
Filbert Street, Leicester
(5,000) |
Tait (2), Nash (2), McLenahan,
Davis, Hillyer Murphy (2) |
HW |
England:
A.Mead, T.McCabe, H.Walker, H.McLenahan, C.Davis, A.Spencer, J.Smith,
E.Nash, T.Tait, F.Cresswellᶜ, C.Hillyer. Reserve:
E.Ellis. |
England's biggest win in over ten years. |
30 |
19 May 1923
- Scotland 5 England 3
[2-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(15,000) |
David, Robertson (2), McArdle, McDougall
Ellis (2),
Cresswell |
AL |
England:
A.Mead, R.Stainton, J.Burrows, H.McLenahan, C.Davis, A.Spencer, G.Hickman,
E.Ellis, T.Tait, F.Cresswellᶜ, C.Hillyer. Reserves: R.Rutherford,
E.Nash. |
Wales had beaten Scotland, 4-1 at Ynys Field, Aberdare, seven days earlier,
ending a run of defeats against them that went back to before the war, but
Scotland evened things up between the three nations with an overdue win
against England. Rutherford, a goalkeeper, came in as a substitute after the
withdrawal of original reserve, Jack Morfitt, a defender, who captained
Yorkshire Boys to victory against Northumberland in the Northern Counties
Cup Final at North Shields on the same day. |
In 1923, a shield (valued at 150 guineas) that had been used for
international charity matches since the war was donated by Lord Invernairn
to the Schools' Football International Board to be presented to the winners
of the annual triangular series of matches.
Season 1923-24 |
Class of 1924 (born after 31 August 1909 - 14
or under on 31 August 1924):
Football League debuts: George Power (Rochdale) 1928
(Division 3 North) George Mathison (Newcastle United) 1929
(Division 1)
Tom Halliday (Darlington) 1929 (Division 3 North) George
Taylor (Bolton Wanderers) 1931 (Division 1) Arthur Bullock
(Hull City) 1933 (Division 3 North) |
Invernairn (Victory) Shield |
31 |
10 May 1924
- Wales 3 England 2
[2-1]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
(tbc) |
Jenkins (2), Thomas Hodgson, Cross |
AL |
England:
H.Chapman, C.Gardner, J.Wolverson, G.Marsden, T.Hallidayᶜ, G.Perkins,
G.Luckett, T.Hodgson, J.Cross, G.Taylor, A.Bullock. Reserve:
B.Spencer. |
England were well beaten in a late start to the internationals season.
A.Brett was originally named, but was replaced by Luckett. It was reported
years later that it was at this time that the England team was first under
the care of George Crandon, a Bristol schoolmaster who trained and managed the team
until the mid-1950s and also became chairman of the English Schools' FA in
1932. According to some
records, George Taylor, who was a reserve for a full international in 1938,
was 15 when he played for the schoolboys, but it seems more likely that he was born in
1910, rather than the suggested 1909). At Bolton, he played alongside George
T.Taylor, another ex-England schoolboy. |
32 |
17 May 1924
- England 1 Scotland 2
[1-0]
Turf Moor, Burnley
(10,000) |
Taylor Dailly (2) |
HL |
England:
G.Power, C.Gardner, B.Spencer, G.Mathison, F.Oaten, P.Dellow, H.Bailey,
T.Hodgson, F.Sparrow, G.Taylorᶜ, A.Bullock. Reserve: G.Marsden. |
England made seven changes, but still suffered a third successive defeat for
the first time, as Scotland came from behind to record their first away win
in the fixture. This left Scotland and Wales contesting the prize, a week
later, at Hampden Park, Glasgow, where Wales came from two goals down,
before their meeting ended in a draw for the first time (2-2), but unlike
the full international championship, the winners were determined by goal
average, so Scotland became the first winners of the shield. |
Season 1924-25 |
Class of 1925 (born after 31 August 1910 - 14
or under on 31 August 1925):
Football League debuts: Tom Charlton (Ashington) 1928
(Division 3 North) Jimmy Richardson (Newcastle United) 1929
(Division 1) Thomas Pickard (Gateshead) 1930 (Division 3
North) Harry Gooney (Sheffield United) 1930
(Division 1) Ralph Ward (Bradford) 1930 (Division 2) Les Miller (Tottenham Hotspur) 1936 (Division
2) - professional debut in 1935
for Sochaux-Montbéliard in
French
Ligue 1
Full internationals: Jimmy Richardson (1933) |
33 |
16 April 1925
- England 3 Wales 1
[2-0]
Boleyn Ground, Upton Park
(7,000) |
Watson, Staddon, Miller
Glover |
HW |
England:
E.Haywood, J.Moss, T.Charlton, F.Robson, W.Gooneyᶜ, E.Garnett,
G.Luckett, J.Watson, B.Staddon, H.Cochrane, L.Miller. Reserve: K.Tuvey. |
A first meeting on a Thursday saw England get back to winning ways. |
Friendly match |
34 |
9 May 1925
- Wales 2 England 2
[1-1]
Vetch Field, Swansea
(tbc) |
L.Jones, Glover Watson, Gooney |
AabD |
Match abandoned,
waterlogged pitch |
England:
T.Pickard, J.Moss, R.Ward, F.Robson, W.Gooneyᶜ, H.Capener, G.Luckett,
J.Watson, J.Richardson, S.Cooper, E.Mitson. Reserve:
K.Tuvey. |
The second meeting between the teams was brought to an abrupt end due to
heavy rain. Wales would not avoid defeat against England again until 1940. |
Invernairn (Victory) Shield |
35 |
30 May 1925
- Scotland 3 England 2
[0-2]
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
(12,000) |
Russell, Wilkie, King
Staddon, Gooney |
AL |
England:
E.Haywood, J.Moss, R.Ward, F.Robson, W.Gooneyᶜ, K.Tuvey, G.Luckett,
J.Watson, B.Staddon, J.Richardson, E.Mitson. Reserve: S.Cooper. |
England only made three changes for their first visit to Edinburgh, in a
late finish to the season, with Harry Gooney becoming the first to captain
them three times. With a strong wind behind them, they were two goals up at
the interval, but lost to a last-minute winner, their third successive
defeat by the Scots. Some reports credited the first goal to Watson and
Scotland's equaliser to a Ward own goal, and it was certainly deflected by
him. The crowd was estimated at anything between 10,000 and 16,000.
