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Éireann

 

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53 vs. Ireland
Saturday, 3 March 1894
British International Championship 1893-94 (11th) Match


Ireland 2 England 2
[0-1]
 
 

Cliftonville Gardens, Cliftonville, Belfast, County Antrim
Kick-off (GMT): '3-30pm'; 'punctually at 3.30'.
Attendance:
'fully 8,000'; 'numbered over 8,600'; 'before 10,000 spectators'; 'ten thousand people'; 'fully 12,000 were present'; 'greatest assemblages of spectators ever seen at Solitude'.
England's second visit to Cliftonville, seventh visit to Belfast, and Ireland; first draw

Ollie Stanfield kicked off Bob Holmes won the toss
 



[0-1] Olli Stanfield goal disallowed - handball
Bob Holmes injury - ten men 20
[0-0] Jack Devey goal disallowed - foul
[0-0] Harry Chippendale strike hits the post
[0-0] Dneiis Hodgetts strike hits the crossbar
[0-1] John Devey 42
'literally ran the ball through'; 'from a fine combination with Hodgetts and Spikesley'


[1-2] Ollie Stanfield 70
 
'Dalton passed the ball from the line and Stanfield, taking the pass, shot a splendid goal'

[2-2] Willie Gibson 89
DID IT CROSS THE LINE?
reports suggest that the ball went outside the post
 'put in a long shot, and although Reader caught the post and allowed the ball to go outside, the referee allowed the goal'
[0-2] Fred Spiksley 55
'a brilliant individual effort'; 'a long, oblique shot'; 'from the outside left''
Football League Record

 
 

Match Summary

Officials       

Ireland Team Records England
Referee
Thomas Russell Park
32 (4 September 1861), Glasgow, Scotland
 
Linesmen
Charles James Hughes
39 (16 August 1853)

Northwich, Cheshire
Mr. Morrow
Irish FA
 

Ireland Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 6th
Colours "The Irishmen were dressed in blue jerseys and black nickers, with the exception of the four Cliftonville, who wore white nickers."
Captain Sam Torrans Selection Ireland Selection Committee,
P 2 of 2, W 0 - D 1 - L 1 - F 3 - A 6.  team chosen on Tuesday, 27 February 1894
Ireland Lineup
108   Scott, Thomas McComb 20
206 days
9 August 1873 G Cliftonville FAC 1 2ᵍᵃ
  Stewart, Robert Kennedy 25
200 days
15 August 1868 RB Cliftonville FAC 10 0
  Torrans, Samuel 25
27 days
4 February 1869 LB Linfield FAC 12 0
  Johnston, Samuel 24
349 days
19 March 1869 RH Linfield FAC 4 0
final app 1890-94
  Burnette, John 22
228 days
18 July 1871 CH Distillery FC 2 0
  Milne, Robert George 23
153 days
1 October 1870
in Inverarity, Scotland
LH Linfield FAC 2 0
  Dalton, William Boyd 23
352 days
16 March 1870 OR Linfield FAC 10 4
  Gaffikin, George John 25
290 days
17 May 1868 IR Linfield FAC 11 4
Stanfield, Olphert Martin 25
5 days
26 February 1869 CF Distillery FC 21 9
mst apps mst gls
  Gibson, William Kennedy 17
153 days
1 October 1876
in Crosshill, Scotland
IL Cliftonville FAC 2 1
youngest player to score against England
     
  Barron, James Humphrey 19
154 days
30 September 1874 OL Cliftonville FAC 2 0
reserves: not known
team notes: Goalkeeper Tommy Scott is the first Ireland debutant against England for four years.
 
2-3-5 Scott -
Stewart, Torrans -
Johnston, Burnette, Milne -
Dalton, Gaffikin, Stanfield, Gibson, Barron
Averages: Age 23 years 26 days Appearances/Goals 7.0 1.5

 

England Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 1st
Colours "The Englishmen in their usual costume—white and black."
Captain Bob Holmes Selection
The seven-man FA International Selection Committee
P 2 of 3, W 1 - D 1 - L 0 - F 8 - A 2. Member in charge: Richard Gregson P 19th of 195, W 16 - D 2 - L 1 - F 79 - A 19.
The Athletic News credits the captaincy to Daft    team chosen at 61 Chancery Lane, London, on Wednesday, 14 February 1894.
England Lineup
  seven changes to the previous match (Holmes, Reynolds, Holt & Spiksley remain) league position (14th February) ave lge pos: 5th
25   Reader, Josiah 28
4 days
27 February 1866 G West Bromwich Albion FC (FL1 5th) 1 2ᵍᵃ
211 the eighth Albionite to represent England only app 1894
  Howarth, Robert H. 28
256 days
20 June 1865 RB Everton FC (FL1 7th) 5 0
the fifth Evertonian to represent England final app 1887-94
  Holmes, Robert  injured off 20 26
253 days
23 June 1867 LB Preston North End FC (FL1 15th) 6 0
  Reynolds, John 25
10 days
21 February 1869 RH Aston Villa FC (FL1 TOP) 4 1
  Holt, John 28
327 days
10 April 1865 CH/LB Everton FC (FL1 7th) 7 0
212   Crabtree, James W. 22
70 days
23 December 1871 LH Burnley FC (FL1 3rd) 1 0
the second Burnley player to represent England
213   Chippendale, Harry 23
152 days
2 October 1870 OR Blackburn Rovers FC (FL1 2nd) 1 0
the 13th/14th Rover to represent England only app 1894
  Whitehead, James 23
242 days
4 July 1870 IR Blackburn Rovers FC (FL1 2nd) 2 0
the 13th/14th Rover to represent England final app 1893-94
Devey, John H.G. 27
67 days
26 December 1866 CF Aston Villa FC (FL1 TOP) 2 1
final app 1892-94
  Hodgetts, H. Dennis 30
95 days
28 November 1863 IL Aston Villa FC (FL1 TOP) 6 1
final app 1888-94
Spiksley, Frederick 24
37 days
25 January 1870 OL Wednesday FC (FL1 12th) 3 7
reserves: not known
team changes: Howarth replaced Stoke FC's (FL1 11th) Tom Clare at right-back as the only change to the original named line-up.
Following the injury to Bob Holmes, John Holt covered both the centre half and left-back positions in the second half.
team notes: Jack Reynolds had already played five times for the Irish team, scoring once (1890-91 (two appearances and one goal against England)).
For just the third time, the starting eleven are selected entirely from Football League clubs.
appearance notes: Johnny Holt is the seventeenth player to make seven England appearances. Whereas Bob Holmes and Denny Hodgetts are the twentieth players to make six.
32 players have now made five appearances and 39 players have made four. 61 players have now made three appearances and 113 players have now played for England more than once.
Holt is the fifth player to make seven appearances under the guidance of the ISC.
records: Willie Gibson's last minute goal put an end to England victorious run of nine matches, since March 1891. However, their unbeaten run has now reached a record thirteen matches, since March 1890.
It also ended England's 100% record over Ireland. After twelve victories, ten of them competitive,, Ireland finally held England.
"The players arrived in the city Friday morning, after a stormy passage from Fleetwood."
 
2-3-5 Reader -
Howarth, Holmes
(& Holt) -
Reynolds, Holt, Crabtree -
Chippendale, Whitehead, Devey, Hodgetts, Spiksley.
Averages: Age 26 years 71 days Appearances/Goals 3.5 0.7
oldest starting XI until 1898
 
