1983–84 British Home Championship

The 1983–84 British Home Championship was the 100th anniversary of and the last staged of the British Home Championship international annual football tournament between the British Home Nations. Both England and Scotland had announced their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games, crowded international fixture lists and a sharp rise in hooliganism. The football competition was instituted in 1884, but this edition was the 87th tournament to be staged due to a five-year hiatus during World War I, a seven-year gap in World War II and the cancellation of the 1981 competition following threats of violence during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

1983–84 British Home Championship
Tournament details
Dates13 December 1983 – 26 May 1984
Teams4
Final positions
Champions Northern Ireland (8th title)
Runners-up Wales
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored11 (1.83 per match)
Top scorer(s)Wales Mark Hughes
England Tony Woodcock
(2 each)
Mural in Belfast celebrating the three outright wins of the British Home Championship by Ireland and Northern Ireland, including in 1984.

The tournament was surprising in its outcome, as the favourites in England and Scotland played each other into a 1–1 draw in the final game, thus allowing Northern Ireland to claim victory on goal difference, with Wales second. This was only the third time in 87 tournaments that (Northern) Ireland were undisputed champions, and the only time goal difference was used to determine a champion. It also marked the first time since 1928 that neither Scotland nor England placed in the top two. The trophy was permanently awarded to the Irish FA.[1]

Table

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  Northern Ireland (C) 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 3
  Wales 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 3
  England 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 3
  Scotland 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 3
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points 2) goal difference. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Champions

Results

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Northern Ireland  2–0  Scotland
Whiteside   17'
McIlroy   56'
Report Page 22
Attendance: 10,000

Scotland  2–1  Wales
Cooper   37' (pen.)
Johnston   78'
Report Page 26 James   47'
Attendance: 21,542
Referee: Jack Poucher (Northern Ireland)

England  1–0  Northern Ireland
Woodcock   49' Report
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Ronald Bridges (Wales)

Wales  1–0  England
Hughes   17' Report
Attendance: 14,250
Referee: David Syme (Scotland)

Wales  1–1  Northern Ireland
Hughes   51' Report Armstrong   73'
Attendance: 7,845
Referee: Brian McGinlay (Scotland)

Scotland  1–1  England
McGhee   12' Report Page 15 Woodcock   35'
Attendance: 73,064
Referee: Paolo Casarin (Italy)

References

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  1. ^ "When Northern Ireland won the last ever British Home Championship". Guardian. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
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