1955–56 British Home Championship

The 1955–56 British Home Championship was a football tournament played during the 1955–56 season between the British Home Nations. It was the only occasion during the hundred-year run of the Home Championship in which all four teams finished level on points. As goal difference was not used to determine position until 1979, all four teams shared the trophy, holding it for three months each. Had goal difference or goal average been used to determine the winner, then England would have won.

1955–56 British Home Championship

Supporter with a leek at the Wales–England game, Cardiff, 22 October 1955.
Tournament details
Host country	England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Dates	8 October 1955 – 14 April 1956
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	England  Ireland  Scotland  Wales
Tournament statistics
Matches played	6
Goals scored	15 (2.5 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Dennis Wilshaw Bobby Johnstone (2 each)
← 1954–55 1956–57 →

The competition began unusually with victories by Wales and Ireland over England and Scotland in their opening matches. This gave added incentive to the favourites in the following matches, which England and Scotland both won easily. Nevertheless, all four teams stood a good chance of victory going into the final round, with both Wales and Ireland seeking a rare undisputed tournament success. However, the teams cancelled each other out, both matches resulting in 1–1 draws leaving all four equal on points and thus sharing the trophy.

Table

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England (C)	3	1	1	1	5	3	+2	3
Scotland (C)	3	1	1	1	4	3	+1	3
Wales (C)	3	1	1	1	3	4	−1	3
Ireland (C)	3	1	1	1	3	5	−2	3

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Co-champions

Results

Ireland	2 – 1	Scotland
Jackie Blanchflower, Billy Bingham		Lawrie Reilly

8 October 1955

Windsor Park, Belfast

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Wales	2 – 1	England
Derek Tapscott, Cliff Jones		Own Goal

22 October 1955

Ninian Park, Cardiff

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England	3 – 0	Ireland
Dennis Wilshaw 2, Tom Finney

2 November 1955

Wembley Stadium, London

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Scotland	2 – 0	Wales
Bobby Johnstone 2

9 November 1955^[1]

Hampden Park, Glasgow

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Wales	1 – 1	Ireland
Roy Clarke		Jimmy Jones

11 April 1956

Ninian Park, Cardiff

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Scotland	1 – 1	England
Graham Leggat (60)		Johnny Haynes (90)

14 April 1956^[2]

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Attendance: 132,779

References

1. Special For Scotland - Scotland V Wales, video footage from official Pathé News archive
2. Poverty Of Forward Play in Hampden International, The Glasgow Herald, 16 April 1956, scan via London Hearts Supporters Club

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