Progression of England association football goalscoring record
Encyclopedia
This is a progressive list of association footballers who have held or co-held the record for international goals for the England national football team
, beginning with William Kenyon-Slaney
who scored the first ever international goal. He scored twice in the second international game played, the first game having finished 0-0.
One point of note is that early matches by the England Amateur side
were played against the full national side of opponents. These matches are counted as full internationals by the IFFHS and the opposing FAs, though not by the (English) FA
. This affects Vivian Woodward
, who scored 29 goals 23 in full internationals and a further 44 in amateur internationals. This article uses the Football Association's definition, and therefore excludes goals scored in Woodward's international amateur appearances.
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, beginning with William Kenyon-Slaney
William Kenyon-Slaney
William Slaney Kenyon-Slaney , sportsman, soldier and politician.Kenyon-Slaney was born in Rajkot in Gujarat in India, the son of Captain William Kenyon of the 2nd Bombay cavalry and Frances Catherine Slaney, daughter of Robert A. Slaney of Shropshire...
who scored the first ever international goal. He scored twice in the second international game played, the first game having finished 0-0.
Criteria
For the early decades, records of players appearances and goals were often considered unreliable. RSSSF and IFFHS have spent much effort trying to produce definitive lists of full international matches, and corresponding data on players' international caps and goals. Using this data, the following records can be retrospectively produced. Note that, at the time, these records may not have been recognised.One point of note is that early matches by the England Amateur side
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
were played against the full national side of opponents. These matches are counted as full internationals by the IFFHS and the opposing FAs, though not by the (English) FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
. This affects Vivian Woodward
Vivian Woodward
Vivian John Woodward was an English amateur football player who enjoyed the peak of his career in the late 1900s and early 1910s.-Club career:...
, who scored 29 goals 23 in full internationals and a further 44 in amateur internationals. This article uses the Football Association's definition, and therefore excludes goals scored in Woodward's international amateur appearances.
England record
| Player | Goals | Date | William Kenyon-Slaney William Kenyon-Slaney William Slaney Kenyon-Slaney , sportsman, soldier and politician.Kenyon-Slaney was born in Rajkot in Gujarat in India, the son of Captain William Kenyon of the 2nd Bombay cavalry and Frances Catherine Slaney, daughter of Robert A. Slaney of Shropshire... | 2 | 1873-03-08 | 4-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
2 | 1879-04-05 | 5-4 | Jointly with Kenyon-Slaney | |
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
4 | 1880-03-13 | 4-5 | Bambridge scored twice in this game | |
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
5 | 1881-03-12 | 1-6 | ||
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
6 | 1882-02-18 | 13-0 | ||
| Howard Vaughton Howard Vaughton Oliver Howard Vaughton was an English international footballer who played as an inside left.He played as a forward for Aston Villa before the Football League was formed between 1880 and 1888. He was part of Villa's first FA Cup final victory in 1887... |
6 | 1882-03-11 | 1-5 | Jointly with Bambridge | |
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
7 | 1883-02-03 | 5-0 | ||
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
9 | 1884-02-23 | 8-1 | Bambridge scored twice in this game | |
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
10 | 1885-02-28 | 4-0 | ||
| Charles Bambridge Charles Bambridge Edward Charles Bambridge was an English footballer who made eighteen appearances as a left winger for England between 1879 and 1887, being appointed captain twice. He was one of three brothers who played for England.... |
11 | 1885-03-21 | 1-1 | ||
| Tinsley Lindley Tinsley Lindley Tinsley Lindley was an English footballer. He was considered one of the 19th century's great centre forwards. His passes and shots at goal were very precise, he was very clever and an excellent team player. An elegant and technically superb player.He was the son of Leonard Lindley who was a lace... |
11 | 1888-03-31 | 5-1 | Jointly with Bambridge | |
| Fred Dewhurst Fred Dewhurst Fred Dewhurst was a professional footballer, who played as an inside forward for Preston North End in the late 19th century... |
11 | 1889-02-23 | 4-1 | Jointly with Bambridge and Lindley | |
| Tinsley Lindley Tinsley Lindley Tinsley Lindley was an English footballer. He was considered one of the 19th century's great centre forwards. His passes and shots at goal were very precise, he was very clever and an excellent team player. An elegant and technically superb player.He was the son of Leonard Lindley who was a lace... |
12 | 1890-03-15 | 3-1 | ||
