England Players Appearing for Other National Sides in Official Matches

Declan Rice, born in Kingston-upon-Thames on 14 January 1999, had Irish grandparents born in Cork, and so, in May 2017, the Republic of Ireland manager, Martin O'Neill, chose the eighteen year old Rice to be a part of the Irish squad that was to play Mexico, Uruguay and Austria the following month. In March 2018, Rice made his international debut in a friendly match with Turkey. That was followed up with two more friendly appearances in the close season against France and United States. On 13 February 2019, Rice decided to change his allegiance to England, and this was ratified by FIFA on 5 March, thus allowing Rice to make his England debut in the European Championship qualification match against Czech Republic on 22 March 2019 - and playing in the Nations League Finals tournament shortly after. He has since completed 62 appearances up until the start of the 2024-25 season. Scoring against his old side followed by a muted celebration.

However, since the early 1960s FIFA has prohibited players from flippantly appearing for more than one senior national side.  But before then, four players made appearances in official matches for both England and other national sides.  Two of them played against England and one of them scored against England.

John (Jack) Reynolds, born in Blackburn on 21 February 1869, moved to Ireland as a boy.  Before it was discovered he was an Englishman, he made five appearances for Ireland, four as a halfback and one as a winger, in 1890 and 1891 while playing for Distillery and Ulster, including the 9-1 and 6-1 losses to England.  Later, between 1892 and 1897, he made eight appearances at halfback for England while with West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa, including the 2-2 draw with Ireland in 1894.  Reynolds scored for Ireland against England in the 8-1 loss in 1890, the only international in which he played as a winger.  He also scored for England in the 6-0 victory against Wales in 1893, the 5-2 win against Scotland in 1893 and the 2-2 draw with Scotland in 1894, but not in his only match against Ireland.  He is the only player to score both for and against England.

John Hawley Edwards, born in Shrewsbury on 21 March 1850, made one appearance for England while playing for Shropshire Wanderers, against Scotland in Glasgow as an inside forward in 1874.  He became the first treasurer of the Football Association of Wales on its formation in 1876, and later that year while with The Wanderers played for Wales, again at inside forward, in their first international match, also against Scotland.  That was his only Wales appearance.

Robert (Bobby) Ernest Evans, born in Chester on 19 October 1885 of Welsh parents, became a regular at outside left for Wales, making 10 appearances between 1906 and 1910 while with Wrexham, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.  He played four times against England, the 1-0 loss in 1906, the 1-1 draw in 1907, the 7-1 loss in 1908 and the 1-0 loss in 1910.  After he scored his only two goals for Wales against Ireland in his 10th international match, England's selectors discovered his birthplace.  He then made four appearances for England, all at outside left and all as a Sheffield United player, in 1911 and 1912, including 3-0 and 2-0 victories against Wales.  He scored his only England goal on his debut against Ireland.

Jackie Sewell, who scored three goals in six appearances for England, also played ten matches for Zambia during the 1960's.

Kenneth (Ken) Armstrong, born in Bradford on 3 June 1924, made one appearance for England, at right halfback in the 7-2 drubbing of Scotland at Wembley on 2 April 1955.  It was a banner year for Ken, as his club side, Chelsea, won their only Football League championship.  He emigrated to New Zealand in May, 1957 after making a record 362 League appearances for Chelsea (broken in 1969-70 by Peter Bonetti).  He then made 13 appearances for New Zealand's national side between 1958 and 1964 and became chief coach for the New Zealand Football Association.  Ken played until he was 47, but died on 13 June 1984, just after his 60th birthday.

Wilfried Zaha, played for England in two friendly matches in 2012 and 2013. On 26 November 2016, he switched his allegiance to Côte d'Ivoire, however, his place of birth. And has played in thirty matches, and scored five goals, up until the start of 2022-23;

There were at least four close calls....
Beaumont G. Jarrett, who played at centre-halfback for England three times, the 3-0, 3-1 and 7-2 losses to Scotland in 1876, 1877 and 1878, had been selected by Wales for their inaugural match, against Scotland in 1876, but did not play.

