Wales national football team results (1946–1959)

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The Wales national football team represents Wales in international association football and is governed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

Contents

Matches played

Between 1946 and 1959 the side played 64 matches. Although the majority of these came against the other national teams of the Home Nations in the British Home Championship, Wales also began playing teams from further afield on a regular basis for the first time. Their first competitive fixture following the end of the conflict was a 3–1 victory over Scotland in October 1946. [1]

In 1949, Wales undertook their first European tour in which they played matches against Portugal, Belgium and Switzerland. [2] Although Wales lost all three games, they won the reverse fixtures when all three nations travelled to Wales within the next two years. [1] During the 1951–52 British Home Championship, Wales recorded their highest finish in the British Home Championship during the period by sharing the title with England. [3]

The side also entered the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the 1950 tournament, [4] but failed to qualify for either this or the following competition in which the Home Championship was used to determine the Home Nations qualifiers. [1] The 1958 FIFA World Cup used a randomly drawn qualifying group and, although Wales finished second behind Czechoslovakia, they qualified winning a play-off match against Israel. [5] In the tournament itself, Wales drew all three of their group matches and finished tied on points with Hungary. The two sides took part in a play-off match to determine who would advance to the quarter-final, [6] which Wales won 2–1. [7] Wales were defeated 1–0 by Brazil in the quarter-final. The 1958 tournament remains the only time Wales have qualified for a World Cup as of 2020. [1]

Of the 64 matches Wales played during this period, they won 18. They recorded the most wins over Northern Ireland and their precursors Ireland, [lower-alpha 1] winning 5 of the 13 fixtures between the two. [9] They also defeated Scotland three times, Israel and Portugal twice and had single victories over six other teams. They drew 14 ties and lost the remaining 32. [1] Wales suffered the most defeats against England, losing 10 of the 14 fixtures between the two sides. [10]

Results

Wales' score is shown first in each case. The colours listed below are also used to signify results combined with the scoreline.

Key
Colour (with score)Meaning
Defeat
Draw
Win
John Charles in 1954 prior to a Wales vs Scotland game at Ninian Park John Charles, Wales versus Scotland, Ninian Park, 1954.jpg
John Charles in 1954 prior to a Wales vs Scotland game at Ninian Park
Wales national football team results 1946–1959 [lower-alpha 2]
Match no.DateVenueH/A/NOpponentsScoreCompetitionWales scorersAtt. [lower-alpha 3]
17119 October 1946 Racecourse Ground, WrexhamHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1946–47 British Home Championship Bryn Jones, Trevor Ford, Jimmy Stephen (og)29,568
17213 November 1946 Maine Road, ManchesterAFlag of England.svg  England 1946–47 British Home Championship 59,250
1739 March 1947 Windsor Park, BelfastASaint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland 1946–47 British Home Championship Trevor Ford 43,000
17418 October 1947 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1947–48 British Home Championship 55,000
17512 November 1947 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1947–48 British Home Championship Trevor Ford, George Lowrie 88,000
17610 March 1948 Racecourse Ground, WrexhamHSaint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland 1947–48 British Home Championship George Lowrie, George Edwards 32,310
17723 October 1948 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1948–49 British Home Championship Bryn Jones 59,911
17810 November 1948 Villa Park, BirminghamAFlag of England.svg  England 1948–49 British Home Championship 68,750
17910 March 1949 Windsor Park, BelfastASaint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland 1948–49 British Home Championship George Edwards, Trevor Ford 22,800
18015 May 1949 Estádio Nacional, LisbonAFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Friendly Trevor Ford (2)51,000
18123 May 1949 Stade Maurice Dufrasne, LiègeAFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Friendly Trevor Ford 19,079
18226 May 1949 Wankdorf Stadium, BernAFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Friendly 18,000
18315 October 1949 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1949–50 British Home Championship [lower-alpha 4] Mal Griffiths 61,000
1849 November 1949 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1949–50 British Home Championship 73,782
18523 November 1949 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Friendly Trevor Ford (3), Roy Paul, Roy Clarke 27,988
1868 March 1950 Racecourse Ground, WrexhamHSaint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland 1949–50 British Home Championship 30,000
18721 October 1950 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1950–51 British Home Championship Aubrey Powell 60,000
18815 November 1950 Roker Park, SunderlandAFlag of England.svg  England 1950–51 British Home Championship Trevor Ford (2)50,250
1897 March 1951 Windsor Park, BelfastAUlster Banner.svg  Ireland 1950–51 British Home Championship Roy Clarke (2)12,000
19012 May 1951 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal Friendly Trevor Ford, Mal Griffiths 51,000
19116 May 1951 Racecourse Ground, WrexhamHFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland Friendly Trevor Ford (2), Ron Burgess 18,500
19220 October 1951 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1951–52 British Home Championship Billy Foulkes 51,500
19314 November 1951 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1951–52 British Home Championship Ivor Allchurch 50,250
19419 March 1952 Vetch Field, SwanseaHUlster Banner.svg  Ireland 1951–52 British Home Championship Walley Barnes, Ivor Allchurch, Roy Clarke 30,000
19518 October 1952 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1952–53 British Home Championship Trevor Ford 60,261
19612 November 1952 Wembley Stadium, LondonAFlag of England.svg  England 1952–53 British Home Championship Trevor Ford (2)93,500
19715 April 1953 Windsor Park, BelfastAUlster Banner.svg  Ireland 1952–53 British Home Championship John Charles (2), Trevor Ford 33,000
19814 May 1953 Parc des Princes, ParisAFlag of France.svg  France Friendly Ivor Allchurch 33,020
19921 May 1953 JNA Stadium, BelgradeAFlag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia Friendly Trevor Ford (2)50,000
20010 October 1953 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1953–54 British Home Championship [lower-alpha 5] Ivor Allchurch 61,000
2014 November 1953 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1953–54 British Home Championship John Charles (2), Ivor Allchurch 71,378
20231 March 1954 Racecourse Ground, WrexhamHUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1953–54 British Home Championship John Charles 32,817
2039 May 1954 Praterstadion, ViennaAFlag of Austria.svg  Austria Friendly 58,000
20422 September 1954 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia Friendly Ivor Allchurch 20,000
20516 October 1954 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1954–55 British Home Championship 53,000
20610 November 1954 Wembley Stadium, LondonAFlag of England.svg  England 1954–55 British Home Championship John Charles (2)89,789
20720 April 1955 Windsor Park, BelfastAUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1954–55 British Home Championship John Charles (3)28,000
20822 October 1955 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1955–56 British Home Championship Derek Tapscott, Cliff Jones 60,000
2099 November 1955 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1955–56 British Home Championship 53,887
21023 November 1955 Racecourse Ground, WrexhamHFlag of Austria.svg  Austria Friendly Derek Tapscott 39,000
21111 April 1956 Ninian Park, CardiffHUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1955–56 British Home Championship Roy Clarke 37,510
21220 October 1956 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1956–57 British Home Championship Trevor Ford, Terry Medwin 60,000
21314 November 1956 Wembley Stadium, LondonAFlag of England.svg  England 1956–57 British Home Championship John Charles 93,796
21410 April 1957 Windsor Park, BelfastAUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1956–57 British Home Championship 30,000
2151 May 1957 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia Roy Vernon 33,320
21619 May 1957 Zentralstadion, LeipzigAFlag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Mel Charles 100,000
21726 May 1957 Stadion Letná, PragueAFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 45,000
21825 September 1957 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of East Germany.svg  East Germany Des Palmer (3), Cliff Jones 16,098
21919 October 1957 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1957–58 British Home Championship 58,000
22013 November 1957 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1957–58 British Home Championship Terry Medwin 42,918
22115 January 1958 Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan AFlag of Israel.svg  Israel Len Allchurch, Dave Bowen 55,000
2225 February 1958 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Israel.svg  Israel Ivor Allchurch, Cliff Jones 38,000
22316 April 1958 Ninian Park, CardiffHUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1957–58 British Home Championship Ron Hewitt 25,667
2248 June 1958 Jernvallen, SandvikenNFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary John Charles 20,000
22511 June 1958 Råsunda Stadium, SolnaNFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico Ivor Allchurch 25,000
22615 June 1958 Råsunda Stadium, SolnaAFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 35,000
22717 June 1958 Råsunda Stadium, SolnaNFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Ivor Allchurch, Terry Medwin 20,000
22819 June 1958 Råsunda Stadium, SolnaNFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 25,000
22918 October 1958 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1958–59 British Home Championship 59,162
23026 November 1958 Villa Park, BirminghamAFlag of England.svg  England 1958–59 British Home Championship Derek Tapscott, Ivor Allchurch 40,500
23122 April 1959 Windsor Park, BelfastAUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1958–59 British Home Championship Derek Tapscott 45,000
23217 October 1959 Ninian Park, CardiffHFlag of England.svg  England 1959–60 British Home Championship Graham Moore 60,000
2334 November 1959 Hampden Park, GlasgowAFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1959–60 British Home Championship John Charles 55,813