| Tinsley Lindley Tinsley Lindley Tinsley Lindley was an English footballer. He was considered one of the 19th century's great centre forwards. His passes and shots at goal were very precise, he was very clever and an excellent team player. An elegant and technically superb player.He was the son of Leonard Lindley who was a lace... |
14 | 1891-03-07 | 6-1 | Lindley scored twice in this game | |
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
15 | 1898-04-02 | 3-1 | Bloomer scored twice in this game to overtake Lindley | |
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
17 | 1899-02-18 | 13-2 | Bloomer scored twice in this game | |
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
19 | 1899-03-20 | 4-0 | ||
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
20 | 1900-04-07 | 1-4 | ||
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
24 | 1901-03-18 | 6-0 | Bloomer scored four times in this game | |
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
25 | 1901-03-30 | 2-2 | ||
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
26 | 1904-04-09 | 1-0 | ||
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
27 | 1905-02-25 | 1-1 | ||
| Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game... |
28 | 1907-04-06 | 1-1 | ||
| Vivian Woodward Vivian Woodward Vivian John Woodward was an English amateur football player who enjoyed the peak of his career in the late 1900s and early 1910s.-Club career:... |
29 | 1911-03-13 | 3-0 | Woodward scored twice in this game to overtake Bloomer. He held the record either individually or jointly for 47 years - the longest ever. | |
| Nat Lofthouse Nat Lofthouse Nathaniel "Nat" Lofthouse, OBE was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers for his whole career... |
29 | 1956-05-20 | 5-1 | Jointly with Woodward | |
| Tom Finney Tom Finney Sir Thomas Finney, OBE is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side.... |
29 | 1958-06-08 | 2-2 | Jointly with Woodward and Lofthouse | |
| Tom Finney Tom Finney Sir Thomas Finney, OBE is a former English footballer, famous for his loyalty to his league club, Preston North End, and for his performances in the English national side.... |
30 | 1958-10-04 | 3-3 | Finney held the record alone for a single match - the shortest time ever | |
| Nat Lofthouse Nat Lofthouse Nathaniel "Nat" Lofthouse, OBE was an English professional footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers for his whole career... |
30 | 1958-10-22 | 5-0 | Jointly with Finney | |
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
30 | 1963-06-05 | 8-1 | Jointly with Lofthouse and Finney | |
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
31 | 1963-10-12 | 4-0 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
32 | 1964-05-17 | 4-3 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
32 | 1964-05-24 | 3-1 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
33 | 1964-05-27 | 10-0 | ||
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
35 | 1964-10-03 | 4-3 | Greaves scored three times in this game to overtake Charlton | |
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
36 | 1964-12-09 | 1-1 | ||
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
37 | 1965-04-10 | 2-2 | ||
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
38 | 1965-05-05 | 1-0 | ||
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
39 | 1966-05-04 | 2-0 | ||
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
43 | 1966-06-29 | 6-1 | Greaves scored four times in this game | |
| Jimmy Greaves Jimmy Greaves James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is an English former football player, England's third highest international goalscorer, the highest goalscorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur football club, the highest goalscorer in the history of English top flight football and more recently a television pundit -... |
44 | 1967-05-24 | 2-0 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
44 | 1968-04-03 | 1-0 | Jointly with Greaves | |
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
45 | 1968-05-22 | 3-1 | Charlton finally regained the record alone; he has held it for 42 years and over 470 games | |
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
46 | 1968-06-08 | 2-0 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
47 | 1969-05-07 | 2-1 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
48 | 1970-04-21 | 3-1 | ||
| Bobby Charlton Bobby Charlton Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966... |
49 | 1970-05-20 | 4-0 |
See also
- England national football team recordsEngland national football team recordsThis article lists various football records in relation to the England national football team. The page is updated where necessary after each England match, and is correct as of 15 November 2011.-Appearances:...
- Progression of England association football caps recordProgression of England association football caps recordThis is a progressive list of association footballers who have held or co-held the record for international caps for the England national football team, beginning with Charles Chenery and Ernest Greenhalgh, the only England players to appear in both of the first two international games...