# 1953–54 British Home Championship

The 1953–54 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1953–54 season. This season's tournament also doubled as UEFA – Group 3 for 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification. England dominated the Championship, winning all three games and taking first place. After defeating Ireland, Scotland struggled against Wales before losing to England. Meanwhile, Ireland defeated Wales in Wrexham to clinch third place. England, together with second-placed Scotland, subsequently qualified for the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

## Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GD | Pts | | | | |
| 1 | England (C) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +7 | 6 | | — | 3–1 | — |
| 2 | Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2–4 | | — | 3–3 |
| 3 | Ireland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −3 | 2 | — | 1–3 | | — |
| 4 | Wales | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −4 | 1 | 1–4 | — | 1–2 | |

### Ireland vs Scotland

| Ireland | 1 – 3 (final score after 90 minutes) | Scotland |
| Manager: Peter Doherty Team: GK - William Smyth DF - Willie Cunningham DF - Alf McMichael MF - Danny Blanchflower MF - Jimmy McCabe MF - Wilbur Cush FW - Billy Bingham FW - Jimmy McIlroy FW - Billy Simpson FW - Charlie Tully FW - Norman Lockhart Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-2 Norman Lockhart (72', pen.) | Half-time: 0-0 Competition: World Cup qualifier 1954 (Group 3) Date: Saturday 3 October 1953 Kick off: 15:00 Venue: Windsor Park, Belfast Attendance: 58,248 Referee: Arthur Edward Ellis ENG Assistants: ? Match rules: 90 minutes one injured player can be substituted before half time | Manager: Andy Beattie Team: GK - George Farm DF - George Young (capt.) DF - Sammy Cox MF - Bobby Evans MF - Frank Brennan MF - Doug Cowie FW - Willie Waddell FW - Charlie Fleming FW - John McPhail FW - Jimmy Watson FW - Jackie Henderson Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 0-1 Charlie Fleming (47') 0-2 Charlie Fleming (69') 1-3 Jackie Henderson (89') |

### Wales vs England

| Wales | 1 – 4 (final score after 90 minutes) | England |
| Manager: Team: GK - Ron Howells DF - Walley Barnes DF - Alf Sherwood MF - Roy Paul MF - Ray Daniel MF - Ron Burgess FW - Billy Foulkes FW - Reg Davies FW - John Charles FW - Ivor Allchurch FW - Roy Clarke Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-0 Ivor Allchurch (22') | Half-time: 1-1 Competition: World Cup qualifier 1954 (Group 3) Date: Saturday 10 October 1953 Kick off: 15:00 Venue: Ninian Park, Cardiff Attendance: 61,000 Referee: Charlie Faultless SCO Assistants: ? Match rules: 90 minutes one injured player can be substituted before half time | Manager: Walter Winterbottom Team: GK - Gil Merrick DF - Tommy Garrett DF - Bill Eckersley MF - Billy Wright (capt.) MF - Harry Johnston MF - Jimmy Dickinson FW - Tom Finney FW - Albert Quixall FW - Nat Lofthouse FW - Dennis Wilshaw FW - Jimmy Mullen Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-1 Dennis Wilshaw (45') 1-2 Dennis Wilshaw (49') 1-3 Nat Lofthouse (52') 1-4 Nat Lofthouse (53') |

### Scotland vs Wales

| Scotland | 3 – 3 (final score after 90 minutes) | Wales |
| Manager: Andy Beattie Team: GK - George Farm DF - George Young (capt.) DF - Sammy Cox MF - Bobby Evans MF - Willie Telfer MF - Doug Cowie FW - John Mackenzie FW - Bobby Johnstone FW - Lawrie Reilly FW - Allan Brown FW - Billy Liddell Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-0 Allan Brown (19') 2-0 Bobby Johnstone (42') 3-1 Lawrie Reilly (58') | Half-time: 2-0 Competition: World Cup qualifier 1954 (Group 3) Date: Wednesday 4 November 1953 Kick off: 14:45 Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Attendance: 71,378 Referee: Thomas Mitchell Ireland Assistants: ? Match rules: 90 minutes one injured player can be substituted before half time | Manager: Team: GK - Ron Howells DF - Walley Barnes DF - Alf Sherwood MF - Roy Paul MF - Ray Daniel MF - Ron Burgess FW - Billy Foulkes FW - Reg Davies FW - John Charles FW - Ivor Allchurch FW - Roy Clarke Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 2-1 John Charles (49') 3-2 Ivor Allchurch (73') 3-3 John Charles (88') |

