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Results 1872-1890                     Page Last Updated 30 September 2020

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39

 35 vs. Wales  
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 42 vs. Wales
 Saturday, 15 March 1890
Home International Championship 1889-90 (8th) Match
 One of two games played on the same day.
   
Wales 1 England 3 [1-0]
   		"The English team arrived at Chester on Saturday morning. They dressed at the Queen Hotel in that city, and left for Wrexham by special train at 2.35, in charge of Mr Jackson of the Corinthians, and were accompanied by several leading members of the English Association... Half-past three was the time announced for the kick-off, and about ten minutes after that time the Englishmen entered the enclosure, being received with loud cheers. A minute or two later the Welshmen came on the ground, and received quite an ovation. No time was wasted in getting the teams in position, and at a quarter to four the game commenced...."

The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, Denbighshire
 Kick-off (GMT): 'quarter to four'
 Attendance: 'presence of over 3,000'; 'presence of 4,000 people'; '5,000 spectators present'; Receipts: over £100 (new Welsh record);

Billy Lewis kicked-off England won the toss
[1-0] Billy Lewis 38
 'made a very fine run down and finished up by sending in a shot'		  
  [1-1] Edmund Currey 49
'a shot that Gillam could not get to'
[1-2] Edmund Currey nk
'a clinking shot'
[1-3] Tinsley Lindley nk
'a lightning shot'		 Wales Party
England Party
 Team Records
Football League Record
 
Play was suspended several times due to the spectators encroaching.

Match Summary
Officials [umpires and referees are of equal relevance]

Wal

 es

 

England

Umpires

 "The conference of the football secretaries on Saturday, in London, settled the fixtures for next season. The Football League wanted to get rid of many big matches not in their list, so they got it decided that the games England v. Ireland, and England v. Wales, be played the same day, meaning that England will have to turn out two International elevens"
James Davies
 Wrexham		 Sam Weller Widdowson
38 (16 April 1851), Hucknall Torkard
Nottingham Forest FC
played for England in 1880
Referee
 James B. Walker
Scottish FA		 The 1889 International Football Association Board meeting:
The throw-in defined and new powers for the referee

Wales Team
 

Rank:

 No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 5th		 Colours: Dark red and blue halved collared shirts, white shorts, black socks
Capt: Alf Davies Selectors: Team selection chosen by Committee, on Monday, 3 March 1890.
Wales Lineup
  Gillam, Samuel G. 23 early 1867
in Wiltshire, England		 G Wrexham AFC & Shrewsbury Town FC, England 4 9 GA
  Davies, Dr. Alfred O. 27 early 1863 RB Wrexham AFC & Crewe Alexandra FC, England 9 0
  Jones, David 22/23 1867 LB Chirk AAA FC & Bolton Wanderers FC, England 6 0
  Davies, Joseph E. 25
 246 days		 12 July 1864 RHB Druids FC & Newton Heath LYMR FC, England 5 0
  Jones, Humphrey 24
 98 days		 7 December 1862 CHB Bangor FC & East Stirlingshire FC, Scotland 11 1
  Evans, Walter G. 22 Summer 1867 LHB Builth FC & Bootle FC, England 1 0
  Challen, John B. 26
 354 days		 26 March 1863 OR Ruthin FC & Corinthians FC, England 4 0
  Jones, Richard O. 22/23 1867 IR Bangor FC & Crewe Alexandra FC, England 3 0
  Doughty, John 24 October 1865 CF Druids FC & Newton Heath LYMR FC, England 8 6
  Howell, E. Gwynne 22 Summer 1867 IL Builth FC 2 2
Lewis, William 25/26 1864 OL Bangor FC & Crewe Alexandra FC, England 10 2

reserves:

 Gillam and Evans were originally reserves. The others were the halves:- P.Griffith (Chirk FC) and Abel Heyes (Wrexham AFC), right wing:- D. Evans (Builth FC & Oswestry FC) and W.E. Pryce-Jones (Newtown AFC), centre:- D. Lewis (Bangor FC), left wing:- W.H. Turner (Wrexham AFC) and R.H. Jarrett (Ruthin FC).

team notes:

 James Trainer (Preston North End FC) was due to start in goal, but his club refused to release him, and his place went to Gillam. Similarly, Bolton Wanderers FC refused to release Bob Roberts, his place going to Walter Evans.
Challen only worked at Wellingborough Grammar School, he did not play football for them.
 
