The British Home Championship-Part Four

The 1981 British Home Championship

The 1981 edition of the British Home Championship was staged at a time of political unrest in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland had been scheduled to host England and Wales for that year’s Tournament.

However, due to safety and security concerns, both teams refused to travel to Belfast.

As a result that year’s edition is incomplete and no winner was declared. Only Scotland managed to play all its three matches, while Northern Ireland played just one match.

The Championship’s first match took place on May 16^th at Swansea with Wales taking on Scotland.

Scotland were missing their Liverpool and Ipswich contingent that had upcoming European Cup Finals. The absentees included Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen, Alan Brazil and John Wark,

Photo From: Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982

(May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Wales won this match with two quick goals within the first twenty minutes, both scored by Ian Walsh. In the 17^th minute, Leighton James crossed from left side; Alan Rough handled it but could not hold onto the ball and Walsh tapped in the rebound.

Three minutes later, Mickey Thomas crossed from right to Walsh who headed in from the far post.

Photo From: Shoot, June 13, 1981

(May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Photo From: Shoot, June 13, 1981

(May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Photo From: Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982

(May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 66, June 1981

(May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

The match was marred in the second half with dangerous play by Scotland’s Joe Jordan. He had been booked for a foul on Welsh goalkeeper Dai Davies. In an act of gentlemanly conduct, Davies had asked the referee not to book him to no avail.

In the 78^th minute, Jordan elbowed Boyle and was immediately sent off. Boyle suffered a broken nose and missing tooth.

This was Wales’ six straight win over Scotland.

Photo From:  Shoot, June 27, 1981

(Joe Jordan and Dai Davies, May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Photo From: Shoot, June 13, 1981

(Gordon McQueen, May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Photo From: Onze, Hors Serie 12, 1982

(Scotland squad, May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 66, June 1981

(May 16, 1981, Home Championship, Wales 2-Scotland 0)

On May 19^th, Scotland took on Northern Ireland at Glasgow. The two sides had already met less than two months earlier at the same venue. (March 25, 1981, World Cup Qualifier, Scotland 1-Northern Ireland 1).

The two teams were in the same World Cup Qualification Group.

Scotland, still without the Liverpool and Ipswich players, won a match that Northern Ireland seemed disinterested in playing (clearly the events at home on their minds).

In the 5^th minute, Ray Stewart scored off a Tommy Burns free kick.

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  Northern Ireland v Scotland , 1981

(May 19, 1981, Home Championship, Scotland 2-Northern Ireland 0)

Photo From: Official Match Programme,  Northern Ireland v Scotland , 1981

(John Robertson and Sammy Nelson, May 19, 1981, Home Championship, Scotland 2-Northern Ireland 0)

Early in the second half, Steve Archibald scored after a move involving McGrain, Stewart and Hartford.

On the following day, England (still without the Liverpool and Ipswich contingent) hosted Wales at Wembley.

In addition, other regulars such as Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking were also missing for England (they would miss the tournament altogether).

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

(An effort by Peter White being cleared off the line by Leighton Phillips, May 20, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Wales 0)

The match was dull and uninspiring and the final scoreless result was no surprise. Glenn Hoddle tried but could not unlock the Welsh defense. The English had most of the possession, while Wales mostly defended.

This was the third straight match that England had failed to score.

The final match of the Championship took place two days later on May 23^rd at Wembley, with England hosting Scotland for their annual matchup.

Both sides were still somewhat weakened with the absence of the players with European Cup Finals commitments.

Photo From:  Shoot, June 27, 1981

(David Narey and Trevor Francis, May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

Photo From:  Shoot, June 27, 1981

(May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

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

 (Trevor Francis and Willie Miller, May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

England were better in the early going and had most of the possession but still lacked the finishing touch.

In the 25^th minute, Asa Hartford dislocated an elbow. David Narey replaced him.

The deadlock was broken near the end of the match. Scotland were awarded a penalty kick after Steve Archibald was fouled by Bryan Robson in the box, after having been sent clear by Provan.

Photo From:  Shoot, June 27, 1981

(Glenn Hoddle and Ray Stewart, May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

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

(Trevor Francis, May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

Prior to the spot kick, Trevor Francis was seen giving advice to Joe Corrigan as his Nottingham Forest teammate Robertson was about to take the kick.

John Robertson scored Scotland’s winner. England failed to score in their fourth straight match.

