Skip to main content

Northern Ireland Junior International Results (1890-1994)

- Friendlies - Quadrangular Tournament - UEFA Regions' Cup -
- vs Scotland & Wales - Others -
- Results - Match Details - PlayersProgrammes -

The annual Junior International series between Ireland and Scotland began in 1890 and has run almost continuously since, though now as part of the Quadrangular Tournament. In 1946 Willie Maley, of Celtic fame, donated a new trophy to be competed for by Scotland and Ireland's Junior sides. The first edition of the Maley Cup, played over two legs, was won 5-4 on aggregate by Scotland. Thereafter the trophy was awarded to the winner of the annual match. The current status of the Maley Cup is unknown. 

Junior refers not to age, but to the level at which the players play their club football. It could roughly be equated to the English non-league, though in terms of the structure of football in Northern Ireland this also includes senior teams' reserve sides. 

Similar matches were also played on occasion against both Wales and the Republic of Ireland (the matches against the south however were considered as "representative" rather than "international" fixtures). The Republic of Ireland are now also part of the Quadrangular tournament.

Many players graduated from Junior internationals to win Amateur and even Full caps. Junior players who went on to win senior caps include: Norman Uprichard, Iam McFaul, George Dunlop, Tommy Wright, Dick Keith, Alf McMichael, John Parke, Tommy Jackson, Jimmy Hill, Dave Sloan, Lee Doherty, Eddie McMorran, Joe Bambrick, John Jamison, Des Dickson, Tommy Stewart and Martin McGaughey.

Junior Ireland 3-0 Junior Scotland, Cliftonville, 6th March 1948
Standing: Sloan (Dundela), H. Wilson (North West), R. Bell (North East), Hughes (Larne), Tweed (Belfast Celtic II), Beggs (Linfield Swifts), Uprichard (Distillery II), Todd (Brantwood), Wilson (Distillery II), W. Martin (referee), H. Elder (trainer)
Seated: W. Owens (Vice-Chairman), Dubois (Linfield Swifts), McAlea (Ballymoney United), Newberry (Belfast Celtic II), Crother (Ballymoney United), Taylor (Ballymena United), J. Magee (Chairman) 

Opponent
P
W
D
L
F
A
Scotland
85
16
24
45
128
209
Wales
8
2
2
4
14
21
93
18
26
49
142
230



1890
Scotland
Hibernian Park
A
L
0
11
1891
Scotland
Ulsterville
H
D
1
1
1892
Scotland
Douglas Park
A
L
3
6
1893
Scotland
Belfast
H
L
1
4
1894
Scotland
Broomfield Park
A
L
2
6
1895
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
L
3
4
1896
Scotland
Kelburn Park
A
L
1
2
1897
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
L
1
3
1898
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
L
0
3
1899
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
W
1
0
1900
Scotland
Kelburn Park
A
D
2
2
1901
Scotland
Belfast
H
L
0
3
1902
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
L
0
5
1903
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
L
0
4
1904
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
L
1
4
1905
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
L
1
3
1906
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
L
0
2
1907
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
W
4
0
1908
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
D
3
3
1909
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
L
1
2
1910
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
D
2
2
1911
Scotland
Belfast
H
D
1
1
1912
Scotland
Cappielow
A
L
0
2
1913
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
W
3
0
1914
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
1
2
1915
Scotland
Windsor Park
H
D
1
1
1916
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
0
2
1917
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
W
2
0
1918
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
0
1
1919
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
D
1
1
1920
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
1
3
1921
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
W
1
0
1922
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
D
0
0
1923
Scotland
Dens Park
A
L
0
4
1924
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
W
2
1
1925
Scotland
Tynecastle
A
D
2
2
1926
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
W
5
3
1927
Scotland
Tynecastle
A
D
3
3
1928
Scotland
Solitude
H
W
2
1
1929
Scotland
Tynecastle
A
L
1
3
1930
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
D
2
2
1931
Scotland
Tynecastle
A
L
2
4
1932
Scotland
Solitude
H
W
2
1
1933
Scotland
Celtic Park
A
L
2
5
1934
Scotland
Solitude
H
D
2
2
1935
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
0
1
1936
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
W
4
0
1937
Scotland
Ibrox
A
L
0
3
1938
Scotland
Solitude
H
D
3
3
1939
Scotland
Tynecastle
A
L
0
3
1946
Scotland
Solitude
H
W
3
2
1946
Scotland
Tynecastle
A
L
1
3
1947
Scotland
Firhill
A
D
2
2
1948
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
W
3
0
1949
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
0
1
1950
Scotland
Grosvenor Park
H
D
2
2
1951
Scotland
Firhill
A
D
4
4
1952
Scotland
Windsor Park
H
L
0
2
1953
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
1
5
1954
Scotland
Windsor Park
H
W
3
1
1955
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
0
1
1956
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
L
1
3
1957
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
2
3
1958
Scotland
Belfast
H
W
2
1
1959
Scotland
Firhill
A
L
0
5
1960
Scotland
Cliftonville
H
D
1
1
1961
Scotland
Fir Park
A
L
0
2
1962
Scotland
Newtownards
H
L
1
4
1963
Scotland
Firhill
A
D
1
1
1964
Scotland
Belfast
H
L
3
6
1965
Scotland
Rugby Park
A
L
2
3
1966
Scotland
Belfast
H
L
0
2
1967
Scotland
Firhill
A
D
5
5
1968
Scotland
The Oval
H
D
3
3
1969
Scotland
Bo'ness
A
W
4
2
1970
Scotland
Coleraine
H
-
P
P
1971
Scotland
Western Park
A
L
2
3
1979
Scotland
Larne
H
D
1
1
1980
Scotland
Newlandsfield
A
D
2
2
1981
Scotland
no match
-
-
-
-
1982
Scotland
Carrickfergus
H
D
0
0
1983
Scotland
Hannahs Park
A
L
3
4
1984
Scotland
no match
-
-
-
-
1985
Scotland
Chimney Corner
H
W
3
0
1986
Scotland
Cumnock
A
D
2
2
1992
Scotland
Ballyskeagh
H
L
0
4
1993
Scotland
Auchenleck
A
L
1
4
1994
Scotland
Loughgall
H
L
0
1
Unknown Bangor player's shirt


1925
Wales
-
-
L
1
4
1926
Wales
-
-
L
0
3
1927
Wales
-
-
W
3
2
1928
Wales
-
-
D
2
2
1929
Wales
Celtic Park
H
W
3
1
1930
Wales
-
-
D
2
2
1990
Wales*
Bangor
H
L
0
3
1991
Wales*
Flint
A
L
3
4
Unknown Bangor player's cap

* team fielded by the North Wales Coast FA

Sources:
Centenary History of Scottish Junior Football (1886-1986)
Irish Association Football Guides
Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook
Scottish Football Historical Archive
ScottishLeague.net
Roy Cathcart (cigarette card, shirt and cap pictures)

Correction/additions welcome as always!

Comments