1981–82 British Home Championship

The 1981–82 British Home Championship between the British Home Nations was won by a dominant England football team which won all three of its matches as the tournament returned after being abandoned in 1981 due to civil disturbances in Northern Ireland. The championship was eagerly awaited because for the first time since 1958, three of the Home Nations were featuring in a World Cup; the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain and this was a chance to see them in competitive action before the World Cup began. The end-of-season format that had been used throughout the 1970s was dropped as it was felt three games in eight days was too intense at the end of a season and prior to a World Cup. The English began impressively with a heavy victory over Northern Ireland at home, followed by victory away in Wales. The Scots could only manage a draw with the disappointing Irish by contrast although they did beat Wales. The Welsh managed to salvage a result in their third game with a 3–0 defeat of Northern Ireland to claim third place. In the final deciding match in Glasgow, England edged victory through a Paul Mariner goal and thus claimed the championship. In the World Cup, Scotland were eliminated in the first round whilst England went out in the second round without losing a game. The unfancied Irish however provided a shock by beating hosts Spain and eliminating Yugoslavia in the first round before falling victim to the inspired French in round two.

1981–82 British Home Championship

Tournament details
Dates	23 February – 29 May 1982
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	England (53rd title)
Runners-up	Scotland
Tournament statistics
Matches played	6
Goals scored	12 (2 per match)
Top scorer(s)	12 players (1 each)
← 1980–81 1982–83 →

Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England (C)	3	3	0	0	6	0	+6	6
Scotland	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	3
Wales	3	1	0	2	3	2	+1	2
Northern Ireland	3	0	1	2	1	8	−7	1

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

23 February 1982

England	4–0	Northern Ireland
Robson 1' Keegan 56' Wilkins 85' Hoddle 89'

Wembley Stadium, London

Referee: Gwyn Owen (Wales)

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27 April 1982

Wales	0–1	England
		Francis 74'

Ninian Park, Cardiff

Referee: Thomas Donnelly (Northern Ireland)

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28 April 1982

Northern Ireland	1–1	Scotland
McIlroy 52'		Wark 32'

Windsor Park, Belfast

Referee: John Hunting (England)

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24 May 1982

Scotland	1–0	Wales
Hartford 7'

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Referee: Fred McKnight (Northern Ireland)

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27 May 1982

Wales	3–0	Northern Ireland
Curtis 18' Rush 64' Nicholas 75'

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

Referee: George Smith (Scotland)

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29 May 1982

Scotland	0–1	England
		Mariner 13'

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Referee: Jan Redelfs (West Germany)

References

• Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.

External links

• Full Results and Line-ups