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'{{EngvarB|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}} :''This article deals with the Irish Football Association team up to 1950, when it last picked players from outside Northern Ireland. The current IFA team, which played as Ireland up to 1978,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/northern-ireland-programmes-1975-1978_27.html|title=Official Northern Ireland match programmes}}</ref> is described in [[Northern Ireland national football team]].'' {{Infobox national football team | Name = Ireland | Badge = IFA badge original.svg | date = 1950 | Badge_size = 180px | FIFA Trigramme = EIR<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/headtohead/team1=eng/team2=nir/code=506/index.html |title=England – Northern Ireland |publisher=FIFA.com |postscript=(If necessary, check the ''show all matches'' box)}}</ref> | Nickname = | Home Stadium = Various | Association = [[Irish Football Association]]| Elo max = 4| Elo max date = 1882–1885| Elo min = 37 or 41 | Elo min date = 1923 or 1946<ref name="elo">The official Elo ratings pages combine the Ireland national football team (1882–1950) results with the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|post—1923 FAI team]]. The lowest ranking for the pre—1923 team is 37th. ({{cite web |url=http://www.eloratings.net/Ireland.htm |title=World Football Elo Ratings: Ireland |accessdate=25 February 2008}}) The "new" Northern Ireland team is introduced to the Elo ranking in 1923, with an initial points total higher than the FAI team inherits from the "old" IFA team: 1600 as opposed to 1522. The lowest rank the IFA team subsequently attains, based on this, is 41st, ({{cite web |url=http://www.eloratings.net/Nthrn_Irelnd.htm |title=World Football Elo Ratings: Northern Ireland |accessdate=25 January 2008}}</ref>| pattern_la1 =|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=00AA22|body1=00AA22|rightarm1=00AA22|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=00AA22| Most caps = [[Elisha Scott]] (31) | Top scorer = [[Billy Gillespie]] (12)<br />[[Joe Bambrick]] (12)| First game = {{flagicon|IRE|1783}} Ireland 0–13 {{fb-rt|England}} <br />([[Belfast]], 18 February 1882) | Largest win = {{flagicon|IRE|1783}} Ireland 7–0 {{fb-rt|Wales}}<br />([[Belfast]], 1 February 1930) | Largest loss = {{flagicon|IRE|1783}} Ireland 0–13 {{fb-rt|England}}<br />([[Belfast]], 18 February 1882) | }} The '''Ireland national football team''' represented Ireland at association football from 1882 until 1950. It was organised by the [[Irish Football Association]] (IFA), and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the [[British Home Championship]] against [[England national football team|England]], [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. Though often vying with Wales to avoid the [[Wooden spoon (award)|wooden spoon]], Ireland did win the Championship in [[1913–14 British Home Championship|1914]], and shared it with England and Scotland in [[1902–03 British Home Championship|1903]]. After the [[partition of Ireland]] in the 1920s, although the IFA's administration of club football was restricted to [[Northern Ireland]], the IFA national team continued to select players from the whole of Ireland until 1950, and did not adopt the name "Northern Ireland" until 1954 in [[FIFA]] competition, and the 1970s in the British Home Championship.{{refn|group=n|The last match played as Ireland was 1978 versus Scotland,<ref>[http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/northern-ireland-programmes-1975-1978_27.html Ireland v Scotland programme]</ref> however, apart from this match, all British Championship matches had been played as "Northern Ireland" since the 1973-74 tournament.<ref>[http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/northern-ireland-programmes-1972-1975.html Match programmes 1972-75]</ref> In the 1972-73 tournament, the first two matches were played as "Ireland" and the third as "Northern Ireland". In the 1971-72 tournament, the first was played as "Ireland" and the second and third as "Northern Ireland". 1970-71 was the last tournament in which all matches were played under the name "Ireland".