Local teams celebrate England's first ever international goal with charity match
A local football derby took place at the weekend as two Shropshire teams commemorated the 150th anniversary of the first goal scored for England in international football.
William Kenyon-Slaney, from Shifnal, scored twice in a match between England and Scotland on March 8, 1873, in which England won 4-2 . The two sides had played before but the previous game had stayed scoreless.
The win for England was Kenyon-Slaney's only international game, although he had a successful club career.
On Saturday, Shifnal FC took on Bridgnorth FC at home in a charity game recreating the original match, with the Telford side in an England kit and Bridgnorth in Scotland's colours.
One of Mr Kenyon-Slaney's great-grandsons was on hand to to see the charity match kick off at Shifnal's ground at 2pm.
Andrew Kenyon-Slaney, who was presented with a replica international cap by club captains Chris Stirling (Shifnal) and Sam Griffiths (Bridgnorth) after the game, said his ancestor would have been delighted at the match.
"He'd be chuffed to bit to see this match going on today remembering what might have been quite an obscure event at the time," he said.
Money raised from the game went to support two local charities – the Warm Welcome Space at St Andrew’s Church and CentreStage, a youth preforming arts group in Shifnal. A collection was also held for Shifnal's food bank.
Chris Thorpe, the vicar of Shifnal, Sheriffhales and Tong, who organised the match, said it had been "a fantastic proud day for the town".
And the final score? The charity match saw England (Shifnal) thrash the Scotland (Bridgnorth) side 11-1.
