England Trivia

Many thanks to Peter Waring for his contributions to this page.

We've collected these pieces of trivia from various sources over the years and we've tried to verify them where possible.  But if you know better or more, please let us know.

Players

Age

Youngest player

Theo Walcott, Arsenal, replaced Rooney as England's youngest ever player on 30 May 2006 when Walcott came on as a 65th minute substitute against Hungary at Old Trafford, Manchester.  Walcott was 17 years and 75 days old.

Wayne Rooney, Everton, was 17 years and 111 days when he played against Australia on 12 February 2003.  Rooney displaced  James F. M. Prinsep, Clapham Rovers, who was only 17 years and 253 days when he played against Scotland on 5 April 1879, as England's youngest player.  

Michael Owen, Liverpool, was 18 years and  59 days when he played against Chile on 11 February 1998.

England's Youngest Players

Oldest players to appear

Stanley Matthews, 42

Oldest player to make debut

Leslie Compton, 38, in a 4-2 victory over Wales in Sunderland, November 15, 1950

Youngest players to score

Wayne Rooney was 17 years, 317 days old, when he scored for England in the 53rd minute against FYR Macedonia on 6 September 2003

Oldest player to score

Stanley Matthews was 41 years and 8 months old when he scored for England in the 2^nd minute against Northern Ireland on 10 October 1956.

Youngest captain

Bobby Moore was 22 years and 47 days when he captained England to a 4-2 win against Czechoslovakia in Bratislava on May 29, 1963.

Oldest captain

Alexander Morten was probably 41 years and 3 months old when he captained England in their first ever home game, at the Kennington Oval against Scotland on 8 March 1873. However, there is some dispute over his date of birth.  Next on the list is Peter Shilton, 40 years and 9 months old when he captained the side against Italy in the third place play-off of the 1990 World Cup.

Youngest player to play at a World Cup final tournament

Michael Owen was 18 years and 6 months old when he played against Tunisia in Marseille in the 1998 World Cup.

Youngest player on a World Cup final tournament squad

Theo Walcott, 2006 World Cup finals.

Oldest player to play at a World Cup final tournament

Peter Shilton was 40 years and 9 months old when he played against Italy, as captain, in the third place play-off of the 1990 World Cup.

Oldest player on a World Cup final tournament squad

To come.

Youngest player to play at a European Championship final tournament

When Wayne Rooney of Everton started England's game against France in the European Championships 2004 in Portugal, he was 18 years old, seven months and 19 days.  Making him the youngest England player to appear in this tournament.

Youngest player on a European Championship final tournament squad

When Wayne Rooney of Everton appeared in England's squad list for the European Championships 2004 in Portugal, he was 18 years old, six months and 23 days, when the squad was announced.

Oldest player to play at a European Championship final tournament

 

Again this is Peter Shilton, 38 years and 8 months old when he played against Netherlands in Düsseldorf during Euro 88.  It was his 100^th cap.

Oldest player on a European Championship final tournament squad

Appearances for More than One National Team

Four England players have appeared in official matches for another national side, and two of them actually played against England.  At least another four England players have appeared for other national selections in unofficial matches and all played against England.

England Players Appearing for Other National Teams

Captains

Most captains in a single match

In the 2-1 friendly match against Serbia and Montenegro at Walkers Stadium in Leicester on 3 June 2003, four players wore the captain's armband, including three Liverpool players.  There was widespread dismay in the media and among some former England stars that three players deemed undeserving of the captaincy--Emile Heskey of Liverpool, Phil Neville of Manchester United and Jamie Carragher of Liverpool--were handed the captain's armband as a result of the spate of substitutions that followed the half-time retirement of Liverpool's Michael Owen, who had started the match as captain in the absence of regular captain David Beckham.  Only Owen will be listed as captain in the official match records, however.  The three who took over the armband were merely its temporary custodians.

 

Career

Players who appeared both before and after World War I

Charlie Buchan, Andy Ducat, George Elliott, Sam Hardy, Joe Hodkinson, Joe McCall, Jesse Pennington, Joe Smith, Fanny Walden, Charlies Wallace and Bill Watson,

Players who appeared both before and after World War II

Raich Carter, Tommy Lawton and Stanley Matthews were the only three players who returned to the England team after the seven-year break in official international play resulting from World War II.  All three played in unofficial internationals during the war.