<ref>[http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/northern-ireland-programmes-1882-1889.html Northern Ireland programmes 1968-72]</ref>}} The IFA's modern [[Northern Ireland national football team]] is recognised as the successor to the original Ireland national team. During this era a separate [[Republic of Ireland national football team|international team]], organised by the separate [[Football Association of Ireland]] (the F.A.I.), had briefly fielded a team called Ireland, and this team now represents the [[Republic of Ireland]]. == History == === 1800s === On 18 February 1882, two years after the founding of the Irish FA, Ireland made their international debut against [[English national football team|England]], losing 0–13 in a friendly played at [[Bloomfield Park]] in [[Belfast]], becoming the fourth international side ever to take the field. This result remains the record win for England and the record defeat for an Ireland team. The Irish line-up that day included [[Samuel Johnston (footballer)|Samuel Johnston]], who at the age of 15 years and 154 days became the youngest international debutant, which was a record until Aníbal Zapicán Falco played for Uruguay in 1908 at the age of 15 years and nine days. On 25 February 1882 Ireland played their second international against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at the [[Racecourse Ground]], [[Wrexham]] and an equaliser from Johnston became Ireland's first ever goal, although Ireland went on to lose 1–7, the goal also saw Johnston became the youngest ever international goalscorer. In 1884 Ireland competed in the inaugural [[1883–84 British Home Championship|British Home Championship]] and lost all three games.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/bhc1884-99.html#1884| title = British Home Championship 1884–1899 | accessdate=18 April 2008}}</ref> Ireland did not win their first game until 13 March 1887, a 4–1 win over Wales in Belfast. Between their debut and this game, they had a run of 14 defeats and 1 draw, the longest run without a win in the 19th century. Despite the end of this run, heavy defeats continued to blight Ireland's record, including 3 March 1888 when they lost 0–11 to Wales, and on 23 February 1901 when they lost 0–11 to Scotland. These losses, together with the initial loss to England still constitute the record wins held by each of the other [[home nation]] teams. However, there were some brighter moments: on 7 February 1891 an Ireland team featuring [[Jack Reynolds (footballer, born 1869)|Jack Reynolds]] and four-goal hero [[Olphert Stanfield]] defeated Wales 7–2, providing Ireland with their second win. Reynolds international performances attracted the interest of [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] who signed him in March 1891, however it was later discovered that Reynolds was actually English. On 3 March 1894 at the [[Solitude (football ground)|Solitude Ground]] in Belfast, after thirteen attempts Ireland finally avoided defeat to England, the team that included [[Fred Spiksley]] and Reynolds, who had since switched allegiances, Ireland gained a 2–2 draw. Goals from Stanfield and [[William Kennedy Gibson|W.K. Gibson]] inspired Ireland to come back from 2–0 down to gain a 2–2 draw. Lacking the strength in depth enjoyed by [[England national football team|England]] and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]], Irish internationals of this era started younger and their careers lasted longer than their English or Scottish contemporaries. As a result, Ireland fielded both the youngest and oldest national teams during the 19th century. Samuel Johnston had led the way in the early 1880s. Then on 27 February 1886 [[Shaw Gillespie]], at the age of 18, became the youngest goalkeeper of the 19th century.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/12/shaw-gillespie.html | title = Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats: Shaw Gillespie | accessdate=19 April 2008}}</ref> Both Olphert Stanfield and W.K. Gibson were only 17 when they made their debuts. Another 17-year-old debutant was future [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]] cricketer, [[George Gaukrodger]]. In Johnston, Gibson and Gaukrodger, Ireland also had three of the four youngest goalscorers in the 19th century. Stanfield would go on to win 30 caps for Ireland, making him the most capped international of the century. === British champions === [[File:Ireland 1914.png|thumb|right|340px|Ireland v Wales during [[1913–14 British Home Championship]]<br /> {{nowrap|Back(l-r):[[Val Harris|Val&nbsp;Harris]], [[Fred McKee|Fred&nbsp;McKee]], Davy&nbsp;Rollo, [[Patrick O'Connell (Irish footballer)|Patrick&nbsp;O'Connell]]}}<br /> Front(l-r): EH Seymour, [[Samuel Young (footballer)|Sam&nbsp;Young]], [[Billy Gillespie|Billy&nbsp;Gillespie]], [[Alex Craig|Alex&nbsp;Craig]], [[Bill Lacey (footballer)|Bill&nbsp;Lacey]], [[Louis Bookman|Louis&nbsp;Bookman]], Bill&nbsp;McConnell]] Ireland's greatest success