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Monday, September 19, 2016

The British Home Championship-Part Six

The 1979 British Home Championship

The 1979 edition of the British Home Championship took place while the Home Nations were in the middle of the UEFA European Championship qualifiers of 1980.
In fact the Home Nations had qualifiers and other friendlies in the upcoming month of June and these annual series served as practice.
Incidentally England and Northern Ireland had been drawn in the same Euros qualifying Group and had played one another in a qualifier just months earlier at Wembley (February 7, 1989, England 4-Northern Ireland 0).
England were led by Kevin Keegan, who had just led SV Hamburg to the Bundesliga title that season and was the Best player in Europe having won the Ballon d’Or the previous December (He would win it again in December 1979).
Ron Greenwood’s England had an upcoming qualifier on June 6th vs. Bulgaria at Sofia followed by two away friendlies at Stockholm vs. Sweden (June 10th) and in Vienna vs. Austria (June 13th).
For Scotland, Team Manager Jock Stein was beset by the unavailability of Celtic and Rangers players, as League Matches were still being played.
Stein had stated that he intended to experiment with new players.
In June 2nd, they were to face defending World Cup Champions Argentina at Glasgow (Argentina were about to introduce Diego Maradona to the European Audience). Five days later, they were to face Norway in a qualifier at Oslo.
Likewise, Northern Ireland and Wales had upcoming away qualifiers in June vs. Denmark and Malta respectively.
None of the teams could call upon Nottingham Forest players who were due to face Malmoe in the Champions Cup Final. This meant no Peter Shilton, Viv Anderson, Kenny Burns, Archie Gemmill, Tony Woodcock, Trevor Francis nor Martin O’Neill
The 1979 Edition kicked off on May 19, 1979 at Belfast with Northern Ireland hosting England.
In addition to the Nottingham contingent, England were missing Keegan.
The Irish started better but the English scored early on to break any momentum.
In the 9th minute, Coppell took a free kick from the right side that was headed in by Dave Watson.
Coppell himself doubled up the lead in the 16th minute, from a pass by Wilkins. He finished up a move that had also included McDermott and Latchford.
England generally controlled the rest of the match and could have scored more.
McDermott, Wilkins and Currie controlled the midfield and dictated the play.
England goalkeeper Ray Clemence was virtually untested.


Photo From: World Soccer , July 1979
(Dave Watson scoring, May 19, 1979, Home Championship, Northern Ireland 0-England 2)

On the same day at Cardiff, Wales hosted Scotland. Scotland fielded four debutants in what could be described as a horrible display by the Scots.
The Liverpool pair of Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen were also singled out for their poor performance.
Wales outplayed and defeated Scotland through a John Toshack hat trick.


Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 10, January 1981
(Team captains Terry Yorath and Kenny Dalglish, May 19, 1979, Home Championship, Wales 3-Scotland 0)

In the 29th minute, Curtis released Toshack on the left side and he easily went past Hansen and Hegarty to score.
Six minutes later, Phillips passed down Mahoney’s throw-in, to Flynn who crossed to Curtis who headed it across for Toshack. Alan Rough stopped his first attempt, but Toshack scored from the rebound.



Photo From: Onze, Issue 61, January 1981
(Kenny Dalglish, May 19, 1979, Home Championship, Wales 3-Scotland 0)


Photo From: Mondial, New series, issue 10, January 1981
(Bryan Flynn, May 19, 1979, Home Championship, Wales 3-Scotland 0)

With fifteen minutes remaining, a throw-in was taken reached Curtis on the right side. Curtis crossed for Toshack who scored the third with a header. Wales nearly scored a fourth, but Robbie James’ long-range effort hit the post.


Photo From: World Soccer , July 1979
(John Toshack scoring, May 19, 1979, Home Championship, Wales 3-Scotland 

On May 22nd, Scotland took on Northern Ireland in Glasgow. Stein made changes from the Wales match. George Wood started in goal, and Gordon McQueen and Joe Jordan also started in place of Alan Hansen and Ian Wallace.
Scottish striker Arthur Graham scored the only goal in a match where he had many chances, but found Pat Jennings in impressive form for the Irish.



Photo From: Official Match Programme,  Northern Ireland v Scotland , 1981
(May 22, 1979, Home Championship, Scotland 1-Northern Ireland 0)

Graham scored, picking up a rebound after Jennings had stopped a Dalglish shot.
Graham scored another goal just before the end that was ruled out due to an infraction by Jordan.



