Rous Cup
Encyclopedia
The Rous Cup was a short-lived football competition in the second half of the 1980s, contested between England
, Scotland
and, in later years, a guest team from South America.
, which had been discontinued in 1984
. Initially, the competition (which was named after Sir Stanley Rous
, a former secretary of The Football Association
and president of FIFA
) was merely a replacement for the annual England v Scotland
match that had been lost due to the end of the British Home Championship. Thus, the competition consisted of just one game between England and Scotland (with home advantage alternating annually) with the winner claiming the Cup.
After two years under this format, it was decided to invite a different South American team to compete each year to create more excitement and to fulfil England and Scotland's desire to regularly play 'stronger' teams (which was one of their reasons for leaving the British Home Championship). As there were now three teams competing, a league system, just like the one used in the British Home Championship, was introduced. Each team would play the other two once, receiving two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, with goal difference (total goals scored minus total goals conceded) being used to differentiate between teams level on points. England and Scotland continued to play each other home and away in alternating years, but the guest South American team would play both their games away.
Though large numbers of travelling Scots to Wembley had been a feature of England-Scotland games for many years, travelling English support to Hampden was negligible in comparison until 1987 when minor scuffles broke out on the terracing at Hampden. In 1989, major disturbances across Glasgow were reported as significant numbers of English hooligans appeared at this fixture for the first time. With English Club sides banned from European football at the time, the FA were anxious not to see the national side banned too and the Scotland-England match was a high profile game that brought interest from across the world. This was a major factor in the demise of the fixture.
The cup was discontinued, after five years, in 1989. The annual England vs Scotland fixture was abandoned at this point and since then the oldest rivalry in world football has only been renewed when the two nations have been drawn together: in Euro 96 and in the qualification play-off for Euro 2000.
In every one of its five years bar 1986, the competition was played in May, usually just after the domestic season had finished (though in 1989 it coincided with the end of the domestic season, which had been extended after fixtures were postponed following the Hillsborough disaster
). In 1986, however, the England vs Scotland match was played in April, restoring it to the time of the year when it had generally been played in the post-war years before the Home Internationals were concentrated in May from 1969.
were guests
were guests
were guests
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and, in later years, a guest team from South America.
Overview
The Rous Cup arose from the ashes of the British Home ChampionshipBritish 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...
, which had been discontinued in 1984
1984 British Home Championship
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,...
. Initially, the competition (which was named after Sir Stanley Rous
Stanley Rous
Sir Stanley Ford Rous, CBE was the 6th President of FIFA, serving from 1961 to 1974. He also served as secretary of the Football Association from 1934 to 1962 and was an international referee.-Early Life:...
, a former secretary of The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
and president of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
) was merely a replacement for the annual England v Scotland
England and Scotland football rivalry
The England–Scotland football rivalry is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between their respective national football teams. It is the oldest international fixture in the world, first played in 1872 at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow...
match that had been lost due to the end of the British Home Championship. Thus, the competition consisted of just one game between England and Scotland (with home advantage alternating annually) with the winner claiming the Cup.
After two years under this format, it was decided to invite a different South American team to compete each year to create more excitement and to fulfil England and Scotland's desire to regularly play 'stronger' teams (which was one of their reasons for leaving the British Home Championship). As there were now three teams competing, a league system, just like the one used in the British Home Championship, was introduced. Each team would play the other two once, receiving two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, with goal difference (total goals scored minus total goals conceded) being used to differentiate between teams level on points. England and Scotland continued to play each other home and away in alternating years, but the guest South American team would play both their games away.
Though large numbers of travelling Scots to Wembley had been a feature of England-Scotland games for many years, travelling English support to Hampden was negligible in comparison until 1987 when minor scuffles broke out on the terracing at Hampden. In 1989, major disturbances across Glasgow were reported as significant numbers of English hooligans appeared at this fixture for the first time. With English Club sides banned from European football at the time, the FA were anxious not to see the national side banned too and the Scotland-England match was a high profile game that brought interest from across the world. This was a major factor in the demise of the fixture.
The cup was discontinued, after five years, in 1989. The annual England vs Scotland fixture was abandoned at this point and since then the oldest rivalry in world football has only been renewed when the two nations have been drawn together: in Euro 96 and in the qualification play-off for Euro 2000.
In every one of its five years bar 1986, the competition was played in May, usually just after the domestic season had finished (though in 1989 it coincided with the end of the domestic season, which had been extended after fixtures were postponed following the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
). In 1986, however, the England vs Scotland match was played in April, restoring it to the time of the year when it had generally been played in the post-war years before the Home Internationals were concentrated in May from 1969.
1985
1986
1987
BrazilBrazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
were guests
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 |
1988
ColombiaColombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
were guests
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 |
1989
ChileChile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
were guests
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 |
All-time table
- 2 points for win
| Team | A | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | GD | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 62.50% | |
| 5 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | −3 | 37.50% | |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 75.00% | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 50.00% | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | −2 | 25.00% |