on the football field came when they won the [[1913–14 British Home Championship]]. However the foundations for that success had been laid over a decade earlier when Ireland had pioneered the use of national team coaches. The first time in the history of modern football that a national team had a coach was on 20 February 1897 when [[Billy Crone]] was in charge of the Ireland team that lost 6–0 to [[England national football team|England]], again for the wins against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] on 19 February 1898, on 4 March 1899, Ireland was coached by [[Hugh McAteer (footballer)|Hugh McAteer]], and on 24 February 1900 [[Robert Torrans]] coached Ireland for the game against [[Wales national football team|Wales]]. In 1914 McAteer would return to coach Ireland to their greatest success. In 1899 the [[Irish Football Association|IFA]] also changed its rules governing the selection of non-resident players. Before then the Ireland team selected its players exclusively from the [[IFA Premiership|Irish League]], in particular the three [[Belfast]]-based clubs [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]], [[Cliftonville F.C.|Cliftonville]] and [[Lisburn Distillery F.C.|Distillery]]. On 4 March 1899 for the game against [[Wales national football team|Wales]], McAteer included four Irish players based in England.<ref name="Northern Ireland">{{Cite book |last=Hayes |first=Dean |publication-date=2006 |edition=1st |publication-place=Belfast |publisher=Appletree Press, Limited |isbn =9780862818746 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gLT7PQAACAAJ&dq=9780862818746&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XAkEUtzdD4eu9ATlw4DoDQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA |title=Northern Ireland |deadurl=no |accessdate=8 August 2013}}</ref>{{rp|156}} The change in policy produced dividends as Ireland won 1–0. Three weeks later, on 25 March one of these four players, [[Archie Goodall]], aged 34 years and 279 days, became the oldest player to score at international level during the 19th century when he scored in a 1–9 defeat to [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. Goodall remained a regular at centre-half for Ireland until he was almost 40. On 28 March 1903, aged of 38 years and 283 days, he scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] and became the oldest goalscorer in Ireland's history. The goal also helped an Ireland team, that also included [[Jack Kirwan]], [[Billy Scott (footballer, born 1884)|Billy Scott]], [[Billy McCracken]] and [[Robert Milne (footballer)|Robert Milne]], clinch a share in the [[1902–03 British Home Championship]]. Until then the competition had been monopolised by [[England national football team|England]] and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. However, in 1903, before [[goal difference]] was applied, Ireland forced a three way share. Despite losing their opening game 0–4 to England, the Irish then beat Scotland for the first time with a 2–0 win at [[Celtic Park]]. On 15 February 1913, with a team captained by [[Val Harris]] and including Billy Scott and two-goal hero [[Billy Gillespie]], Ireland beat England for the first time with a 2–1 win at [[Windsor Park]]. In [[1913–14 British Home Championship|1914]] Ireland went a stage further and won the championship outright. Harris and Gillespie were joined in the squad by among others, [[Patrick O'Connell (Irish footballer)|Patrick O'Connell]] and [[Bill Lacey (footballer)|Bill Lacey]]. Gillespie scored twice as Ireland beat [[Wales national football team|Wales]] 2–1 away, Ireland then beat [[England national football team|England]] 3–0 at [[Ayresome Park]], [[Middlesbrough]] with Lacey grabbing two of the goals. They clinched the title following a 1–1 home draw with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in what would be their last match until the end of the [[World War I|First World War]]. === Inter-war years === [[File:Billy-gillespie.jpg|left|upright|thumb|Billy Gillespie held the international scoring record for sixty years]] Following the end of hostilities, the [[1919–20 British Home Championship|British Home Championship]] resumed in October 1919, opening with Ireland taking on England at Windsor Park. The championship winning team had since broken up, and in their first game, Ireland fielded eight debutants, and despite only losing one game in the first post war competition, they finished the tournament in last place. Ireland never refound the form of their 1914 winning season, and only managed two second places in the following twenty years. However they did have a number of excellent match performance including beating England 2–1 at Windsor Park on 10 October 1923 with a team featuring [[Tom Farquharson]], [[Sam Irving]], [[Bobby Irvine (footballer, born 1900)|Bobby Irvine]] and [[Billy Gillespie]]. During the 1920s, Billy Gillespie set the Irish FAs record of thirteen goals in an international career, of which seven of these came at the expense of England. Gillespie's record was eventually equalled by [[Colin Clarke (footballer, born 1962)|Colin Clarke]] in 1992 and broken by [[David Healy (footballer)|David Healy]] in 2004, thus holding the record for nearly 80 years.