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Admission―Reserved, 1s; Unreserved, 6d. Ladies Free.
Saturday, 15 March 1890
British International Championship 1889-90 (7th) Match

One of two games played on the same day.
 
Ireland 1 England 9 [0-3]
 
Sportsman:- Geary 15, Townley, Lofthouse, Davenport 46, Geary 56, Davenport, Geary, Townley, Barton 88.
Telegraph:-
Geary, Townley, Townley, Davenport, Geary, Davenport, Geary, then two unnamed.
Sporting Life:- Walton 15, Walton, Lofthouse, Geary, Geary, unnamed, Geary, Walton, unnamed.
South Wales News:- Geary, Townley, Lofthouse, Davenport, Geary, Davenport, unnamed, Townley, unnamed.
Western Times:- Geary, Townley, Lofthouse, unnamed.
Athletic News:- Walton 15, Walton 17, Davenport, Geary, Geary, another three from Geary.

Football League Record

Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, County Antrim
Kick-off (DMT): 'at half past three'; 'at 3.30'. 3.05pm (GMT).
Attendance: '3,000 spectators'; '4,000 people on the ground'; '5,000 enthusiasts'; 'over 5,000 spectators'.

England's fourth visit to Ballynafeigh, fifth visit to Belfast, and Ireland. All victorious
Dick Elleman won the toss Fred Geary kicked-off


[0-1] Robert McIlvenney scores-disallowed: offside
[0-0] Bill Townley shot hits crossbar
Fred Geary
(2-5 goals)
Nat Walton (0-3 goals)
Bill Townley (0-3 goals)
at least one probably scored a HAT-TRICK

[1-5] Jack Reynolds
70
 'from a scrimmage'
 
Joe Lofthouse
Kenny Davenport
(0-2)
 
[1-9] Jack Barton (0-1 on 88 min)
A not altogether coherent match report in The Field credits Fred Geary with four goals, and that a very confused summary in The Athletic News maintains that 'the clever little Everton centre was responsible for five of the goals, and beauties they were. Clugstone tried to hold one of them, but he felt it going, and he let it go - he couldn't help it.'  The Northern Whig also credits him with five. The Sporting Chronicle, only two....
The Field credits Nat Walton with England's second goal, Belfast News, The Times and Sporting Life credits Walton with the first and second goals. The Sporting Chronicle with the first, second and eighth!...
The Field and the Northern Whig credits Townley with three goals, although other sources say only two. Or even none....
Some reports credit Jack Barton with a goal, some don't, two minutes from time.  The Irish claim the ninth goal had gone over the bar anyway!
 

Match Summary

Officials [umpires and referees are of equal relevance]

Ireland

Team Records England
Umpires "The conference of the football secretaries on Saturday, in London, settled the fixtures for next season. The Football League wanted to get rid of many big matches not in their list, so they got it decided that the games England v. Ireland, and England v. Wales, be played the same day, meaning that England will have to turn out two International elevens"
Morton Peto Betts
42 (30 August 1847)
Old Harrovians FC
, Middlesex
William James Morrow
38 (16 November 1851)
Ireland
played for England in 1871-77
Referee
James E. McKillop
Scotland FA
 

Ireland Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 6th
Colours "...contrasted will with the Royal blue and white of the Irishmen"
Captain Dick Elleman Selection Ireland Selection Committee;
only match, W 0 - D 0 - L 1 - F 1 - A 9.
Ireland Lineup
  Clugston, William John 20
216 days
11 August 1869 G Cliftonville FAC 5 36ᵍᵃ
will be a linesman in the 1898 fixture
  Stewart, Robert Kennedy 21
212 days
15 August 1868 RB St. Columb's Court FC 2 0
  Crone, Robert 20
70 days
4 January 1870 LB Distillery FC 3 0
87   Williamson, James Porter 20
97 days
8 December 1869 RHB Cliftonville FAC 1 0
88   Spencer, Samuel 21
x days
10 July 1868 CHB Distillery FC 1 0
  Cooke, Samuel nk not known LHB Cliftonville FAC 2 0
  Elleman, Allan Richard 23 summer 1866
in Stoke-upon-Trent, England
OR Cliftonville FAC 2 0
not 3 November 1862 final app 1889-90
  Stanfield, Olphert Martin 21
17 days
26 February 1869 IR

Distillery FC

10 1
  Wilton, James McElmunn 21
114 days
21 November 1868 CF

St. Columb's Court FC

5 1
89   McIlvenny, J. Robert nk not known IL Distillery FC 1 0
Reynolds, John, off injured 21
22 days
21 February 1869 OL Distillery FC 2 1
reserves: not known
team changes: McIlvenny and Wilton were late replacements for John Peden and Sam Torrans.
team notes: Bob Crone's brother, Billy, also played for Ireland against England (1884, 86-88) and scored a free-kick against them in 1888. Billy was forced to withdraw from the 1889 fixture.
Jack Reynolds would later turn out for England 1892-97.
records: This is Ireland's eighth consecutive loss.
 
