England Team

Northern Ireland Team

This was a very sentimental and momentous international for Bobby Charlton of England. One of the most-popular footballers of all-time now shared the distinction, with Billy Wright, of winning 100 caps for his country, a very-exclusive club. Captain for the night, Charlton led England out to a rapturous welcome from the big crowd. Before the kick-off he was presented with a silver salver by the FA chairman, Dr Andrew Stephen, inscribed with the flags of the 31 nations that he has played against during his majestic and memorable career to date. And if all that was not enough, he then led England to a good win against a spirited Northern Ireland side.

Yet for an hour, the Irish looked a better team, despite the fact that England scored after only six minutes. Charlton started the move with one of his characteristic long passes which Geoff Hurst moved on to new-'cap' Ralph Coates, who won a corner. From Charlton's corner, Martin Peters ghosted in typically to head past his new club-mate Pat Jennings.

England's two new 'caps' did well. Brian Kidd used the ball well and Coates impressed with some fine play. Northern Ireland, with Best and Dougan prominent and Nicholson and Clements putting in some excellent work down the left, pressed hard. Their approach-play was sometimes outstanding, only for their finishing to let them down. Dougan gave Bobby Moore one of his most difficult internationals and Gordon Banks did well to smother a shot by Best. But the goal that Northern Ireland's general play deserved did come five minutes into the second half.

A great, crossfield pass by Clements gave posssession to Best. His sharp turn beat Nobby Stiles and a burst of speed left Emlyn Hughes struggling. As Banks advanced, Best cooly slipped the ball home with a low, left-foot shot.

The Irish had worked so hard for their goal so what happened next must have been particularly annoying for them. Charlton, who in the first half had perhaps let the occasion somehow stifle his natural game, began to get to grips with the heavy pitch. Only five minutes after the Irish equalizer he sent Keith Newton away down the right. The full-back carried the ball to the by-line before his slightly-deflected cross was headed in by Hurst.

After that goal there was never going to be any other result than an England win as the extra class began to tell. Charlton inspired another fine move and after Peters had centred both Hurst and then Kidd rattled the visitors' crossbar with headers. The pressure continued and as the Irish struggled, they brought on two substitutes to try and 'stem the tide'. However, it had no effect and with just ten minutes to go the stadium erupted at the moment almost everyone had hoped for.

Yet another good move involving Coates, Kidd, Alan Mullery and Hughes ended with Jennings pawing at Hughes's left-wing centre without catching it. The ball ran free and in slid Charlton to score his 48th international goal. Rarely has the Wembley cheers been louder for a Charlton goal.

As the players trooped off after their satisfying performance the electronic scoreboard lit-up with a good-luck message to the England team as they left Wembley for the last time before embarking on their forthcoming adventure in Mexico. For Charlton, especially, it was a night he would never forget.
  

Bobby Charlton led the team out in his hundredth appearance in an England jersey and celebrated with his forty-eighth goal. Peters, now of Tottenham, and Hurst were also on the mark to give England a comfortable victory. George Best, Charlton's gifted Manchester United club-mate, gave Northern Ireland a rare moment of supremacy when he took advantage of dithering in the England defence to turn a half-chance into a goal. Ralph Coates and Brian Kidd had their international careers launched as Sir Alf Ramsey searched for his ideal combination for the World Cup finals.
  

England were understandably confident after seven successive wins against Northern Ireland. The only Irish win at Wembley, in 1957, seemed a long time ago. England had drawn 1-1 with Wales at Ninian Park three days earlier. They were aiming to complete a hat-trick of British Championships before leaving for Mexico to defend the World Cup. Northern Ireland had finished runners-up to the USSR in their qualifying group, and so were not going to Mexico. They had lost 1-0 to Scotland at Windsor Park in their opening game and had to avoid defeat to retain their interest in the championship.
The hosts took the lead in the seventh minute. Charlton, winning his 100th cap, took a corner from which Martin Peters beat Jennings with a simple header. Five minutes into the second half, George Best, who had been sent off against Scotland, received a pass from Clements, beat Stiles and then shot brilliantly past Banks for the equaliser. Geoff Hurst restored England's lead from Newton's cross seven minutes later with a header which Neill diverted past Jennings with his shoulder. Charlton celebrated his century of appearances in some style, sliding in to convert Hughes's cross as Jennings failed to collect it.
England were rather fortunate to hold Scotland to a goalless draw at Hampden Park four days later but it was enough to give them a share of the title. Wales made it a triple tie by inflicting Northern Ireland's third defeat with the only goal at Vetch Field. England recorded their ninth successive victory over Northern Ireland a year later at Windsor Park, but in 1972 the Irish were, at last, victorious at Wembley again.
     

Source Notes

TheFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Official Matchday Programme
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
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CG