Robert Topham, who played for England as a winger and inside forward in the 6-1 victory against Ireland in 1893 and the 5-1 win against Wales in 1894, had been picked to play for Wales against Scotland in 1885, but did not accept.  And according to a note appearing in the Association of Football Statisticians website's Today in History feature:  "On his way [on 21 January 1914] to an England international trial game at Sunderland Alex Donaldson of Bolton Wanderers revealed that he was actually born in Scotland. [Charles W.] Wallace of Aston Villa had to take his place in the trial and Donaldson ended up in the Scottish side which faced England on April 4th of the same year!"  Donaldson made six Scotland appearances from 1914 to 1922, including the 3-1 win against England in 1914 and the 5-4 loss to England in 1920.

Thomas (Tommy) Johnson Britten, played for Wales against Scotland in Glasgow a year before he was chosen as a reserve for England against Scotland in 1879. Another year on, Britten won a second appearance for Wales, again against Scotland, again in Glasgow. Britten would have played for Wales against England in 1883 but for a last minute withdrawal, which again happened in the 1887 fixture.

and George Farmer, as the star of Oswestry's successful Welsh Cup win, featured for the Welsh side against England and Scotland in the British Championships of 1885. Two years later, after it was established that Farmer was English, he featured as a reserve against Ireland and Wales.

England Players Appearing for Other National Sides in Unofficial Matches

At least ten England players have appeared for other national selections in unofficial matches, and there could be more. Nine of those we know of all played against England.

Four England players appeared for Scotland in one or more of the five unofficial matches against England in 1870 and 1871, which were played at The Oval in Kennington, London before the first official international match, the scoreless draw of November 30, 1872 at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow.  Since no football association had yet been formed in Scotland, the Scotland teams were drawn from London-based Scots plus a few "all-comers" needed to make a full eleven. 

William Lindsay, born in India and capped for England in the 3-1 loss to Scotland in 1877, played for Scotland in all five of these unofficial internationals: the 1-1 draw on 5 March 1870, the 1-0 England victory on 19 November 1870, the 1-1 draw on 25 February 1871, the 2-1 England win on 18 November 1871 and the 1-0 England victory on 24 February 1872.  Alexander Morten, thought to have been born in Middlesex and goalkeeper for England in their 4-2 victory against Scotland in the second official international in 1873, appeared for Scotland in the first of these unofficial matches.  Arnold Kirke Smith, also referred to as Arnold K. Smith, born in Ecclesfield, near Sheffield, and capped for England in the first official international, the scoreless draw with Scotland in 1872, also played for Scotland in the third and fourth of these unofficial matches.  Frederick Patey Chappell, who apparently was born in England and who changed his name to Frederick Brunning Maddison in 1873 after he appeared for England in the first official international in 1872, also played for Scotland in the third of these unofficial matches.  

Stanley (Stan) Harding Mortensen, born in South Shields, scored 23 goals in 25 appearances for England at inside forward and centre-forward between 1947 and 1953 while playing for Blackpool.  He also made three England appearances in unofficial wartime matches, scoring three goals.  But his international debut came as a substitute for Wales in the wartime international against England at Wembley on 25 September 1943.  Injury forced Wales left halfback Ivor Powell to leave the match, and, with England leading 4-1, the teams agreed that England reserve Mortensen would be allowed to replace him.  Mortensen went to inside left and Ron Burgess moved to left halfback.  Fortunately, Morty didn't score that day, and England won, 8-3.

Raymond (Ray) Crawford, born in Portsmouth during 1936, as a nineteen-year old, played left-wing for the Malayan national team on 1 April 1956 against Singapore. Malaya won 4-2 and won the annual Sportsman's Trophy match. After this, Crawford was named in the seventeen-man Malayan squad that went on a tour of Cambodia and South Vietnam, of which he featured in at two of the six matches, losing against the South Vietnam military team, and beating the South Vietnam B team. - Neil Morrison.

