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  Page Last Updated 28 Novemer 2020

Éireann

 


91 vs. Scotland
92
93 vs. Wales

Saturday, 15 February 1908
Home International Championship 1907-08 (25th) Match

Ireland 1 England 3 [1-1]
 

Match Summary
Ireland Party

England Party

Team Records

Solitude Ground, Cliftonville, Belfast, County Antrim
Attendance: 22,600 (a record Irish attendance);
Kick-off 3.30pm GMT

England - George Hilsdon ('The ball sent in looked to be going over, but dropped under the bar' 7, 'dribbled between the backs and putting the ball into the corner of the net' 83), Vivian Woodward ('a Wall corner followed by a close range shot' 80)
Ireland - Denis Hannon ('a finely directed powerful shot' 13)
Results 1901-14

Ireland won the toss, England kicked-off.

Match Summary

Officials

Ireland

Type

England

Referee - Thomas Robertson
43 (1 December 1864), Torrance, Stirlingshire, Scotland Football Association

Linesmen - David McCloskey, J.P. (Belfast Celtic FAC) and John Lewis (Blackburn)

  Goal Attempts  
  Attempts on Target  
  Hit Bar/Post  
  Corner Kicks Won  
  Offside Calls Against  
The 1907 International Football Association Board meeting:
Offside law modified and no neutral linesmen
  Fouls Conceded  
  Possession  

Ireland Team

 

Rank:

No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 16th
Colours: Royal blue jerseys and white shorts
Capt: Billy Scott Selectors: Team chosen by Committee, at the Imperial Hotel, Belfast, on Saturday, 1 February 1908;
Ireland Lineup
  Scott, William E. 25 17 May 1882 G Everton FC, England 11 20 GA
  Craig, Alexander B. 21 2 April 1886 RB Rangers FC, Scotland 1 0
  McCartney, Alexander D. 28 14 November 1879 LB Belfast Celtic FAC 10 0
  Harris, Valentine 23 23 June 1884 RH Shelbourne FC 4 0
  Connor, James 30 22 September 1877 CH Belfast Celtic FAC 8 0
  McClure, George 22 26 July 1885 LH Cliftonville AFC 3 0
  Blair, John W. 26 19 November 1881 OR Belfast Celtic FAC 4 0
Hannon, Denis J. 20 31 January 1888 IR Bohemians FC 1 1
  Mercer, Harold V.A. 20 22 April 1887 CF Linfield FAC 1 0
  Burnison, Samuel 17
77 dys
30 November 1890 IL Distillery FC 1 0
  Young, Samuel 25 14 February 1883 OL Linfield FAC 3 0

reserves:

reserves not known

team notes:

The original named line-up included Sunderland AFC's English McConnell and Aberdeen FC's Charlie O'Hagan were needed by their respective clubs. However, Newcastle United FC's right-back Bill McCracken was demanding a £10 match fee to represent his country (the same as what the England players were receiving). The IFA refused and McCracken was replaced by Alex McCartney.
McCracken was subsequently banned from playing for Ireland (until 1920), while soon after the IFA passed a motion to cap payments to professionals to £4.
McCartney was called in to replace Craig, who had taken McCracken's vacant spot at right-back. The original half-back line was made up of Burnison, Harris and McConnell. Burnison replaced O'Hagan at inside-left.  Connor was called into the centre, allowing Harris to go out right.
 
2-3-5 Scott -
McCartney, Craig -
Harris, Connor, McClure -
Blair, Hannon, Mercer, Burnison, Young.

