1984 British Home Championship
Encyclopedia
The 1984 British Home Championship was the one hundredth anniversary of the British Home Championship
and the final football
tournament between the Home Nations
to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games, crowded international fixture lists and a sharp rise in hooliganism
. Although the football
competition was instituted in 1884, it was only the eighty-seventh tournament to be completed 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
.
The tournament was surprising in its outcome, as the favourites in England and Scotland actually 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 fifth time goal difference was used. The trophy was permanently awarded to the Irish FA.
The points system worked as follows:
The teams were then divided on goal difference.
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British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
and the final football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
tournament between the Home Nations
Home Nations
Home Nations is a collective term with one of two meanings depending on the context. Politically, it means the nations of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom...
to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games, crowded international fixture lists and a sharp rise in hooliganism
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
. Although the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
competition was instituted in 1884, it was only the eighty-seventh tournament to be completed due to a five-year hiatus during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, a seven-year gap in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the cancellation of the 1981 competition
1981 British Home Championship
The 1981 British Home Championship was the only British Home Nations international football championship outside of the years of the First World War and Second World War which was not completed and thus failed to produce a winner. As with the rugby union 1972 Five Nations Championship, the cause of...
following threats of violence during The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The tournament was surprising in its outcome, as the favourites in England and Scotland actually 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 fifth time goal difference was used. The trophy was permanently awarded to the Irish FA.
Table
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 |
The points system worked as follows:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a draw
The teams were then divided on goal difference.
Results
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