2-3-5 Clugston -
Stewart, Crone -
Williamson, Spencer, Cooke -
Elleman, Stanfield, Wilton, McIlvenny, Reynolds.
Averages: Age 21 years 88-102 days9 Appearances/Goals 3.1 0.3
based on the nine players, could be the youngest opposing team

 

England Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 2nd
Colours "The Englishmen wore a costume of white, with a black bar badge"
Captain not known Selection following the trial game, The seven-man FA International Selection Committee
There is not a single contemporaneous record of England's captain for this match P 7 of 195, W 7 - D 0 - L 1 - F 39 - A 8.
  teams chosen at the Midland Hotel, Derby, on Wednesday 26 February 1890.
England Lineup
  ten changes to the previous match (only Forrest retained) league position (26th February) ave lge pos: 4th
  Roberts, Robert J. 26
87 days
18 December 1863 G

West Bromwich Albion FC (FL 6th)

3 5ᵍᵃ
final app 1887-90
  Baugh, Richard 26
29 days
14 February 1864 RB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 4th) 2 0
the sixth Wanderer to represent England final app 1886-90
  Mason, Charles 26
348 days
1 April 1863 LB

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 4th)

3 0
final app 1887-90
167 ? Barton, John 23
161 days
5 October 1866 RHB Blackburn Rovers FC (FL 2nd) 1 0 or 1
the 11th/12th Rover to represent England only app 1890
168   Perry, Charles 24
71 days
3 January 1866 CHB West Bromwich Albion FC (FL 6th) 1 0
the fifth Albionite to represent England
  Forrest, James H. 25
264 days
24 June 1864 LHB Blackburn Rovers FC (FL 2nd) 11 0
final app 1884-90
? Lofthouse, Joseph M. 24
335 days
14 April 1865 OR Blackburn Rovers FC (FL 2nd) 7 2 or 3
final app 1885-90
? Davenport, J. Kenyon 27
357 days
23 March 1862 IR Bolton Wanderers FC (FL 8th) 2 0 to 2
final app 1885-90
169 ? Geary, Fred 22
51 days
23 January 1868 CF Everton FC (FL 3rd) 1 2 to 5
24th/25th brace scored ~ probably eleventh hattrick the first Evertonian to represent England
     
170 ? Walton, Nathaniel 22
295 days
24 May 1867 IL Blackburn Rovers FC (FL 2nd) 1 0 to 3
the 11th/12th Rover to represent England only app 1890
? Townley, William 24
87 days
14 February 1866 OL Blackburn Rovers FC (FL 2nd) 2 0 to 3
final app 1889-90
reserves: As well as those named below, Bill Rowley (Stoke FC (FL 11th), goal), Harry Green (West Bromwich Albion FC (FL 6th), fullback), Harry Allen and Arthur Lowder (both Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL 4th), halfbacks), John Devey (Mitchell St. George FC, centre-forward), Davie Weir (Bolton Wanderers FC (FL 8th)) and Edgar Chadwick (Everton FC (FL 3rd), left wing).
team changes: Original Captain, Bob Howarth (Preston North End FC (FL TOP)), was replaced on the day with Dick Baugh. George Haworth (Accrington FC (FL 5th)) was also replaced by Barton. John Veitch (Cambridge University AFC) was replaced by Joe Lofthouse, while Edmund Currey (Old Carthusians FC), who still played for England, but against Wales, was replaced by Kenny Davenport.
team notes: For the first time, the eleven starting players have each been selected from Football League clubs.
appearance notes: James Forrest is the fourth player to make eleven England appearances, whereas Joe Lofthouse is the thirteenth to make seven.
47 players have now appeared for England for more than three times, and only 83 have done so more than once.
goal notes: Again, an England match against Ireland comes with complications regarding goals. It is almost certain that Fred Geary scored a hat-trick, after definitely getting a brace. Another brace must have been scored by one of the other four goalscorers, but which one?
records: Despite the resounding victory, England's 20th, a record nine players will not play for England again.
Although Blackburn Rovers FC provided five players in this match, it still falls two players short of the England record set by Wanderers FC in March 1875, but does remain a club record.
What is a new record though, is the fact that the starting XI has come from just five different clubs.
 