Scotland had beaten Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff by a single goal, five
minutes from time, and thus retained the Victory
Shield. |
Season 1925-26 |
Class of 1926 (born after 31 August 1911 - 14
or under on 31 August 1926):
Football League debuts: Cliff Bastin (Exeter City) 1928
(Division 3 South) - aged 16 Sid Cann (Torquay United) 1928
(Division 3 South) Sep Smith (Leicester City)
1929 (Division 1) Les Howe (Tottenham Hotspur) 1930
(Division 2) Len Goulden (West Ham United) 1933 (Division
2) Full
internationals: Cliff
Bastin (1931), Sep Smith (1935) and Len Goulden (1937) |
36 |
5 April 1926
- England 3 Scotland 0
[1-0]
Roker Park, Sunderland
(26,000) |
Adams (2), Bulford |
HW |
England: D.Preston, S.Cann, T.Charlton, H.Towle, H.Barberᶜ, L.Howe,
W.Bulford, Len Goulden, J.Adams, S.Smith, F.Webb. Reserves: Lambert, Cliff
Bastin. |
A switch to Easter Monday brought a record crowd and England's first home
win against Scotland since 1920. |
37 |
17 April 1926
- Wales 1 England 2
[0-1]
Ynys Field, Aberdare
(3,000) |
Harris Webb, Bastin |
AW |
England:
D.Preston, S.Cann, T.Charltonᶜ, H.Towle, L.Howe, W.Ormond, W.Bulford,
Len Goulden, J.Adams, Cliff Bastin, F.Webb. Reserves:
Lambert, Richardson. |
Another victory for England gave them their first silverware, the Victory
Shield. Scotland beat Wales, 3-1 at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen to finish
runners-up in their defence of the title. Cliff Bastin's move to Arsenal in
1929 led to him winning the league, FA Cup and a full England cap whilst
still a teenager. |
Season 1926-27 |
Class of 1927 (born after 31 August 1912 - 14
or under on 31 August 1927):
Football League debuts: Ronnie Dix (Bristol Rovers) 1928
(Division 3 South) - aged 15 Albert Geldard (Bradford) 1929
(Division 2) - aged 15 George Mason (Coventry City) 1932
(Division 3 South) Jack Pinder (York City) 1932 (Division 3
North) Raich Carter (Sunderland) 1932
(Division 1) John Watson (Everton) 1933 (Division 1) Robert Scott (Burnley) 1933 (Division 2)
Ernie Toser (Millwall) 1937 (Division 3 South) Full
internationals: Albert
Geldard (1933), Raich Carter (1934) and Ronnie Dix (1938) |
38 |
23 April 1927
- England 6 Wales 2
[3-1]
Eastville, Bristol
(8,000) |
Dix (4), Bromiley,
Carter Boulter, Sayce (pen) |
HW |
England: R.Scott, J.Pinder, G.O'Malley, P.Warner, G.Mason, P.Astley, Albert
Geldard, Raich Carter, Ronnie Dixᶜ, T.Bromiley, H.Kerslake. Reserve:
Davies. |
Little wonder that England won easily, with a triumvirate of future full
internationals in their midst, two of whom set Football League records at
the age of 15. Geldard was the youngest debutant and Dix, the youngest
scorer, a record that still stands. Raich Carter played for England before,
during and after the war. |
39 |
28 May 1927
- Scotland 3 England 1
[1-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(12,000) |
Clelland, Mutch (2) Dix |
AL |
England:
J.Horsman, J.Pinderᶜ, I.Cope, R.Lakin, E.Toser, F.Tavener, Albert Geldard,
Raich Carter, Ronnie Dix, T.Bromiley, J.Watson. |
Scotland recorded a third victory on consecutive Saturdays, having
despatched Wales, 3-1 at Ebbw Vale, and then, in a first meeting with
Ireland, defeated them, 5-0 at Cliftonville. England's budding stars were
outwitted as Scotland regained the Victory Shield. Match-winner, George
Mutch went on to score the only goal of a jubilee international against
England, at Highbury, in 1935, and three years later, it was the dramatic
last-minute penalty winner for Preston North End in the FA Cup Final which
catapulted his name into folklore.
Ernie Toser won two FA Amateur Cup winners' medals with Dulwich Hamlet.
