NICE QUIET NIGHT AT HAMPDEN PARK!!

The commemorative shirt worn by England last night, represents the shirt worn during the England's first visit to Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, now home to the West of Scotland Cricket Club, the site where that first international match was played out on 30 November 1872, which ended in a goal less draw. But the best part of all is that limited edition versions of the shirt will also be auctioned to raise money for the FA’s official charity partner, the Alzheimer’s Society.

However, it isn’t just 150 years since the teams first met, the all-British game also happens to be paying tribute to the first international soccer match ever played in the World.

Being hosted at Scotland’s home ground at Hampden Park on the Scottish Football Association’s significant anniversary, there was no more fitting way to celebrate the occasion than by replaying the world’s oldest international fixture and what will be the 116th meeting between the two teams.

The shirt was first worn during the England’s recent visit to Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow — now home to the West of Scotland Cricket Club — i.e. the same place where that first international match was played out on 30 November 1872, a match that ended in a goalless draw. Results of the fixture:

Games England won:	49
Games drawn:	26
Games lost:	41

But the best part of all, is that limited edition versions of the shirt will also be auctioned to raise money for the FA’s official charity partner, the Alzheimer's Society.

March 12th 1881 England 1 v 6 Scotland at the Surrey Cricket ground, Kennington: 26 year old Edgar Field, making his second appearance for England, scored a 74th minute own goal from a "scrimmage", 

September 12th 2023 Harry Maguire scored an embarrassing own goal against his England team mates in the big match last night against Scotland. Maguire came off the bench at half-time for England in their friendly, only to turn Andy Robertson's cross into his own net at Hampden Park. Needless to say Harry looked shell-shocked before turning to his team mates and imploring an immediate response from his team. DEFINITION...

When the ball’s clearly heading in a different direction away from goal and a defender (including the goalkeeper) diverts it into goal, then it has to be an own goal.

1. If an effort is on target, but the goalkeeper looks like he’s going to stop it and a defender diverts it away from him into goal, that is NOT an own goal, because the original effort was on target.
2. If a defender hits it more than once and ends up putting it into his own net, even if it was on target, that IS an own goal, but only if at least one of his touches stops it from going in. A good example of this is Gordon Strachan’s in the 1992 Charity Shield when the ball gets caught under his feet. He stops it, but then accidentally knocks it in because he can’t work out exactly where the ball is!
3. If an effort is on target and it hits two defenders on its way into goal, only if one of the defenders diverts it away from goal does it become an own goal when it subsequently ends up in the net. In the 1984 Charity Shield, Alan Hansen stops a shot and it then rebounds in off Grobbelaar
4. ENGLAND Own goals 1872-1914 5 = own scored at home 4: own goals scored away 1.
5. ENGLAND Own goals 1919-1939 3 = home 2: away 1.

March 12th 1881 England 1 v 6 Scotland at the Surrey Cricket ground, Kennington: 26 year old Edgar Field, making his second appearance for England, scored a 74th minute own goal from a "scrimmage", 

DEFINITION...

When the ball’s clearly heading in a different direction away from goal and a defender (including the goalkeeper) diverts it into goal, then it has to be an own goal. 8,500 watched this and the referee was Francis Marindin.

1. ENGLAND Own goals 1872-1914 5 = own scored at home 4: own goals scored away 1.
2. ENGLAND Own goals 1919-1939 3 = home 2: away 1.
3. ENGLAND Post War 22 = home 11: away 11

The commemorative shirt worn by England last night (see above), represents the shirt first worn during the nations visit to Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow — now home to the West of Scotland Cricket Club, the site where that first international match was played out on 30 November 1872, which ended in a goalless draw. But the best part of all is that limited edition versions of the shirt will also be auctioned to raise money for the FA’s official charity partner, the Alzheimer’s Society.