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2036/legends-of-the-game/billie-gillespie/ | title = Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland – Squad Profiles – Legends of the Game – Billie Gillespie | accessdate=19 April 2008}}</ref> Throughout Ireland's formative years they exclusively played against [[England national football team|England]], [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] and [[Wales national football team|Wales]], both in friendlies and in the [[British Home Championship]]. However, in the 1920s there were occasions when Ireland played other teams, including [[France national football team|France]], [[Norway national football team|Norway]] and [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]], for various reasons, such as the amount of amateur players involved, the status of these internationals has been disputed.<ref name="Disputed Internationals">{{cite web |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/08/disputed-internationals.html |title=Disputed Internationals |accessdate=23 January 2008 |publisher=Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats}}</ref> [[File:Joe Bambrick - Blue plaque, Rodden Street, Belfast, 27-Jan-2008.JPG|thumb|right|[[Blue plaque]] noting six goal hero Bambrick's home in Belfast]] On 10 October 1927 Gillespie and Irving were joined by [[Elisha Scott]] as they defeated England 2–0 at Windsor Park, in the following match a defeat by Wales in Belfast put the championship beyond reach, however on 25 February 1928 an inspired goalkeeping performance from Scott helped Ireland defeat Scotland 1–0, their first win against the Scots in eighteen years, gaining the side their best season finish since 1914. On 2 February 1930 Ireland beat Wales 7–0 with [[Joe Bambrick]], playing at his home [[Linfield F.C.|club]] ground scoring six of the seven goals. This remains the team's record win to this day, and Bambrick's six goals was the highest tally by any player in a single match in the history of the competition, and remains unequaled to this very day.<ref name="Northern Ireland"/>{{rp|245}} However Ireland spent the remainder of the decade in the bottom half of the table, only managing to avoid last place on three occasions. Following [[World War II|war]] breaking out in Europe, the British home championship was again suspended with Ireland finishing the [[1938–39 British Home Championship|1938–39]] competition where they had spent most of the last two decades, at the bottom of the table, having lost all their games. ==== Irish FA v FA of Ireland ==== In 1920 Ireland was [[partition of Ireland|partitioned]] into [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Southern Ireland (1921–22)|Southern Ireland]]. In 1922, The south of Ireland gained independence as the [[Irish Free State]], later to become [[Republic of Ireland]]. Amid these political upheavals, a rival football association, the [[Football Association of Ireland]] (the F.A.I.), emerged in [[Dublin]] in 1921 and organised a [[League of Ireland|separate league]] and later a [[Republic of Ireland national football team#Irish Free State (1924–1936)|national team]]. In 1923, during a period when the home nations had dis-affiliated from the governing body,<ref>{{cite book |title=The Sports Process: A Comparative and Developmental Approach | last=Dunning |first=Eric|publisher=Human Kinetics |year=1993 |page=130|editor=Jean Brown |isbn=0-88011-624-2 }} [http://books.google.com/books?id=tQY5wxQDn5gC&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=irish+fa+withdraw+fifa+1928+again&source=web&ots=6ns3yU1IyP&sig=6vmrjmsspEbVcrI8JjuVSvoZ0NM Google books]</ref> the FAI was recognised by FIFA as the governing body of the Irish Free State on the condition that it changed its name to the ''Football Association of the Irish Free State''.