Photo From: Official Match Programme,  Northern Ireland v Scotland , 1981
(May 22, 1979, Home Championship, Scotland 1-Northern Ireland 0)


Photo From: Official Match Programme,  Northern Ireland v Scotland , 1981
(May 22, 1979, Home Championship, Scotland 1-Northern Ireland 0)

The following day, England hosted Wales at Wembley. Greenwood made a number of changes.  Corrigan, Cherry, Sansom, Hughes, Keegan and Cunningham came into the side replacing Clemence, Neal, Mills, Thompson, Coppell and Barnes.
Sansom and Cunningham were making their International debuts.
It was a balanced match with chances but not pleasant to watch and a scoreless draw was an appropriate result.


Photo From: World Soccer , July 1979
(May 23, 1979, Home Championship, England 0-Wales 0)


Photo From: World Soccer , February 1980
(Kevin Keegan, May 23, 1979, Home Championship, England 0-Wales 0)


Photo From: England, The Complete Post-War Record, Author Mike Payne (1)
(Joey Jones and Laurie Cunningham, May 23, 1979, Home Championship, England 0-Wales 0)

On May 25th, Northern Ireland hosted the Welsh at Belfast. The match ended as a one-one tie. Northern Ireland’s Derek Spence opened the scoring after less than a minute.
In the second half Robbie James tied up the match with along range effort.
On the following day, May 26th, the top billing encounter between England a nd Scotland took place at Wembley.
England started with much the same lineup as their first but with Keegan and Trevor Brooking starting.
For Scotland, Stein preferred to maintain Wood in the net.
The pre-macth concerns revolved around the security at the stadium, as there were continuous problems with visiting Scottish fans.
The Scottish started the match better and dominated much of the first half.
John Wark and Asa Hartford were good in midfield, as were the striking duo of Dalglish and Graham.
Bob Latchford scored a goal for England that was disallowed for an foul on Wood.
Scotland deservedly took the lead in the 21st minute. From the right side, Graham sent in across the goal, Dalglish controlled it and laid it back on for the unmarked Wark to score.


Photo From: Official Match Programme,  Scotland v England, 1984
(John Wark after scoring, May 26, 1979, Home Championship, England 3-Scotland 1)

Scotland appeared to be headed for a halftime lead when a drop in concentration led to the English equalizer in the first half injury time (time added on after a drunk Scottish fan had invaded the pitch).
Jock Stein was walking towards the tunnel just before the halftime whistle and many felt the Scottish players relaxed upon seeing that.
Keegan passed the ball to Peter Barnes, who flicked it and took a low shot past Wood.
In the Second half, the Scottish just collapsed and gave up and England took control.
In the 62nd minute, Mick Mills, from the middle, sent a pass across to Wilkins on the right side. Wood parried Wilkins’ shot and Coppell scored from the rebound.


Photo From: England, The Complete Post-War Record, Author Mike Payne
(Steve Coppel scoring, May 26, 1979, Home Championship, England 3-Scotland 1)

In the 70th minute, Coppell sent Keegan through, he charged from the midway line towards the Scottish goal. He did a one-two with Brooking and scored the third goal.



Photo From: Onze, Issue 52, April 1980
(Kevin Keegan scoring the third, May 26, 1979, Home Championship, England 3-Scotland 1)



Photo From: Onze, Issue 52, April 1980
(Kevin Keegan scoring the third, May 26, 1979, Home Championship, England 3-Scotland 1)


Photo From: England, Player By Player, Author Graham Betts
(Kevin Keegan scoring the third, May 26, 1979, Home Championship, England 3-Scotland 1)

England won this edition of the Home Championship where Scotland were unimpressive.
They gave up three goals both to Wales and Scotland. In June, they would give up three goals once more at home to Argentina.
England as the strongest of the Home Nations would be the only one of the four to qualify for the following year’s Euros.
Though Scotland and Northern Ireland would manage to prepare teams that would qualify for the 1982 World Cup.


Home Championship Squads


England:
Players who took part in the matches:
Goalkeepers:
Raymond Neal Clemence (Liverpool Football Club)
Joseph Thomas Corrigan (Manchester City Football Club)

Defenders:
Philip George Neal (Liverpool Football Club)
Michael Denis ‘Mick’ Mills 
(Ipswich Town Football Club)
Philip Bernard Thompson (Liverpool Football Club)
David Vernon Watson
(Manchester City Football Club)  
Trevor John Cherry (Leeds United Association Football Club) 
Kenneth Graham Sansom
(Crystal Palace Football Club-London)
Emlyn Walter Hughes  (Liverpool Football Club)
Anthony Williams Currie (Leeds United Association Football Club)