Longest interval between appearances

Having won his second cap against France during the 1966 World Cup, Ian Callaghan next appeared for England on 7 September 1977 against Switzerland, over 11 years later.

Longest career

Stanley Matthews made his debut against Wales on 29 September 1934, aged 19. His 54^th and final cap came against Denmark in Copenhagen on 15 May 1957 in a World Cup qualifier. He was 42.

Shortest career

 

Jimmy Barrett of West Ham went off injured around 8 minutes into his only cap, against Northern Ireland in 1928. Peter Ward of Brighton played about the same amount of time for England, having come on around the 85^th minute of his only appearance, against Australia in 1980.

Substitutes and Substitutions

First substitute appearance

Jimmy Mullen, the Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, became England's first substitute when he came on for Jackie Milburn of Newcastle United in a 4-1 victory against Belgium in Brussels on May 18, 1950.  The International Football Association Board had authorized substitutions by advance agreement between opponents in friendly matches in 1932, but substitutions in international play generally were not approved until the 1970 World Cup.

First substitute to score

England's first substitution was successful; Jimmy Mullen scored.

Most substitutions in a match

Australia match 13 February 2003 - 11; Iceland match 5 June 2004 - 11; 
Mexico match 25 May 2001 - 10; Croatia match 20 August 2003 - 10; 
Malta match 3 June 2000 - 9; Portugal match 18 February 2004 - 9; 

Relatives

Fathers and sons

George E. Eastham (1 cap, 1935) and George R. Eastham (19 caps, 1963-66) were the first of the three father-and-son sets who have won full England caps, followed by Brian Clough (2 caps, 1959) and Nigel Clough (14 caps, 1989-93), then Frank R. G. Lampard (2 caps, 1972-80) and Frank J. Lampard  (30 caps, 1999-2005).  The sons far outdo the fathers on this score.  

Brothers

Twenty sets of brothers played for England, although perhaps not in the same matches:

A. L., E. C. and E. H. Bambridge (the only instance of three brothers)

J. and R. Charlton

J. C. and W. E. Clegg

B. O. and R. Corbett

A. W. and H. A. Cursham

A. T. C. and C. F. Dobson

Frank and F. R. Forman

F. W. and J. Hargreaves

C. F. W. and G. H. H. Heron

A. and E. Lyttelton

G. and P. Neville

F. R. and R. Osbourne

C. and T. Perry

H. E. and W. S. Rawson

A. and C. Shelton

J. W. and S. C. Smith

C. and G. T. Stephenson

A. G. and R. Topham

A. M. and P. M. Walters

C. P. and G. P. Wilson

Cousins

Ethnicity

First black players

Right fullback Viv Anderson was the first black player to appear for England.  His first cap came in the 1-0 victory against Czechoslovakia at Wembley on 29 November 1978, when he played for Nottingham Forest.  He later earned caps while playing for Arsenal and Manchester United.  Although he was a member of both the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads, his only appearance in the finals of a major tournament came in the 2-1 victory over Spain in the European Championship finals of 1980 in Italy.   Altogether he made 30 England appearances spread over a 10-season international career that came to a close in the 1-1 Rous Cup draw with Colombia at Wembley on May 24, 1988.  Recently he served as assistant manager at Middlesbrough under his former England teammate and captain Bryan Robson, Anderson was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List published 31 December 1999.  

Other black players soon followed Anderson.  Laurie Cunningham made his England debut later the same season in the goalless draw with Wales at Wembley on 23 May 1979.  Cyrille Regis first appeared for England as a substitute in the 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland at Wembley on 23 February 1982.  Luther Blissett got his first cap as a substitute in the 2-1 loss to West Germany at Wembley on 13 October 1982.  

England's Black Players in Order of Appearance

First black captains

The first black player to captain England was Paul Ince, then of Manchester United.  The occasion was the 2-0 loss to the U.S.A. in the U.S. Cup tournament on 9 June 1993 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.  Another black player, Sol Campbell, also has captained England.