<ref>{{cite book | title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years | first=Peter | last=Byrne |year=1996 | location=[[Dublin]] | publisher=Sportsworld | isbn = 1-900110-06-7 | page=22}}</ref> At the same time, the IFA continued to organise its national team on an all-Ireland basis, regularly calling up Free State players.<ref>{{cite book | title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years | first=Peter | last=Byrne |year=1996 | location=[[Dublin]] | publisher=Sportsworld | isbn = 1-900110-06-7 | page=59}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Ryan | first = Sean | title = The Boys in Green: the FAI international story | publisher = Mainstream Publishing |year=1997 | location = [[Edinburgh]] | isbn = 1-85158-939-2|page=31}}</ref> During this era at least one [[People of Northern Ireland|Northerner]], [[Harry Chatton]], also played for the Irish Free State and from 1936, the FAI began to organise their own all–[[Republic of Ireland national football team#Ireland (1937–1952)|Ireland]] team.<ref>{{cite book | title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years | first=Peter | last=Byrne |year=1996 | location=[[Dublin]] | publisher=Sportsworld | isbn = 1-900110-06-7 | page=45}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Ryan | first = Sean | title = The Boys in Green: the FAI international story | publisher = Mainstream Publishing |year=1997 | location = [[Edinburgh]] | isbn = 1-85158-939-2|page=34}}</ref> Both teams now competed as ''Ireland'' and during this era at least 39 [[Dual Irish international footballers|dual internationals]] were selected to represent both teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2006/10/dual-internationalists.html |title=Dual Internationalists |accessdate=23 January 2008 |date=23 October 2006 |publisher=Northern Ireland Footballing Greats}}</ref> In an era when national teams played only a few games a year, it was rare for professional players to turn down an opportunity to play at international level. Between 1928 and 1946 the IFA were not affiliated to FIFA and the two ''Ireland'' teams co-existed, never competing in the same competition.<ref>{{cite book | editor = Alan Bairner | chapter = Northern Catholic fans of Republic of Ireland soccer | last = Fulton | first = Gareth | title = Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues | publisher = [[University College Dublin|UCD]] Press |year=2005 | location = Dublin | isbn = 1-904558-33-X | page=145}}</ref> Only in 1949, they both would participate in the [[1950 FIFA World Cup qualification|qualifying tournament for the 1950 World Cup]]. === End of the era === During the [[World War II|Second World War]] all home internationals were suspended, however, during this period Ireland played an unofficial match against a [[British Armed Forces|combined services]] eleven, which was effectively a Great Britain side containing [[Matt Busby]], [[Stanley Matthews]], [[Tommy Lawton]] and [[Stan Mortensen]].<ref name="Disputed Internationals"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-warvic-intres.html |title=England – War-Time/Victory Internationals – Details |accessdate=23 January 2008 |publisher=www.rsssf.com}} </ref> The game was a high scoring affair with Ireland losing 4–8, with all four Ireland goals coming from the future manager [[Peter Doherty (footballer)|Peter Doherty]]. The performance of Doherty was such that the match commentator, [[Maurice Edelston]], stated "He was almost a one-man team&nbsp;– and if Ireland had two Dohertys that day, I shudder to think what might have happened".<ref>{{cite book | title=Northern Ireland's Greats: 100 Top football heroes | first=Dean | last=Hayes |year=2005 | location=[[Belfast]] | publisher=Appletree Press Ltd. | isbn = 0-86281-979-2 | page=61}}</ref> [[File:Ireland-Linfield Mural.jpg|thumb|left|A public [[murals in Northern Ireland|mural]] in Belfast depicting [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]]'s contribution to the Ireland football team, featuring [[Tommy Dickson]], Joe Bambrick and Elisha Scott]] In 1946, when the Home Nations resumed official internationals, the IFA-FAI split was highlighted as England played both teams in the same week. [[The Football Association|The English FA]] requested each association to select only players from its jurisdiction, "quoting the International Federation rule to that effect".