The British Home Championship-Part Three

The 1982 British Home Championship

The 1982 edition of the British Home Championship would go on to serve as preparation for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Three out of the Four Home Nations had qualified for the main event with Wales being the only absentee.

The first match of the 1982 Home Championship was played on February 23^rd, 1982; England hosted Northern Ireland at Wembley.

England Manager Ron Greenwood used this match for tactical experimentation.

England played in a 1-4-3-2-1 formation. Ray Wilkins was moved from the midfield and was deployed as a sweeper behind the two stoppers: Watson and the debutant Foster.

Wilkins’ absence in the midfield limited Hoddle’s influence, as he was unable to launch attacks due to the man-to-man marking of the Irish.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 25, April 1982

(Billy Hamilton and Steve Foster, February 23, 1982, Home Championship, England 4-Northern Ireland 0)

The English were nevertheless much stronger and tore Northern Ireland apart.

England went ahead after just 44 seconds. Viv Anderson sent Francis clear, who crossed from right side for Robson to score close range.

The rest of the first half was dour with few chances.

Photo From: England, Player by Player, Author: Graham Betts

(Steve Foster, February 23, 1982, Home Championship, England 4-Northern Ireland 0)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 25, April 1982

(Noel Brotherston and Ray Wilkins, February 23, 1982, Home Championship, England 4-Northern Ireland 0)

In the 47^th minute, Tony Morley supplied Francis who crossed from right side touchline for Keegan to head home. This would turn out to be Keegan’s last goal for England.

English substitute Cyrille Regis earned his debut cap midway through the second half.

Near the end England struck twice more. In the 84^th minute, Wilkins scored from a long distance shot.

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  England v Northern Ireland , 1984

(Kevin Keegan heading England’s second goal, February 23, 1982, Home Championship, England 4-Northern Ireland 0)

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  England v Northern Ireland , 1984

(Ray Wilkins scoring England’s third goal, February 23, 1982, Home Championship, England 4-Northern Ireland 0)

Two minutes later, Tony Woodcock crossed from the left side, Kenny Sansom took a shot that Pat Jennings blocked but could not hold and Glenn Hoddle knocked in the rebound.

The next match took place two months later, on April 27, 1982 at Cardiff between Wales and England.

The English were missing Kevin Keegan, Trevor Brooking and Viv Anderson through injuries and unavailability.

Joe Corrigan started in goal in place of Shilton.

Photo From: England, The Complete Post-War Record, Author Mike Payne

(England squad, April 27, 1982, Home Championship, Wales 0-England 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Wales, 1983

(Team captains Phil Thompson and Bryan Flynn, April 27, 1982, Home Championship, Wales 0-England 1)

The more in-form English were in control for much of the match and central defenders Phil Thompson and Terry Butcher were excellent.

England won the match in the 73^rd minute after scoring through an indirect free kick by Francis.

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Wales, 1983

(Peter White, April 27, 1982, Home Championship, Wales 0-England 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, England v Wales, 1983

(Trevor  Francis scoring the winner, April 27, 1982, Home Championship, Wales 0-England 1)

The third match in the series took place on the very next day, April 28^th, 1982, when Northern Ireland hosted Scotland at Windsor Park.

For Northern Ireland, James Platt started in goal in place of Pat Jennings.

Scotland were missing Graeme Souness and George Wood started in goal in place of Alan Rough. In an even match John Wark scored for Scotland in the first half, with Sammy McIlroy replying for the Northern Irish in the second half.

On May 24^th, 1982, Scotland hosted Wales at Glasgow. The Scottish near full strength scored the winner in the 7^th minute. Alan Brazil sent Asa Hatrford through to score.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 77, May 1982

(David Narey and Ian Walsh, May 24, 1982, Home Championship, Scotland 1-Wales 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 77, May 1982

(Bryan Flynn and Asa Hartford, May 24, 1982, Home Championship, Scotland 1-Wales 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 77, May 1982

(Wales Squad, May 24, 1982, Home Championship, Scotland 1-Wales 0)

Three days later, on May 27^th, Wales took on Northern Ireland at Wrexham. Wales easily defeated Northern Ireland by a heavy score of 3-0, with Brian Flynn involved in all three goals. Wales took the lead in the 18^th minute, Brian Flynn sent Alan Curtis through who scored from close range.

In the 64^th minute, Brian Flynn took a free kick that Ian Rush headed in. This was Rush’s first ever-International goal.

In the 75^th minute, Brian Flynn took a corner that eventually reached Northern Ireland’s Sammy Illroy. He inadvertently passed it across and Wales’ Peter Nicholas immediately took a long distance shot past the goalkeeper.

The final match of the Championship took place two days later on May 29^th at Glasgow, with Scotland hosting England for the 100^th Official matchup between the old rivals. Former stars George Young and Tom Finney led out the teams. The English were in the middle of a long winning streak and were much more confident. The Thompson/Butcher central defensive partnership was once again excellent. The English scored the winning goal in the 13^th minute.

Trevor Brooking took a corner from the right, Bryan Robson headed it across, Butcher headed it as well and the ball hit the crossbar. Paul Mariner headed in the rebound. Scotland improved after halftime, but England was once again stronger towards the end.

This was England Manager Ron Greenwood’s final Home Championship, as well as Keegan and Brooking.

England won the 1982 edition of the Championship with maximum points with Scotland coming in second. Northern Ireland’s form left a lot to be desired but they would improve in time for the World Cup.

Home Championship Squads

England:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

Raymond Neal Clemence  (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London)

Joseph Thomas Corrigan (Manchester City Football Club)

Peter Leslie Shilton (Nottingham Forest Football Club)

Defenders:
Vivian Alexander Anderson (Nottingham Forest Football Club)
Kenneth Graham Sansom  (Arsenal Football Club-London)
Stephen Brian Foster (Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club)
David Vernon Watson (Stoke City Football Club)

Phillip George Neal (Liverpool Football Club) 
Phillip Bernard Thompson  (Liverpool Football Club)
Terence Ian Butcher (Ipswich Town Football Club)

Michael Denis ‘Mick’ Mills  (Ipswich Town Football Club)

Midfielders/Forwards:
Bryan Robson  (Manchester United Football Club)
Glenn Hoddle (Tottenham Hotspur Football  Club-London)
Kevin Joseph  Keegan  (Southampton Football Club)

Trevor David Brooking (West Ham United Football Club-London)

Stephen James Coppell (Manchester United Football Club)

Terence Mc Dermott (Liverpool Football Club)
Raymond Colin Wilkins (Manchester United Football Club)
Anthony William Morley (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham)

Anthony Stewart Woodcock (1.Fussball Club Köln / West Germany) 
Trevor John Francis  (Manchester City Football Club)

Cyrille Regis (West Bromwich Albion Football Club)

Peter Withe (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham)

Paul Mariner (Ipswich Town Football Club)

Coach: Ron Greenwood

Scotland:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

George Wood (Arsenal Football Club-London / England) 

Alan Roderick Rough (Partick Thistle Football Club-Glasgow)

Defenders:

Daniel Fergus McGrain  (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

Arthur Richard Albiston (Manchester United Football Club / England)

Alexander McLeish (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

Alan David Hansen (Liverpool Football Club / England)

Allan Evans (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham / England)

Raymond Strean McDonald Stewart (West Ham United Football Club-London / England)  

George Elder Burley (Ipswich Town Football Club / England)

Francis Tierney Gray (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)

Midfielders / Forwards:

John Wark (Ipswich Town Football Club / England)

David Alexander Provan (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

Alan Bernard Brazil (Ipswich Town Football Club / England)

David Narey (Dundee United Football Club)

Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (Liverpool Football Club / England)

Richard ‘Asa’ Hartford (Manchester City Football Club / England)

John Neilson Robertson (Nottingham Forest Football Club / England)

Paul Whitehead Sturrock (Dundee United Football Club)

Graeme James Souness  (Liverpool Football Club / England)

Joseph Jordan (Associazione Calcio Milan  / Italy)

Thomas Burns (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

Coach: John ‘Jock’ Stein

Northern Ireland:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

Patrick Anthony Jennings (Arsenal Football Club-London / England)

James Archibald Platt (Middlesbrough Football Club / England)

Defenders:

James Michael Nicholl (Manchester United Football Club / England)

Samuel Nelson (Brighton Hove and Albion Football Club / England)

Malachy Martin Donaghy (Luton Town Football Club / England)

Christopher John Nicholl (Southampton Football Club / England)

John McClelland (Rangers Football Club-Glasgow / Scotland)

Midfielders / Forwards:

John Patrick O'Neill  (Leicester City Football Club / England)

Noel Brotherston (Blackburn Rovers Football Club / England)

George ‘Terence’ Cochrane (Middlesbrough Football Club / England)

Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill  (Norwich City Football Club / England)

David McCreery (Tulsa Roughnecks / USA)

Patrick Joseph ‘Felix’ Healy (Coleraine Football Club)

James Cleary (Glentoran Football Club-Belfast)

Robert McFaul Campbell (Bradford City Football Club / England)

Gerard Joseph Armstrong  (Watford Football Club / England)

Samuel Baxter McIlroy (Stoke City Football Club / England)

William Robert Hamilton (Burnley Football Club / England)

Coach: William Laurence Bingham

         

Wales:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

William David ‘Dai’ Davies (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

Neville Southall (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England)

Defenders:
Christopher Marustik (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Kevin Ratcliffe (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England)
Nigel Stevenson (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Joseph Patrick Jones (Wrexham Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

Midfielders / Forwards:

Peter Nicholas (Arsenal Football Club-London / England)
Alan Thomas Curtis (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Brian Flynn (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)

Carl Stephen Harris (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)

Ian James Rush (Liverpool Football Club / England)
Michael Reginald ‘Mickey’ Thomas (Brighton Hove and Albion Football Club / England)

Leighton James (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Robert Mark James (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

William Byron Stevenson (Birmingham City Football Club / England)

Ian Patrick Walsh (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League)  

Coach: Harold Michael England

1982 Home Championship Matches:

February 23, 1982- London - Wembley Stadium

Referee:  Gwyn Pierce Owen (Wales)

England 4-Northern Ireland 0 (Bryan Robson 1, Kevin Keegan 47, Ray Wilkins 84, Glenn Hoddle 86)

England: 1- Ray Clemence, 2- VivAnderson, 3- Kenny Sansom, 4- Ray Wilkins , 5- Dave Watson, 6-Steve Foster , 8- Bryan Robson , 10- Glenn Hoddle , 7- Kevin Keegan  (captain) ,  9- Trevor Francis  (15-Cyrille Regis 65^th), 11- Tony Morley  (16-Anthony Stewart Woodcock 77^th )

Northern Ireland: 1-Pat Jennings, 2-Jimmy Nicholl, 3-Sammy Nelson, 4-Mal Donaghy, 5-Chris Nicholl, 6-John O'Neill, 7-Noel Brotherston (12- Terence Cochrane 65^th ), 8-Martin O'Neill (captain) (14-David McCreery 77^th ), 9-Gerry  Armstrong, 10-Sammy McIlroy, 11-Billy Hamilton

April 27, 1982- Cardiff , Ninian Park

Referee:  Thomas Donnelly (Northern Ireland)

Wales 0-England 1 (Trevor Francis 73)

Wales: Dai Davies, Chris Marustik, Kevin Ratcliffe, Peter Nicholas, Nigel Stevenson, Joe Jones, Alan Curtis, Brian Flynn (Carl Harris 77^th), Ian Rush,
Mickey Thomas (Leighton James 46^th ), Robbie James

England: Joe Corrigan, Phil Neal, Kenny Sansom, Phil Thompson (captain), Terry Butcher, Ray Wilkins, Bryan Robson, Glenn Hoddle (Terry Dermott 52^nd), Tony Morley, Trevor Francis  (Cyrille Regis 80^th), Peter Withe

April 28, 1982- Belfast , Windsor Park

Referee:  John Hunting (England)

Northern Ireland 1-Scotland 1 (Sammy McIlroy 52 / John Wark 32)

Northern Ireland:  James Platt, Mal Donaghy, Sammy Nelson, John O'Neill, John McClelland, James Cleary, Noel Brotherston, Martin O'Neill, Bobby Campbell, Sammy McIlroy, Felix Healy

Scotland : George Wood,  Daniel Fergus McGrain (captain), Arthur Albiston,

Alexander McLeish  (Alan Hansen 76^th), Allan Evans, John Wark, David Provan, Alan Brazil, Kenny Dalglish, Asa Hartford, John Robertson (Paul Sturrock 81^st )

May 24, 1982- Glasgow, Hampden Park  

Referee:  Frederick McKnight (Northern Ireland)

Scotland 1-Wales 0 (Asa Hartford 7)

Scotland:  Alan Rough,  Ray Stewart  (George Burley 72^nd ), Frankie Gray, Alan Hansen, David Narey, Graeme Souness (captain), Kenny Dalglish, Alan Brazil, 9-Joe Jordan (Paul Sturrock 72^nd ), Tommy Burns, Asa Hartford

Wales : Dai Davies,  Chris Marustik, Joe Jones, Peter Nicholas, Nigel Stevenson,  William Byron Stevenson, Alan Curtis (Ian Walsh 75^th ), Robbie James,  Ian Rush, Brian Flynn (Mickey Thomas 75^th ), Leighton James 

May 27, 1982- Wrexham, Racecourse Ground

Referee:  George Brian Smith (Scotland)

Wales 3-Northern Ireland 0  (Alan Curtis 18, Ian Rush 64, Peter Nicholas 75)

Wales: Neville Southall,  Chris Marustik, Joe Jones,  Peter Nicholas, Nigel Stevenson,  William Byron Stevenson, Alan Curtis  (Ian Walsh 68^th ), Robbie James,  Ian Rush, Brian Flynn (captain), Leighton James (Mickey Thomas 60^th)

Northern Ireland :  Pat Jennings  (James Platt 46^th ), Jimmy Nicholl, Mal Donaghy, John McClelland, Chris Nicholl, James Cleary (Bobby Campbell 64^th), Noel Brotherston, Felix Healy, Gerry Armstrong, Sammy McIlroy, Billy Hamilton 

May 29, 1982- Glasgow, Hampden Park 

Referee:  Jan Redelfs (West Germany)

Scotland 0 -England 1 (Paul Mariner 13)

Scotland:  1- Alan Rough, 2- George Burley, 3- Danny McGrain (captain) ,

4- Allan Evans, 5- Alan Hansen, 6-David Narey, 7- Kenny Dalglish, 8- Graeme Souness, 9-Joe Jordan  (15-Paul Sturrock 63^rd ), 10- Asa Hartford (16-John Robertson 46^th), 11- Alan Brazil

England :  1- Peter Shilton, 2- Mick Mills, 3- Kenny Sansom, 4- Phil Thompson, 5- Terry Butcher, 6- Bryan Robson, 7- Kevin Keegan (captain) (15-Terry Mc Dermott 56^th), 8- Steve Coppell, 9- Paul Mariner (16-Trevor Francis 46th), 10- Trevor Brooking, 11- Ray Wilkins 

Final table               P     W   D   L  GF  GA  GD     Pts

1- England               3     3    0        0    6     0    +6       6

2- Scotland                       3     1    1     1    3     3      0        3

3- Wales                  3     1    0     2    3     2     +1       2

4- Northern Ireland  3     0    1     2    1     8    –7        1

P-Played, W-Win, D-Draw, L-Loss, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, GD-Goal Difference, Pts-Points