1901–02 British Home Championship
International football competition
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The 1901â02 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations which was meant to herald the arrival of the full professional game of football as both England and Scotland fielded fully professional teams for the first time. The championship was however dominated and overshadowed by a disaster during the final deciding match between England and Scotland at Ibrox Park, which claimed 25 lives.[1] Six minutes into the game, a section of the wooden West Tribune Stand suddenly collapsed due to heavy rainfall the night before.[2] Over 500 people were injured as the stadium was packed to its 68,000 capacity for the match. Although play was stopped in the immediate aftermath of the disaster as players, police and stewards rushed to aid the injured, it was later continued. The continued match finished 1â1 despite the players' reluctance and repeated pauses to allow police and injured spectators to cross the pitch. After the match the Scottish and English Football Associations decided to void the result, and the match was replayed at Villa Park.[3] All proceeds from the replay were contributed to the Disaster Fund set up to aid victims of the accident.[4]
Scotland (11th title)| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales |
| Dates | 22 February â 3 May 1902 |
| Teams | 4 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Scotland (11th title) |
| Runners-up |  England |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 6 |
| Goals scored | 22 (3.67 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Andy Gara Robert Hamilton (3 goals) |
â 1899â1900 1902â03 â | |
Ireland kicked off the tournament in fine style, beating Wales 3â0 in Cardiff with a good performance. Their luck did not hold out in their second game however, thumped 5â1 by an impressive Scottish side in Greenock. Scotland continued their run of good form against Wales, with another 5â1 victory, setting them up as tournament favourites going into the final games. England had played poorly in their opening matches, drawing 0â0 with Wales and scrambling a 1â0 victory over the Irish. The final match up was marred by tragedy and the game was eventually relocated to England due to the turmoil in the Scottish football community as a result of the disaster. The match was fiercely fought and ended with a 2â2 draw, sharing the points but giving the championship to the Scots.
Table
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Champions
Results
| Ireland | 1â5 | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
Milne  88' |
RC Hamilton 43', 70', 74' Walker 49'Albert Buick 76' |
The match between Scotland and England was cancelled after being suspended at 51' (1-1) due to the 1902 Ibrox disaster. Days later the match was repeated (2-2).
Winning squad
| Name | Apps/Goals by opponent | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 WAL[5] |
IRE[6] |
ENG[a][8] |
Apps | Goals | |
| Alex Smith | 1/3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Bobby Walker | 1 | 1/1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Jock Drummond | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Harry Rennie | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Jackie Robertson | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Bob Hamilton | 1 | 1/3 | 2 | 3 | |
| Albert Buick | 1/1 | 1/1 | 2 | 2 | |
| John Campbell | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Nicol Smith | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Bobby Templeton | 1/1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ronald Orr[a] | 1/1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Andy Aitken | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Bob McColl[a] | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Alex Raisbeck | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Henry Allan | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Sandy McMahon | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Hughie Wilson | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| George Key | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| William McCartney | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||