### England vs Ireland

| England | 3 – 1 (final score after 90 minutes) | Ireland |
| Manager: Walter Winterbottom Team: GK - Gil Merrick DF - Stan Rickaby DF - Bill Eckersley MF - Billy Wright (capt.) MF - Harry Johnston MF - Jimmy Dickinson FW - Stanley Matthews FW - Harold Hassall FW - Nat Lofthouse FW - Albert Quixall FW - Jimmy Mullen Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-0 Harold Hassall (10') 2-1 Harold Hassall (60') 3-1 Nat Lofthouse (75') | Half-time: 1-0 Competition: World Cup qualifier 1954 (Group 3) Date: Wednesday 11 November 1953 Kick off: 14:30 Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool Attendance: 40,000 Referee: Robert Smith WAL Assistants: ? Match rules: 90 minutes one injured player can be substituted before half time | Manager: Peter Doherty Team: GK - William Smyth DF - Len Graham DF - Alf McMichael MF - Danny Blanchflower MF - William Dickson MF - Wilbur Cush FW - Billy Simpson FW - Edward McMorran FW - Billy Bingham FW - Jimmy McIlroy FW - Norman Lockhart Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-1 Edward McMorran (54') |

### Wales vs Ireland

| Wales | 1 – 2 (final score after 90 minutes) | Ireland |
| Manager: Team: GK - Jack Kelsey DF - Derek Sullivan DF - Alf Sherwood MF - Roy Paul MF - Ray Daniel MF - Ron Burgess FW - Billy Foulkes FW - Noel Kinsey FW - John Charles FW - Ivor Allchurch FW - Roy Clarke Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-2 John Charles (80') | Half-time: 0-1 Competition: World Cup qualifier 1954 (Group 3) Date: Wednesday 31 March 1954 Kick off: 17:00 Venue: Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Attendance: 32,817 Referee: Charlie Faultless SCO Assistants: ? Match rules: 90 minutes one injured player can be substituted before half time | Manager: Peter Doherty Team: GK - Harry Gregg DF - Len Graham DF - Alf McMichael MF - Danny Blanchflower MF - William Dickson MF - Bertie Peacock FW - Billy Bingham FW - Jackie Blanchflower FW - Billy McAdams FW - Jimmy McIlroy FW - Peter McParland Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 0-1 Peter McParland (1') 0-2 Peter McParland (52') |

### Scotland vs England

| Scotland | 2 – 4 (final score after 90 minutes) | England |
| Manager: Andy Beattie Team: GK - George Farm DF - Mike Haughney DF - Sammy Cox (capt.) MF - Bobby Evans MF - Frank Brennan MF - George Aitken FW - John Mackenzie FW - Bobby Johnstone FW - Jackie Henderson FW - Allan Brown FW - Willie Ormond Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes: ? Scorers: 1-0 Allan Brown (7') 2-4 Willie Ormond (89') | Half-time: 1-1 Competition: World Cup qualifier 1954 (Group 3) Date: Saturday 3 April 1954 Kick off: 15:00 Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Attendance: 134,544 Referee: Thomas Mitchell NIR Assistants: ? Match rules: 90 minutes one injured player can be substituted before half time | Manager: Walter Winterbottom Team: GK - Gil Merrick DF - Ron Staniforth DF - Roger Byrne MF - Billy Wright (capt.) MF - Harry Clarke MF - Jimmy Dickinson FW - Tom Finney FW - Ivor Broadis FW - Ronnie Allen FW - Johnny Nicholls FW - Jimmy Mullen Substitutes: none Unused Substitutes:>1-1 Johnny Nicholls (50') 1-3 Ronnie Allen (68') 1-4 Jimmy Mullen (83') |
England won the championship and along with Scotland they represented Great Britain in 1954 FIFA World Cup

## Squads and Stats
### England

Head coach: Walter Winterbottom
| Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | | | | Club |
| FW | Ronnie Allen | 15 January 1929 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | West Bromwich Albion |
| FW | Ivor Broadis | 18 December 1922 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Manchester City |
| DF | Roger Byrne | 8 February 1929 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Manchester United |
| MF | Harry Clarke | 23 February 1923 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| MF | Jimmy Dickinson | 24 April 1925 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Portsmouth F.C. |
| DF | Bill Eckersley | 16 July 1925 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Blackburn Rovers |
| FW | Tom Finney | 5 April 1922 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | 90 | Preston North End |
| DF | Tommy Garrett | 28 February 1927 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Blackpool F.C. |
| FW | Harold Hassall | 4 March 1929 | 1 | 2 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | Bolton Wanderers |
| MF | Harry Johnston | 26 September 1919 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Blackpool F.C. |
| FW | Nat Lofthouse | 27 August 1925 | 2 | 3 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Bolton Wanderers |
| FW | Stanley Matthews | 1 February 1915 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | Blackpool F.C. |
| GK | Gil Merrick | 26 January 1922 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Birmingham City |
| FW | Jimmy Mullen | 6 January 1923 | 3 | 1 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| FW | Johnny Nicholls | 3 April 1931 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | West Bromwich Albion |
| FW | Albert Quixall | 9 August 1933 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Sheffield Wednesday |
| DF | Stan Rickaby | 12 March 1924 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | West Bromwich Albion |
| DF | Ron Staniforth | 13 April 1924 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Huddersfield Town |
| FW | Dennis Wilshaw | 11 March 1926 | 1 | 2 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
| MF | Billy Wright | 6 February 1924 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Wolverhampton Wanderers |

