The 1902–03 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations.
Unusually, the trophy was shared by three of the Home Nations all of whom scored four points. At the time, goal difference was not used to differentiate teams. In addition to the usual favourites of England and Scotland, Ireland also took their first ever share of the championship, after scoring their first ever victory over the Scots with a 2–0 win in Glasgow and subsequently beating Wales. The tournament was played under the shadow of the previous year's finale, when a wooden stand at Ibrox Stadium had given way under the mass of supporters and 26 people had fallen to their deaths.
Ireland and England began the competition, with the English scoring four without reply to take an early lead. England extended their advantage in the second match with a 2–1 victory over Wales and seemed to be on course for the championship. Scotland began their challenge against Wales in a match they narrowly won before stumbling against Ireland in a match the Irish dominated in front of the Scottish home support. Just two years previously at the same stadium, Scotland had beaten Ireland 11–0 in what is still their record win. On the back of this result, Ireland beat Wales 2–0 ending a miserable tournament for the Welsh who had scored only one goal and failed to gain a single point. In the final match between England and Scotland, Scotland needed a win to draw level with Ireland and England whilst England needed only a draw to take the championship outright. In a tough match in Sheffield both sides played well, but Scotland eventually won 2–1 taking their share of the title.
Table
Results
Winning squads
NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal WALMonday, 2 March 1903 England 2 Wales 1, England Football Online IRESaturday, 14 February 1903 England 4 Ireland 0, England Football Online SCOSaturday, 7 April 1888 Ireland 1 England 5, England Football Online Apps GoalsVivian Woodward1/11/21/134Harry Davis11/1131Harry Johnson11130George Molyneux11130Tom Baddeley1120Bob Crompton1120Albert Houlker1120Joseph Bache1/111Jack Sharp1/111Tom Booth110Percy Humphreys110Arthur Capes110Jack Cox110Rex Corbett110Frank Forman110William Garraty110J. W. Sutcliffe110Harry Hadley110Tom Holford110Arthur Lockett110Jimmy Settle110Howard Spencer110
NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal WALIreland v Wales, 28 March 1903, EU-Football.info SCOScotland v Ireland, 21 March 1903, EU-Football.info ENGEngland v Ireland, 14 February 1903, EU-Football.info Apps GoalsJack Kirwan11/1131James Sheridan1/11131Johnny Darling11130Billy Scott11130Archie Goodall1/1121Joe Connor11/121Jimmy Maxwell1120Bob Milne1120Peter Boyle1120Alec McCartney1120Hughie Maginnis1120Johnnie Mercer1120James Campbell110Billy McCracken110George McMillan110Harold Sloan110Tom Shanks110
NameApps/Goals by opponentTotal WALMon 09 Mar 1903 Wales 0 Scotland 1, London Hearts Supporters Club IRESat 21 Mar 1903 Scotland 0 Ireland 2, London Hearts Supporters Club ENGSat 04 Apr 1903 England 1 Scotland 2, London Hearts Supporters Club Apps GoalsFinlay Speedie1/111/132Bobby Walker111/131Alex Smith11130Andy Aitken1120Andy McCombie1120Alex Raisbeck1120Harry Rennie1120Jackie Robertson1120Bobby Templeton1120Jimmy Watson1120Ned Doig110Bob Hamilton110John Cross110Jock Drummond110Archie Gray110David Lindsay110Willie Orr110Willie Porteous110Peter Robertson110John Campbell110
References