Most black players starting a match

Seven black players started for England against the USA, 28 May 2005.  Goalkeeper David James, captain Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson, Ashley Cole, Wes Brown, Jermaine Jenas and Kieran Richardson all made England National Team history.

Most black players appearing in a match

As well as the seven black players that started against the United States in May 2005, Zat Knight and Jermain Defoe also made appearances as second half substitutes, making a total of nine players used out of fifteen (60%).
England also used nine black players in their defeat to Australia in February 2003, although their was a total of 22 players used, a percentage of 41%.
On the other hand, exactly half of the England players used (50%) were black in the World Cup finals match against Brazil in June 2002, of the 14 players used, 7 were black.

Foreigner-born players

Amateurs

Last amateur to appear

Bernard Joy of the Corinthians earned his only cap and became the last amateur to play for the senior England team in the 3-2 loss to Belgium in Brussels on May 9, 1936.  

Professionals

First professional to appear

Club affiliations

Players from Clubs in the Second Level Division

Plenty of Second Level players have played for England.  In the last 20 years, the following have all achieved this feat: Gary Pallister (Middlesbrough), Steve Bull (Wolves), David Hirst (Sheffield Wednesday), Earl Barrett (Oldham), Stuart Pearce (Nottingham Forest), Paul Merson and Paul Gascoigne (both Middlesbrough), Michael Gray and Kevin Phillips (both Sunderland), Richard Wright (Ipswich), David James (West Ham) and David Nugent (Preston).  All of these, with the exception of Bull, James and Nugent played for clubs which were promoted at the end of the relevant season.

Players from Clubs Outside the Two Top Divisions

The five players from the old Third Division who have won England caps since World War II are Tommy Lawton (Notts County, 1947), Reg Matthews (Coventry City, 1956), Johnny Byrne (Crystal Palace, 1961), Peter Taylor (Crystal Palace, 1976) and Steve Bull (Wolverhampton Wanderers, 1989).   The old Third Division is the equivalent of what has been the Second Division since the Premiership came into existence in 1992-93.  No players from clubs in the modern Second Division have played for England. 

With thanks to reader Andy Staines of London for correcting our previous entry, which omitted Peter Taylor and mistakenly had Johnny Byrne playing for England and Crystal Palace in 1976 instead of Taylor.

Players from Clubs Outside England

Currently under 'Club Affiliations'

Most Players from a Single Club in a Single England Team

Arsenal lead the way with seven players starting for England against Italy in 1934.  Manchester United had seven players on the pitch at the end of the World Cup qualifier in Albania in 2001, but two of them came on as substitutes.

Most Players from a Single Club in an England Team

Most Players from a Single Club in a Single England Squad

Most Players from a Single Club in a Single England World Cup Final Tournament Team

Most Players from a Single Club in a Single England World Cup Final Tournament Squad

Most Players from a Single Club in a Single England European Championship Final Tournament Team

Most Players from a Single Club in a Single England European Championship Final Tournament Squad

Most Players from a Single Club Appearing for England

Manchester United

According to Peter Waring's research, only 55 Manchester United players have played for England. This is fewer than Liverpool (56), Arsenal (57), Spurs and Everton (59) and Aston Villa (64).

Most Players from a Single Club Appearing for England in World Cup Final Tournaments

Most Players from a Single Club Appearing for England in European Championship Final Tournaments

Most Total Appearances for England by Players from a Single Club

Manchester United (976) lead the way, followed by Liverpool (853), Arsenal (733) and Spurs (693) up to the match against Andorra in March 2007.

Most Total Appearances for England in World Cup Final Tournaments by Players from a Single Club

Most Total Appearances for England in European Championship Final Tournaments by Players from a Single Club

Physical Characteristics

Shortest player

Fanny Walden, the Tottenham Hotspurs winger who earned two caps in 1914 and 1922, was reportedly England's shortest player at 5 ft. 2 ins.

Heaviest player

Probably Sheffield United goalkeeper Billy Foulke--also known as "Tiny" Foulke and "Fatty" Foulke--who earned his only cap when England beat Wales 4-0 on March 29, 1897.  We don't know what his weight was on that date, but we do know it steadily increased from 15 st. in 1892, to 21 st. in 1901 and, eventually, to 25 st. when he ended his career in 1907 at Bradford City.