Averages:

Age 23.4 Appearances/Goals 4.3 0.0

 

England Team

 

Rank:

No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 1st
Colours: White collared jerseys and navy blue shorts
Capt: Vivian Woodward, first captaincy Selectors:
In Charge: Richard Philip Gregson
The seven-man FA International Selection Committee, on Monday, 3 February 1908, at 104 High Holborn, London, along with the FA Cup third round draw.
60th match, W 43 - D 11 - L 6 - F 199 - A 53.
England Lineup
  Maskrey, Harry M. 27 8 October 1880 G Derby County FC 1 1 GA
  Crompton, Robert 28 26 September 1879 RB Blackburn Rovers FC 15 0
  Pennington, Jesse 24 23 August 1883 LB West Bromwich Albion FC 3 0
  Warren, Benjamin 28 7 May 1879 RH Derby County FC 7 0
  Wedlock, William J. 27 28 October 1880 CH Bristol City FC 4 0
  Lintott, Evelyn H. 24 2 November 1883 LH Queen's Park Rangers FC 1 0
  Rutherford, John 23 12 October 1884 OR Newcastle United FC 5 0
Woodward, Vivian J. 28 3 June 1879 IR Tottenham Hotspur FC 10 7
Hilsdon, George 22 10 August 1885 CF Chelsea FC 2 2
  Windridge, James E. 25 21 October 1882 IL Chelsea FC 1 0
  Wall, George 22 20 February 1885 OL Manchester United FC 2 0

reserves:

Woolwich Arsenal FC's Andy Ducat.

records:

Denis Hannon's goal was the one hundredth goal England have conceded on a Saturday.
 
2-3-5 Maskrey -
Crompton, Pennington -
Warren, Wedlock, Lintott -
Rutherford, Woodward, Hilsdon, Windridge, Wall

Averages:

Age 25.3 Appearances/Goals 4.6 0.5

 

    Match Report

At Belfast, on Saturday, the 27th match, under Association rules, between Ireland and England produced not only some excellent football, but a most exciting contest. England won by three goals to one, and in so doing gained their 25th victory over the representatives of Ireland. They had, however, to work desperately hard for success, the home team offering such a strong defence in the second half that less than ten minutes from the finish the score stood at one goal all. Just afterwards, however, the Englishmen added a second point, and before the end arrived the Irish goalkeeper had been beaten a third time. Although once more defeated, Ireland emerged from the contest with much credit. They had to take the field without three of the men originally chosen, and yet made a close fight with the full strength of England. Winning the toss, the Irishmen in the opening half enjoyed a considerable advantage, the visitors having to face both wind and sun, but within seven minutes of the start an error of judgment on the part of Scott enabled England to take the lead. The ball, sent in by Hilsdon, looked to be going well over the goal, but it was up by the wind, and dropped just beneath the bar. A finely-directed shot by Hannon, with much power behind it, resulted in Ireland equalizing a quarter of an hour from the kick-off...

...only six minutes remained when from a corner, forced and admirably placed by Wall, Woodward scored at close range. The visitors now carried all before them. Scott stopped two fine shots, but he had no chance of preventing the third goal, Hilsdon dribbling between the backs and putting the ball into the corner of the net...

The game attracted an attendance of 22,000--a record for an Irish Association international. - The Times - Monday 17th February, 1908

    Football League

Football League Division One
15 February 1908
Team P Pts
Manchester United 25 39
Newcastle United 27 33
The Wednesday 26 32
Preston North End 28 29
Bury 27 28
Manchester City 25 27
Middlesbrough 28 27
Aston Villa 26 26
Everton 25 26
Bristol City 26 26
Sheffield United 27 26
Notts County 28 25
Liverpool 24 24
Nottingham Forest 26 24
Chelsea 27 24
Bolton Wanderers 27 23
Blackburn Rovers 26 23
Woolwich Arsenal 27 23
Birmingham 26 22
Sunderland 27 21

 

Division One matches played on 15 February 1908:

ASTON VILLA 5-0 THE WEDNESDAY
Cantrell 14, Bache 18, 26, 70, Hampton 67

12,000 (Villa Park, Birmingham)

BURY 1-1 BRISTOL CITY
Hibbert 8 (Gilligan 60)

7,231 (Gigg Lane, Bury)

Bristol City were without Billy Wedlock, who was playing for England in Belfast.

CHELSEA 2-2 BIRMINGHAM
Brawn 20, Fairgray 75 (Jones 47, Eyre 55)
30,000 (Stamford Bridge, London)

Chelsea were without Hilsdon and Windridge, who were playing for England in Belfast; the former scoring his first two international goals and the latter making his international debut.

