England Football Online
Results 1946-1950                           Page Last Updated 7 March 2023

Poblacht na hÉireann
 
FIRST MEETING VS. ÉIRE
 Éire are the 22nd different opposition
  
 previous match (2 days) 
227 vs. Ireland
 228
 next match (44 days)
 229 vs. Wales
249 vs. Republic of Ireland		 Monday, 30 September 1946
Silver Jubilee of FAI International Friendly Match

 Éire 0 England 1 [0-1]
  		  
Republic of Ireland is the 21st nation visited by England - although they have visited Dublin previously
Dalymount Park, Bȯthar Pheadair, Phibsborough, Dublin
 Kick-off (BST): 5.30pm
Attendance: 31,988.
Johnny Carey won the toss England probably kicked off.
[0-0] Alex Stevenson strike hits the crossbar  
  [0-1] Tom Finney 82
"Breen dropped the ball, Wilf Mannion secured possession and centred low across the goal for Finney to run and shoot into an empty goal."
there is no Radio Coverage
 

"FINNEY WINS THRILLING MATCH FOR ENGLAND" Yorkshire Post
Officials        Éire FIFA ruling on substitutes

England
Referee
William E. Webb
Glasgow		 Teams were presented to Mr. S. T. O'Kelly.
  
Dr W.F. Hooper, president of the FAI, handed to the chairman of the FA, Mr. W. Brooke-Hurst, a silver cup - a replica of the Ardagh Chalice - to commemorate the first meeting with England in the Silver Jubilee year of the Eire Association.
  
The FIFA ruling of allowing a substitute to replace an injured player prior to the 44th minute, and a goalkeeper at any time, is in place.

Linesmen

tbc tbc
  
Éire Team
 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 25th		 Colours Green jerseys with white collar, white shorts, green and white hooped socks.
Captain Johnny Carey Selection International Selection Committee
on Tuesday, 24 September 1946
Éire Lineup
  Breen, Thomas 34
156 days		 27 April 1912 G Shamrock Rovers FC 3 1ᵍᵃ
2 Hayes, William E., injured early 30
327 days		 7 November 1915 LB/OR Huddersfield Town AFC, England 1 0
3 Gorman, William C. 35
79 days		 13 July 1911 RB Brentford FC, England 12 0
4 Carey, John J. 27
219 days		 23 February 1919 RHB/LB Manchester United FC, England 11 2
5 Martin, Cornelius J. 24
194 days		 20 March 1923 CHB Glentoran FC 2 0
6 Walsh, William R. 26
122 days		 31 May 1921 LHB Manchester City FC, England 1 0
7 O'Flanagan, Dr. Kevin P. 27
103 days		 19 June 1919 OR/IR Arsenal FC, England 8 2
8 Coad, Patrick 26
179 days		 4 April 1920 IR/RHB Shamrock Rovers FC 1 0
9 O'Flanagan, Michael 24
1 day		 29 September 1922 CF Bohemians FC 1 0
only app 1946
10 Stevenson, Alexander E. 34
52 days		 9 August 1912 IL Everton FC, England 2 0
11 Eglington, Thomas J.  24
258 days		 15 January 1923 OL Everton FC, England 3 0
unused substitute: Bud Aherne (Belfast Celtic FC)
team changes: West Bromwich Albion FC's Dave Walsh was the original chosen centre-forward, his place going to Eddie McMorran, after a knee injury in a club match forced his withdrawal.
"Handicapped from the start by the lameness of Hayes, who strained a leg muscle."
team notes: The O'Flanagan's, Kevin and Michael, were brothers.
Bill Gorman, Johnny Carey and Bud Aherne played against England for Ireland two days previous.
 
2-3-5 Breen -
Hayes, Gorman -
Carey, Martin, Walsh -
K.O'Flanagan, Coad, M.O'Flanagan, Stevenson, Eglington.
notes: the injured Hayes played at outside-right during the second half, Carey replacing him at left-back. K.O'Flanagan went to inside-right and Coad to right-half.
Averages: Age 28 years 156 days Appearances/Goals 4.1 0.4
 
England Team
 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 4th		 Colours The 1946 home uniform - White collared jerseys, blue shorts, red socks.
P 2nd of eighteen, W 2 - D 0 - L 0 - F 8 - A 2.

