England Match No. 92 - Ireland - 15 February 1908

England Football Online
	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