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Own Goals: For

England's Own Goals: Against

Last update includes no. 1051 against North Macedonia on 20 November 2023
 

Definition of an own goal

When the ball’s clearly heading in a different direction away from goal and a defender (including the goalkeeper) diverts it into goal, then it has to be an own goal. Some clarifications: 

  1. If an effort is on target, but the goalkeeper looks like he’s going to stop it and a defender diverts it away from him into goal, that is NOT an own goal, because the original effort was on target.
  2. If a defender hits it more than once and ends up putting it into his own net, even if it was on target, that IS an own goal, but only if at least one of his touches stops it from going in. A good example of this is Gordon Strachan’s in the 1992 Charity Shield when the ball gets caught under his feet. He stops it, but then accidentally knocks it in because he can’t work out exactly where the ball is!
  3. If an effort is on target and it hits two defenders on its way into goal, only if one of the defenders diverts it away from goal does it become an own goal when it subsequently ends up in the net. In the 1984 Charity Shield, Alan Hansen stops a shot and it then rebounds in off Grobbelaar.
  own goals scored at home 4
own goals scored away 1
Own Goals 1872-1914 5
  own goals scored at home 2
own goals scored away 1
Own Goals 1919-1939 3
  own goals scored at home 11
own goals scored away 12
Own Goals Post-War 23
Own Goals by England 31
 
The Five Pre-WW1 Own Goals Scored by England
 
1 1880-81

12 March 1881, 1-6 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
26 year-old left-back
Edgar Field scored a 74th minute own goal from a scrimmage. It was the second of his two appearances.
''Field being unlucky enough to kick the ball through in trying to save his side.'


2 1881-82

13 March 1882, 3-5 vs. Wales, The Racecourse, Wrexham
21 year-old left-back
Alf Jones scored a 68th minute equalising own goal with his head. It was his second appearance.


3 1888-89

13 April 1889, 2-3 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
As Billy Moon stopped a low hard shot, he threw the ball away into the path of 23 year-old centre-half
Harry Allen who returned the ball, only to kick it through his own goal, scoring a 82nd minute equaliser on his fourth appearance.


4 1904-05

25 February 1905, 1-1 vs. Ireland, Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough
The second half had opened in sensational style. Ireland got down and obtained two corners, from the second, Jack Kirwan dropped the ball in front of goal. It was caught by the 20 year-old debutant goalkeeper Tim Williamson, but it either dropped from his hands and bounced back over the line, or he himself stepped back over the line.


5 1906-07

6 April 1907, 1-1 vs. Scotland, St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Jimmy Stewart and Bobby Walker worked the ball into a favourable position near the corner flag and Stewart centred accurately. 27 year-old right-back and captain Bob Crompton rushed out to head the ball clear landing it through his own goal after four minutes
.


The Three Inter-War Own Goals Scored by England
 
6 1923-24

12 April 1924, 1-1 vs. Scotland, The British Exhibition Empire Stadium, Wembley
A William Clunas free-kick dropped between Sam Wadsworth and the goalkeeper Taylor with neither attempting to make the ball, instead William Cowan snapped in a shot, hitting the post, but it made it into the net off the knee of the 36 year-old Teddy Taylor.


7 & 8 1927-28

22 October 1927, 0-2 vs. Ireland, Windsor Park, Belfast
30 year-old left-back Herbert Jones was trying to keep out a 36th minute Bobby Irvine shot, which was beating his goalkeeper, Ted Hufton, who at this point, was playing with a broken arm.
28 November 1927, 1-2 vs. Wales, Turf Moor, Burnley
In a fortieth minute Welsh attack on the right, the thirty year-old captain Jack Hill, racing back, tried to head the bouncing ball back to his goalkeeper Dan Tremelling, but the ball was out of the goalkeeper's reach and bounced into the net.