<ref>{{cite news |title=I.F.A. May Give England A Hard Game Tomorrow |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=27 September 1946 |first=P.D. |last=McSweeney |page=2 }}</ref> The FAI complied, but not the IFA, and two players from the 2–7 defeat in Belfast on 28 September played again in the 0–1 defeat in Dublin on 30 September. On 27 November, seven players born in the 26 counties, including [[Johnny Carey]], [[Peter Farrell (Irish footballer)|Peter Farrell]] and [[Con Martin]], played in the IFA side's 0–0 draw with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. The draw helped the team finish as runners-up in the [[1946–47 British Home Championship]]. From then until the 1949–50 season the IFA regularly selected five to seven players born in the Free State and were rewarded with some respectable results, including a 2–0 win against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] on 4 October 1947 and a 2–2 draw with [[England national football team|England]] at [[Goodison Park]] on 5 November the same year. The Irish FA, along with the other Home Nations, rejoined FIFA to compete in the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]; the [[1949–50 British Home Championship]] was used as the qualifying group. Ireland hosted the first ever world cup qualifier in which a home nation side competed, losing 2–8 to Scotland in Belfast, and eventually finishing bottom of the group only managing to take a point, away to Wales. During the match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] at the [[Racecourse Ground]], [[Wrexham]], the IFA fielded an all-Ireland team for the last time. The team included four players&nbsp;– [[Tom Aherne]], [[Reg Ryan]], [[Davy Walsh]] and the captain [[Con Martin]]&nbsp;– who were born in the [[Irish Free State]], and all four of whom had previously played for the [[Ireland national football team (FAI)|FAI international team]] in their qualifiers and as a result had played for two different associations in the same [[FIFA World Cup]] tournament.<ref>[http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/double-caps.html Players Appearing for Two or More Countries]</ref> The FAI took steps to prevent players from what was now the [[Republic of Ireland]] turning out for the IFA's Ireland team. All UK-based players from the Republic were pressured to sign an undertaking not to play for the IFA. [[Johnny Carey|Jackie Carey]] was the last to comply, in April 1950.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carey to play only for FAI |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=14 April 1950 |page=2 }} </ref> Rule 35(b) of the FAI articles provided that players based in the Republic would be denied clearance certificates for [[transfer (association football)|transfers]] abroad unless they gave a similar undertaking.<ref name="it-1950-10-20">{{cite news |title=FAI Policy may have to be Reverted |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=20 October 1950 |page=2 }}</ref> The IFA complained to FIFA; in April 1951, FIFA replied that the FAI rule 35(b) was contrary to its regulations, but also that the IFA team could not select "citizens of [[Republic of Ireland|Eire]]".<ref name="it-1951-04-26">{{cite news |title=What F.I.F.A. Really Said |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=26 April 1951 |page=3 }}</ref> An exception was for British Home Championship games,<ref name="it-1950-10-20"/> as a 1923 [[International Football Association Board|IFAB]] agreement at [[Liverpool]] prevented FIFA intervention in relations between the four Home Nations.<ref name="it-1953-11-25">{{cite book | first = Malcolm | last = Brodie |author2=Billy Kennedy | title = The IFA 125 years...the history | publisher = Edenderry print limited | year = 2005 | page = 108 }} {{cite news |title=Politics of Irish Soccer |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=25 November 1953 |page=3 }}</ref> However, the exception would only apply "if the F.A. of Ireland do not object",<ref name="it-1951-04-26"/> and was never availed of. IFA and FAI teams both continued to compete as ''Ireland''. At FIFA's 1953 congress, its Rule 3 was amended so that an international team must use "that title&nbsp;... recognised politically and geographically of the countries or territories".<ref name="it-1953-11-25"/> The FAI initially claimed Rule 3 gave them the right to the name ''Ireland''<ref> {{cite news |title=Two "Irelands" Recognised |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=16 November 1953 |page=3 }}</ref> (see [[names of the Irish state]]), but FIFA subsequently ruled neither team could be referred to as ''Ireland'', decreeing that the FAI team be officially designated as the ''[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]'', while the IFA team was to become ''[[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]''.