Tallest player

Peter Crouch's appearance against USA, 28 May 2005, makes Crouch the tallest player ever to star for England, standing at a proud 6ft 7in.  Many thanks to reader Bob Dooley for bringing this to our attention.

Reader Bazza Wright also brought to our attention a story, "Fat Sportsmen," in the Observer Sport Monthly, 6 January 2002, which says Billy Foulke is also the tallest player to have worn an England shirt:

"At 6ft 6in 'Fatty' is the tallest footballer to have represented England. Although regarded as a freak show by many, Foulke was agile for his size and an expert penalty stopper. In the early 1900s, keepers didn't have to stay on the line for penalties, so as a kick was taken Foulke and his enormous bulk charged towards the penalty spot, putting opponents off."

Managers/Coaches

Players and Managers/Coaches

Players who played under most managers/coaches

David Seaman, whose career began in 1988 and embraced England's era of managerial roulette, has played under seven managers:  Bobby Robson, Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle, caretaker Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan and Sven-Göran Eriksson.  He was not selected by Peter Taylor, who took charge of the team for one match in 2000, the friendly against Italy, and selected an experimental squad consisting largely of younger players.  

Most managers per appearance

Andrew Cole earned his first four caps under four managers for an average of one manager per appearance, an average that can only be bettered if the Football Association takes to firing and hiring England managers at half-time.  Cole made his debut against Uruguay under Terry Venables in 1995, appeared next against Italy under Glenn Hoddle at the Tournoi de France in 1997, made his third appearance against France under caretaker Howard Wilkinson in 1999 and finally earned his fourth cap against Poland under new manager Kevin Keegan in his first starting appearance a few weeks later.  

Opposition

First Continental opposition

Austria (6 June 1908) in Vienna. England won 6-1.

First Continental opposition in England

Belgium (19 March 1923) at Highbury. England won 6-1.

First North American opposition

 

The USA (29 June 1950) in Belo Horizonte. England infamously lost 1-0.

 

First North American opposition in England

 

Mexico (10 May 1961) at Wembley. England won 8-0.

 

First South American opposition

 

Chile (25 June 1950) in Rio de Janeiro. England won 2-0.

 

First South American opposition in England

 

Argentina (9 May 1951) at Wembley. England won 2-1. Remarkably, although England had been playing Scotland at Wembley since 1924, this was the first time England played anyone else there. Wales did not play there until 1952, whilst Northern Ireland had to wait until 1955.

 

First African opposition

 

Egypt (29 January 1986) in Cairo. England won 4-0.

 

First African opposition in England

 

Cameroon (6 February 1991) at Wembley. England won 2-0.

 

First Asian opposition

 

Kuwait (25 June 1982) in Bilbao. England won 1-0.

 

First Asian opposition in England

 

Japan (3 June 1995) at Wembley. England won 2-1.

 

First Oceania opposition

 

Australia (31 May 1980) in Sydney. England won 2-1.

 

First Oceania opposition in England

 

Australia (12 February 2003) at Upton Park. England lost 3-1.

Neutral ground only

England have met Kuwait only once on neutral ground,  in Spain at World Cup 1982. Likewise England have met Trinidad & Tobago just once, in Nuremburg during the 2006 World Cup.

Countries yet to be played

Bolivia, any Central American country.  Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Bosnia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Venezuela.

Countries yet to be played in England

Matches

England's Match Dates

More England matches have been played in May than any other month, 193 of the 859 played by the middle of the 2007-08 international season (not including the abandoned match of 15 February 1995 against the Republic of Ireland).  June ranked second with 138 matches.  England have played only six matches each in January and August.

More matches have been staged on the 15th and the 17th of the month than any other dates, 44.  The fewest have been held on the 31st, with 13, and the 30th, with 16.

More matches, 15, have been played on 24 May than on any other date.  The second most popular date, with 11 matches, was 17 May, followed by 18 May, 21 May, 22 May and 16 November, each with 10.   May and March are the only months which have had a match played on every day.

England's Match Dates

Attendance

Highest home attendance

Highest away attendance

Highest World Cup final tournament attendance

Highest European Championship final tournament attendance

 

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