The Twenty-Three Post-War Own Goals Scored by England

9 1 1950-51           

22 November 1950, 2-2 vs. Yugoslavia, Arsenal Stadium, Highbury
Willie Watson had possession of the ball on his goal-line, taken away from him by Tihomir Orgjanov, his cross found the 38 year-old centre-half Leslie Compton, who was trying to shield his goalkeeper, Bert Williams, to divert the goal into his own net.


10 2 1953-54           

11 November 1953, 3-1 vs. Ireland, Goodison Park, Liverpool
Billy Bingham's cross was met by a leaping Eddie McMorran, who outjumped Billy Wright on the penalty spot. The strikers header went to the left of the diving Gil Merrick. However, the ball struck the foot of the far post and rebounded off the back of the 31 year-old's arm, to then trickle over the line.

11 3 1954 World Cup Finals           
17 June 1954, 4-4 vs. Belgium, Sankt Jakob Stadium, Basel
29 year-old left half
Jimmy Dickinson
had played so well but gave the Belgians a gift goal when he back headed a shot past his goalkeeper Gil Merrick that was going wide into his own goal after four minutes into extra-time. Some say from a Marcel Dries cross, others state it was a free-kick from the halfway-line.

12 4 1955-56           

9 May 1956, 4-2 vs. Brazil, Empire Stadium, Wembley
Although credited by most as a Paulinho goal, it appears absurd as his shot was a half-volleyed crossed intended for a teammate, instead, it parried off the outstrecthed boot of the 26 year-old left-back Roger Byrne, sending the ball past Reg Matthew's inside and across the line.


13 5 1956-57           
6 November 1957, 2-3 vs. Northern Ireland, Empire Stadium, Wembley
Another goal that is mostly credited to the 26 year-old inside-left Jimmy McIlroy with a 32nd minute penalty kick against 22 year old Eddie Hopkinson. However, McIlroy's kick hit the post and rebounded into the net off the goalkeepers head.

14 6 1964-65           

21 October 1964, 2-2 vs. Belgium, Empire Stadium, Wembley
Paul Van Himst's shot was most certainly going wide of Gordon Bank's goal, it bounced of the back of right-back George Cohen's boot, sending a sprawling Bank's the wrong way.


15 7 1967-68           

1 June 1968, 0-1 vs. West Germany, Niedersachsenstadion, Hannover
Credited by most as a Franz Beckenbauer spectacular 25-yard shot at goal, but his effort deflected heavily enough to wrong-foot Gordon Banks, who had the shot covered.  The German's first victory over England was thanks to a 28 year-old centre-half Brian Labone 82nd minute own goal.


16 8 1970-71           

22 May 1971, 3-1 vs. Scotland, Empire Stadium, Wembley
As Scotland pressed, 26 year-old World Cup winner Alan Ball intercepted a Jimmy Johnstone pass, heading the ball back twenty-yards to his goalkeeper, Gordon Banks. As Hugh Curran challenged Banks, the ball went through them both, without a Curran touch, to land into the English net after eleven minutes.


17 & 18 9 & 10 1973-74           

(2) 18 May 1974, 0-2 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow
The first time two own goals have been scored in one match to the detriment of England. Joe Jordan's angled shot after four minutes, was deflected past Peter Shilton by the outstretched leg of 22 year-old left-back Mike Pejic. He never played for England again.
Then Kenny Dalglish's thirtieth minute shot on goal was well covered by Shilton, but took another wicked deflection, by the 25 year-old
Colin Todd, which took it past the stranded goalkeeper.


19 11 1979-80           

17 May 1980, 1-4 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Despite Trevor Brooking attempting to hold back the fleeing David Giles, the Welsh forward's shot was diverted past goalkeeper Ray Clemence by his 26 year-old captain Phil Thompson in the 66th minute.


20 12 1982-83           

19 June 1983, 1-1 vs. Australia, Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne
Clever work from Charlie Yankos and Ken Murphy gave Joseph Watson possession on the right, his cross eluded Terry Butcher and John Kosmina, hitting the 32 year-old right-back Phil Neal on the chest, deflecting the ball past Peter Shilton, for a 27th minute equaliser.