       Match Report The Irish News, Monday, 5 March 1894

On Saturday one of the largest assemblages of spectators ever seen at Solitude assembled to witness the international between a picked team representing England and an Irish, composed exclusively of Belfast players. The greatest interest possible was taken in the match, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. Punctually at 3.30, the teams having undergone the photographing process, lined out. The Englishmen won the toss, and Holmes, the captain, chose the mountain goal, with the sun on his back and the wind—what was of it—in his favour. Stanfield started the leather, and England immediately assumed the aggressive, the ball going into touch. From the throw out, Reynolds, after a header from Chippendale, shot behind. Milne, from the kick out, rushed well, but the defence was too strong. Chippendale again brought the leather up, but Stewart was able for him; but shortly afterwards he made a slight mistake, and Chippendale looked dangerous, but Torrans was on the alert. Stanfield had a neat chance spoiled by one of his own men, and Dalton barely missed scoring by a few inches. A corner proved resultless, and a foul was given against Ireland, but Stewart, by a good bit of play, neutralised the advantage. The English forwards were playing well at this stage, but Johnston and Milne were there and everywhere. Dalton and Gaffikin brought relief by some nice passing, but Reynolds cleared skilfully. Daton being hurt necessitated a short delay, and when play was re-started, a foul given against Gibson gave the visitors a fine opening, which they availed of, and pressed hard. Torrans saved when Chippendale and Whitehead were looking very dangerous, and the Irish forwards began to act on the aggressive. Milne put in a fine shot, in saving which Reader was fouled by Stanfield, and slightly hurt. A fine shot by Johnstone was spoiled by a misunderstanding between Gibson and Barron. Some fast play followed, and a swift shot from Chippendale hit the post, the ball going out. A combination between Dalton, Gaffikin, and Gibson was followed by a good shot from the last named, but Reader saved. Milne gave England a corner. From the kick out, the ball went into touch, and Milne took a foul against Crabtree none too well. The Irishmen began to press, and Reynolds was kept pretty busy. Relief was brought by the forwards, who got away, and a shot from Chippendale went behind. In the kick out, Stanfield and Barron broke away, and what appeared to be a fine chance of scoring was somehow or other lost. A shot from Hodgetts hit the Irish crossbar and went behind, and another rush by the homesters followed on the kick out. Johnston stopped a rush by the opposition forwards, and Scott saved, in excellent style, a shot from Devey. Gibson spoiled a nice chance, and Holt passed to the forwards, which was followed by Devey scoring for England, from a fine combination with Hodgetts and Spikesley. This gave the English heart, and the play was faster and better. Before half-time Stanfield sent through off a centre from Dalton, but the goal was disallowed as the whistle had previously blown for a foul against England. No further score took place before the whistle blew for half-time.
Devey re-started for England, and Scott was forced to send behind to save from Chippendale and Whitehead. England was pressing hard at this time, but Gaffikin relieved by passing to Barron, who parted to Stanfield, but the latter missed a most favourable opportunity by sending the ball high over the bar. Torrans cleared a rush by the English left, and shortly following a foul was given against England. Whitehead dribbled, but was robbed by Burnett. The Irish invade, Stanfield in particular working very hard. Spikesley and Hodgetts got away again however, and the former scored a second goal for England from the outside left. Ireland was nerved to do better by this reserve, and the English had their hands full. After some ups and downs, Dalton got well away from the melée and centring to Stanfield, the latter sent the leather through and scored the first goal for Ireland, a feat that was received with the utmost enthusiasm. From the kick-ff Ireland got away again but the venue was soon changed, and Scott got plenty of work from Devey and Spikesley. The Irish worked all they knew to equalise, but the passing was not good and this did them a great deal of harm. Holt took the ball from Stanfield, when the latter would almost to a certainty have scored, and Barron and Gibson showed up well in attacking Reynolds. Devey put in a fine run but Johnston stopped him, and this was followed by a good dribble and shot on the part of Stanfield. Holt was very useful in stopping Irish rushes, and the Irishmen playing with great spirit and determination had the hardest of luck in not scoring. It looked as if another was about to be added to the already long series of English victories, but immediately before the whistle blew Gibson ably backed up by Stanfield got the ball through and equalised, the match ending in a draw. This score hardly represents the play accurately for Ireland the better of the match.
   

       Match Report The Evening Press, Monday, 5 March 1894
Fully 8,000 people gathered on Saturday at Cliftonville Grounds, Belfast, to witness the annual encounter between the Rose and the Shamrock. The weather was discouraging, frequent showers of hail and rain falling previous to the kick-off. The ground was rather soft, and falls were frequent, the players finding it difficult to keep their feet on the treacherous surface. Both teams turned out as selected, with the exception of Clare, whose position (right full back) in the English team was taken by Howarth, of Everton. Holmes won the toss, and decided to play with the wind in the first half, but although England had the advantage the Irishmen played up splendidly, and twice placed Reader's charge in great danger. They certainly shaped much better than usual, and their chances were further increased when twenty minutes from the start Holmes, the English captain, was injured. However, then minutes from the interval Whitehead and Devey put in a capital bit of work, and the latter literally ran the ball through. Previous to this the Irish goal had experienced several near escapes, although the narrow ground appeared to bother the combination of the Englishmen. With ten men England continued to press, and Whitehead put in a clinking shot. Ireland had one disallowed, and at the interval England led by one goal to none.
The second half was rather better contested than the first. England, with their weakened forces, only managed a slight pull. Spikesley put on a second point with a brilliant individual effort, and the visitors appeared certain winners, but Ireland put on a sport and Stanfield scored. A minute from time Stanfield put in a long shot, and although Reader caught the post and allowed the ball to go outside, the referee allowed the point, and the result was a draw—two goals each.
 