Captain		   
George Hardwick		 Manager Walter Winterbottom, 33 (31 March 1913), appointed as FA national director of coaching/team manager on 8 July 1946;
2nd of 13, W 2 - D 0 - L 0 - F 8 - A 2. P 2nd of 139, W 2 - D 0 - L 0 - F 8 - A 2.
  Team chosen by Selection Committee headed by Arthur Drewry, following the Ireland match on Saturday, 28 September.
England Lineup
  unchanged from the previous match league position (28 September)  
  Swift, Frank V. 32
278 days		 26 December 1913 G Manchester City FC (FL2 2nd) 2 2ᵍᵃ
2 Scott, Lawrence 29
160 days		 23 April 1917 RB Arsenal FC (FL 19th) 2 0
3 Hardwick, George F.M. 26
240 days		 2 February 1920 LB Middlesbrough FC (FL 9th) 2 0
4 Wright, William A. 22
236 days		 6 February 1924 RHB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 5th) 2 0
5 Franklin, Cornelius 24
249 days		 24 January 1922 CHB Stoke City FC (FL 4th) 2 0
6 Cockburn, Henry 25
16 days		 14 September 1921 LHB Manchester United FC (FL 2nd) 2 0
7
 Finney, Thomas 24
178 days		 5 April 1922 OR Preston North End FC (FL 17th) 2 2
8 Carter, Horatio S. 32
283 days		 21 December 1913 IR Derby County FC (FL 20th) 8 3
9 Lawton, Thomas 26
359 days		 6 October 1919 CF Chelsea FC (FL 13th) 10 7
10
 Mannion, Wilfred J. 28
137 days		 16 May 1918 IL Middlesbrough FC (FL 9th) 2 3
11 Langton, Robert 28
22 days		 8 September 1918 OL Blackburn Rovers FC (FL 15th) 2 1
unused substitutes: Don Welsh (Charlton Athletic FC (FL 8th)), Eddie Shimwell (Sheffield United FC (FL 6th)),
Johnny Hancocks (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 5th)) replaced Tom Finney.
team changes: Stanley Matthews (Stoke City FC (FL 4th)) was selected for the starting eleven, but had to withdraw through injury and was replaced by Tom Finney from the reserves on 23 September.
 

2-3-5

 Swift  -
Scott, Hardwick -
Wright, Franklin, Cockburn -
Finney, Carter, Lawton, Mannion, Langton.
Averages: Age 27 years 189 days Appearances/Goals 3.3 1.4
 
       Match Report by Mike Payne

THE first-ever meeting between the two nations was played in persistent drizzle and the difficult pitch made life awkward for the players. Throughout the match, the Republic put up a terrific fight and made the England team fight all the way to gain their eventual undeserved win. Indeed, had it not been for the fact that Frank Swift was in inspired form, then the visitors could have been well beaten.

The Irish won the toss but England were soon on the attack, winning two early corners. On 15 minutes, Tom Finney set off on a brilliant dribble only to see Raich Carter's first-time shot from his pass saved well by Tommy Breen. However, the Republic were always in contention and they forced Swift into a fine save and also forced corners on both wings.

The strong tackling home defenders were upsetting the rhythm of the sometimes delightful play of the England forwards. Only a brave save by Swift at the feet of Kevin O'Flanagan saved a difficult situation before Carter, Wilf Mannion and Tommy Lawton all went close for England. At half-time the score was 0-0 with Ireland more than holding their own.

Hayes was suffering from a pulled muscle as the second half began and moved to the wing position. England were soon on the attack with Carey heading an early Bobby Langton effort off the goal-line. After 59 minutes, Stevenson was desperately unlucky not to give the Irish the lead. He beat two players in a fine run but saw his shot crash against the bar with Swift beaten.

The next 15 minutes saw the Irishmen in control. Twice Swift saved magnificently from Eglington and Coad and only a brilliant tackle by Billy Wright averted one dangerous situation. Somehow, England held on and recovered their poise.

With only nine minutes remaining they stole victory with a fine goal. Langton gave Mannion a through pass down the left. The 'Boro man cut in and unleashed an angled shot which Breen could only parry. The ball ran loose and Finney dashed in to slot it home. England had won by the skin of their teeth.
  

       Match Report by Norman Giller

Tom Finney saved England's blushes with a scrambled winner eight minutes from the end as the light started to fade in this Monday evening match. It was England's first ever game against the Republic of Ireland. There was a persistent drizzle throughout the game, and conditions handicapped the ball-playing England inside-forwards. The O'Flanagan brothers and right wing partners - Dr. Kevin and Michael - were outstanding for Ireland. Both were also Irish rugby internationals. Manchester City left-half Billy Walsh, playing for Ireland, had been capped by England as a schoolboy. The team was skippered by John Carey, who played for both Northern and Southern Ireland and who was to become an outstanding captain of Manchester United. Billy Wright was the most authoritative of the England half-back line, but much of his work was wasted by forwards who struggled to find a way through a defiant Irish defence.
 

Domestic Football Results (30 September 1946)                           Teams in a silver box denotes a player representing England
The Football League Division Two:

 
Burnley 2 Barnsley 2
   Turf Moor, Burnley (24,959)
 Harrison55, Bray88 ~ Brown OG 54, Robledo83

Burnley's defence would only concede more than one goal in a game on three more occasions in all competitions in the rest of the season. They conceded only 32 goals in 51 games, finished runners-up to Manchester City and reached the FA Cup Final.
 
Division Two Table Top Five Only
Team P Home Away F A ₧
W D L W D L
Barnsley 9 4 1 0 2 2 0 24 12 15
Manchester City 7 2 1 0 2 2 0 18 6 11
                     
Newcastle United 8 1 1 1 2 3 0 14 8 10
West Bromwich Albion 8 2 0 1 3 0 2 22 15 10
Burnley 8 2 2 1 2 0 1 11 10 10
 

 
      In Other News....
It was on 30 September 1946 that the fifty-thousand-word judgments on the 22 accused Nazi leaders were read at the Nuremberg court. The individual verdicts were read out on the following day and twelve were sentenced to death. One was not present as he had already died, whilst Hermann Göring took his own life a few hours before his planned execution.
 
       Source Notes
TheFA.com
Soccerscene
Original newspaper reports		   Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record
Norman Giller, Football Author
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