Scotland v Wales (1876)
Encyclopedia
The first international match for the Wales national football team
came on 25 March 1876 when they played Scotland
at Hamilton Crescent
, Partick
, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club
, with the Scots claiming an emphatic 4–0 victory. The match was organised by Llewelyn Kenrick
who had founded the Football Association of Wales
only a few weeks earlier.
in November 1872
(although this had been preceded by a series of "unofficial" matches
in the previous two years), following which Scotland and England met annually in a series of friendly matches.
Club football was well established in Scotland with Queen's Park
having been established in 1867, although the earliest Scottish club is believed to be Foot Ball Club of Edinburgh founded in 1827.
In Wales, association football struggled to gain recognition with rugby
being preferred, especially in the south
. Football clubs were becoming established in North Wales
with Druids
and Wrexham both being founded in 1872. It would be over twenty years before football became established in the south, with Cardiff City
being founded in 1899 and Swansea Town as late as 1912. There was no recognised league or cup football with the clubs having to arrange friendly matches between themselves on an ad hoc basis.
" newspaper proposing that a Welsh team be formed to play Scotland or Ireland at rugby. Llewelyn Kenrick
of the Druids club saw the advertisement but decided that the international match should be Association football.
Kenrick told "The Field" that the footballers of North Wales accepted the challenge and he advertised for players:
To be selected, the players had to be born in Wales or have sufficient residence in the Principality. Although Kenrick corresponded with several Welsh clubs and the Universities in order to raise a team he was criticised for allegedly overlooking players from the south.
The test matches took place in February 1876 under the auspices of the newly created Football Association of Wales
. Kenrick selected six players from his own club, Druids, plus two from local rivals, Wrexham, and one from English club, Oswestry. William Evans
(of Oxford University
) was the only player from South Wales selected, with the others all from North Wales, other than John Hawley Edwards who was born in Shrewsbury in England and had previously represented the England national football team
. Edwards was a fellow solicitor and member of the Shropshire Wanderers. Amongst the original selection were two players from Newtown
, William Pryce and R.O. Evans, but neither were able to travel and withdrew.
All eleven players selected for Wales were amateurs, comprising "two lawyers, a timber merchant, a student, a soldier, a stonemason, a physician, a miner, a chimney sweep, an office worker and an insurance company employee."
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
WALES:
|
GK
David Thomson
(Druids
/Shropshire Wanderers
)
RB
William Evans
(Oxford University
)
LB
Llewelyn Kenrick
(c) (Druids
/Shropshire Wanderers
)
RH
Edwin Cross
(Wrexham)
LH
William Williams
(Druids
)
OR
Daniel Grey
(Druids
)
IR
William Davies
(Oswestry)
CF
George Thomson (Druids
)
CF
John Hawley Edwards (Wanderers
/Shrewsbury)
IL
John Jones
(Druids
)
OL
Alfred Davies (Wrexham)
Like the Welsh, the Scots fielded six players from one club (Queens Park) and three of their players were making their international debut: James Lang
, Moses McNeil
and Robert Neill. Both teams played a 2-2-6 formation; i.e. two fullbacks, two half backs and six forwards.
The Welsh kicked off, but the Scots soon gained possession and proceeded to attack the Welsh goal with the Welsh having to defend solidly, William Evans
being called on early on to "save the fortress" and send the ball upfield. The Welsh players were unable to break out of their own half and the Scots had a goal disallowed after Joseph Taylor
"scored" direct from a corner. The Scots were by now "working better together than their opponents, who showed to more advantage in individual than combined play." On the 40th minute, Lang
's centre was caught by David Thomson
in the Welsh goal, but John Ferguson "seeing an advantage, jumped forward with remarkable suddenness" thus forcing Thomson to drop the ball which was "kicked home" "amid great cheering" from the Scottish crowd.
After the half-time
interval, the game became rather one-sided and the Scots ran in a further two goals (from Lang and MacKinnon
) within ten minutes of the re-start. The Welsh goal survived further scares until Henry McNeil completed a fine move upfield by Ferguson and Thomas Highet.
The match report concluded: "Of the Welsh players, the backs, Evans and Kenrick, showed decidedly best, and Williams was not unfrequently good in his play". Of the Scottish players, all of whose play was considered "quite fine", Ferguson, Henry McNeil, Moses McNeil
, Highet and Alexander Kennedy were mentioned as "deserving of praise for the pluck they displayed."