2-3-5 Gillam -
A.Davies, Jones -
J.Davies, H.Jones, Evans -
Challen, R.Jones, Doughty, Howell, Lewis.

Averages:

 Age 23/24 Appearances/Goals 5.7 0.9
most experienced team that England have faced so far

 

England Team
 

Rank:

 No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 2nd		 Colours: White shirts, navy blue knickerbockers
Capt: Percy Walters
(fourth & final captaincy)		 Selectors: The seven-man FA International Selection Committee, on Wednesday, 26 February 1890, at the Midland Hotel, Derby (below), following trial games.
8th match, W 7 - D 0 - L 1 - F 39 - A 8.
In Charge: Pa Jackson (Corinthians FC)
England Lineup
  Moon, William R. 21
 282 days		 7 June 1868 G Old Westminsters AFC & Corinthians FC 5   6 GA
  Walters, Percy M. 26
 167 days		 30 September 1863 RB Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 12        0
  Walters, Arthur M. 25
 49 days		 26 January 1865 LB Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 8        0
  Fletcher, Albert T. 23
 348 days		 1 April 1866 RHB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 0 final app
 1889-90
171   Holt, John 23
 150 days		 16 October 1866 CHB Everton FC 1        0
  Shelton, Alfred 24
 185 days		 12 September 1865 LHB Notts County FC 2        0
  Bassett, William I. 21
 48 days		 27 January 1869 OR West Bromwich Albion FC 4   1 or 2
172 Currey, Edmund S. 21
 260 days		 28 June 1868 IR Oxford University AFC, Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 1        2
Lindley, Tinsley 24
 140 days		 27 October 1865 CF

Nottingham Forest FC & Corinthians FC

 11      11
173   Wood, Harry 21
 262 days		 26 June 1868 IL Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1        0
  Daft, Harry B. 23
 345 days		 5 April 1866 OL Notts County FC & Corinthians FC 2        0
reserves: As well as those named below, and those that took the field against Ireland, Bill Rowley (Stoke FC, goal), Harry Green (West Bromwich Albion FC, fullback), Harry Allen and Arthur Lowder (both Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, halfbacks), John Devey (Mitchell St. George FC, centre-forward), Davie Weir (Bolton Wanderers FC) and Edgar Chadwick (Everton FC, left wing).
team notes: Edmund Currey withdrew from the match against Ireland to take George Cotterill's (Cambridge University AFC) place in this match.
Percy and Arthur Walters were brothers. Alf Shelton is the younger brother of Charlie (1888).

records:

 For the first time since their second match, back in 1873, when England had a 75% success record, they have now achieved 60%.
 
2-3-5 Moon -
P. Walters, A. Walters -
Fletcher, Holt, Shelton -
Bassett, Currey, Lindley, Wood, Daft

Averages:

 Age 23 years 178 days Appearances/Goals 4.4     1.1

 
Match Report - Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday, 17 March 1890 In Other News.....
Played at Wrexham on Saturday afternoon in the presence of 4,000 people. A high wind blew across the ground. The Welsh team was as selected except that Gillam kept goal instead of Trainor, and Evans, of Builth, played half-back instead of Roberts, of the Bolton Wanderers. The English team contained one change, Currey, of Oxford University, playing instead of Cotterell. Wales kicked off, and the ball was taken to the English goal, but sent back. A corner taken by Shelton failed, and after general play Challon brilliantly ran, but failed. A fine shot by Lindley was splendidly saved by Gillam. After brilliant play all round Lewis took a rapid run and secured a corner. Humphrey Jones placed the ball well, but the goalkeeper saved. Hindley took a run to the Welsh goal, Gillam finely saving. A good run by Lewis was nullified by Challon kicking out. After a brief visit to the Welsh goal the ball was brought back, Howell making a good shot, a goal being narrowly saved. Other brilliant attacks on the English goal were made but failed. From a free kick for a goal A. O. Davies kicked away, Lewis scoring the first goal. After indifferent general play, in which both sides showed themselves to be fairly matched, but handicapped by the wind, corner kicks by England looked threatening. A severe struggle in goal ensued, but came to nothing. A good run was made to the English goal, but nothing was done to alter the positions of parties. Score as half-time:-Wales 1 goal, England 0 goal.
  On resuming Lindley handled the ball, but nothing resulted from the free-kick. Two corners given to Wales ended likewise. Much brilliant play resulted, and Currey scored, thus equalising. A sharp run by Daft looked likely, but the Welsh defence was firm and the attack failed. Currey made a fine shot, and after some sharp play England scored a goal, kicked by Currey. The English play was fine. After some general play, equally divided at either end, Wales rousing itself, several attempts at the English goal were made. Lewis did some excellent work, but it soon appeared that the English team was superior in combined play. Hands was given the English close by the Welsh goal. Fletcher kicked through, but no goal was scored. Shortly after a fine run was made to the Welsh goal, and Lindley scored the third goal. A corner was made by Daft and Shelton headed in, but the goalkeeper saved. Humphrey Jones kicked through the English goal, but scored nothing . A fine attack was made on the English goal. Wood made a fine run away, and 'hands' were claimed for England near goal, which came to nothing. Wood also made a rapid run and shot, but failed. A severe attack followed, but nothing resulted. Owing to bad arrangements the people crowded the ground, and the game was suspended frequently.
   		  It was on 16 March 1890 that the decision was taken to flood the Morfa Colliery at Port Talbot, as it continued to burn following an explosion, which killed 87 men, five days earlier. Some of the survivors described seeing ghostly apparitions below ground in the weeks before the disaster.

