First international association football match, England v Scotland

Background. The Oval in London was an important site for football development. The Football Association organized five representative matches between England and Scotland from 1870 to 1872. These fixtures were advertised in Scottish newspapers, but the players selected for the Scottish team were limited to those playing under FA rules, who were largely based in London.

Match Details. The first match took place on 5 March 1870. At half-time, the score was 0–0, and the teams changed ends, a rule described as new by The Sporting Gazette. Scotland subsequently took the lead through a goal by Robert Crawford after England moved their goalkeeper upfield. The match ultimately ended in a 1–1 draw.

Recognition. FIFA does not recognize the 1870 match as an official international because the Scotland team was selected only from London-based Scottish players. The FA minutes from October 1872 noted that the right to play was open to every Scotchman, but the representative eleven consisted chiefly of Anglo-Scotians.