After the match, the Welsh visitors were entertained with dinner at McRae's Hotel.
, Wrexham
; the Scots were again victorious, winning 2–0. The two countries continued to meet each other in friendly matches once each year in February or March until 1884 when the British Home Championship
, which involved England
and Ireland, was inaugurated.
Scotland and Wales then met each year, other than when war intervened, until 1984, when the British Home Championship was abandoned. The two countries also met in World Cup
qualifying matches in 1976/1977 and again in 1985. Since 1985, the countries have only met three times in friendly matches, the most recent being on 14 November 2009, when the Welsh were victorious by three goals to nil.
The Scots won the first 13 matches with the first draw coming in 1889. It was not until 1905 that the Welsh claimed their first victory, defeating the Scots 3–1 at the Racecourse Ground. Since 1985, the Welsh have had the upper hand, winning four and drawing one of the five meetings.
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
came on 25 March 1876 when they played 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...
at Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England...
, Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club
West of Scotland Cricket Club
The West of Scotland Cricket Club is a large cricket club based in Glasgow, Scotland. Their ground is Hamilton Crescent located in the Partick area of Glasgow's West End...
, with the Scots claiming an emphatic 4–0 victory. The match was organised by Llewelyn Kenrick
Llewelyn Kenrick
Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick was a Welsh solicitor who became the founder of the Football Association of Wales and organised the first Welsh international football match against Scotland in 1876...
who had founded the Football Association of Wales
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
only a few weeks earlier.
Background
The first official international association football match was between Scotland and EnglandEngland 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...
in November 1872
Scotland v England (1872)
Scotland v England was the first ever official international football match to be played. It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland...
(although this had been preceded by a series of "unofficial" matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
in the previous two years), following which Scotland and England met annually in a series of friendly matches.
Club football was well established in Scotland with Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
having been established in 1867, although the earliest Scottish club is believed to be Foot Ball Club of Edinburgh founded in 1827.
In Wales, association football struggled to gain recognition with rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
being preferred, especially in the south
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. Football clubs were becoming established in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
with Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
and Wrexham both being founded in 1872. It would be over twenty years before football became established in the south, with Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
being founded in 1899 and Swansea Town as late as 1912. There was no recognised league or cup football with the clubs having to arrange friendly matches between themselves on an ad hoc basis.
The challenge
In January 1876, a London-based Welshman, G Clay-Thomas, placed an advertisement in "The FieldThe Field (magazine)
The Field is the world's oldest country and field sports magazine, having been published continuously since 1853.The famous sportsman Robert Smith Surtees, the creator of Jorrocks, was the driving force behind the initial publication...
" newspaper proposing that a Welsh team be formed to play Scotland or Ireland at rugby. Llewelyn Kenrick
Llewelyn Kenrick
Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick was a Welsh solicitor who became the founder of the Football Association of Wales and organised the first Welsh international football match against Scotland in 1876...
of the Druids club saw the advertisement but decided that the international match should be Association football.
Kenrick told "The Field" that the footballers of North Wales accepted the challenge and he advertised for players:
"Test matches will take place at the ground of the Denbighshire County Cricket Club at Wrexham for the purpose of choosing the Cambrian Eleven. Gentlemen desirous of playing are requested to send in their names and addresses."
To be selected, the players had to be born in Wales or have sufficient residence in the Principality. Although Kenrick corresponded with several Welsh clubs and the Universities in order to raise a team he was criticised for allegedly overlooking players from the south.
The test matches took place in February 1876 under the auspices of the newly created Football Association of Wales
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
. Kenrick selected six players from his own club, Druids, plus two from local rivals, Wrexham, and one from English club, Oswestry. William Evans
William Evans (footballer)
William Addams Williams Evans was a Welsh churchman who played for the Wales national football team, in the first two international matches in 1876 and 1877 before a long career as a Church of England minister....
(of Oxford University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
) was the only player from South Wales selected, with the others all from North Wales, other than John Hawley Edwards who was born in Shrewsbury in England and had previously represented the England national football team
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...
. Edwards was a fellow solicitor and member of the Shropshire Wanderers. Amongst the original selection were two players from Newtown
Newtown F.C.