Horsman appears in the ESFA records with a likely mis-spelling of
'Hormsman', but also appears as 'Horseman' and 'Hormsman' in the records of the Durham
County Schools' Football Association. |
Season 1927-28 |
Class of 1928 (born after 31 August 1913 - 14
or under on 31 August 1928):
Football League debuts: Reg Stockill (York
City) 1929 (Division 3 North) - aged 15
Albert Geldard (Bradford) 1929
(Division 2) - aged 15 Reg Trim (Bournemouth) 1931
(Division 3 South) Bobby Stuart (Middlesbrough) 1932
(Division 1)
Raich Carter (Sunderland) 1932
(Division 1) William Roper (Tranmere Rovers) 1932 (Division
3 North)
Full internationals: Albert Geldard (1933)
and Raich Carter (1934) |
40 |
21 April 1928
- England 5 Scotland 0
[3-0]
Filbert Street, Leicester
(16,000) |
McGovern (2), Howlett (2),
Stockill |
HW |
England: W.Roper, R.Stuart, R.Trimᶜ, G.Taylor, W.Ives, W.Puffett, Albert
Geldard, J.McGovern, W.Howlett, Raich Carter, R.Stockill. |
Originally scheduled for 24 March, it was put back four weeks when Filbert
Street was chosen to host the FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and
Blackburn Rovers on that date. Stockill appears in the ESFA records as
'Stockhill'. Two members of the side made their league debuts less than 18
months later, emphasizing the real value of an international schoolboy team. |
41 |
12 May 1928
- Wales 1 England 3
[0-2]
Vetch Field, Swansea
(tbc) |
Clarke Carter (2),
Stuart (pen) |
AW |
England:
W.Roper, R.Stuart, R.Trim, G.Taylor, W.Ives, W.Puffett, D.Burge, J.McGovern,
W.Howlett, Raich Carterᶜ, R.Stockill. Reserves: Groon, Townend. |
Scotland beat Wales, 5-0 at Pittodrie Park, Aberdeen, seven days earlier,
with Wales also missing a penalty. The Shield returned to England, whilst
both Scotland and Wales went on to defeat Ireland; Scotland by 5-0 at Easter
Road, Edinburgh, a week later, before Wales beat Ireland 5-2 in their first
meeting, at Cliftonville, seven days after that. The ESFA continued to
resist calls for them to meet the Irish schoolboy team, due to the ongoing situation
where teachers were not involved in organising the teams, as they were
throughout Great Britain. |
Season 1928-29 |
Class of 1929 (born after 31 August 1914 - 14
or under on 31 August 1929):
Football League debuts:
Stan Matthews (Stoke City) 1932 (Division 2) Ted Fenton
(West Ham United) 1932 (Division 2) Jack Smith
(Huddersfield Town) 1933 (Division 1) Jack Dowen
(Wolverhampton Wanderers) 1934 (Division 1) Reserve,
Cyril Dean debuted for Reading in the Third Division (South)
in 1937 George Hannah (Port Vale) 1938 (Division 3
South)
Full internationals:
Stan Matthews (1934) |
42 |
20 April 1929
- England 3 Wales 0
[1-0]
Dean Court, Bournemouth
(tbc) |
Smith, Dean, Asker |
HW |
England: W.Halsey, L.Lathamᶜ, J.Dowen, G.Hannah, W.Loveridge, R.Dewhurst,
Stan Matthews, C.Dean, J.Smith, W.Asker, G.Vanner. Reserve: R.Colbourne. |
This was the first international appearance of one of the most famous ever to have
played the game. Sir Stanley Matthews, who played for England at 42, as the
first European Footballer of the Year, and was knighted before his last game
in the top flight, 36 years after winning his only cap at schoolboy level,
where the scoreline reportedly flattered England.
Two West Ham boys, Fenton and Hooper, had to withdraw because they had been
in contact with a boy who had contracted smallpox. They were replaced by
Dean and Vanner. Seven days later, Ireland made a first visit to Wales,
losing 5-0 at Ninian Park, Cardiff. |
43 |
18 May 1929
- Scotland 4 England 3
[2-1]
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
(15,000) |
Mutch (2), Walker, Dougan Smith
(2), Fenton |
AL |
England: W.Halsey, L.Latham, J.Dowen, R.Colbourne, J.Radford, R.Dewhurst,
N.Bell, J.Smith, E.Fenton, W.Askerᶜ, A.Hooper. |
Scotland had lost 3-2 to Wales at Vetch Field, Swansea, but their victory
against England in a lively encounter was not enough to regain the Victory
Shield, as England retained it on goal average. |
Season 1929-30 |
Class of 1930 (born after 31 August 1915 - 14
or under on 31 August 1930):
Football League debuts:
John Turner (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic) 1934 (Division 3
South) Ronnie Palmer (Millwall) 1935 (Division 3 South) Gilbert Glidden (Port Vale) 1935 (Division 2) Len Flack
(Norwich City) 1935 (Division 2) David Halford (Derby