   
      Report Manchester Guardian, Monday, 5 March 1894
Fully 8,000 people gathered on Saturday at Cliftonville Grounds, Belfast, to witness the annual encounter between the Rose and the Shamrock. The weather was discouraging, frequent showers of hail and rain falling previous to the kick-off. The ground was rather soft, and falls were frequent, the players finding it difficult to keep their feet on the treacherous surface....
Shortly before the end of the first half Devey was enabled to score England's first goal, Scott having left his charge in the meantime. About this time Holmes got hurt, and had to retire...
...Holt and Reynolds gave the visitors' left wing an opportunity which they were not slow to avail themselves of, and as a result of a magnificent run by Hodgetts and Spikesley the latter was given an opportunity of scoring, and he promptly beat Scott by a long oblique shot, making England's score two goals to nil...
Twenty minutes from time remarkably good play by Milne gave Dalton an opportunity of getting away, and the latter eluding Crabtree and Howarth had no difficulty in getting in his centre, from which Stanfield scored Ireland's first goal...
...but close on time Gibson beat Reader and equalised amidst tremendous cheering. There was some doubt about this goal, but the referee promptly decided in favour of the Irishmen, although the visitors claimed it had never passed through...
The first half was undoubtedly in favour of the Englishmen, whose combined play was a feature of the match, but in the second half the Irish team played an irresistible game.
       In Other News....
It was on 3 March 1894 that Britain's oldest ever Prime Minister, 84-year-old William Gladstone resigned and was succeeded by Lord Rosebery.
Domestic Football Results (3 March 1894)                                        Teams in a silver box denotes a player representing England
Football Association Challenge Cup 3rd round replay:
Notts County 4 Nottingham Forest 1
   Trent Bridge, Nottingham (12,000)
Logan, Bruce (2), Donnelly ~ McInnes
George Toone, Alf Shelton and Harry Daft started for County
County outplayed their neighbours and went on to become the first Second Division club to win the FA Cup.
 
  
The Football
League Division One:
Aston Villa 2 Bolton Wanderers 3
   Wellington Road, Birmingham (8,000)
Chatt (2) ~ Cowan OG, Dickinson, Cassidy
Villa were without Jack Devey, Dennis Hodgetts and Jack Reynolds but did have Charlie Athersmith
Wanderers started with John Sutcliffe and Davie Weir
 
Newton Heath 2 Sunderland 4
   Bank Street, Manchester (8,000)
Peden, McNaught
~ J.Hannah, Miller, Campbell, Hyslop
 
Preston North End 3 West Bromwich Albion 1
   Deepdale, Preston (5,000)
Ross (3) ~ McLeod
Preston were without Bob Holmes
Albion were without Joe Reader but did have Charlie Perry and Billy Bassett starting
 
Sheffield United 3 Blackburn Rovers 2
   Bramall Lane, Sheffield (9,000)
Hammond, Howell, Needham (pen)
~ Campbell, Anderson
Rovers were without Jimmy Whitehead and Harry Chippendale but did have Jimmy Forrest and Bill Townley starting
 
Stoke 3 Everton 1
   Victoria Ground, Stoke (7,000)
Robertson, Naughton (2) ~ Southworth
Stoke started with Joe Schofield
Everton were without Johnny Holt and Bob Howarth but did start with Jack Southworth, Edgar Chadwick and Alf Milward
 
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Burnley 0
   Molineux, Wolverhampton (4,000)
Malpass
Wolves started with Harry Wood
Burnley were without Jimmy Crabtree, but Jack Hillman started
 
 

Division One Table
Team P
Aston Villa 26 37
Blackburn Rovers 24 30
Sunderland 24 30
Wolverhampton Wanderers 26 30
Burnley 24 29
West Bromwich Albion 27 28
Sheffield United 27 27
Derby County 22 25
Nottingham Forest 22 25
Stoke 25 25
Everton 26 25
Wednesday 27 22
Bolton Wanderers 24 20
Darwen 25 17
Preston North End 26 17
Newton Heath 21 9

Villa's first home defeat gave their rivals the opportunity to close the gap, but the defending champions, Sunderland, aiming for a historic hat-trick of titles, still had seven points to make up..

       
       
The Football League Division Two:     
 
Crewe Alexandra 0 Woolwich Arsenal 0
   Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe (2,000)
 .
Grimsby Town 2 Small Heath 1
   Abbey Park, Grimsby (3,000)
Rose, McCairns ~ Mobley
 
Liverpool 3 Burton Swifts 1
   Anfield, Liverpool (8,000)
McLean, Worgan (2) ~ Ekins
 
Middlesbrough Ironopolis 2 Northwich Victoria 1
   Paradise Ground, Middlesbrough (500)
Adams, Hunter ~ Guest

Liverpool were still unbeaten in their first season and now secured their place in the end-of-season test matches to challenge for a First Division place.
Division Two Table
Team P
Liverpool 22 40
Notts County 23 33
Small Heath 23 32
Newcastle United 24 29
Burslem Port Vale 24 27
Burton Swifts 22 24
Grimsby Town 23 27
Woolwich Arsenal 23 24
Lincoln City 21 23
Middlesbrough Ironopolis 24 20
Ardwick 21 16
Crewe Alexandra 22 15
Walsall Town Swifts 22 13
Rotherham Town 23 12
Northwich Victoria 23 5
     
     
       Source Notes
TheFA
Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats/Alan Gooden
England Football Factbook
Rothman's Yearbooks
The Football Association Yearbook
Original Newspaper Reports
Rootschat/Ancestry.com
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