Today I'm going back 33 years to 1989 and the Friendly International played at the old Wembley Stadium. The match was billed as being part of "The Rous Cup" which was essentially a competition that replaced the British Home International Championship when it ended in 1984. The attendance at Wembley that evening was just 15,628, a record low for an England game at Wembley probably due to a strike by London Underground staff but, then again, the Chile side was hardly chock full of household names with most of their team drawn from Chilean domestically-based players. Rather helpfully, the map of South America shown on the cover of that night's programme indicates (in yellow) the position of Chile for those with poor geographical knowledge.
The Rous Cup, named after former secretary of the FA and FIFA President Sir Stanley Rous, lasted only five years before it too was abandoned essentially due to the rising tide of hooliganism that had attached itself to the annual fixture between England and Scotland. For the first two years of the Rous Cup (1985 and 1986), England and Scotland contested the Cup as a one off fixture but for three years (1987-1989) a third South American country was invited to join England and Scotland in a round robin League format. In 1987 Brazil were invited, followed by Colombia in 1988 and, finally, in 1989 Chile met England and Scotland at Wembley and Hampden Park respectively. Chile certainly had novelty value because this was the first time that England had ever played Chile on home soil and was only their fourth meeting ever. The Chileans have visited twice more since 1989 (in 1998 and 2013) and hold the remarkable record of never having lost in England (two wins and this draw).
Although the game finished goalless, the highlights video (attached to my blog) shows a game of numerous chances with most of them falling to England. My favorite player of the time, Chris Waddle, had a particularly good game. This was England's 645th international ever and was manager Bobby Robson's 76th match in charge en route to the 1990 World Cup finals where England would go on to do so well.
England's starting eleven is remarkable in terms of the clubs from which the players were drawn. Not a single Liverpool or Arsenal player appeared because the two sides were due to meet later in the week in a Championship decider at Anfield. Only Bryan Robson was there to represent Manchester United. Instead there were four Nottingham Forest players (Stuart Pearce, Neil Webb, Des Walker and, making his debut, Nigel Clough), Gascoigne and Waddle from Spurs, Rangers' Terry Butcher, Paul Parker from QPR and Derby County's Peter Shilton who was equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's 106 cap all-time England appearances record.
Completing the England line-up that night was another debutant: John Fashanu who became the first Wimbledon player to represent England. "Fash the Bash", as he was styled in the tabloid press, made just two appearances for England without scoring and was also eligible to play for Nigeria. Fashanu didn't have an easy childhood and spent time in a Barnados Children's home before being brought up by foster parents in Norfolk. The Norfolk connection perhaps explains why Fashanu and his older brother Justin joined Norwich City. John would make just seven Football League appearances for Norwich and only really established his name and reputation after joining Wimbledon in 1986. Between 1986 and 1994 Fashanu would go on to make 276 football League appearances for the Dons scoring 107 goals. Karate black belt Fashanu fitted in well at Wimbledon with his highly aggressive and robust physical style as a prominent member of the Wimbledon "Crazy Gang". I was never enamored with that style however especially when he fractured the skull and eye socket of Tottenham's skipper Gary Mabbutt in a disgusting aerial challenge. You can't tell me that that wasn't deliberate and that he's "not that sort of player". Following the end of his playing career, Fashanu has made his name in television on shows such as Gladiators and I'm a Celebrity.
Four days later on the following Saturday, England went to Hampden Park and beat Scotland 2-0 with goals from Chris Waddle and Steve Bull to win the tournament (Scotland beat Chile to finish second). Since there were no further editions of the Rous Cup, England remain as the current holders of the trophy and perhaps they always will. Makes you proud doesn't it?
CRB Match No. 615
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