The 1888 World Championship was an exhibition football match that took place in Crosshill (today part of Glasgow), Scotland, on 19 May 1888 between the winners of the Scottish Cup, Renton, and the English FA Cup, West Bromwich Albion. The match was won by Renton who beat Albion 4–1.Renton crowned World Champions, BBCRENTON F.C. CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD, The League, 2 March 2019Remember when a team from Scotland won the World Cup? The incredible story of Renton F.C, Glasgow Live, 12 November 2018Saturday's Football. Renton V. West Bromwich Albion., The Glasgow Herald, 21 May 1888 The match was played in very bad weather and a replay in England was proposed, but never took place.
Overview This was not the first "World Championship" game between English and Scottish sides; however, the next edition was the first such club competition contested between national league winners (as the leagues had not been yet created before that time). Johnny Campbell, who played for Renton in this fixture, would also win a world championship with Sunderland in 1895; he is therefore the first known British footballer to have been twice listed as a world champion with different clubs.Johnny Campbell, The Twice World Club Championship Winner, Ryehill Football, 27 April 2020
It was noted in the press that West Brom were "one of the English clubs which have never had a Scotchman either as a coach or a player" and the match were therefore seen as a truly international event – by this point may of the leading English clubs (which were allowed to become professional in 1885) had Scottish players, and in the aforementioned Sunderland v Hearts match in 1895 both entrants had an all-Scottish line-up.
Renton's win was something of a watershed for Scottish football, as within a few days James Kelly and Neil McCallum had left to join the newly-formed Celtic and quickly helped to establish them as a force in the game, Meanwhile Renton soon lost several other members of their 'world champion' team to professional clubs in England (including Andrew Hannah who moved to West Brom after he impressed them in the Glasgow match) and gradually declined, never returning to the same level.
Participant teams TeamQualification West Bromwich Albion 1887–88 FA Cup winners Renton 1887–88 Scottish Cup winners
Match details
Teams Renton:GK John LindsayFB Andrew HannahFB Archie McCallHB Bob KelsoHB James KellyHB Donald McKechnieFW Harry Campbell FW James McCallFW Johnny Campbell FW Neil McCallum FW Jack McNee West Bromwich Albion: GK Bob Roberts FB Charlie Mason FB Harry GreenHB Ezra HortonHB Charlie PerryHB George TimminsFW Billy BassettFW George WoodhallFW Jem Bayliss (c)FW Joe WilsonFW Tom Pearson
References