County) 1936 (Division 1) Jackie Deverall (Reading)
1939 (Division 3 South) |
44 |
12 April 1930
- Wales 1 England 3
[1-1]
Somerton Park, Newport
(tbc) |
Edwards
Palmer (3) |
AW |
England: P.O'Dowd, J.Turner, H.Scottᶜ,
W.Little, D.Balmer, J.Deverall, B.Tasker, R.Palmer, R.Hall, G.Glidden,
D.Halford. Reserve: W.Flack. |
Ronnie Palmer's hat-trick secured England's fifth successive victory against
the Welsh. |
45 |
21 April 1930
- England 3 Scotland 1
[0-0]
Hillsborough, Sheffield
(21,500) |
Palmer (3) McCullagh |
HW |
England: P.O'Dowd, J.Turnerᶜ, H.Scott, W.Little, W.Flack, J.Deverall,
A.Colley, R.Hall, R.Palmer, J.Cocker, D.Halford. Reserves: Fenwick, Crookes. |
Another Palmer hat-trick gave England a hat-trick of Victory Shields, the
first in the history of the competition, as staging the fixture on Easter
Monday led to record receipts. Scotland beat Wales, 3-1 at Tynecastle Park,
Edinburgh to finish runners-up for the third year in succession. |
Season 1930-31 |
Class of 1931 (born after 31 August 1916 - 14
or under on 31 August 1931):
Football League debuts: Bob Allen (Clapton Orient) 1934
(Division 3 South) Richard McIntosh (Barrow) 1934 (Division
3 North) - England amateur international (1936)
Norman Catlin (Southampton) 1935 (Division 2)
Albert Ross (Middlesbrough) 1936 (Division 1) Freddie Scott
(York City) 1937 (Division 3 North) Alf Smirk (Southend
United) 1938 (Division 3 South) |
46 |
8 April 1931
- England 4 Wales 3
[2-2]
The Dell, Southampton
(9,601) |
Hemblade, Whittle, McIntosh
(2) Francis, Emanuel, Davies |
HW |
Balmer missed a first-half penalty
|
England:
L.Broughton, A.Rossᶜ, R.Newell, S.Lowe, D.Balmer, L.Mansfield,
N.Catlin, W.Hemblade, W.Whittle, R.McIntosh, A.Allen. Reserve: Briggs. |
Wales were two goals up inside half an hour in an exciting game, but England
clinched victory in the last five minutes. Ten days later, Wales beat
Scotland, 3-2 at Somerton Park, Newport, their first win against them in
the Victory Shield. |
47 |
16 May 1931
- Scotland 2 England 2
[0-2]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(10,000) |
Ross (pen), McLean Scott,
Paton
OG |
AD |
England: C.Wheatley, A.Rossᶜ, J.Wainwright, S.Lowe, D.Balmer, L.Mansfield,
A.Smirk, F.Scott, W.Foy, R.McIntosh, A.Allen. |
Scotland's equaliser came three minutes from the end, but it wasn't enough
to prevent England from securing a record fourth successive Victory Shield.
Seven days later, Ireland avoided defeat for the first time by drawing 1-1
with Scotland in Belfast, but they would still have to wait another three
years before England would play them. |
Season 1931-32 |
Class of 1932 (born after 31 August 1917 - 14
or under on 31 August 1932):
Football League debuts: Phil Taylor (Bristol Rovers) 1935
(Division 3 South)
Norman Catlin (Southampton) 1935 (Division 2) Jimmy Hagan
(Derby County) 1935 (Division 1) Denis Compton (Arsenal)
1936 (Division 1) - England wartime international (1940)
Johnny Spuhler (Sunderland) 1937 (Division 1) Les Goldberg (Leeds United) 1937 (Division 1)
Reserve, Ernie Tagg debuted for Crewe Alexandra in the
Third Division (North) in 1938 Tom Alton
(Derby County) 1938 (Division 1)
Full internationals:
Phil Taylor (1947) and Jimmy Hagan
(1948) |
Friendly match |
48 |
9 April 1932
- England 1 Wales 0
[0-0]
Ashton Gate, Bristol
(9,800) |
Taylor |
HW |
England:
J.Hilton, T.Alton, L.Goldberg, Phil Taylorᶜ, R.Wilson, D.Compton, Jones,
Jimmy Hagan, N.Catlin, T.Lewis, Jewett. Reserve: J.Harper. |
With the Welsh Schools' FA struggling financially during the depression, an
additional match with England was staged for the first time in seven years,
with all of the proceeds being donated to help them to
recover. It was settled, rather fortuitously, with the last kick of the game,
by England captain and local boy, Phil Taylor, when an intended pass caught
the wind and sailed over the head of the Welsh goalkeeper, blinded by the sun. Taylor
became Liverpool's manager in 1956 and appointed Bob Paisley to his backroom
staff. He also signed future World Cup winner, Roger Hunt, before being
succeeded by Bill Shankly. This match does not appear in the ESFA records,
and consequently, there is no mention of Denis Compton, more famous as a test cricketer
for England, but also won the league and FA Cup with Arsenal. |
Victory Shield |
49 |
23 April 1932
- Wales 2 England 6
[0-3]
Jenner Park, Barry
(6,000) |
James (2)