LIVERPOOL 4-1 WOOLWICH ARSENAL
Hewitt 20, 80, Bradley, Goddard (Coleman)
18,000 (Anfield, Liverpool)

Arsenal were without Andy Ducat, who was a reserve for England in Belfast.

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-2 BLACKBURN ROVERS
A.Turnbull pen. 75 (Aitkenhead 20, Davies 46)
15,000 (
Bank Street, Manchester)

United were without George Wall, who was playing for England in Belfast, as was Blackburn's Bob Crompton.

MIDDLESBROUGH 3-1 SUNDERLAND
Cail 17, Thackeray 25, Aitken 32 (Holley 60)
15,000 (
Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough)

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY
Willis 63 (Conlin 23)
25,000 (St James' Park, Newcastle)

Newcastle were without Jock Rutherford, who was playing for England in Belfast.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1-0 BOLTON WANDERERS
Marrison 35
6,000 (City Ground, Nottingham)

PRESTON NORTH END 1-0 NOTTS COUNTY
Smith 54
8,000 (Deepdale, Preston)

SHEFFIELD UNITED 2-0 EVERTON
Bromage 12, Brown 68
10,000 (Bramall Lane, Sheffield)

Arthur Brown also had a penalty saved by Everton goalkeeper, Don Sloan, who was deputising for Billy Scott, whilst their regular custodian was in goal for Ireland against England in Belfast.

Manchester United were given a reminder that their dominance wouldn't last if they played as they did in their first home defeat of the season. They heeded the warning and went on to win their first League Championship.

Football League Division Two
15 February 1908
Team P Pts
Bradford City 26 38
Derby County 25 36
Oldham Athletic 25 35
West Bromwich Albion 26 34
Fulham 26 34
Hull City 27 34
Burnley 26 30
Leicester Fosse 25 30
Stoke 26 27
Wolverhampton Wanderers 27 27
Stockport County 26 23
Leeds City 26 23
Gainsborough Trinity 26 23
Barnsley 25 22
Clapton Orient 25 22
Glossop 24 18
Blackpool 26 15
Grimsby Town 25 15
Chesterfield Town 24 14
Lincoln City 26 12

 

Division Two matches played on 15 February 1908:

BURNLEY 4-1 BARNSLEY
Smith 3, Bell (Hellewell)
7,000 (Turf Moor, Burnley)

GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY 1-5 BRADFORD CITY
Kitchen (Handley 3, O'Rourke 2)
4,000 (The Northolme, Gainsborough)

GLOSSOP 2-0 STOKE
Elmore, Grimes

1,000 (North Road, Glossop)

LEEDS CITY 5-1 DERBY COUNTY
Murray pen., Croot, Lavery, McLeod 2 (Bevan)

10,000 (Elland Road, Leeds)

Derby were without Ben Warren, who was playing for England in Belfast.

LEICESTER FOSSE 2-1 BLACKPOOL
Humphreys 2 (Gow)
10,000 (Filbert Street, Leicester)

LINCOLN CITY 2-2 CLAPTON ORIENT
Langham, Ormiston (Martin 2)

1,500 (Sincil Bank, Lincoln)

OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3-3 FULHAM
Whaites, Shadbolt, Newton (Dalrymple, Harrison, Threlfall)

8,000 (Boundary Park, Oldham)

STOCKPORT COUNTY 1-2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Suart (Walker, Garratt)

4,000 (Edgeley Park, Stockport)

West Brom were without Jesse Pennington, who was playing for England in Belfast.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1-2 HULL CITY
Wake (J.Smith 2)

10,000 (Molineux, Wolverhampton)

 

 

Bradford City were leading the pack and put in another impressive performance in despatching Gainsborough on their own ground.

IN OTHER NEWS...

It was on 14 February 1908 that an inquest into the death of Sidney Fenton of Tooting determined that he had died from a brain haemorrhage. The police were criticised for arresting him and putting him in a cell overnight, because he appeared to be drunk.

Source Notes

Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
Original Newspaper Reports
TheFA.com
Rothman's Yearbooks
FA Yearbooks 1950-60
Ancestry.com

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CG