1960–61 British Home Championship

The 1960–61 British Home Championship international football tournament saw a series of high scoring games, with 40 goals scored in just six matches - a ratio of 6.66 goals per game. England took the British title after a final match at Wembley in which they put nine goals past Scotland, who returned with three of their own. Teams in this period frequently fielded as many as five strikers, hoping to outscore opponents rather than rely on heavy defence. This tactic paid dividends, particularly for England, whose haul of 19 included seven for Jimmy Greaves, whilst both Bobby Charlton and Bobby Smith each scored in each of England's three games.

England had begun the tournament well, winning 5–2 against Ireland in Belfast, whilst the Welsh beat a tough Scottish side at home. Welsh hopes of tournament success were disabused in their second match, where England took them apart 5–1, whilst the Irish were again on the reverse of a heavy defeat, losing 5–2 in Glasgow against Scotland. In the tournament's final games, Wales beat Ireland 5–1 to claim second spot, leading to England and Scotland's dramatic finale.

Players at the tournament included a medley of stars from the 1950s, and young players who would take the 1960s by storm. This line-up included Danny Blanchflower and Peter McParland for Ireland, Ivor Allchurch and John Charles for Wales, Denis Law and Dave Mackay for Scotland and an England team including Bobby Charlton, Johnny Haynes, Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Robson, some of whom would later win the 1966 FIFA World Cup.

Table
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 England (C) 3 3 0 0 19 6 +13 6
 Wales 3 2 0 1 8 6 +2 4
 Scotland 3 1 0 2 8 13 −5 2
 Ireland 3 0 0 3 5 15 −10 0
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Champion.

Results
Ireland 2 – 5 England
Billy McAdams 2 Jimmy Greaves 2, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Smith,
Bryan Douglas
Wales 2 – 0 Scotland
Cliff Jones, Roy Vernon  
Scotland 5 – 2 Ireland
Ralph Brand 2, Alex Young, Denis Law,
Eric Caldow (P)		 Danny Blanchflower, Peter McParland
England 5 – 1 Wales
Jimmy Greaves 2, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Smith,
Johnny Haynes		 Ken Leek
Ireland 1 – 5 Wales
Derek Dougan Cliff Jones 2, Ivor Allchurch, Ken Leek, Mel Charles
England 9–3 Scotland
Jimmy Greaves 3, Bobby Smith 2, Johnny Haynes 2,
Bryan Douglas, Bobby Robson		 Dave Mackay, Davie Wilson 2[lower-alpha 1]
  1. The Scottish Football Association archive credits the 3rd Scotland goal in the 9–3 match to Davie Wilson, and footage from the match (Footage #1 – 2:05 and Footage #2 – 1:29) appears to confirm this; most sources (and the contemporary commentary on the footage) credit the goal to Pat Quinn
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References
  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
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