Encyclopedia of British Football
~ Irish Internationals ~
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The Irish Football Association
was formed in 1880. They played their first game in 1882 when they were
beaten 13-0 by England. The following year the British International
Championship was established. Each country met the other three over the
course of the season. Scotland won the initial championship by beating
England (1-0), Wales (4-1) and Ireland (5-0). The following season
Scotland scored 8 against both Wales and Ireland. However, they could
only manage a 1-1 draw against England.
Despite being born in Blackburn, in 1890 Jack Reynolds was selected to
play for Ireland against Wales. On 15th March, 1890, Reynolds scored
Ireland's only goal in their 9-1 defeat against England. In 1891
Reynolds joined Ulster where he won an Irish Cup runner-up medal after
losing to Linfield in the final. That season he played in all three of
Ireland's games against Wales (7-2), England (1-6) and Scotland (1-2).
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Jack Reynolds won his first international cap for England on 2nd April,
1892. Only one other player, E. E. Evans, has been known to play for two
of the home countries. Over the next five years he won another seven
caps for England. This included victories over Scotland (5-2 and 3-0)
and Wales (6-0 and 4-0). Overall he scored three goals in eight games
for his country. He is also the only player, barring own goals, to score
for and against England.
For many years Scotland and England dominated the British International
Championship. It was not until Ireland was involved in a three-way tie
in 1902-03 that there were signs of a shift in power. Wales won the
title in 1906-07 and Ireland did it in 1913-14.
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