Photo From: World Soccer , July 1981

(John Robertson taking the winning penalty kick, May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

At the end, England Manager Ron Greenwood was contentious with the media. They had claimed that the England players had chosen tactics instead of Greenwood himself.

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

(Joe Corrigan after the penalty kick, May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

This edition of the Home Championship was somewhat eclipsed by Political events and greater interest about the European Cup Finals.

Not to mention, England had their mind on World Cup Qualifiers vs. Switzerland and Hungary in the coming days and weeks.

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

(May 23, 1981, Home Championship, England 0-Scotland 1)

Home Championship Squads

England:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

Joseph Thomas Corrigan (Manchester City Football Club)

Defenders:
Vivian Alexander Anderson (Nottingham Forest Football Club)
Kenneth Graham Sansom  (Arsenal Football Club-London)
David Vernon Watson (Southampton Football Club)

Alvin Edward Martin (West Ham United Football Club-London)

Midfielders/Forwards:
Bryan Robson (West Bromwich Albion Football Club)
Raymond Colin Wilkins (Manchester United Football Club)
Stephen James Coppell (Manchester United Football Club)
Glenn Hoddle (Tottenham Hotspur Football  Club-London)
Graeme Rix (Arsenal Football Club-London)
Peter Withe (Aston Villa Football Club-Birmingham)

Anthony Stewart Woodcock (1.Fussball Club Köln / West Germany) 
Peter Simon Barnes (West Bromwich Albion Football Club)

Trevor John Francis (Nottingham Forest Football Club)

Coach: Ron Greenwood

Scotland:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

1- Alan Roderick Rough (Partick Thistle Football Club-Glasgow)

12-William Thomson (Saint-Mirren Football Club-Paisley)

Defenders:

4- Kenneth H.Burns (Nottingham Forest Football Club / England)

14- Francis Tierney Gray (Nottingham Forest Football Club / England)

3-Daniel Fergus McGrain (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

6-Gordon McQueen (Manchester United Football Club / England)

13- William Fergus Miller (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

5-Alexander McLeish (Aberdeen Football Club Limited)

16-Alistair Robert Dawson (Rangers Football Club-Glasgow)

Midfielders / Forwards:

10- Richard ‘Asa’ Hartford (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England)
15-David Narey (Dundee United Football Club)
18-Thomas Burns (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)
2-Raymond Strean McDonald Stewart (West Ham United Football Club-London / England) 

9-Joseph Jordan (Manchester United Football Club / England)

7- David Alexander Provan (The Celtic Football Club-Glasgow)

17-Arthur Graham (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)     

19-Paul Whitehead  Sturrock (Dundee United Football Club)

8- Steven Archibald (Tottenham Hotspur Football Club-London / England) 

11-John Neilson Robertson (Nottingham Forest Football Club / England)

Coach: John ‘Jock’ Stein

Northern Ireland:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

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

17-James Archibald Platt (Middlesbrough football Club / England)

Defenders:

2-James Michael Nicholl (Manchester United Football Club / England)

3-Samuel Nelson (Arsenal Football Club-London / England)
6-John Patrick O'Neill (Leicester City Football Club / England)

4-Malachy Martin Donaghy (Luton Town Football Club / England)

5-Christopher John Nicholl (Southampton Football Club / England)

Midfielders / Forwards:
14-John McClelland (Rangers Football Club-Glasgow / Scotland)

18-Thomas  Sloan (Manchester United Football Club / England)

16-Derek William Spence (Southend United Football Club / England) 

15-Thomas Finney (Cambridge United Football Club / England)

12-Trevor Anderson (Linfield Football Club-Belfast)

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

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

9-Gerard Joseph Armstrong  (Watford Football Club / England)

8-Samuel Baxter McIlroy (Manchester United Football Club / England)

11-William Robert Hamilton (Burnley Football Club / England)

Coach: William Laurence Bingham

Wales:

Players who took part in the matches:

Goalkeepers:

1-William David ‘Dai’ Davies (Captain) (Wrexham Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

Defenders:
3-Joseph Patrick Jones (Wrexham Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

17-Terence David John Boyle (Crystal Palace Football Club-London / England)

2-Kevin Ratcliffe (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England)

4-Peter Nicholas (Arsenal Football Club-London / England)

6-Paul Terence Price (Luton Town Football Club / England)

Midfielders / Forwards:

16-Leighton Phillips (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

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

8-Brian Flynn (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)

