For the Portugal game the previous month, Wembley Stadium was full but on a lovely spring-like day for the visit of Northern Ireland, barely 30,000 were present. It was the lowest crowd ever for such a match.

England had the most disjointed of openings and looked like a team who had never played with each other before. It was most disconcerting as during this spell, the Irish could have scored twice with both McLaughlin and McAdams going very close. The laboured approach play of the English was easily held by a solid Irish defence and in midfield Danny Blanchflower, who was celebrating his 50th International cap, quietly but effectively stamped his authority on the game.

However, after 15 minutes, England had a great chance to score. Johnny Haynes missed a sitter, shooting straight at Hunter, and when the rebound came out Magill headed over his own crossbar. At last, one thought, England would settle down, and five minutes later it looked even brighter as Bobby Charlton produced one of his specials. A lovely crossfield move involved Ray Crawford twice, Bryan Douglas and Haynes before being ended by a ricket from Charlton, who had cut inside to set up the angle for his shot.

Despite the goal England continued with their slow sideways build up, they used the width of the pitch well but failed to go forward with any conviction. The longer the game went on the more Blanchflower and McIlroy took control. Having said that, England still created the game's best opening seven minutes into the second half which could have wrapped up the result.

A long pass by Haynes set Charlton free. His cross was flicked on by debutant Johnny Byrne and Crawford was left with a gaping goal in front of him. He had all the time in the world but held his head in dismay as his shot cannoned back off the crossbar.

Byrne was the one forward who continually shone and he must have been disappointed at the service he received, despite his excellent off the ball running. He also had three good goal attempts before half-time, one of which was an outstanding effort. Showing brilliant control, he chested down a deep cross from Haynes and hit a shot on the half-volley whoch Hunter saved more by instinct than anything else.

The Irish goalkeeper often showed his inexperience but saves like that justified his inclusion in the team. The England players seemed to play with an attitude of thinking that they only had to turn up to win.

All credit to the Irish, though. Having had only one win in their previous 11 outings, they refused to give up and thanks mainly to the efforts of Blanchflower they were always in the game. With seven minutes to go, they gained their reward for their gutsy performance. An excellent move involving Elder, Nicholson and McAdams ended with McIlroy shooting past Ron Springett to equalize. It was no more than they deserved but it did put the 'tin lid' on a disappointing England display.

With the trip to Chile getting ever nearer, everyone hoped for a big improvement all round.
     

The selectors tried yet another attack combination, this time pairing Ipswich centre-forward Ray Crawford with Johnny 'Budgie' Byrne, who was making a name for himself in the Third Division with Crystal Palace. They were never comfortable with each other against an Irish team in which Danny Blanchflower was in imperious form. The game was decorated with a goal each from Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Mcllroy, and the Irish could claim to have been unlucky only to get a draw. England's forwards too often played like passing strangers, and there was little sign of the confidence with which the team had started the year.
     

Northern Ireland had lost their last seven British Championship matches and had been thrashed 6-1 by Scotland at Windsor Park. They had also failed to qualify from a World Cup qualifying group dominated by West Germany. England were aiming for a record 11th successive British Championship and had drawn 1-1 with Wales at Ninian Park.
England opened the scoring when Bobby Charlton took a pass from Haynes and beat Humter with a typical bullet shot into the corner. Northern Ireland levelled with only nine minutes left. From McAdams' pass, Jimmy McIlroy struck the equaliser to end the Irish run. It was not enough, though, to keep them in the Championship.
Scotland ended England's run with a 2-0 victory at Hampden Park. Northern Ireland finished bottom for the third year in succession and their next visit to Wembley was to be their worst ever.
     

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
Norman Giller, Football Author
____________________

CG