Midfielders/Forwards:
Stephen James Coppell (Manchester United Football Club)
Raymond Colin Wilkins (Chelsea Football Club-London)
Robert Dennis Latchford (Everton
Football Club-Liverpool)
Terence McDermott (Liverpool Football Club)
Peter Simon Barnes (Manchester City
Football Club) 
Kevin Joseph Keegan  (Hamburger Sport Verein e.V. /  West Germany)
David Brooking (West Ham United Football Club-London)
Lawrence Paul
Cunningham (West Bromwich Albion Football Club)

Coach: Ronald Greenwood



Scotland:
Players who took part in the matches:
Goalkeepers:
Alan Roderick Rough (Partick Thistle Football Club-Glasgow)
George Wood (Everton Football Club-Liverpool / England)

Defenders:
George Elder Burley (Ipswich Town Football Club / England)
Francis Tierney Gray (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)
Paul Anthony Hegarty (Dundee United Football Club)
Alan David Hansen (Liverpool Football Club / England)
David Narey (Dundee United Football Club)
Gordon McQueen (Manchester United Football Club / England)

Midfielders / Forwards:
John Wark (Ipswich Town Football Club / England)
Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (captain) (Liverpool Football Club / England)
Richard ‘Asa’ Hartford (Manchester City Football Club / England)
Ian Andrew Wallace (Coventry City Football Club / England)
Joseph Jordan (Manchester United Football Club / England)
Graeme James Souness (Liverpool Football Club / England)
Arthur Graham (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)
Paul Anthony Hegarty (Dundee United Football Club)
Francis Peter McGarvey (Liverpool Football Club / England) 

Coach: John ‘Jock’ Stein


Northern Ireland:
Players who took part in the matches:
Goalkeepers:
Patrick Anthony Jennings (Arsenal Football Club –London / England)

Defenders:
Patrick James Rice (Arsenal Football Club –London / England)
Samuel Nelson (Arsenal
Football Club –London / England)
James Michael Nicholl (Manchester United Football Club / England) 
Christopher John Nicholl (Southampton Football Club / England) 
Alan Hunter (Ipswich Town Football Club / England) 

Midfielders / Forwards:
Victor Moreland (Derby County Football Club / England) 
Roland Christopher McGrath (Manchester United Football Club / England)   Bryan Hamilton (Swindon Town Football Club / England)
Samuel Baxter McIlroy (Manchester United Football Club / England) 
Gerald Joseph Armstrong (Tottenham Hotspur
Football Club –London / England)
William Thomas Caskey (Derby County Football Club / England) 
George Terence Cochrane (Middlesborough Football Club / England) 
Derek William Spence (Blackpool Football Club / England)  
Peter William Scott (Aldershot Town Football Club / England) 
Thomas Sloan (Manchester United Football Club / England) 
David McCreery (Manchester United Football Club / England) 

Coach: Robert Dennis ‘Danny’ Blanchflower




Wales:
Players who took part in the matches:
Goalkeepers:
William David Davies (Wrexham Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

Defenders:
William Byron Stevenson (Leeds United
Association Football Club / England)
Joseph Patrick Jones (Wrexham Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Leighton Phillips (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Philip John Dwyer (Cardiff City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 

Midfielders / Forwards:
John Francis Mahoney (Middlesbrough Football Club / England)
Terence Charles Yorath  (Coventry City Football Club / England)
Peter Nicholas (Crystal Palace Football Club-London / England)  
Brian Flynn (Leeds United Association Football Club / England)
Robert Mark James (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
John Benjamin Toshack (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Alan Thomas Curtis (Swansea City Football Club / Wales, registered in  English League) 
Carl Stephen Harris (Leeds United Association Football Club / England) 

Coach: Michael Smith


1979 Home Championship Matches:


May 19, 1979- Belfast-Windsor Park
Attendance: 35,000
Referee:  Ian Foote (Scotland)
Northern Ireland 0-England 2 (Dave Watson 9, Steve Coppell 16)
Northern Ireland:  Patrick Anthony Jennings, Patrick James Rice, Samuel Nelson, James Michael Nicholl, Christopher John Nicholl, Victor Moreland (Roland Christopher McGrath 57th), Bryan Hamilton, Samuel Baxter McIlroy, Gerald Joseph Armstrong, William Thomas Caskey, George Terence Cochrane (Derek William Spence 68th)

England:  Raymond Neal Clemence, Philip George Neal, Michael Denis ‘Mick’ Mills (captain),  Philip Bernard Thompson, David Vernon Watson, Anthony Williams Currie, Stephen James Coppell, Raymond Colin Wilkins, Robert Dennis Latchford, Terence McDermott, Peter Simon Barnes