Hagan, Spuhler (3), Harper, McAweney |
AW |
England:
J.Hilton, L.Goldberg, H.Lanham, Phil Taylorᶜ, H.Petch, T.Grover,
J.Spuhler, J.Harper, Jimmy Hagan, T.McAweney, T.Lewis. Reserves: T.Alton,
D.Compton, E.Tagg. |
Alton, Compton, Pottinger and Tagg were named in the original selection, but
three days later, Lanham had replaced Alton, Grover had replaced Compton,
Spuhler had replaced Pottinger, and McAweney had replaced Tagg, with all
except Pottinger becoming reserves. A week after the match, at Pittodrie
Park, Aberdeen, Scotland beat Wales by a single goal, leaving the meeting
with England to, once again, decide the winners of the shield. Wales'
miserable season was completed when they became the first team to lose to
Ireland, going down 4-3 in Belfast. |
50 |
14 May 1932
- England 5 Scotland 0
[3-0]
St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
(25,000) |
Taylor, Hagan (2),
Harper (2) |
HW |
England:
J.Hilton, L.Goldberg, H.Lanhamᶜ, Phil Taylor, H.Petch, T.Grover,
W.Laidlaw, J.Spuhler, J.Harper, Jimmy Hagan, T.Lewis. Reserves: Lewis,
T.Alton, D.Compton, Bohan. |
England only made one change and were too powerful for the Scots as they
secured a fifth successive title. It was also reported that 30,000 were
present. |
Season 1932-33 |
Class of 1933 (born after 31 August 1918 - 14
or under on 31 August 1933):
Football League debuts:
Reserve, Viv Aston debuted for Bury in the second division
in 1939 Billy Pears (Newcastle United) 1939 (Division
2)
Ken Bird (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic) 1939 (Division 3
South) Cyril Briggs (Accrington Stanley) 1946 (Division 3
North) - FA Cup debut (1945) |
51 |
22 April 1933
- England 2 Wales 1
[1-1]
Recreation Ground, Chesterfield
(12,000) |
Evans, Ridgeway Hall |
HW |
England:
K.Bird, K.Blanchard, H.Lanhamᶜ, W.Wilkes, C.Bush, W.Johnson, F.Evans,
S.Bradley, W.Pears, D.Ridgeway, G.Pennell. Reserves: J.Inglis, W.Aston,
Pearson, Bunce. |
The international season began, two weeks earlier, when Wales drew 2-2 with
Scotland at Somerton Park, Newport. |
52 |
20 May 1933
- Scotland 1 England 1
[1-1]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(15,000) |
White Bradley |
AD |
England:
J.Inglis, K.Blanchard, H.Lanhamᶜ, J.Ball, J.Briggs, W.Johnson,
G.Youens, S.Bradley, W.Pears, J.Hill, D.Ridgeway. Reserves: W.Aston, Pearson. |
England wore numbered shirts for the first time, as they wrapped up a sixth
successive Victory Shield. Crowd estimates varied between 10,000 and 20,000.
Two weeks later, in Belfast, Ireland beat Scotland 4-1 and proved that they
were ready to make the Victory Shield a four-team tournament, but with war
just six years away, schoolboy internationals were about to find that their
paths to becoming professional footballers were going to be much more
challenging. |
Season 1933-34 |
Class of 1934 (born after 31 August 1919 - 14
or under on 31 August 1934):
Football League debuts:
Syd Peppitt (Stoke City) 1936 (Division 1) Norman Fowler
(Middlesbrough) 1938 (Division 1) Arthur Wright
(Sunderland) 1938 (Division 1)
Alan Wakeman (Aston Villa) 1938 (Division 1) Alwyne Statham
(Mansfield Town) 1938 (Division 3 South) Len Edwards
(Reading) 1939 (Division 3 South) |
53 |
21 April 1934
- Wales 0 England 2
[0-1]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
(12,000) |
Booth, Johnston |
AW |
England:
A.Wakeman, R.Smith, H.Fowlerᶜ, M.Cattell, L.Wheeler, A.Wright,
S.Peppitt, D.Johnston, G.Butler, K.Baldwin, C.Booth. Reserves: G.Davies,
A.Statham. |
Wales had beaten Ireland, 3-1 at Grosvenor Park, Belfast, in the opening
match of the Victory Shield, but they suffered a tenth successive defeat
against England. Peppitt is spelt as 'Peppit' in the ESFA records. |
54 |
12 May 1934
- England 4 Scotland 1
[1-0]
Arsenal Stadium, Highbury
(35,000) |
Butler, Cattell (3)
McConnell |
HW |
England:
A.Wakeman, R.Smith, H.Fowler, L.Wheeler, L.Edwards, A.Wright, S.Peppitt,
G.Butlerᶜ, M.Cattell, C.Booth, A.Day. Reserves: K.Baldwin, A.Statham. |
A new record attendance for a schoolboy international saw the teams
presented to the Duke of York before the game. He had also attended the
match at Fulham, twelve years earlier. Moving Cattell to
centre-forward proved to be an inspired decision, when he scored a
second-half hat-trick to win the game following Scotland's equaliser. There
were other wild crowd estimates in the newspapers of up to 60,000.
