Visiting Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland💚🔴🤚☘️⚽️: Home Of The World’s First Ever Competitive International Football Match ⚽🏆🥅

“This Is Where It All Begins” – The Back Four.

“Can’t stop this thing we started” – Bryan Adams.

Visiting Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Ever Competitive International Football Match

Football Question: Where was the world’s FIRST EVER competitive international football match played?

The correct answer is of course: BELFAST, Northern Ireland(then known as Ireland, but still the Irish Football Association/IFA).

Visiting Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Ever Competitive International Football Match

What’s the craic with it being in Northern Ireland?

(Many thought it was Scotland, England or Wales).

You’d be wrong if you thought the world’s first competitive international football match was held in Scotland, England or Wales! It was actually held in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the 26th January 1884. On that day, the Ulster Cricket Ground in Ballynafeigh, Belfast hosted Scotland at home in what was the world’s FIRST ever competitive match! The competition held in Ballynafeigh was the British Home Championships in its inaugural year, 1883 – 1884. All international football matches before that were friendlies and not part of any competition!

The British Championship Trophy which Northern Ireland won in 1984 and have been champions ever since

Davey and I with the British Championship Trophy which Northern Ireland won in 1984 and have been champions ever since

The Previous International Matches Were NOT Competitive

Before the WORLD’s FIRST competitive international football match took place in Belfast, only four teams had ever played international football, and they were all classed as friendlies or challenge matches! They were not competitive matches, nor were they in listed competitions, some of them were not even recognised by FIFA!

Non-Competitive International Football 1870 – 1884

Before the world’s first ever competitive international football match in Belfast in 1884, there were four international football teams playing friendly matches. The first international football fixture in recorded history between two different countries (not club sides) was in 1870, when England hosted Scotland at the Oval in London, England. That match ended 1-1.

The first ever international match was in 1870

The first international fixture recognised by FIFA in recorded history between two different countries (not club sides) was in 1872, when Scotland hosted England at Hamilton Cresent in Partick, Scotland. That match ended 0-0.

The 1972 England v Scotland friendly

From 1870 to 1884, many other matches were played internationally between England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (Northern Ireland, IFA – the Belfast one). None of those were in a competition until finally…the idea came and Belfast had the honour of hosting the world’s first ever international football match! This is where it all began!

The British Home Championships (1884 – 1984)

The British Home Championships is also sometimes known as The British Championships or The Home Nations Championships (historically also known as the British International Championship or simply the International Championship). It is the world’s FIRST and OLDEST competitive international football tournament. Before that tournament, all international football matches between two countries were friendlies, not for any competition! England played Scotland in the world’s first international football match back in 1870 but it was a friendly. For the next 14 years, only four countries played friendly international football matches – England, Ireland (now Northern Ireland), Scotland and Wales. Then in 1884, finally a competition happened and Belfast was the chosen host!

The Northern Ireland (IFA/Ireland) team which won the British Championships in 1914

The British Home Championships ran from 1884 to 1984, so exactly 100 years. It was postponed or cancelled a few times due to war. In 1984, in its final year it was fitting that Northern Ireland won the trophy, becoming holders for only the 9th time, despite finishing fourth in the overall rankings!

Northern Ireland British Champions 1984 (final year)

Northern Ireland’s wins were – 1902 – 1903, 1913 – 1914, 1955 – 56, 1957 – 58, 1958 – 59, 1979 – 1980, 1980 – 1981 (holders), 1983 – 1984. As winners in 1984, in the tournament’s 100th year, Northern Ireland got to keep the trophy outright! Therefore every year since 1984, Northern Ireland have been British Champions. This puts Northern Ireland second on 49 wins, after England on 54.

Total wins (1884 – 2024*)

Team	Wins total	Wins outright	Shared wins
England	54	34	20
/ Northern Ireland	49	44	5
Scotland	41	24	17
/Wales	12	7	5

* when the competition ended in 1984, / Northern Ireland were on 9 wins, 4 outright and 5 shared. If the competition is not revived by 2030, Northern Ireland will overtake England on 55 total wins.

Visiting The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

It is fitting then, that Northern Ireland won the last ever British Championships in 1984, exactly 100 years since they hosted the first ever competitive match! Northern Ireland also invented the penalty kick – William McCrum from Milford hence the nickname “McCrums”

The sign at the entrance to Milford – home of the penalty kick.

