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After the end of the Great War sport in general and football in particular tried to return to normal.
For some teams that meant replacing players who had been killed or whose injuries meant they couldn’t return, either.

F.I.F.A. also found things wouldn’t run smoothly.
Before start of the war they had expanded into the Americas and Africa. New members were Canada, United States, a couple from South America and South Africa. The travel restrictions prevented many Internationals from being played. The hoped for nurturing of a greater grouping had to be put on hold.

The biggest blow of all, for F.I.F.A. was the death in October 1918 of it’s President D.B.Woolfall.
It wasn’t far off extinction but somehow survived under the Presidentship of Dutchman Carl Hirschmann. However trouble continued to dog the association and in 1920/21 the Football Association of the Irish Free State was formed to oversee the game in Southern Ireland. Leaving the Irish Football Association as the governing body of the Six Counties. Not really a problem for F.I.F.A. except that the Home Countries PLUS Northern Ireland promptly resigned from the Association. They wouldn’t take part in the Association which included enemies from the recent war. (Germany, Austria and Hungary). The Home Countries plus Begium, Luxembourg and France called for the "Enemies" to be expelled. Their wish wasn’t granted so the Home Countries broke away from F.i.F.A.This situation was to look like an on-off engagement between two temperamental suitors. In 1924 they were enticed  back into the F.I.F.A. fold.

Forward four years and they broke-up once again. This time over players being paid, "Broken Time" money in the 1928 Olympic Games Tournament. So for around 20  years their main competition was the Home Championship which had re-started in 1919. Even so England played many internatioal matches whilst not affiliated. Fairly regularly playing  France and Belgium, whom they seemed to use for shooting practice.  It was at this time that Scotland began to take the unofficial title of Best British Side. Unfortunately England could only lay claim to being third out of the four countries. Wales at this time were beginning to show their true worth. They started the campaign with a 2 – 1 victory over England at the home of Arsenal. The following season. They drew 0 – 0 at Ninian Park in Cardiff.

Of the twenty Championships up to the start of the Second World War England managed just three outright wins and three shared. Whereas Wales won six outright and shared one Scotland’s record over the same period was seven outright and four shared.
Every Scotsman will of course point to the 1928 game at WEMBLEY as Scotland’s FINEST HOUR. In this game, Scotlands forward line of Alex Jackson,( 3 goals) James Dunn, Hughie Gallacher, Alex James( 2 goals) and Alan Morton, ran the English defence ragged. England’s consolation goal, in a 5 – 1 hammering game with virtually the last kick of the game.For many years the Scotland side were lovingly referred to as THE WEMBLEY WIZARDS. Not just by the Scots, either.

As the 1930’s dawned so did the World Cup. This was the brain child of Frenchman Jules Rimet. He was President of F.I.F.A. and must be given much praise  for this innovation and for his work in helping to enlarge the membership to  more than quadruple it’s 1920 figure by the time he retired in 1954.

Referees, Again.
It would appear that our much hated card flourisher Mike Riley is to put his whistle away for good. Keith Hackett the chief of the PROFESSIONAL GAME MATCHDAY OFFICIAL is going into retirement and will be succeeded by Mr Riley.  The pair will work in tandem for the final six months of Mr Hacketts contract, to ensure a smooth transition.