Head to head records

Head to head records
OpponentPWDLGFGAW%D%L%
Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 20021400100
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 21016450050
Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 10010100100
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia 21011250050
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 21015350050
Flag of England.svg  England 141310133972171
Flag of France.svg  France 10011600100
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 21103150500
Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg  Ireland 411234252550
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 22004010000
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 10101101000
Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 94321513443322
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 32014467033
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 143471625212950
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 10100001000
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 21013650050
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 20022800100
Totals641814327812128.1321.8850

Notes

  1. The team referred to as Ireland which competed in the Home Championship represented the Belfast-based Irish Football Association (IFA). Following the partition of Ireland, both that body and the Dublin-based Football Association of Ireland (FAI) contended that their respective national teams represented the entirety of Ireland. FIFA ruled in 1953 that neither team could be referred to simply as "Ireland". [8]
  2. Table information sourced from the references listed in the statistics section below.
  3. Due to the unavailability of exact figures, some attendance numbers are given as recorded estimates.
  4. The 1949–50 British Home Championship was also used to determine which of the Home Nations would qualify for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. [4]
  5. The 1953–54 British Home Championship was also used to determine which of the Home Nations would qualify for the 1954 FIFA World Cup. [11]

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References

Statistics
Bibliography
Footnotes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nygård, Jostein. "International matches of Wales". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. Stead 2013 , pp. 143–144
  3. Reyes, Macario; Morrison, Neil. "British Home Championship 1947–1966". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 Stead 2013, p. 146
  5. Stead 2013 , pp. 165–166
  6. "Three U.K. Teams in World Cup Play-offs" . The Times. 16 June 1958. p. 3. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2020 via The Times Digital Archive.
  7. Stead 2013 , pp. 169–171
  8. "FAI History chapter 6 – FIFA rules on Irish issue". Football Association of Ireland. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  9. "Wales national football team: record v Ireland". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  10. "Wales national football team: record v England". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  11. Reyes, Macario; Morrison, Neil. "British Home Championship 1947–1966". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2020.