Seven days earlier, Scotland had beaten Wales, 5-3 at Central Park,
Cowdenbeath, and went on to beat Ireland 5-2 at Douglas Park, Hamilton, a
week after England's first meeting with Ireland. |
55 |
26 May 1934
- Ireland 0 England 1
[0-1]
Celtic Park, Belfast
(12,000) |
Cattell |
AW |
England:
A.Wakeman, R.Smith, H.Fowler, A.Statham, L.Edwards, A.Wright, S.Peppitt,
G.Davies, M.Cattellᶜ, C.Booth, A.Day. |
The Irish Schools' Football Association had been formed in 1931, but only
represented the schools in Northern Ireland. As per the national teams that
were run by the Irish Football Association, they played under the title of
'Ireland'. The only goal was scored after eight minutes, as England secured
their seventh successive title, in the first season to include all four home
nations. Both sides wore numbered shirts. Davies was spelt as 'Davis' in all
newspaper reports, conflicting with the ESFA records. |
Season 1934-35 |
Class of 1935 (born after 31 August 1920 - 14
or under on 31 August 1935):
Football League debuts: Tom Callender (Lincoln City) 1938
(Division 3 North)
Alan Wakeman (Aston Villa) 1938 (Division 1) Reserve, Gerry Henry debuted for
Leeds United in the first division in 1939 Reserve, Jack
Conley debuted for Torquay United in Division 3 (South) in
1946 after playing in the FA Cup Reserve, Leon Leuty
debuted for Derby County in the first division in 1946 after
winning the FA Cup in the previous season - England B
international (1949)
Les Medley (Tottenham Hotspur) 1946 (Division 2) after FA Cup
debut Harry Oliver (Brentford) 1946 (Division 1) after FA
Cup debut Billy Walsh
(Manchester City) 1946 (Division 2) after FA Cup debut - Irish international
(1946) Charlie Whitchurch (Tottenham Hotspur) 1946
(Division 2) Frank Mouncer (Grimsby Town) 1946 (Division 1)
after FA Cup debut Reserve goalkeeper, Tom Grimley
debuted for West Bromwich Albion in the second division in
1946
Dennis Ibbotson (Rotherham United) 1947 (Division 3 North)
Full internationals:
Les Medley (1950) |
56 |
22 April 1935
- England 3 Ireland 0
[1-0]
Anfield, Liverpool
(13,000) |
Callender (2), Nicholson |
HW |
England:
A.Wakemanᶜ, H.Cook, H.Oliver, C.Whitchurch, F.Mouncer, W.Walsh,
H.Simpson, R.Nicholson, G.Gosnell, T.Callender, A.Cox. |
The Victory Shield had started in February for the first time, with Wales
beating Ireland, 5-1 at Vetch Field, Swansea, only to then lose 7-1 to
Scotland at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham. Ireland's first visit to England
was staged on Easter Monday and drew a good holiday crowd. Gosnell appears
in the ESFA records with a likely mis-spelling of 'Gosnall'. |
57 |
4 May 1935
- England 5 Wales 1
[2-1]
Crabble Athletic Ground, Dover
(10,000) |
Gosnell (3), Greaves, Nicholson
Thomas |
HW |
England:
A.Wakemanᶜ, F.Walworth, D.Ibbotson, J.Armstrong, C.Whitchurch,
W.Walsh, L.Lines, R.Nicholson, G.Gosnell, T.Callender, T.Greaves. Reserves:
F.Mouncer, G.Henry, J.Conley. |
Once again, England were too strong for Wales and were on course for their
eighth Victory Shield in a row, if they could resist the Scots, two weeks
later. |
58 |
18 May 1935
- Scotland 2 England 1
[0-0]
Hampden Park, Glasgow
(12,500) |
Hogg (2) Gosnell |
AL |
England: A.Wakemanᶜ, H.Bartlett, D.Ibbotson, J.Armstrong, C.Whitchurch,
W.Walsh, L.Lines, R.Nicholson, G.Gosnell, T.Callender, Les Medley. Reserves:
T.Grimley, L.Leuty, G.Henry. |
Goalkeeper and captain, Alan Wakeman became the first player to make six
England schoolboy appearances, but they were outwitted by their opponents,
who left themselves needing only a point to win the Victory Shield, and
although Ireland picked up their first ever point, at Grosvenor Park,
Belfast, two weeks later, by holding Scotland to a goalless draw, it was
enough for the Scots to lift the silverware for the first time since 1927. |
Season 1935-36 |
Class of 1936 (born after 31 August 1921 - 14
or under on 31 August 1936):
Football League debuts: Reserve, Ron Cater debuted for
West Ham United in the second division in 1946 after playing
in the FA Cup
Len Shackleton (Bradford) 1946 (Division 2) after FA Cup debut
and an England Victory International
Reserve, Tom Hough debuted for Barrow in Division 3
(North) in 1946
Dickie Davis (Sunderland) 1946 (Division 1)
Full internationals: Len Shackleton (1948) |
59 |
2 May 1936
- Wales 2 England 6
[0-1]
Ynys Field, Aberdare
(8,000) |
Phillips, Corkery Bell
(3),
Lack,
Shackleton, Caple |
AW |
England:
F.Whitman, H.Lievesley, P.Brown, N.Penrose, L.Thompsonᶜ, H.Caple, Len
Shackleton, R.Davis, R.Bell, B.Martin, L.Lack. Reserves: R.Finch,
H.Bartlett, R.Brown. |
A late start to the season for England, but a familiar result, their twelfth
in a row against Wales, who had begun with a 4-1 win against Ireland at
Solitude, Belfast. Other reports suggested that Shackleton (who was only
five feet tall) had scored twice
and that there was also a Giles own goal, but the scorers above are from the more
detailed reports. |
60 |
16 May 1936
- England 4 Scotland 0
[1-0]
Villa Park, Birmingham
(30,000) |
Bell (3), R.Brown |
HW |
England:
F.Whitman, H.Lievesley, P.Brown, N.Penrose, L.Thompsonᶜ, H.Caple,
G.Brotherton, Len Shackleton, R.Bell, R.Brown, J.Philips. Reserves: Bird,
H.Bartlett, R.Finch, R.Davis, E.Ireland. |
Scotland had beaten Ireland, 3-1 at Somerset Park, Ayr, seven days earlier,
but their grip on the Shield was loosened when they were comprehensively
beaten by England on a very hot day. Crowd estimates varied, as more people
apparently joined during the first half. Ireland could have been a late
replacement for one of the other reserves.
Philips was spelt as 'Phillips' in all newspaper reports, conflicting with
the ESFA records.