May 19, 1979- Cardiff-Ninian Park
Attendance: 20,371
Referee:  Patrick Partridge (England)
Wales 3-Scotland 0 (John Toshack 29,35,75)
Wales:  1-William David Davies, 2-William Byron Stevenson,  3-Joseph Patrick Jones, 6-Leighton Phillips,  5-Philip John Dwyer, 4-John Francis Mahoney, 7-Terence Charles Yorath (Captain) (14-Peter Nicholas 89nd), 8-Brian Flynn, 9-Robert Mark James,  10-John Benjamin Toshack,  11-Alan Thomas Curtis 


Scotland:  1-Alan Roderick Rough, 2-George Elder Burley, 3-Francis Tierney Gray, 4-John Wark, 5-Paul Anthony Hegarty,  6-Alan David Hansen, 7-Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (captain), 10-Richard ‘Asa’ Hartford, 9-Ian Andrew Wallace  (13-Joseph Jordan 55th), 8-Graeme James Souness, 11-Arthur Graham 




May 22, 1979- Glasgow -Hampden Park
Attendance: 28,524
Referee:  Clive Thomas (Wales)
Scotland 1-Northern Ireland 0 (Arthur Graham 76)
Scotland:  George Wood, George Elder Burley, Francis Tierney Gray, John Wark (David Narey 46th), Gordon McQueen, Graeme James Souness, Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (captain), Richard ‘Asa’ Hartford, Joseph Jordan, Paul Anthony Hegarty, Arthur Graham (Francis Peter McGarvey 85th)  

Northern Ireland:  Patrick Anthony Jennings, Patrick James Rice, Samuel Nelson, James Michael Nicholl,  Alan Hunter,  Victor Moreland,  Bryan Hamilton,  Samuel Baxter McIlroy (Peter William Scott 62nd), Gerald Joseph Armstrong, Thomas Sloan,  Derek William Spence (William Thomas Caskey 77th)



May 23, 1979- London – Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 70,220
Referee:  Malcolm Moffat (Northern Ireland)
England 0-Wales 0
England:  Joseph Thomas Corrigan, Trevor John Cherry, Kenneth Graham Sansom, Anthony Williams Currie, David Vernon Watson, Emlyn Walter Hughes (captain), Kevin Joseph Keegan (Stephen James Coppell 68th), Raymond Colin Wilkins  (Trevor David Brooking 75th), Robert Dennis Latchford, Terence McDermott, Lawrence Paul Cunningham

Wales: William David Davies, William Byron Stevenson, Joseph Patrick Jones, Leighton Phillips, Philip John Dwyer, John Francis Mahoney, Terence Charles Yorath, Brian Flynn, Robert Mark James, John Benjamin Toshack (Carl Stephen Harris 80th), Alan Thomas Curtis


May 25, 1979- Belfast -Windsor Park
Attendance: 6,500
Referee:  John Homewood (England)
Northern Ireland 1-Wales 1 (Derek Spence (56 seconds) / Robbie James 62)
Northern Ireland : Patrick Anthony Jennings, Patrick James Rice, Samuel Nelson, Alan Hunter,  Christopher John Nicholl,  James Michael Nicholl, David McCreery,  Derek William Spence (Thomas Sloan 46th), Gerald Joseph Armstrong, Samuel Baxter McIlroy,  Bryan Hamilton 

Wales:  William David Davies, William Byron Stevenson, Joseph Patrick Jones, Leighton Phillips, Philip John Dwyer, John Francis Mahoney, Terence Charles Yorath, Brian Flynn, Robert Mark James, John Benjamin Toshack, Alan Thomas Curtis  (Peter Nicholas 76th)



May 26, 1979- London – Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
Referee:  Antonio da Silva Garrido (Portugal)
England 3- Scotland 1 (Peter Barnes 45, Steve Coppell 63, Kevin Keegan 70 / John Wark 21)
England: 1-Raymond Neal Clemence, 2-Philip George Neal, 3-Michael Denis ‘Mick’ Mills, 4-Philip Bernard Thompson, 5-David Vernon Watson, 6-Raymond Colin Wilkins, 7-Kevin Joseph Keegan  (captain), 8-Stephen James Coppell, 9-Robert Dennis Latchford,  10-Trevor David Brooking, 11-Peter Simon Barnes 


Scotland:  1-George Wood, 2-George Elder Burley, 3-Francis Tierney Gray, 4-John Wark, 5-Gordon McQueen, 6-Paul Anthony Hegarty, 7-Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (captain), 8-Graeme James Souness, 9-Joseph Jordan, 10-Richard ‘Asa’ Hartford, 11-Arthur Graham 





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