Visiting The Home of the Penalty Kick: Milford, County Armagh, Northern Ireland and William McCrums Legacy

Northern Ireland are still…

– the smallest country to draw with the holders at a World Cup. Drew 2-2 with holders West Germany in 1958.
– the smallest country to reach more than one World Cup tournament. (1958, 1982, 1986)
– the smallest country to reach the knockout phase of a World Cup tournament. (1958, 1982)
– the smallest country to reach the quarter finals of a World Cup tournament. (1958)
– the smallest country to reach the last 12 of a World Cup tournament. (1982)
– the smallest country to reach the second group stage of a World Cup tournament. (1982)
– the smallest country to win our group at a World Cup tournament. (1982)
– the smallest country to score six goals at a World Cup tournament. (1958)
– the smallest country to score five goals at a World Cup tournament. (1982)
– the last UK country to score against Spain at a World Cup & we did that in 2 consecutive World Cups (1982,1986).
– the only UK country to score against Algeria at a World Cup. (1986).

My book Champian Stewartnova is available here –

How To Buy My New GAWA Book: Champian Stewartnova – Supporting The Northern Ireland Football Team 1980 – 2009

My New Football Book: ChampIAN STEWARTnova – Following the Northern Ireland Football Team 1980 – 2009

The First Ever Competitive International Football Match in Belfast

So now that we know the first ever competitive international football match was in Belfast, what happened in it? Is it on YouTube? Any photos? Was there a match programme? Sadly, because it happened in 1884, we have hardly any reliable data on it, other than the venue, the teams, the score, the scorers and the rough attendance. The final score was 5-0 to Scotland! Although it is rumoured that Northern Ireland had 6 goals ruled out for offside.

26th January 1884 (time unkown)

IFA v SFA
Ireland (now Northern Ireland of course) 0-5 Scotland

Goalscorers – Harrower 12, 86. Gossland 39, 70. Goudie 60.
Venue – Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland (now known as Ulidia Playing Fields).
Attendance – 2,000.
Referee – Thomas Hindle (England).

The first ever British Championships!

Also of note – Wrexham in Wales hosted the second ever competitive international football match, then Belfast again for the third competitive international football match. Scotland then hosted the fourth competitive international football match. England didn’t host any in the inaugural tournament, which seems bizarre, and Scotland ran out winners! In fact, of the first SIX competitive international football matches, none of were hosted in England! Manchester finally hosted England’s first competitive international football match in 1885. England were fourth to join the party while Ulster was basking in the glory…

Visiting The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

Venue of The World’s FIRST EVER Competitive International Football Match

The Ulster Cricket Ground in Ballynafeigh Park was the location for the world’s first ever competitive international football match. It is currently STILL a sports venue in Ballynafeigh, Belfast. It opened in 1879, and it was the home ground of both Ulster Cricket Club and Ulster F.C. During the 1880s. It also hosted several Irish Cup finals and of course Ireland international games in football and cricket. It has also hosted rugby union internationals. The ground is now Ulidia Playing Fields, owned by Belfast City Council and used by Rosario Youth Club F.C. and Ballynafeigh Breda Star F.C. And so…with my Dad I went along in July 2024 to savour this truly epic piece of World football history!

Visiting The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

My previous Football Pilgrimages

Down the years, I have visited 229 recognised countries and had a football experience in all of them. I have attended over 700 football matches worldwide and backpacked to over 200 football stadiums. I have attended 6 major tournaments, watching Northern Ireland at two of those. I have attended the World Cup final (2014) and the national cup final in Poland and Northern Ireland. I have been to around 150 AFC Bournemouth matches, over 130 Northern Ireland matches, over 130 Glentoran matches and over 130 Legia Warszawa matches. Here are some of my previous wacaday football stories…

My visit to Sheffield FC, the home of football – the world’s oldest football club!
My journey to Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay, home of the World Cup.
My trip to Estadio Azteca, Mexico City which is the home of the famous Hand of God goal.
My top 100 football memories from 100 of my countries around the world.
My tour of George Best’s House in East Belfast, Northern Ireland.
My Kazik Deyna pilgrimage in Warszawa and Starogard Gdanski, Poland.
My tour of The Oval Grounds, Belfast, Northern Ireland, home of Glentoran FC, first European Cup winners.
My book, Champian Stewartnova following Northern Ireland home and away 1980 – 2009.