2-3-5 Roberts -
Baugh, Mason -
Barton, Perry, Forrest -
Lofthouse, Davenport, Geary, Walton, Townley.
Averages: Age 24 years 351 days Appearances/Goals 3.1 0.2
oldest comp. team until 1892
       Match Report Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday, 17 March 1890
The ninth contest between Shamrock and Rose was played at Belfast on Saturday before over 5,000 spectators in very wet weather. Four changes were made in the team originally selected to represent England, Baugh, Barton, Lofthouse and Davenport playing instead of the two Howarths, Currey, and Veitch. McIlvenney and Wilton were substituted at the last moment for Peden and Torrans in the Irish team. Ireland won the toss, and punctual to time (3.30) Geary started for the visitors in a perfect deluge of rain. The Irishmen at once passed, but two corners were immediately rushed by their opponent. Ireland now had a run down, but the slippery state of the ground prevented scoring. Matters were quickly reversed, the scene changing to the Irish lines, and Clugston, the Irish goal keeper, had twice to stop hard shots sent in by Townley, the ball glancing off the cross-bar. An easy chance was lost by Geary, but the same player soon after again getting possession obtained the first point for England. McIlvenney now scored an off-side goal, and a few minutes later Townley shot through number two. Just before half-time the third goal for England was taken by Townley. The half-time score was England three goals, Ireland none. Reynolds re-started for the Irish, and a pass being missed by Ireland's right-back, Stewart, Davenport immediately scored. The Irish goal was stormed during the next ten minutes, Clugstone repeatedly saving in brilliant style. Shot after shot was sent into the goal mouth the weight of the Englishmen telling against their lighter opponents. A magnificent shot by Forrest was well fisted out, but Geary the next moment scored the fifth point for the visitors 20 minutes from the commencement of the second half. The Irish forwards now had a run down the field and McIlvenney shot, but Roberts fisted out. Pressure, however, was maintained, and Reynolds obtained the first and only score for Ireland amid ringing cheers. The enthusiasm cooled when Davenport put on goal number six for England. After some even play about mid-field Geary got possession and forced the seventh goal, and from then until the finish England had matters very much their own way, a terrible downpour descending during the last few minutes. Two more goals were added by England, and the game ended in a victory for them nine goals to one.
 
       Match Report The Times, Monday, 17 March 1890

"The English eleven visited Belfast and engaged in their ninth annual match against Ireland. Although the weather was wet and uncomfortable, there was a large muster of onlookers. The home team won the toss, and at 3 30 Geary kicked off...
The English forwards worked well together, and in the first portion of the match three goals were placed to their credit, while the Irish were unable to secure a point. Positions having been reversed, the visitors continued for some time to have the advantage. In a little over a quarter of an hour two further goals were obtained for them. The home team now played more vigorously, and at length they scored a point. The English were not slow, however, in re-asserting themselves; and, although the Irish defence was at times good, four more goals were secured by the visitors."

 
       In Other News....
It was on 16 March 1890 that the decision was taken to flood the Morfa Colliery at Port Talbot, as it continued to burn following an explosion, which killed 87 men, five days earlier. Some of the survivors described seeing ghostly apparitions below ground in the weeks before the disaster.
Domestic Football Results (15 March 1890)                                          Teams in a silver box denotes a player representing England
Accrington 2 Preston North End 2
   Thorneyholme Road, Accrington (5,000)
Kirkham, Barbour ~
Haworth OG,
J.Ross
George Haworth started for Accrington
Bob Howarth, Bob Holmes and Fred Dewhurst were starting for Preston
    
Burnley 3 Notts County 0
   Turf Moor, Burnley (4,000)
Stewart (2), scrimmage
Notts County were without Harry Daft and Arthur Shelton, but did have Albert Smith
George Toone started for County
 
Everton 3 Derby County 0
   Anfield Road, Liverpool (10,000)
Milward OG, Ferguson,
Williamson OG
Everton were without Johnny Holt & Fred Geary, but did have Alf Milward and Edgar Chadwick
    
West Bromwich Albion 2 Stoke 1
   Stoney Lane, West Bromwich (1,600)
Bayliss, Woodhall ~
Owen
West Brom were without Billy Bassett, Charlie Perry and Bob Roberts, but did start with Joe Reader, and scorers, George Woodhall and Jem Bayliss.
Bill Rowley and Alf Underwood started for Stoke
 
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5 Bolton Wanderers 1
   Molineux Ground, Wolverhampton (3,000)
Wykes (3), Brodie, Worrall ~ Cassidy
Wolves were without Albert Fletcher, Harry Wood, Dick Baugh and Charlie Mason. However, they had Billy Rose, Harry Allen, Arthur Lowder and scorer, Jack Brodie
Bolton were without Kenny Davenport and Di Jones, but did have Davie Weir and Jimmy Turner
 
Table
Team P
Preston North End 21 31
Everton 21 31
Blackburn Rovers 21 27
Wolverhampton Wanderers 22 25
Accrington 22 24
West Bromwich Albion 21 23
Derby County 22 21
Bolton Wanderers 21 18
Aston Villa 20 16
Notts County 20 16
Burnley 21 12
Stoke 20 8

Everton's win put them level on points with League Champions, Preston, with only one match remaining. Defeat at West Brom, the following week, effectively ended their chances, and Preston went on to retain the title with a victory at Notts County. It was to be their last League Championship success.
     
     
       Source Notes
TheFA
Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
Cris Freddi's England Football Factbook
Rothman's Yearbooks
The Football Association Yearbook
Original Newspaper Reports
Rootschat/Ancestry.com
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