In the Scotland team was Billy Liddell, the great Liverpool winger of the
1950s, who won 29 caps for his country. |
61 |
30 May 1936
- Ireland 3 England 8
[1-4]
Celtic Park, Belfast
(tbc) |
Corbett, Walker, Moffett Bell
(6), Caple, Hamilton
OG |
AW |
England:
F.Whitman, H.Lievesley, P.Brown, N.Penrose, L.Thompsonᶜ, R.Finch,
H.Caple, Len Shackleton, R.Bell, E.Ireland, J.Philips. Reserves: Tibbatts,
T.Hough, R.Cater, R.Davis. |
With Scotland beating Wales, 4-0 at Brockville Park, Falkirk, on the same
day, England could afford to lose by five goals to Ireland and still regain
the Victory Shield on goal average, but an incredible double hat-trick from
Richard Bell, smashing the existing scoring record, ensured that England won
the title in style. |
Season 1936-37 |
Class of 1937 (born after 31 August 1922 - 14
or under on 31 August 1937):
Football League debuts:
Jimmy Mullen (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 1939 (Division 1) -
aged 16
Bill Ellerington (Southampton) 1946 (Division 2) after FA Cup
debut Reg Foulkes (Reading) 1946 (Division 3 South)
Eddie Spicer (Liverpool) 1946 (Division 1) after FA Cup debut
Sid Tickridge (Tottenham Hotspur) 1946 (Division 2) Bill
Whittaker (Charlton Athletic) 1946 (Division 1) after FA Cup
debut for Brentford Gordon Jayes (Notts County) 1946
(Division 3 South) Les Henley (Reading) 1947 (Division 3
South) Reserve goalkeeper, Bill Townsend debuted for
Derby County in the 1946 FA Cup before appearing in the first
division in 1947
Full internationals:
Jimmy Mullen (1947) and Bill Ellerington (1949) |
62 |
3 April 1937
- England 6 Wales 1
[2-0]
Blundell Park, Cleethorpes
(9,000) |
Henley (4),
Standing, Hargett Lewis |
HW |
England:
L.Wilkin, S.Tickridge, E.Lacey, Bill Ellerington, R.Foulkes, J.Thompsonᶜ,
B.Clift, J.Standing, L.Henley, H.Hargett, C.Goldfinch. Reserves: T.McVay,
J.Ladham, E.Spicer, Miles. |
Wales had beaten Ireland, 5-1 at the Recreation Ground, Tredegar, but they
were again no match for the taller and heavier English boys, selected from a
much deeper pool of playing talent. |
63 |
1 May 1937
- Scotland 3 England 4
[1-3]
Central Park, Cowdenbeath
(14,681) |
Foulkes OG,
Goldie (2) Henley (2), Standing, Ellerington |
AW |
England:
L.Wilkin, S.Tickridge, E.Lacey, Bill Elleringtonᶜ, R.Foulkes, E.Spicer,
B.Clift, J.Standing, L.Henley, H.Hargett, J.Thompson. Reserves:
T.McVay, W.Whittaker, T.Holmes. |
Scotland had lost 2-1 to Wales at Vetch Field, Swansea, and now suffered
their first home defeat since 1921, as the fixture was played on a smaller
ground, at Cowdenbeath for the first time, though the crowd produced record
receipts for them. Scotland made a substitution due to injury at half-time
(Wilson for Wilson) after having only ten players, from being a goal down,
for over ten minutes, and they rallied in the second half. Both teams wore
numbered shirts after the Scottish Football Association had refused to wear
numbers in the full international between the countries, two weeks earlier.
Billy Steel impressed, and went on to score in a famous Scottish victory
against England at Wembley in 1949. |
64 |
8 May 1937
- England 6 Ireland 0
[2-0]
Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough
(11,000) |
Mullen (2),
Russell
OG, Clift (2), Standing |
HW |
England:
T.McVay, S.Tickridgeᶜ, J.Ladham, Bill Ellerington, W.Whittaker, E.Spicer,
B.Clift, J.Standing, A.Jayes, G.Bailey, Jimmy Mullen. Reserves: W.Townsend,
E.Lacey, J.Thompson, L.Henley. |
A point would have been enough for England to retain the Victory Shield, but
they would probably have still won it with a defeat, such was their goal
average advantage. This result also ensured that Wales would finish
runners-up
for the first time since Ireland had joined the competition.