21 13 1987-88           

23 March 1988, 2-2 vs. Netherlands, Wembley Stadium, Wembley
A fine pass from Ronald Koeman sent Jan Wouters down the right and his hard, low cross was shinned into the net by the unfortunate 21 year-old central defender Tony Adams under pressure from Ruud Gullit behind him in the 21st minute.
Adams went on to make amends when he became the only England player to score for both sides
.


22 14 1990 World Cup Finals           
4 July 1990, 1-1 vs. West Germany, Stadio delle Alpi, Torino
Andreas Brehme's free-kick awarded after Stuart Pearce fouled Thomas Häßler just outside the penalty area, would not have reached the goal but for the intervention of 26 year-old right wing-back Paul Parker, as he ran from the defensive wall to force down the ball, redirecting the ball to loop over the back-pedalling Peter Shilton.

23 15 1990-91           

21 May 1991, 3-1 vs. USSR, Wembley Stadium, Wembley
After Tony Dorigo allowed Igor Kolyvanov to cross from the right, Alexei Mikhailićhenko chested the ball to Vladimir Tatarchuk, who instantly volleyed at the goal. The foot of 27 year-old captain and central defender Mark Wright redirected the ball it past Chris Woods after nine minutes.


24 16 1999-2000           

3 June 2000, 2-1 vs. Malta, Stadium Nazzjonali, Ħ'Attard
David Carabott's 28th minute penalty kick rebounded of the post and hit the back of the 22 year-old debuting goalkeeper Richard Wright, before bouncing into the net. The first goalkeeper since 1924 to concede an own goal.


25 17 2006-07           

11 October 2006, 0-2 vs. Croatia, Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
31 year-old right-back Gary Neville made a backpass to Paul Robinson hit a divet in the pitch and bounced over Robinson's flailing foot and into an empty net. The goal severely dented England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008


26 18 2010-11           

11 August 2010, 2-1 vs. Hungary, The National Stadium, Wembley
A
Michael Dawson mistake led to a Vladimir Koman cross that rebounded off the 27 year-old central defender Phil Jagielka. Despite the ball not cleanly crossing the goal-line in the 62nd minute, referee Harchay signalled the ball had done so.


27 19 2012 European Championship Finals           
15 June 2012, 3-2 vs. Sweden, Natsional'nyî Sportyvnyî Kompleks, Kyiv
Zlatan Ibrahamović shot after 59 minutes that had parried towards the goal off Olof Mellberg. Joe Hart pulled off a save, pushing it into the 27 year-old right-back Glen Johnson's chest, after which he retrieved it off his own goalline, only to hit the post and into the net.

28 20 2014-15           

15 November 2014, 3-1 vs. Slovenia, The National Stadium, Wembley
Milivoje Novaković inswinging 58th minute free-kick was met by the 24 year-old midfielder Jordan Henderson, his glancing header flew over Joe Hart to put Slovenia one-up


29 21 2015-16           

27 May 2016, 2-1 vs. Australia, Stadium of Light, Sunderland
From a Miloš Degenec cross, 22 year-old substitute defender Eric Dier attempted a clearance ahead of Tomislav Juric, but his diving header went through the legs of his own goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, to give Australia a consolation goal. The first own goal scored by a substitute.


30 22 2018-19           

6 June 2019, 1-3 vs. Netherlands, Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques, Guimarães
John Stones was tackled outside his own box by Memphis Depay, whose shot was then saved by Jordan Pickford. The rebound was pounced on by Quincy Promes. His slice hit the ankle of 29 year-old right-back Kyle Walker to bounce into the goal


31 23 2023-24           

12 September 2023, 3-1 vs. Scotland, National Stadium, Glasgow
John Stones was tackled outside his own box by Memphis Depay, whose shot was then saved by Jordan Pickford. The rebound was pounced on by Quincy Promes. His slice hit the ankle of thirty year-old substitute central defender Harry Maguire ankle to bounce into the goal

 

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