Considering there is less than 100 miles of water between the countries, it is surprising that the national football teams have met so rarely.
Since they first played in Dalymount Park 80 years ago, the Republic of Ireland and England have met just 19 times, the same number of games Ireland have played against Switzerland, Norway, Wales and France, and fewer than against Germany, Holland, Poland and Spain.
As ten of the 19 were in competition, the number of friendlies is even smaller. While their fans have not always behaved themselves, it is still astonishing that the FAI has extended the hand just four times to a near-neighbour. The FA has not been much better since Ireland’s famous win at Goodison Park in 1949. There was an invite to Wembley in 1964 but the next didn’t come for another 12 years.
It was a game fraught with significance, with the England boss Don Revie renewing acquaintance with Johnny Giles, whom he signed for Leeds United in 1963 and managed for 11 seasons and who was now Ireland player-manager.
Giles with his former manager Don Revie, who managed him for 11 seasons at Leeds United
The game was set for September 8, 50 years ago this week, pitched as the first step on the road to the Argentina World Cup, a warm-up for important qualifiers. Ireland had yet to play in a finals tournament, but England had failed to qualify for the most recent, just eight years after winning it.
Both sides had enforced changes, with England captain Gerry Francis and forward Mick Channon injured, but Roy McFarland returned after a back injury.
Teenager Ray Wilkins came in for his second cap, while Charlie George eventually got a call up, having been shunned by Alf Ramsay when he was at his best with Arsenal.
England striker Trevor Brooking tangles with Ireland’s Paddy Mulligan at Wembley in 1976
For Ireland, Noel Campbell was not released by his club Fortuna Cologne so Jimmy Conway of Manchester City was drafted in, while Frank Stapleton had a knock that kept him from a possible debut alongside 18-year-old Arsenal teammate David O’Leary.
The game took place at the end of one of the hottest summers until the past decade. As Campbell discovered, clubs held sway over national sides in terms of availability. And, incredibly, four Irish players were required for a League Cup replay 48 hours before the game. Giles, Paddy Mulligan and Mick Martin (West Brom) and Liverpool’s Steve Heighway had to miss training, play at Anfield and dash down the motorway to join the team.
Training was taken on Monday by goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly and FAI national director of coaching John Jarman.
Rumours were rife that Giles, who had retired that spring, was considering a return, which irked Peter Byrne of the Irish Times: ‘There has been some talk in London, hopefully loose, that Giles himself is contemplating a return to international football in this game. Frankly I believe it would be a retrograde step if the manager were to renege on his decision of last April to quit international competition and the feeling in the team camp last night was that he would stick to his word.’
Giles had retired earlier in the year but made a comeback ‘in the best interests of the team’
However, on the day of the game Byrne reported that Giles was poised for a dramatic return. The West Brom player manager said: ‘I was approached by several people whose judgement I respect, among them Noel Cantwell, with a view to making a comeback in the Irish side and eventually I decided it was in the best interests of the team that I should.’
After the game there was near unanimous approval, with the 36-year-old stabilising his team in the early phases and going on to dominate midfield.
In the second minute Don Givens headed narrowly wide from a Mulligan cross, and midway through the half Liam Brady broke through only to hit the side netting.
Two minutes before the break Kevin Keegan and George played a one-two, before Keegan crossed from the right and found Stuart Pearson at the near post where he got ahead of Mulligan and turned the ball in past Walsall keeper Mick Kearns, the only Irish player not playing in the top division in England.
The hosts were flattered to be leading, but just before the hour mark Ireland equalised. Jimmy Holmes fed Heighway out on the left and his run into the angle of the box beat two men before he was fouled.
England defender Colin Todd tackles Republic of Ireland striker Terry Conroy in the 1976 clash
Gerry Daly, who went on to be one of the most successful penalty takers in England, had never scored for Ireland before. But the 22-year-old stepped up to send Ray Clemence the wrong way to cheer the 8,000 travelling support among the 51,000 crowd.
Ireland continued to create, Terry Conroy heading over before a kick in the face meant he had to wear a bloodied head bandage for the rest of the game. Givens then shot tamely wide.
In what would have been a travesty, Keegan had a chance to win it for England in the last minute but O’Leary’s well-timed tackle saved the day.
Debutant David O’Leary denied Kevin Keegan in the last minute with a well-timed tackle
Peter Byrne was contrite in his report, saying that ‘under the able generalship of Giles [Ireland] matched the English team in every facet of the game.
‘Giles, like a pocket Napoleon, dictated the tempo of the game when we most needed a stabilising influence in the opening 15 minutes and while those immaculate 30 yard passes of yesteryear seldom materialised, his leadership was at all times profound.’
Giles himself explained later: ‘I reasoned that I could do a useful job for the Irish team at Wembley and in all humility, I think I proved the point out on the field.’
Programme of historic match
The FAI netted £25,000 from the game, and the promise of a return in Dublin the following year, although the next friendly between the two countries, a 2-1 win for the hosts, only took place at Wembley in March 1985.
Revie lasted less than a year more, resigning to take the job with UAE and receiving a ten-year ban from the FA. Giles continued as Ireland manager for another 3½ years.
Neither Ireland nor England qualified for Argentina 1978.
ENGLAND (4/3/3): Clemence, Todd, Cherry, Greenhoff, McFarland, Madeley, Keegan (capt), Wilkins, Pearson, Brooking, George (Hill 65).
IRELAND (4/3/3): Kearns, Mulligan, Holmes, Martin, O’Leary, Brady, Daly, Conroy, Heighway, Giles (capt), Givens.