<ref>{{cite book | title=Football Association of Ireland: 75 years | first=Peter | last=Byrne |year=1996 | location=[[Dublin]] | publisher=Sportsworld | isbn = 1-900110-06-7 | page=68}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fai-history-1930-1959 |title=FAI History 1930−1959 |accessdate=22 May 2015 |publisher=Football Association of Ireland}}</ref> The IFA objected and in 1954 was permitted to continue using the name ''Ireland'' in Home Internationals,<ref>{{cite book | last = Ryan | first = Sean | title = The Boys in Green: the FAI international story | publisher = Mainstream Publishing |year=1997 | location = [[Edinburgh]] | isbn = 1-85158-939-2|page=70}}</ref> based on the 1923 agreement. This practice was discontinued in the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite book | editor = Alan Bairner | chapter = Northern Catholic fans of Republic of Ireland soccer | last = Fulton | first = Gareth | title = Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues | publisher = [[University College Dublin|UCD]] Press |year=2005 | location = Dublin | isbn = 1-904558-33-X | page=146}}</ref> == Home grounds == Up until 1899 Ireland played all their home internationals in [[Belfast]], with their first international being played at [[Bloomfield (Belfast)|Bloomfield]]. Subsequent home games during the 1880s were played at the [[Ulster Cricket Ground]], also known as ''Ballynafeigh Park'', the home of [[Ulster F.C.]]. During the 1890s the [[Solitude (football ground)|Solitude Ground]], the home stadium of [[Cliftonville F.C.|Cliftonville]], hosted 11 home internationals. In the early 20th century occasional internationals were also played at Grosvenor Park, the then home of [[Lisburn Distillery F.C.|Distillery]], and the [[King's Hall, Belfast|Balmoral Showgrounds]]. On 17 March 1900, [[Saint Patrick's Day]], Ireland played their first game in [[Dublin]], losing 0–2 at [[Lansdowne Road]] to [[England national football team|England]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Northern Ireland: International Football Facts |isbn=0-86281-874-5 | last=Hayes |first=Dean |publisher=Appletree |year=2005 |page=156|editor=Jean Brown }}</ref> On 26 March 1904 Ireland played their first game at [[Dalymount Park]], a 1–1 draw with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. Between 1904 and 1913 Dalymount hosted at least one Irish international in the years when Ireland had more than one home match. The other games were played at [[Windsor Park]], completed in 1905. After the [[partition of Ireland]], all subsequent home internationals were played in [[Belfast]], mainly at Windsor Park but occasionally at [[Celtic Park (Belfast)|Celtic Park]], the home of [[Belfast Celtic F.C.|Belfast Celtic]]. == Team colours and emblems == {| style="float:right; border: 1px #aaa solid;" | {{Football kit | pattern_la=|pattern_b=|pattern_ra=| leftarm=006699|body=006699|rightarm=006699|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=006699| title=Usual }} | {{Football kit | pattern_la=|pattern_b=|pattern_ra=| leftarm=FFFFFF|body=FFFFFF|rightarm=FFFFFF|shorts=FFFFFF|socks=FFFFFF| title=Away to Scotland }} |- | colspan=2 align=center | ''Early Ireland colours'' |} <!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:IFA international Cap 1909-1910.png|thumb|left|Irish FA [[cap (sport)|international cap]] in St. Patrick's Blue]] --> From the beginning Ireland wore a variety of colours, including green, white and blue. The first colours were "royal blue jerseys and hose and white knickers".<ref>Garnham, N: ''Association Football and society in pre-partition Ireland'', page 140. Ulster Historical Foundation, 2004</ref> [[St. Patrick's blue]], however, emerged as the established colour from before the [[World War I|First World War]] until September 1931.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} Blue has been a national colour of Ireland since the [[History of Ireland (1169–1536)|Norman era]] and has been used by several other Irish sports teams, including [[Dublin GAA]], [[Leinster Rugby]] and [[Dublin City F.C.|Dublin City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourweecountry.co.uk/whenweworeblue.html |title=When we wore blue |accessdate=23 January 2008|publisher=ourweecountry.co.uk |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927041711/http://www.ourweecountry.co.uk/whenweworeblue.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | first = Malcolm | last = Brodie |author2=Billy Kennedy | title = The IFA 125 years...the history | publisher = Edenderry print limited | year = 2005 | page = 108 }} ([http://www.irishfa.com/the-ifa/news/1840/launch-of-125th-anniversary-book/ IFA info])</ref> In 1931 the shirts were changed to green, the colour still worn by the modern [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] team. The official reason given for the change was to avoid a clash with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]], who also wore blue.<ref>{{cite book |title=Northern Ireland: International Football Facts |isbn=0-86281-874-5 | last=Hayes |first=Dean |publisher=Appletree |year=2005 |page=6|editor=Jean Brown }}</ref> Ireland's initial logo was a stylised [[Celtic cross]] with a harp in the centre, which in a modern form is used by the current team, however this had been replaced in the 1930s until the 1950s with a [[Shamrock]] badge. This change occurred at a time when the IFA was competing with the FAI to have the true Ireland team, and at this time the shamrock was also being worn by the FA of Ireland's international side. == Team selection == ''See {{cl|Pre-1950 IFA international footballers}}'' Selection was the responsibility of a committee, with no individual manager in the modern sense. Coaches were appointed on a match by match basis, among them [[Billy Crone]] (1897), [[Hugh McAteer (footballer)|Hugh McAteer]] (1898, 1899, 1914) and [[Robert Torrans]] (1900). == Honours == ''Up to [[1949–50 British Home Championship|1950]]'' *'''[[British Home Championship]]''' **''Winners'': '''1''' ([[1913–14 British Home Championship|1914]]) **''Shared title'': '''1''' ([[1902–03 British Home Championship|1903]]) **''Runners up'': '''5''' ([[1903–04 British Home Championship|1904]], [[1925–26 British Home Championship|1926]], [[1927–28 British Home Championship|1928]], [[1937–38 British Home Championship|1938]], [[1946–47 British Home Championship|1947]]) == World Cup record == During the preparations for the [[Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Olympic Football Tournament]], [[FIFA]] ruled that all its member associations must provide "broken-time" payments to cover the expenses of players from the country who participated. In response to what they considered to be unacceptable interference, the football associations of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales held a meeting at which they agreed to resign from FIFA.<ref>{{cite web | title=British Society of Sports History | url= http://www.fifa.com/en/development/technical/index/0,1250,7758,00.html?articleid=7758 | publisher=FIFA | date=19 August 1999 | accessdate=31 May 2007 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050904111234/http://fifa.com/en/development/technical/index/0,1250,7758,00.html?articleid=7758 | archivedate=4 September 2005}}</ref> As a result, Ireland did not compete in the first three World Cup competitions. * [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]] – ''Did not enter'' * [[1934 FIFA World Cup|1934]] – ''Did not enter'' * [[1938 FIFA World Cup|1938]] – ''Did not enter'' * [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]] – Did not qualify == See also == * [[Dual Irish international footballers]] * [[Northern Ireland national football team]] * [[Republic of Ireland national football team]] * [[Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil]]: an exhibition match in 1973 between [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and a cross-border team of Irish internationals. == Notes == {{reflist|group=n}} == References == {{Reflist|30em}} == External links == * [http://www.irishfa.com The Irish FA] * '''[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF]]''' ** [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nil-intres.html (Northern) Ireland – International Results] ** [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/bhc1900-14.html#1903 British Home Championship 1903] ** [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesb/bhc1900-14.html#1914 British Home Championship 1914] {{Northern Ireland national football team}} {{Football Ireland}} {{British Home Championship}} {{Football in the United Kingdom}} {{Defunct national football teams}} <includeonly>This article is designed to read equally as both an early history of NI, and an article about a defunct Ireland team, and is hence listed in categories "history" and "defunct"</includeonly> {{DEFAULTSORT:Ireland National Football Team (1882-1950)}} [[Category:Former national association football teams in Europe]] [[Category:Ireland national football team (1882–1950)| ]] [[Category:National sports teams of Ireland|Football]] [[Category:History of association football in Ireland]] [[Category:1882 establishments in Ireland]]'