Flying the Northern Ireland flag inside Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Doing the Maradona at the Hand of God end! Mexico City.

As well as backpacking football all over the world, I also go groundhopping and footballwhacking while currently based in Poland.

At the Deyna Arena – I became a Klub Pilkarski Starogard fan in Poland

My Journey to the HOME of competitive international football

Today I embarked on an adventure to a truly incredible place of WORLD football history. I visited the place where the world’s FIRST ever competitive international football match was played. Ireland (the Belfast Irish FA’s original “Ireland” – now called Northern Ireland) played Scotland here in January 1884. This is a small grassy area off Saint Jude’s Parade at Ballynafeigh, Belfast, Northern Ireland and was known as Ulster Cricket Ground. 2,000 spectators watched the first ever competitive international football match here, where Scotland won 5-0 away. Here now the current football club, Rosario YFC play. I went with my Dad, Joe Blair, who played here on many ocassions down the years! Whilst reminiscing and dandering through these epic gates, Dad shared his stories of playing on this pitch, his old primary school nearby (Park Parade), the way the corner flag location has moved, how the fence was outgrown by trees and some graceful anecdotes from life in Belfast City in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Dad and I arrive at The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

Visiting The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

Dad and I arrive at The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

The British Championships, Home Nations Championships started here on 26th January 1884! The next three countries to host a competitive international football match in order were Wales (second), Scotland (third) and England (fourth). There’s quite an irony in that order given that for international matches England hosted the first one (5 March 1870 at the Oval, London) and Scotland hosted the first FIFA recognised one (30 November 1872 at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow). Dad and I were suitably inspired as we dandered around this magnificent and special place.

Dad and I touring Ulidia Playing Fields, The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

After entering the front gate, we see that these days this is the home of local club Rosario YFC. There are two full size pitches here and as a result, it actually becomes unclear exactly which location the first ever competitive international football match was played at. So naturally we tour both.

The First Pitch (front) at Ulidia Playing Fields

The first pitch, is 4G or 3G and is in fine condition. As well as hosting the local club, this pitch is also used for kids football, ladies football and indeed a global community tournament once a year. There is plenty of room for spectators.

The First Pitch (front) at Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland – where competitive international football all began!

The Second Pitch (back) at Ulidia Playing Fields

After checking out the first pitch, we head to the second pitch at the back of the venue. This is a grass playing surface and is flat. The flatness of both pitches make Dad and I realise why this venue was chosen and why it is still a great place for football. As we near the rear part, something twigs in me that it was probably this back pitch that was used. Again, Dad and I stare and dander in awe as we grace the grass. It’s a damp, wet morning which seems fitting. Once upon a time, Scotland came here in 1884 for the world’s first ever competitive international football match. This is nothing short of epic.

The Second Pitch (back) at Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland – where competitive international football all began!

Me in between the First Pitch (front) and Second Pitch (back) at Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland – where competitive international football all began!

Pointing to The Second Pitch (back) at Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland – where competitive international football all began!

After being inspired, overwhelmed and overaud, and airballing a few George Best goals, we make the final pilgrimage back towards the clubhouse, the changing rooms and the entrance gate…

The Clubhouse And Entrance At Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast

As we are here on a weekday and in close season, the clubhouse is closed as are the changing rooms. This took nothing away from the magic as it was just Dad and I. Just two of us here. We are the only two tourists, even though Dad is a Belfast Boy who grew up nearby on Glentoran Street (now Shamrock Place).

The Clubhouse And Entrance At Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast

The Clubhouse and entrance at Ulidia Playing Fields

How To Get To Ulidia Playing Fields, Belfast

The best way is by car, if you have one of course. I was here with my Dad and so we drove to Saint Jude’s Parade, from the Ravenhill Road side. You can park on Saint Jude’s Parade. It is easy to find on Google Maps…and Street View (it’s on the right below).

Saint Jude’s Parade, Belfast, Northern Ireland

The exact location can be seen on Google Maps at the greenery below. The entrance is on the Ormeau Road.