David Charles Giles (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

9-Ian Patrick Walsh (Crystal Palace Football Club-London / England)

15-Jeremy Melvyn Charles (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League)  

14-Leighton James (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

10-Michael Reginald ‘Mickey’ Thomas (Manchester United Football Club / England) 

Ian James Rush (Liverpool Football Club / England)

Coach: Harold Michael England

1981 Home Championship Matches:

May 16, 1981- Swansea- Vetch Field

Referee:  Oliver Donnelly (Northern Ireland)

Wales 2-Scotland 0 (Ian Walsh 17, 20)

Wales: 1- Dai Davies (Captain),  3-Joe Jones (17-Terence Boyle 71^st ), 2-Kevin Ratcliffe, 4-Peter Nicholas, 6-Paul Price, 16-Leighton Phillips, 7-Carl Harris, 8-Brian Flynn, 9-Ian Walsh (15-Jeremy Charles 76^th ), 14-Leighton James,  10- Mickey Thomas  

Scotland: 1- Alan Rough, 4- Kenny Burns, 2-Ray Stewart, 14- Frankie Gray (3-Danny McGrain 46^th), 6-Gordon McQueen, 13- Willie Miller, 10- Asa Hartford (captain), 15-David Narey,  9-Joe Jordan, 7- Davie Provan, 17-Arthur Graham (19-Paul Sturrock 84^th )       

Coach: John ‘Jock’ Stein

Booked: Ray Stewart, Joe Jordan

Sent-off: Joe Jordan 78^th

May 19, 1981- Glasgow- Hampden Park

Referee:  Patrick Partridge (England)

Scotland 2-Northern Ireland 0 (Ray Stewart 5, Steve Archibald 50)

Scotland: 12-William Thomson, 3- Danny McGrain (captain), 14-Frankie Gray, 2- Ray Stewart,  5-Alex McLeish, 13- Willie Miller, 10- Asa Hartford, 19-Paul Sturrock,  8- Steve Archibald, 18-Tommy Burns, 11-John Neilson Robertson

Northern Ireland: 1-Pat Jennings, 2-Jimmy Nicholl, 3-Sammy Nelson (4-Mal Donaghy 70^th), 14-John McClelland, 5-Chris Nicholl, 6-John O'Neill, 7-Terence Cochrane, 10-Martin O'Neill, 9-Gerry Armstrong, 8-Sammy McIlroy, 11-Billy Hamilton

May 20, 1981- London - Wembley Stadium

Referee:  Brian McGinlay (Scotland)

England 0-Wales 0

England:  1- Joe Corrigan, 2- Viv Anderson, 3- Kenny Sansom, 5- Dave Watson, 6- Bryan Robson, 4- Ray Wilkins, 7- Steve Coppell, 8- Glenn Hoddle, 10- Graeme Rix, 9- Peter Withe (Tony Woodcock 82^nd ), 11- Peter Barnes

Wales: Dai Davies, Joe Jones, Kevin Ratcliffe, Peter Nicholas, Leighton Phillips, Paul Price, Carl Harris (David Giles 60^th ), Brian Flynn, Ian Walsh, Mickey Thomas,  Leighton James (Ian Rush 65^th)

May 23, 1981- London - Wembley Stadium

Referee:  Robert Wurtz (France)

England 0-Scotland 1 (John Robertson 84 pen)

England:  1- Joe Corrigan, 2- Viv Anderson, 3- Kenny Sansom, 5- Dave Watson (Captain) (14-Alvin Martin 46^th ), 6- Bryan Robson, 4- Ray Wilkins, 7- Steve Coppell, 8- Glenn Hoddle, 10- Graeme Rix, 9- Peter Withe , 11- Tony  Woodcock  (16-Trevor Francis 46^th )

Scotland : 1- Alan Rough, 2- Ray Stewart,  14- Frankie Gray, 3- Danny McGrain (captain), 5-Alex McLeish, 13- Willie Miller, 7- Davie Provan (19-Paul Sturrock 80^th ), 8- Steve Archibald, 9-Joe Jordan, 10- Asa Hartford (15-David Narey 25^th ), 11-John Neilson Robertson

Booked: Danny McGrain

INCOMPLETE

Final table               P     W   D   L  GF  GA  GD     Pts

1- Scotland              3     2    0        1    3     2    +1       4

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

3- England                2     0    1     1    0     1     -1       1

4- Northern Ireland  1     0    0     1    0     2    –2        0

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