Home Championships to return?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

The British Home Championship is set to return to the calendar for the first time since 1984, the BBC understands.

The catalyst for its revival comes from Vauxhall, which is set to announce the first of four sponsorship deals with the Home Nations at Wembley on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland won the last British Championship before concerns about crowd trouble and fixture congestion saw the competition discontinued.

The most likely date for the tournament's comeback is 2013.

The annual competition was a mainstay of the British schedule for 100 years, with England and Scotland the dominant forces.

But the growing importance of the European Championship and World Cup made it appear old-fashioned and parochial. This view was particularly prevalent at the Football Association, where successive England managers made it clear they wanted to play stronger overseas opposition.

The interruption of the 1980-81 competition by the Troubles in Northern Ireland did not help the championship's cause, nor did repeated bouts of hooliganism.

When England and Scotland fielded weakened teams in 1983-84, the British Home Championship was effectively finished.

Recent years, however, have witnessed calls for its return, with only the FA remaining opposed. But that is about to change for three important reasons.

The first is that years of uninspiring friendly internationals have left England fans - and managers - eager for a return to the fierce competition of the home internationals.

The second is fears about crowd trouble have waned as England have played British rivals in recent qualifiers for the European Championship and World Cup without too many problems - Wales host England, for example, in Cardiff on 26 March.

And the third is that Vauxhall - keen to be known as "the driving force of British football" - wants this to happen and has considerable leverage with the FA and its counterparts in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The FA's finances have been hit hard in recent years by the expense of rebuilding Wembley and the implosion of its broadcast partner Setanta. This has come at a time when the governing body has spent heavily on the likes of Fabio Capello and making a bid for the 2018 World Cup.

A precarious position looked to have taken a turn for the worse when the FA turned down a £20m offer from financial services firm Nationwide to renew its 11-year association with the national team - the FA had hoped to get more money following a good showing at the 2010 World Cup.

The South African campaign ended in ignominy but the Vauxhall deal is expected to be an improvement on Nationwide's offer, with the return of the Home Internationals as the quid pro quo.

In truth, this should not be too much of an imposition as Capello has already hinted he would like the games to return and all four home nations could do with the upswing in interest the games would undoubtedly bring.

In fact, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have already agreed to play a Home Championship-style event, with Ireland taking England's place. The Nations Cup starts in Dublin next month, with all six games taking place at the Aviva Stadium. The final game between Ireland and Scotland is on 27 May.

The BBC understands the details of a revived British Championship are yet to be sorted out but it is likely to follow the format used by rugby union's Six Nations, with home advantage in alternate years. Inviting Ireland to take part is also a possibility.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) said it would welcome any discussions about the revival of the famous tournament.

An SFA spokesperson said: "We haven't been consulted yet but it is an interesting idea and we would obviously hope to be part of any discussions should the opportunity come along."

And the Football Association of Wales added: "[We] would be delighted if the British Home Championships were to return."

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http://news.bbc.co.u...all/9355809.stm

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Sounds like a great idea! Would give England a chance to rebuild the bloody team properly.

[Ollie 4,400]

That would be brilliant if it happens, specially for the 3 opposing teams that can't qualify for major tournaments . Still waiting to see us do Scotland because last time we played them, they beat us at wembley in a euro2000 qualifier (although we went through). Still gets to me a bit a decade on lol, oh and Northern Ireland beat us in like 2006 or whenever the hell that was. Historic tournament, bring it on.

Edited January 10, 2011 by OllieCFC

[Fulham Broadway 16,862]

It got stopped because it was getting out of hand.

England v Scotland for instance 1977, the fans at the end of the clip

[Drogba11CFC 108]

Good, another competition for England to lose.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

It got stopped because it was getting out of hand.

I was going to say "at least fans are more civilized now"

..Then I remembered how one of the Stevenage players got punched this weekend

[Tomo 21,733]

It dont sound to bad an idea but how would they fit it all in?

Would they play each other twice (both home and away) or all once(if you play a team home 1 year you play them away the next and vice versa, like the rugby 6 nations or they swap around hosting the tounament (ie England 1 year Scotland the next etcetc)?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Football fans (for the most part), seem to express their passion through other methods now (namely getting pissed before a game).

Plus stadia are so policed much more efficiently nowadays, such a riot is unlikely to happen.

[Fulham Broadway 16,862]

If we get 50-80 000 sweatys in Wembley again, and they win, it'll be Ultimate Crossbar Challenge again......

Theres something about that fixture that brings out the Braveheart in them, and winning at Wembley, =carnage.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I'd love it if these came back. I'm too young to have experienced the home championships (they finished 9 years before I was born), but my dad remembers how great they were. I'm a staunch patriot and massively proud to be English. I don't think there is anything near national pride left in this country en masse, however, so I think these championships would be great for our national identity.

I don't have a tattoo on my arm saying 'Made in England' for nothing, I love this country and I'd love to see us play the Scots and the Irish especially.

[zolayes 14,489]

I'd love it if these came back. I'm too young to have experienced the home championships (they finished 9 years before I was born), but my dad remembers how great they were. I'm a staunch patriot and massively proud to be English. I don't think there is anything near national pride left in this country en masse, however, so I think these championships would be great for our national identity.

be much better than many pointless friendlies we play ...at least players would have to show passion ,,,and no long air travel as well..

[Ollie 4,400]

definitely, warm up games that actually mean something. When the brits collide against each other, there's nothing like it. England, Wales and Northern Ireland were all in the same world cup 2006 qualifying group and those games were great, specially in the crowd. Real passion, bit like the Rugby 6 nations (still wish it was 4). It means something.

Fuck these pointless, un-needed and mediocre friendlies that everyone pulls out of and can't be arsed to play in.

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

In the words of Kevin Keegan, which ive slightly..erm..changed..

I'd love it if that happened.. Love it!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

In the words of Kevin Keegan, which ive slightly..erm..changed..

I'd love it if that happened.. Love it!

Hahaha I get it! Ah Keegan.. What a legend he was for that outburst

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Hahaha I get it! Ah Keegan.. What a legend he was for that outburst

Lol. indeed mate. still makes me laugh now everytime i hear it.

[Madmax 9,219]

In the words of Kevin Keegan, which ive slightly..erm..changed..

I'd love it if that happened.. Love it!

Surely you mean "looov" it?!?

[TrueChelseaBlue 105]

Surely you mean "looov" it?!?

That's the one mate lol

[Ollie 4,400]

I watched that live, never realised how legendary the outburst would be lol. Was the act of a desperate man who'd thrown away a 12 point lead and lost out on the title lol. Woulda been better if Boro beat man utd and newcastle won the league but shame lol.

I heard that Scotland don't want to be in the home nations and Rep. Ireland would replace them if that's the case. The home nations is not the home nations without an England vs Scotland match. Really want an England - Scotland match.