Scotland beat Ireland 5-1 at Grosvenor Park, Belfast, three weeks later. Five years later, Jimmy
Mullen played in his first wartime international for England. |
Season 1937-38 |
Class of 1938 (born after 31 August 1923 - 14
or under on 31 August 1938):
Football League debuts:
Reserve, Frank Hodgetts debuted for West Bromwich Albion
in the second division in 1946 after playing in the FA Cup
Gordon Jayes (Notts County) 1946
(Division 3 South)
Ken Faulkner (Birmingham City) 1947 (Division 2) Ray
Dring (Huddersfield Town) 1947 (Division 1) |
65 |
16 April 1938
- Wales 1 England 3
[0-2]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
(14,000) |
Davies Gibbs, Law, Lang |
AW |
England:
T.Morris, D.Flanagan, L.Clatworthyᶜ, K.Faulkner, L.Walmesley, L.Davis,
L.Monk, S.Gibbs, A.Lang, A.Connett, G.Law. Reserves: Edmonds, F.Hodgetts. |
England began the season on Easter Saturday with a closer game than in
recent years, but still a 14th successive victory against the Welsh. |
66 |
20 April 1938
- Ireland 0 England 4
[0-2]
Grosvenor Park, Belfast
(6,000) |
Teare (2), Jayes, Lyon |
AW |
England:
R.Dring, J.Wallis, D.Walker, T.Evans, J.Teareᶜ, L.Dodd, S.Williamson,
W.Turnbull, A.Jayes, J.Lyon, K.Evans. Reserves:
Ireland, D.Davenport. |
Four days after beating Wales, England's strength in depth meant that they
could send a completely different team to Belfast to extend their recent
run to eight consecutive wins. Ten days later, Ireland lost 7-0 to
Scotland at Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy. |
67 |
14 May 1938
- England 0 Scotland 1
[0-1]
Roker Park, Sunderland
(17,986) |
Hamill |
HL |
England:
T.Morris, D.Flanagan, J.Wallis, J.Teareᶜ, L.Clatworthy, L.Dodd,
A.Dowers, S.Gibbs, A.Lang, J.Lyon, G.Law. Reserves: T.Evans, Davies. |
Scotland had drawn 2-2 with Wales at Douglas Park, Hamilton, a week earlier,
leaving England needing only a point to secure a hat-trick of Victory
Shields, but their policy of using the Wales and Ireland games as trial
matches for the Scotland fixture backfired and the visitors lifted the
Shield following their first win in England since 1924. Two weeks later,
Ireland registered their first win in the competition at the 15th attempt,
beating Wales, 3-1 at Grosvenor Park, Belfast. |
Season 1938-39 |
Class of 1939 (born after 31 August 1924 - 14
or under on 31 August 1939):
Football League debuts:
Stan Lloyd (Sunderland) 1946 (Division 1) Les Cook
(Blackburn Rovers) 1946 (Division 1) Dennis Thompson
(Sheffield United) 1946 (Division 1) Reserve, Vic
Niblett debuted for Reading in Division 3 (South) in 1947 Geoff Chilvers
(Crystal Palace) 1948 (Division 3 South) Roy Stroud (West
Ham United) 1952 (Division 2) - England amateur
international (1948) |
68 |
1 April 1939
- England 2 Ireland 0
[2-0]
Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent
(8,000) |
Hayes
OG, Glover |
HW |
England:
S.Cooper, G.Chilversᶜ, L.Bettison, A.Lawes, R.Hubbard, E.Tucker,
R.Stroud, W.Lloyd, R.Marlow, H.Glover, R.Seager. Reserves: R.Sheen,
A.Phebey, L.Cook. |
The competition began with an extraordinary 6-6 draw between Wales and
Ireland at Taff Vale Park, Pontypridd, where Ireland won their first away
point in the Victory Shield, having led 5-1 at half-time. They followed that
with a battling performance where they were beaten by two goals in the first
ten minutes. One paper, the Middlesex Chronicle, suggested that local boy,
Harold Glover had netted after Marlow's shot had crossed the line. |
69 |
20 May 1939
- England 3 Wales 0
[1-0]
Villa Park, Birmingham
(20,755) |
Marlow (2), Lloyd |
HW |
England:
S.Cooperᶜ, G.Chilvers, L.Bettison, R.Sheen, R.Hubbard, L.Cook,
D.Thompson, W.Lloyd, R.Marlow, A.Phebey, D.Gill. Reserves:
V.Niblett, J.Kenwright. |
Wales had beaten Scotland, 1-0 with a last-minute winner at Ninian Park,
Cardiff, and beating England would give them the Victory Shield for the
first time, but their long wait for success would go on as they were well
beaten in the end. |
70 |
27 May 1939
- Scotland 2 England 1
[2-1]
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
(10,000) |
Blackwood, Mackay
Marlow |
AL |
England:
S.Cooperᶜ, G.Chilvers, L.Bettison, R.Sheen, R.Hubbard, L.Cook, D.Thompson,
W.Lloyd, R.Marlow, A.Phebey, J.Kenwright. Reserves: R.Stroud,
Cadywould, V.Niblett. |
On a hot day, the referee changed into a Hearts shirt for the second half
and got a cheer from the crowd.
Needing a point to regain the title, England were hit by two early goals and
failed to break down their opponents, who registered back-to-back victories
against them for the first time in 14 years, but left themselves needing to
beat Ireland by five goals, seven days later, to retain the Victory Shield.
However, they were two goals down with eight minutes left at the Belfast
Oval, before recovering to win a point, but handed the title back to
England.
Kenwright appears in the ESFA records with the likely mis-spelling of
'Kemwright'. |
Following the closest Victory Shield competition yet, with only two points
between all four teams, it all came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of
World War II in September 1939. With mass evacuations of schoolchildren
taking place, it became unfeasible for schoolboy internationals to continue
and the Victory Shield was abandoned for the next seven seasons...though one
game was played in 1940.
Season 1939-40 |
Class of 1940 (born after 31 August 1925 - 14 or under on
31
August 1940):
Football League debuts: Len Staples (Newport County) 1949
(Division 3 South) Joe Spence (York City) 1950 (Division 3
North) |
Friendly match |
71 |
30 March 1940
- Wales 2 England 0
[2-0]
Ninian Park, Cardiff
(12,000) |
Jones, Morgan |
AL |
England: Morley, J.Flett, Tommy, German, Allen, Morganᶜ, E.Philcox, I.Jones,
L.Staples, J.Spence, K.Siddall. Reserves: Benham, Godbeer. |
With half of the proceeds going to the Red Cross, England's team was
assembled without trial matches and selected on the day. Wales ended a run
of 15 consecutive defeats by England with a first win against them since
1924. No caps were awarded. |
|