"There was a large gathering on the racecourse at Wrexham to witness the annual match between England and Wales. Lewis started the ball for the home team, but the visitors soon acted on the aggressive...
Jones and Doughty effected good runs, after which a free kick was allowed to the Welsh. This was at once followed by a goal, secured by Lewis...
 At length the English made an incursion into their rivals' territory, and Currey sent the ball between the posts, thus bringing the score level...
At length Currey got in possession, and with a skilful shot obtained a second goal for England...
Lindley, however, quickly afterwards scored another goal" - The Times, Monday, 17 March 1890
   

Domestic Football Results (15 March 1890)                                          Teams in a silver box denotes a player representing England
Football League:
  
Accrington 2 Preston North End 2
   Thorneyholme Road, Accrington (5,000)
Kirkham, Barbour ~ Haworth OG, J.Ross
George Haworth started for Accrington, and scored an own goal
Bob Howarth, Bob Holmes and Fred Dewhurst were starting for Preston

    
Burnley 3 Notts County 0
   Turf Moor, Burnley (4,000)
 Stewart (2), scrimmage
Notts County were without Harry Daft and Arthur Shelton, but did have Albert Smith
George Toone started for County

    
Everton 3 Derby County 0
   Anfield Road, Liverpool (10,000)
 Milward OG, Ferguson, Williamson OG
Everton were without Johnny Holt & Fred Geary, but did have Alf Milward and Edgar Chadwick

    
West Bromwich Albion 2 Stoke 1
   Stoney Lane, West Bromwich (1,600)
 Bayliss, Woodhall ~ Owen
West Brom were without Billy Bassett, Charlie Perry and Bob Roberts, but did start with Joe Reader, and scorers, George Woodhall and Jem Bayliss.
Bill Rowley and Alf Underwood started for Stoke

    
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5
Bolton Wanderers 1
   Molineux Ground, Wolverhampton (3,000)
 Wykes (3), Worrall, Brodie ~ Cassidy
Wolves were without Albert Fletcher, Harry Wood, Dick Baugh and Charlie Mason. However, they had Billy Rose, Harry Allen, Arthur Lowder and scorer, Jack Brodie
Bolton were without Kenny Davenport and Di Jones, but did have Davie Weir and Jimmy Turner
 
Table
Team P ₧
Preston North End 21 31
Everton 21 31
Blackburn Rovers 21 27
Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 25
Accrington 22 24
West Bromwich Albion 21 23
Derby County 22 21
Bolton Wanderers 21 18
Aston Villa 20 16
Notts County 20 16
Burnley 21 12
Stoke 20 8

Everton's win put them level on points with League Champions, Preston, with only one match remaining. Defeat at West Brom, the following week, effectively ended their chances, and Preston went on to retain the title with a victory at Notts County. It was to be their last League Championship success.
Source Notes
TheFA
Cris Freddi: Football Historian
Welsh Football Data Archive
Nick Gibbs' England: The Football Facts		 HistoricalKits/Wales
Rothmans Yearbooks
 Original newspaper reports
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