Robert (Bobby) Frederick Chelsea Moore, who was born in Barking, Essex, who earned 108 England caps between 1962 and 1973, all as a West Ham United player, and who captained England 70 times, appeared for Team America against Italy, Brazil and England in the U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament in 1976.  The U.S.A. entry was called Team America because the official U.S.A. national side was not then strong enough to meet top-flight opposition and some of the North American Soccer League (NASL) stars on the tournament team had played for other national sides.  The Football Association deemed England's match against Team America unofficial from the beginning, but the Brazilian and Italian associations included their games against this all-star selection in their list of full internationals.  Team America matches would not meet the new standard FIFA set down in January, 2001 for official full internationals because they were not played between the selections of two FIFA country members.  FIFA has retroactively desanctified matches involving other multinational all-star selections, including England's matches against the Rest of Europe and the Rest of the World, although the F.A. continues to recognise these as official internationals.  Moore, then playing for the San Antonio Thunder in the NASL, captained Team America against England.  There is a  photograph elsewhere on this website of Moore and England captain Gerry Francis leading out the teams for their tournament match, which England won, 3-1.  As far as we know, Moore is the only player to appear as captain both for and against England.

Thomas (Tommy) Smith, who was born in Liverpool and who earned a single cap for England as a midfielder in the scoreless draw with Wales in 1971 while playing for Liverpool, also appeared in midfield for Team America in the U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament matches against Brazil and England while playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies.  A player identified only as Smith also appeared for Team America against Italy, but we believe that was U.S.A.-born defender Robert (Bob) Smith of the New York Cosmos.

Rodney William Marsh, who was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, who earned nine caps between 1971 and 1973 while with Queen's Park Rangers and Manchester City and who went on to star for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL, had been set to become the third England international to play for Team America in the 1976 tournament.  But when Team America coach Ken Furphy refused a last-minute demand from Marsh and Northern Ireland's George Best, then of the Los Angeles Aztecs, that they start all three of Team America's tournament matches, these two prima donnas walked off the team.

A pair of former England defenders, Michael Duxbury, who was born in Accrington and who earned 10 caps as a Manchester United player in 1983 and 1984, and David Watson, who was born in Liverpool and who won 12 caps while with Norwich City and Everton between 1984 and 1988, lined up for the Hong Kong Golden Select XI in the 1-0 loss to England on 26 May 1996.  Although Duxbury was 36 and Watson 34, they effectively stifled England's attack, plunging the England team's prospects into doubt as they flew home for the start of the European Championship tournament.  

England Players Appearing for Another National Side at the Amateur/Semi-Professional Level

At least one England player also appeared for the amateur side of another country.  Gordon Hodgson, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and who earned three caps at inside right against Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in 1930 and 1931 while playing for Liverpool, had already played for South Africa's amateur national team.  In fact, he came to England with a South African touring party in 1924-25.

Two players who have been picked for England at semi-professional level (England C) who then went on to play full international for another country.  Eamonn O'Keefe went on to play for the Republic of Ireland after playing for the England semi-pro side.  Rumour has it that he had to get special dispensation from either UEFA or FIFA (probably FIFA) who were trying to stop that sort of thing and was allowed to play for Ireland because the semi-pro side wasn't full international (in those days they only picked players from English clubs as well).  Efan Ekoku also got picked for the semi pro side.  Possibly for only one game and he was an unused sub in a game at Gloucester City against Wales. - Phil Davison.

England Players Appearing for Another National Side at the Youth Level

At least two England players also appeared for the youth side of another country.  Michael Keane, before winning his senior cap in 2017, played for the Republic of Ireland youth. Twice for the under-17 team in 2010, and twice for the under-19 in 2011.
Jack Grealish was finally capped by England in 2020. He had turned down an invitation to play for the under-17 side in 2011 to play for the Republic of Ireland youth team. He made seven Republic of Ireland under-17 appearances, scoring three goals, in 2011-12, before making six appearances with their under-18 team a year later, scoring twice. England then approached Grealish for their under-21 team in 2013, but he again declined, to make six under-21 appearances with the Irish team. Three years later, in 2016, Grealish was chosen for the English under-21 side, and scored twice in seven appearances over the next year.