Newtown Association Football Club is a Welsh football club who currently play in the Welsh Premier League, with a reserve team currently playing in the Mid Wales Football League....
, William Pryce and R.O. Evans, but neither were able to travel and withdrew.
All eleven players selected for Wales were amateurs, comprising "two lawyers, a timber merchant, a student, a soldier, a stonemason, a physician, a miner, a chimney sweep, an office worker and an insurance company employee."
The match
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | SCOTLAND: | |
| GK | Alexander McGeoch (Dumbreck Dumbreck F.C. Dumbreck Football Club were a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow that were one of the original 16 teams to participate in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup. They were one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Football Association.... ) |
|
| RB | Joseph Taylor Joseph Taylor (footballer) Joseph Taylor was a Scottish footballer who played for Scotland in the first ever international football match against England in 1872.... (Queens Park) |
|
| LB | Robert Neill (Queens Park) | |
| RH | Alexander Kennedy (Glasgow Eastern Eastern F.C. Eastern Football Club was a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow that was one of the original 16 teams to participate in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup.... ) |
|
| LH | Charles Campbell Charles Campbell (footballer) Charles Campbell was a Scottish footballer of the 1870s and 1880s who played for, and captained, Queen's Park and the Scotland national team.... (c) (Queens Park) |
|
| OR | Thomas Highet (Queens Park) | |
| IR | John Ferguson (Vale of Leven Vale of Leven F.C. Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park... ) |
|
| CF | James Lang James Lang (footballer) James J. "Reddie" Lang was a Scottish footballer who is generally considered to be the first professional player.-Football career:... (Clydesdale Clydesdale F.C. Clydesdale F.C. were a nineteenth-century Glasgow-based soccer club, who were attached to Clydesdale Cricket Club during the 1870s. In 1873, Clydesdale was one of the teams to found the Scottish Football Association.... ) |
|
| CF | Billy MacKinnon Billy MacKinnon William "Billy" Muir MacKinnon was a Scottish footballer who played for Queen's Park and the Scotland national team in the 1870s.... (Queens Park) |
|
| IL | Moses McNeil Moses McNeil Moses McNeil was a Scottish professional footballer who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. He played as a winger.-Club career:... (Rangers Rangers F.C. Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses... ) |
|
| OL | Henry McNeil (Queens Park) |
David Thomson (footballer born 1847)
David Thomson was a Welsh amateur footballer who helped found the Druids club and played for Wales in their first international match...
(Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
/Shropshire Wanderers
Shropshire Wanderers F.C.
Shropshire Wanderers F.C. were an amateur association football club based in Shrewsbury, England. They were active during the 1870s.They entered the FA Cup competition in each of the years from 1873-74 to 1877-78. Their greatest success came in 1874-75, when they reached the Semi-finals where they...
)
William Evans (footballer)
William Addams Williams Evans was a Welsh churchman who played for the Wales national football team, in the first two international matches in 1876 and 1877 before a long career as a Church of England minister....
(Oxford University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
)
Llewelyn Kenrick
Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick was a Welsh solicitor who became the founder of the Football Association of Wales and organised the first Welsh international football match against Scotland in 1876...
(c) (Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
/Shropshire Wanderers
Shropshire Wanderers F.C.
Shropshire Wanderers F.C. were an amateur association football club based in Shrewsbury, England. They were active during the 1870s.They entered the FA Cup competition in each of the years from 1873-74 to 1877-78. Their greatest success came in 1874-75, when they reached the Semi-finals where they...
)
Edwin Cross
Edwin Alfred Cross was a Welsh amateur footballer who played most of his football career with Wrexham, with whom he won the inaugural Welsh Cup in 1878. Playing at half back, he also made two appearances for Wales in 1876 and 1877....
(Wrexham)
William Williams (footballer)
William Williams was a Welsh amateur footballer who played most of his football career with the Druids club of Ruabon. Generally playing at half back, he made eleven appearances for Wales between 1876 and 1883.-Football career:...
(Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
)
Daniel Grey
Daniel Grey was a Welsh medical practitioner who was prominent in the early days of Welsh football, making two appearances for the Wales national football team in the 1870s.-Early life:...
(Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
)
William Davies (footballer born 1855)
William Henry Davies was a Welsh amateur footballer who made four appearances for the Wales national football team in the 1870s and 1880s, and scored his country's first international goal.-Career outside football:...
(Oswestry)
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
)
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
/Shrewsbury)
John Jones (footballer born 1856)
John Jones was a Welsh amateur footballer who spent most of his football career with Druids, and played for the Wales national football team in their first international match in 1876.-Football career:...
(Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
)
Like the Welsh, the Scots fielded six players from one club (Queens Park) and three of their players were making their international debut: James Lang
James Lang (footballer)
James J. "Reddie" Lang was a Scottish footballer who is generally considered to be the first professional player.-Football career:...
, Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil was a Scottish professional footballer who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. He played as a winger.-Club career:...
and Robert Neill. Both teams played a 2-2-6 formation; i.e. two fullbacks, two half backs and six forwards.
The Welsh kicked off, but the Scots soon gained possession and proceeded to attack the Welsh goal with the Welsh having to defend solidly, William Evans
William Evans (footballer)
William Addams Williams Evans was a Welsh churchman who played for the Wales national football team, in the first two international matches in 1876 and 1877 before a long career as a Church of England minister....
being called on early on to "save the fortress" and send the ball upfield. The Welsh players were unable to break out of their own half and the Scots had a goal disallowed after Joseph Taylor
Joseph Taylor (footballer)
Joseph Taylor was a Scottish footballer who played for Scotland in the first ever international football match against England in 1872....
"scored" direct from a corner. The Scots were by now "working better together than their opponents, who showed to more advantage in individual than combined play." On the 40th minute, Lang
James Lang (footballer)
James J. "Reddie" Lang was a Scottish footballer who is generally considered to be the first professional player.-Football career:...
's centre was caught by David Thomson
David Thomson (footballer born 1847)
David Thomson was a Welsh amateur footballer who helped found the Druids club and played for Wales in their first international match...
in the Welsh goal, but John Ferguson "seeing an advantage, jumped forward with remarkable suddenness" thus forcing Thomson to drop the ball which was "kicked home" "amid great cheering" from the Scottish crowd.
After the half-time
Half-time
In some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match...
interval, the game became rather one-sided and the Scots ran in a further two goals (from Lang and MacKinnon
Billy MacKinnon
William "Billy" Muir MacKinnon was a Scottish footballer who played for Queen's Park and the Scotland national team in the 1870s....
) within ten minutes of the re-start. The Welsh goal survived further scares until Henry McNeil completed a fine move upfield by Ferguson and Thomas Highet.
The match report concluded: "Of the Welsh players, the backs, Evans and Kenrick, showed decidedly best, and Williams was not unfrequently good in his play". Of the Scottish players, all of whose play was considered "quite fine", Ferguson, Henry McNeil, Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil was a Scottish professional footballer who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. He played as a winger.-Club career:...
, Highet and Alexander Kennedy were mentioned as "deserving of praise for the pluck they displayed."
After the match, the Welsh visitors were entertained with dinner at McRae's Hotel.
Subsequent matches
The return match came on 5 March 1877 at the Racecourse GroundRacecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
; the Scots were again victorious, winning 2–0. The two countries continued to meet each other in friendly matches once each year in February or March until 1884 when the British Home Championship
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...
, which involved England
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...
and Ireland, was inaugurated.
Scotland and Wales then met each year, other than when war intervened, until 1984, when the British Home Championship was abandoned. The two countries also met in World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifying matches in 1976/1977 and again in 1985. Since 1985, the countries have only met three times in friendly matches, the most recent being on 14 November 2009, when the Welsh were victorious by three goals to nil.
The Scots won the first 13 matches with the first draw coming in 1889. It was not until 1905 that the Welsh claimed their first victory, defeating the Scots 3–1 at the Racecourse Ground. Since 1985, the Welsh have had the upper hand, winning four and drawing one of the five meetings.
Record
The full record between the two countries is as follows:| Competition | Played | Results | Goals | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | Wales | Draw | Scotland | Wales | ||
| Friendly | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 10 |
| British Home Championship 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... |
89 | 50 | 17 | 22 | 198 | 107 |
| World Cup FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body... qualifiers |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Nations Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 105 | 61 | 21 | 23 | 241 | 120 |