### Scotland

Head coach: Andy Beattie
| Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | | | | Club |
| MF | George Aitken | 28 May 1925 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Sunderland A.F.C. |
| MF | Frank Brennan | 23 April 1924 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | 90 | Newcastle United |
| FW | Allan Brown | 12 October 1926 | 2 | 2 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | Blackpool F.C. |
| MF | Doug Cowie | 1 May 1926 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Dundee F.C. |
| DF | Sammy Cox | 13 April 1924 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Rangers F.C. |
| MF | Bobby Evans | 16 July 1927 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Celtic F.C. |
| GK | George Farm | 13 July 1924 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Blackpool F.C. |
| FW | Charlie Fleming | 12 July 1927 | 1 | 2 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | East Fife F.C. |
| DF | Mike Haughney | 10 December 1925 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Celtic F.C. |
| FW | Jackie Henderson | 17 January 1932 | 2 | 1 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | 90 | Portsmouth F.C. |
| FW | Bobby Johnstone | 7 September 1929 | 2 | 1 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | Hibernian F.C. |
| FW | Billy Liddell | 10 January 1922 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | Liverpool F.C. |
| FW | John Mackenzie | 4 September 1925 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | Partick Thistle F.C. |
| FW | John McPhail | 27 December 1923 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Celtic F.C. |
| FW | Willie Ormond | 23 February 1927 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Hibernian F.C. |
| FW | Lawrie Reilly | 28 October 1928 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | Hibernian F.C. |
| MF | Willie Telfer | 26 October 1925 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | St Mirren F.C. |
| FW | Willie Waddell | 7 March 1921 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Rangers F.C. |
| FW | Jimmy Watson | 16 January 1924 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Huddersfield Town F.C. |
| DF | George Young | 22 October 1922 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Rangers F.C. |

### Ireland

Head coach: Peter Doherty
| Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | | | | Club |
| FW | Billy Bingham | 5 August 1931 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Sunderland A.F.C. |
| MF | Danny Blanchflower | 10 February 1926 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Aston Villa |
| FW | Jackie Blanchflower | 7 March 1933 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Manchester United |
| DF | Willie Cunningham | 20 February 1930 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | St Mirren F.C. |
| MF | Wilbur Cush | 10 June 1928 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Glenavon F.C. |
| MF | William Dickson | 15 March 1923 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | Arsenal F.C. |
| DF | Len Graham | 17 October 1925 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | 90 | Doncaster Rovers |
| GK | Harry Gregg | 25 October 1932 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Doncaster Rovers |
| FW | Norman Lockhart | 4 March 1924 | 2 | 1 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Aston Villa |
| FW | Billy McAdams | 20 January 1934 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Manchester City |
| MF | Jimmy McCabe | 17 September 1918 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Leeds United |
| MF | Jimmy McIlroy | 25 October 1931 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Burnley F.C. |
| DF | Alf McMichael | 1 October 1927 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Newcastle United |
| FW | Edward McMorran | 2 September 1923 | 1 | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | 90 | - | Doncaster Rovers |
| FW | Peter McParland | 25 April 1934 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Aston Villa |
| MF | Bertie Peacock | 29 September 1928 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Celtic F.C. |
| FW | Billy Simpson | 12 December 1929 | 2 | 1 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Rangers F.C. |
| GK | William Smyth | c.1925 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Distillery |
| FW | Charlie Tully | 11 July 1924 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 90 | - | - | Celtic F.C. |

### Wales

Head coach:
| Pos. | Player | DoB | Games played | Goals | Minutes played | Sub off | Sub on | | | | Club |
| FW | Ivor Allchurch | 16 October 1929 | 3 | 2 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Swansea Town |
| DF | Walley Barnes | 16 January 1920 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Arsenal F.C. |
| MF | Ron Burgess | 9 April 1917 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Tottenham Hotspur |
| FW | John Charles | 27 December 1931 | 3 | 3 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Leeds United |
| FW | Roy Clarke | 1 June 1926 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Manchester City |
| MF | Ray Daniel | 2 November 1928 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Sunderland A.F.C. |
| FW | Reg Davies | 27 May 1929 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Newcastle United |
| FW | Billy Foulkes | 29 May 1926 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Newcastle United |
| GK | Ron Howells | 12 January 1927 | 2 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | - | Cardiff City |
| GK | Jack Kelsey | 19 November 1929 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Arsenal F.C. |
| FW | Noel Kinsey | 24 December 1925 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Birmingham City |
| MF | Roy Paul | 18 April 1920 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Manchester City |
| DF | Alf Sherwood | 13 November 1923 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 90 | 90 | Cardiff City |
| DF | Derek Sullivan | 10 August 1930 | 1 | 0 | 90 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 90 | Cardiff City |