EARLY INTERNATIONAL DATES AND SUPER HEROES

England's International football team, first played officially from March 1872, when they turned out against Scotland in November 1872. It was a 0-0 draw. There had previously been six "unofficial" ties between them, dating from 1870.
This fixture was changed to April in 1879, when England played in a storming game against the Scots, at The Oval, winning 5-4.

A fixture had been played against Wales earlier in January 1879, again at the Oval.
February and March were popular months for the new international fixtures, including Ireland in February 1882, with two matches against Wales and Scotland in March.

In 1884 the four countries played in what was then known as the Home International Championship and by 1888, with the development of the Football League, the matches were spread out from March to April. Scotland topped the table in the first four seasons.

In 1902 the final tie in the Championship had overlapped to May 3rd, with a home fixture for England against the Scots at Villa Park. It resulted in a 2-2 draw.

By 1908, these games were played no later than early April, allowing the English team to get on tour in Europe for a couple of weeks. Their first venture was in 1908 playing Austria twice, Hungary and Bohemia from early June. These were very much "exhibition" games, showing Europe what the game was all about and the English came home with P4 W4 For 28 A 2!

By 1910 only home internationals were arranged traditionally, playing Ireland, Wales and Scotland in that order, one in February, one in March and one in early April. In 1914, 127,307 turned out at Hampden Park to see England lose 1-3.
In 1919 the Victory Internationals were held to celebrate "playing again" and in 1921 England went to Brussels to play Belgium on May 21st.

Benjamin Howard Baker, of Chelsea (92 apps) and the Corinthians (210 apps), was the England goalkeeper for this match. He was also an accomplished water polo goalkeeper. He earned 2 soccer international caps, was an Olympic standard British champion high jumper, a pentathlete, but indulged in various field events, such as the triple jump and long jump, performing at the 1912 and 1920 Olympics, having just fought in the war. He was a Wimbledon tennis player, club cricketer and water polo international and accomplished swimmer. He is not the only one to have multi-tasks at this time!
Max Woosnam, was a one cap football wonder, who also won the men's tennis doubles at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics (not on his own) winning gold in the doubles and silver in mixed doubles and was a successful champion at Wimbledon. He is reputed to have played and beat the Chinese ambassador at ping pong with a dessert spoon after dinner one night. He is known to have made a 147 break at snooker, scored a century at Lords, captained the British Davies Cup team, captained Manchester City, playing 96 games for them, as well as being a Corinthian footballer. He captained England and represented Cambridge University at golf (as well as turning out for the uni at most of these other sports!)

His biography is a good read!