In the 1890s England's strength in depth, along with their superiority over Wales and Ireland was such that they were able to play these countries simultaneously. Although not popular with their opponents, England did this on 3 occasions:
15.03.1890
Ireland - 1 England - 9 (Belfast).
This was the ninth meeting of the two sides, up to that date England's record was won 8, for 56, against 3 .
This was England's first entirely professional XI:
Bob Roberts (West Bromwich Albion)
Dick Baugh (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Charlie Mason (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Jack Barton (Blackburn Rovers)*
Charlie Perry (West Bromwich Albion)*
Jimmy Forrest (Blackburn Rovers-) cpt
Joe Lofthouse (Blackburn Rovers)
Kenny Davenport (Bolton Wanderers)
Fred Geary (Everton)*
Nat Walton (Blackburn Rovers)*
Billy Townley (Blackburn Rovers)
*debutants.
England maintained their tradition of outclassing Ireland. Fred Geary got a hattrick on his international debut. Kenny Davenport and Billy Townley got 2 apiece and Barton and Lofthouse a goal each.
Jack Reynolds was in the Ireland team that day, scoring their goal. He would later be capped by England.
Fred Geary- hattrick on debut
At the same time a mixed amateur and professional XI beat Wales 3-1 at The Racecourse, Wrexham. This was their 12th encounter, England's record being a more modest won 8 lost 2 drawn 1.
The England team was:
Billy Moon (Old Westminsters)
Arthur Melmoth Walters (Old Carthusians),
Percy Melmoth Walters (Old Carthusians) –cpt
Albert Fletcher (Wolverhampton Wanderers),
Johnny Holt (Everton )*
Alf Shelton (Notts County)
Billy Bassett (West Bromwich Albion)
Edmund Samuel Currey* (Old Carthusians)*
Tinsley Lindley (Nottingham Forest)
Harry Wood (Wolverhampton Wanderers)*
Harry Daft (Notts County)
*debutants.
Wales took a first half lead but goals from Currey (2) and Lindley won it for England. Play was held up several times due to spectators encroaching on the pitch.
The British Home Championship was shared by England and Scotland.
07.03.1891
England 6- Ireland -1 (Molineux Grounds, Wolverhampton)
Billy Rose (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Thomas Marsden (Darwen)
Alf Underwood (Stoke )
Jem Bayliss (West Bromwich Albion)
Charlie Perry (West Bromwich Albion)
John Brodie (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Billy Bassett (West Bromwich Albion)
George Huth Cotterill (Cambridge University)
Tinsley Lindley (Nottingham Forest)
Arthur George Henfrey (Cambridge University)
Harry Butler Daft (Notts County)
England maintained their record of registering emphatic wins over Ireland, scoring 3 in each half. England captain Tinsley Lindley scored his 13th and 14th goals for England in his 13th and final international. He remained England's highest scorer until 1898.
England 4- Wales -1 (Newcastle Road, Sunderland)
Leonard Rodwell Wilkinson (Oxford University)*
Elphinstone Jackson (Oxford University) *
Tom Porteous (Sunderland ) *
Albert Smith (Nottingham Forest)*
Johnny Holt (Everton )
Alf Shelton (Notts Count )
George Brann (Swifts)
John Goodall (Derby County) capt.
Jack Southworth (Blackburn Rovers)
Edgar Chadwick (Everton )*
Alf Milward (Everton )*
England were 4-0 by half time. England - John Goodall ('headed' 7), Jack Southworth ('goalkeeper allowed to slip through his hands' 30), Arthur Chadwick ('header' 35), Alf Milward ('from a scrimmage in front of goal' 37)
England won The British Home Championship.
05.03.1892
Ireland -0 England -2 ( Belfast)
Billy Rowley* (Stoke)
Alf Underwood (Stoke)
Tommy Clare (Stoke)
Jack Cox (Derby County)
Johnny Holt (Everton)
Mick Whitham (Sheffield United )
Charlie Athersmith (Aston Villa)
John Pearson (Crewe Alexandra)
Jack Devey (Aston Villa )
Dennis Hodgetts (Aston Villa)
Harry Daft (Notts County)
No captain has been definitively identified for this match
Ireland registered a more respectable score, despite playing most of the match with just ten men, following an injury. Rowley had the distinction of saving the first ever penalty kick in international football.
Wales -0 England -2 (The Racecourse, Wrexham)
George Toone (Notts County)
ATB Dunn (Cambridge University) capt
Harry Lilley (Sheffield United)
Anthony Henry Hossack (Corinthians)
William Norman Winckworth (Old Westminsters)
George Kinsey (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Cunliffe Gosling (Old Etonians)
George Huth Cotterill (Cambridge University)
Arthur George Henfrey (Corinthians)
Joe Schofield (Stoke)
Rupert Renorden Sandilands (Old Westminsters)
This game saw the debut of Cunliffe Gosling- 'The richest man to play for England'.
England retained The British Home Championship