England Schoolboys/Lower Level Players Appearing for Other National Sides

Eligibility for the England Schoolboys team depends entirely on place of residence and players who have appeared for a national schoolboys side in the U.K. remain free to play for another senior national side.  We know of three players who appeared for England Schoolboys and who went on to play for senior national sides other than England.  Robert (Bob) Primrose Wilson, the Arsenal goalkeeper, appeared twice in 1971 for Scotland's senior team, for which he was eligible through family ancestry although he was born in Chesterfield, England and thus could have played for England had he ever been selected.  He did not play against England.  And Ryan Joseph Giggs (then known as Wilson), born in Cardiff, Wales of Welsh ancestry and thus not eligible to play for England's senior side, has appeared for the Wales senior side on many occasions as a Manchester United star, including the 2-0 World Cup 2006 qualifying loss to England in October, 2004.

Tommy Mason also managed this feat, playing for England at schoolboy level before qualifying for New Zealand by residence.  Oddly enough, he didn't get picked for New Zealand at full international level until he had returned to England and was playing for Farnborough Town - Phil Davison.

Angus Gunn appeared as a goalkeeper for England at several youth levels between 2011 and 2017, and was also on the substitutes bench for the senior side against Brazil in November 2017, then switched his allegiance to the Scottish national side in March 2023 and then made two senior appearances within the month, and more since.

Demarai Gray appeared for England at several youth levels between 2014 and 2019, and was also on the substitutes bench for the senior side against Switzerland in September 2018, then switched his allegiance to Jamaica in June 2023 and was included in their Gold Cup 2023 squad.

Boaz Myhill, Wales second choice goalkeeper, has also appeared for the England under-eighteen and under-twenty side. - Phil Davison

England Players in an Unofficial Match Appearing for Another National Side

Finally, we turn to the case of the Scot who played for England against Scotland.  At least one player who appeared for England in an unofficial match also appeared for another national side in official matches.  Thomas (Tommy) Usher Pearson, who was born in Edinburgh and who played at outside left for England in the 2-1 victory against Scotland in the 1939 unofficial wartime international, also played at outside left for Scotland in two official 1947 matches, including the 1-1 draw against England.  Eric Brook and Sam Barkas, both of Manchester City, were the original selections at outside left and right back for England in the 1939 wartime international, which was played at St. James' Park in Newcastle, but they were injured in a car accident on the way to the match and were replaced by a pair of Newcastle United players, Pearson and Joseph (Joe) Richardson.  

Sources

Anon., "Today in History," Association of Football Statisticians website (entries for 21 January and 11 February) (2003).

Davison, Phil - Reader and contributor.

Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio [Italian football federation official website]

Farror, Morley & Douglas Lamming, A Century of English International Football 1872-1972, pp. 238-40 (Robert Hale & Company, London, 1972)

Freddi, Cris, The England Football Fact Book, p. 62 (Guinness Publishing, Enfield, Middlesex, U.K., 1991)

Hockings, Ron & Keir Radnedge, Nations of Europe, vol. 1, p. 194, vol. 2, p. 24 (Articulate, Ernsworth, Hampshire, U.K., 1993)

Horsnell, Bryan & Douglas Lamming, Forgotten Caps: England Football Internationals of Two World Wars (Yore Publications, Harefield, Middlesex, 1995)

Hurley, Jeff, United Kingdom & Eire International Database (Association of Football Statisticians 1998)

Lamming, Douglas, An English Football Internationlists' Who's Who 1872 - 1988, passim (Hutton Press Limited, Beverly, North Humberside, U.K., 1990)

Libreria dello Sport, Maglie Azzurre: Nomi, cifre e date delle nazionali italiane, pp. 99-100 (Datasport, Milan, 1996)

Litterer, Dave The US Soccer History Archives

Longmore, Andrew, "England fail to impress in Hong Kong misadventure," London Times, 27 May 1996 

Warsop, Keith, ed., British and Irish Special and Intermediate Internationals (SoccerData, Nottingham, U.K., 2002) [no page numbers; entry for 31 May 1976, USA Bicentennial tournament]

Winter, Henry, "England fluff their lines in final dress rehearsal," London Daily Telegraph, 27 May 1996

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