Visiting The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

As for public transport, ANY bus that goes down the whole Ormeau Road or Ravenhill Road will stop just past Saint Jude’s Parade. The latest Ulsterbus Translink timetable is here. There are no train stations that close, but if you fancy a dander, get out at Belfast Central / Lanyon Place train station and it’s a 30 to 35 minute walk.

How to get to Rosario From Lanyon Train Station

Even the bus stop had a football reference, with a McDonald’s hat-trick written on it, on my visit in July 2024.

Visiting The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match

It’s NOT Always Open!! RAY of Light!

Please be aware that this place is not always open! The gates can be locked. Dad and I got lucky, maybe God shone on us, we don’t know. But that morning, there was a worker from Balloo called Ray and he was inside the grounds working on a job. This meant he had to ask for the gates to be opened. The weirdest thing is Ray was from Southampton in England, rival team of my beloved AFC Bournemouth! We had a great chat as we all loved football and we were here during Euro 2024.

Ray of Light! Ray and I at the place where competitive football all began!

In The Nearby Area

Nearby, there are some shops, cafes and restaurants. Right opposite, there is a bar (The Pavilion Bar) and an Orange Lodge. Plus Forestside Shopping centre is up the road, as is the Ormeau Park…Also bizarrely it is beside the old BT Telephone Exchange where my Dad also used to work!!

The Pavilion Bar

The Ormeau Road

The Orange Lodge

The Telephone Exchange

After Northern Ireland, who were the next countries to first host a competitive international football match?

While little Northern Ireland are the world pioneers for hosting competitive international football, other countries soon copied, including Wales who did it a month later! After competitive international football all started HERE in Ballynafeigh, Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1884, FIFA now has over 210 members doing it!! The FIRST 15 countries to HOST a competitive international football match in order are…
1.Ireland (Irish FA, now of course Northern Ireland). 1884. BC.
2.Wales. 1884. BC.
3.Scotland. 1884. BC.
4.England. 1885. BC.
5.Greece. 1896 (or 1906). OG.
6.Belgium. 1904. ECT.
7.Argentina. 1905. CL.
8.Uruguay. 1906. CL.
9.Sweden. 1912. OG.
10.Philippines. 1913. FECG.
11.China. 1915. FECG.
12.Japan. 1917. FECG.
13.Brazil. 1919. CA.
14.Guatemala. 1921. ICG.
15.Yugoslavia (Yugoslavian FA, now Serbia). KAC.
Key –
BC = British Championships/Home Internationals.
ECT = Évence Coppée Trophy.
CL = Copa Lipton.
OG = Olympic Games.
FECG = Far Eastern Championship Games.
CA = Copa America.
ICG = Independence Centenary Games of Central America.
KAC = King Alexander’s Cup.

This is where competitive international football ALL began!

Touring Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast in Northern Ireland is also a superb place for backpacking in. There is the excellent Titanic Centre, as well as The Oval Tour, Narnia Away and The World’s Most Bombed Hotel. In Belfast, you can get lots of souvenirs including fridge magnets, postcards and customised cards. Get 20% off any Card. use code: NEWCUST20 at Funky Pigeon. Check out all my articles on backpacking Northern Ireland or touring Northern Ireland.

Touring Belfast City – the Odyssey Centre

Ready to explore the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Belfast City Hall, Northern Ireland.

I truly recommend visiting Ballynafeigh in Belfast, Northern Ireland – the world home of competitive international football!

Here are some relevant links to Visiting The Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match at Ballynafeigh, Belfast, Northern Ireland:

https://belfastmictours.com/ballynafeigh/

http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamStadia/Ireland/NIrUlster.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Cricket_Ground

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulster_Cricket_Club

https://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/things-to-do/outdoor-leisure-activities/sports-pitches-and-facilities/ulidia-playing-fields

https://www.thenafl.co.uk/grounds/id/48#

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=166419830079954&paipv=0&eav=AfYYkl-Ij0dQsxwnv60mdfESGFcZVRwpycZqlifzYP1jsQLUYD2fap1CXzONjaifSYk&_rdr

Here are some of my videos from Visiting Ulidia Playing Fields – The Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast, Northern Ireland: Home Of The World’s First Competitive International Football Match: