Wembley Wizards
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| Event | 1928 British Home Championship | ||||||
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| Date | 31 March 1928 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium, London | ||||||
| Referee | Willie Bell (Scotland) | ||||||
| Attendance | 80,868 | ||||||
The Wembley Wizards is the nickname for the Scotland national football team that defeated England 5–1 at Wembley in the 1928 British Home Championship.[1][2]
Scotland had failed to win either of their previous matches in the 1928 British Home Championship, losing 1–0 to Ireland at Hampden Park and drawing 2–2 with Wales in Wrexham.[3][2] England had lost their first two games, 2–0 to Ireland in Belfast and 2–1 in Burnley to the eventual champions Wales. England's recent record against Scotland was poor, having only won once against Scotland in the 1920s.[3] That solitary win had come in the previous match between the teams, a 2–1 win at Hampden in the 1927 British Home Championship that gave England a share of the championship with Scotland.
The Scottish Football League XI had lost 6–2 to the Football League at Hampden on 10 March.[4] An international trial match was played on the following Tuesday between the Anglos and Home Scots.[4][note 1] The two sides for that game, a 1–1 draw on 13 March, were as follows:[5][2]
Home Scots: Jack Harkness (Queen's Park); Dougie Gray (Rangers), Willie McStay (captain, Celtic); James Kennedy (Falkirk), Alex Lambie (Partick Thistle), Tully Craig (Rangers); Peter Gavigan (St Johnstone), Stewart Chalmers (Queen's Park), David McCrae (St Mirren), Bob McPhail (Airdrieonians), Adam McLean (Celtic).
Anglo Scots: Jock Crawford (Blackburn Rovers); James Nelson (Cardiff City), John Smith (Middlesbrough); Johnny Duncan (Leicester City), Tom Bradshaw (Bury), Jimmy McMullan (Manchester City); David Robbie (Bury), Arthur Lochhead (Leicester City), Tommy Jennings (Leeds United), Alex James (Preston North End), George McLachlan (Cardiff City).
A large crowd gathered outside the Scottish Football Association offices to hear the official announcement of the team to face England.[3] The selection came as a surprise and caused much controversy, as regulars Davie Meiklejohn, Jimmy McGrory, Bob McPhail and Willie McStay were omitted.[3][2] The Anglos appeared to be favoured, with eight players from The Football League selected to play.[3] Tom Bradshaw had been picked to make his international debut; he would have the unenviable task of marking Dixie Dean, the prolific Everton goalscorer.[3] Hughie Gallacher was also selected despite having not played for two months[3] due to serving a suspension for pushing a referee into a bath.[2]
The Scottish media was unimpressed by the selection, with the Daily Record commenting simply that "it's not a great side."[3] Four of the England side were playing for Huddersfield Town, one of the strongest League sides at the time, and Dixie Dean was nearing the end of his record 60-goal league season. The received opinion was that England would win, as the Scottish side were not only considered to be less talented than their counterparts, but also less physically powerful.[3] Of the forward line of Alex Jackson, James Dunn, Gallacher, Alex James and Alan Morton, Jackson was the tallest at just 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m).[3]
Nonetheless, there was still great excitement in Scotland ahead of the game, with 11 special trainloads of supporters travelling from Glasgow to London on the Friday night before the game.[3][2] The Scottish players stayed at the Regent Palace hotel, where the captain Jimmy McMullan said: "The [SFA] President (Robert Campbell)[6] wants us to discuss football but you all know what's expected of you tomorrow. All I've got to say is, go to your bed, put your head on your pillow and pray for rain."[3] Rain would mean a heavy pitch, which would suit the small Scottish forwards.[3] McMullan's prayers were answered as London awoke to heavy rain.[3][2]
The match
The game had a dramatic opening, with Billy Smith hitting the post in the first attack of the game with Scottish goalkeeper Jack Harkness beaten.[1][3] Scotland immediately responded; Alan Morton received the ball on the left wing and crossed for Alex Jackson to head in the opening goal after just three minutes.[1][3][2] The performances of Morton and Jackson on the wings forced English defenders wide to combat them, which left space for Dunn, Gallacher and James to exploit.[3] A resolute performance by the English defence kept Scotland at bay for most of the first half, but with just one minute remaining before half-time, Alex James beat Ted Hufton in the England goal with a left-foot shot.[1][2]
What followed in the second half was one of the most memorable 45 minutes in Scottish football history. Conditions did not improve, yet the Scots raised their game further, dominating the game.[1] The third Scottish goal, 20 minutes into the second half, was similar to their first, as Morton took the ball almost to the corner flag before sending over another precision cross which Jackson met with his head.[1][3] Moments after this third goal, James made the score 0–4, ably assisted by Gallacher.[1][3] Jackson converted another cross from Morton with five minutes left on the clock to complete his hat-trick and to make the score 0–5.[1][3][2] England were well beaten but, with a minute to go, Bob Kelly struck a free-kick past Jack Harkness to make the final score England 1–5 Scotland.[1][3] At the end of the game the rain-sodden crowd applauded the away team's performance.[1]
England  | 1–5 |  Scotland |
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Bob Kelly  89' |
Alex Jackson 3', 65', 85' Alex James 44', 74' |
       England
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 Scotland
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