1973–74 British Home Championship

The 1973-74 British Home Championship Home Nations football tournament was, like the two championships which preceded it, subject to rescheduled matches due to The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Scotland, who should have visited Belfast to play their match against Northern Ireland, instead hosted the game in Edinburgh as the previous years solution of matches being played in Liverpool was not taken up. Bereft of home advantage, the Irish struggled to contain their opponents, although they did begin well with a narrow win over the Scots. In their first matches, England enjoyed their home advantage to claim victories over the Welsh and Irish while the Welsh crashed to defeat against England and Scotland. With the confusing schedule, by the final match England seemed to be favourites, only needing a draw with the Scots in Glasgow to claim the trophy while a loss would still tie the series (goal difference was not at this stage used to calculate position). The Northern Irish, who could still have sneaked the championship, lost a close game to the Welsh, leaving England and Scotland to battle for the final placements, the Scots reaching parity in the competition thanks to a 2–0 victory.

Table

Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Scotland 4320141+3
 England 4320132+1
 Northern Ireland 23102121
 Wales 23102143

The points system worked as follows:

Results

11 May 1974
Scotland  0 – 1  Northern Ireland
  Report Thomas Cassidy
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 53,775

11 May 1974
Wales  0 – 2  England
  Report Stan Bowles, Kevin Keegan
Ninian Park, Cardiff
Attendance: 25,734

14 May 1974
Scotland  2 – 0  Wales
Kenny Dalglish, Sandy Jardine (P) Report  
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 41,969

15 May 1974
England  1 – 0  Northern Ireland
Keith Weller Report  
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 45,500

18 May 1974
Wales  1 – 0  Northern Ireland
David Smallman Report  
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 9,310

18 May 1974
Scotland  2 – 0  England
Joe Jordan, Own Goal (Colin Todd) Report  
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 94,487

References

  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4. 
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