Northern Ireland played their first international football match in the year 1882, a humiliating 13 – 0 defeat against England. For much of the early years they played only against British opposition, frequently on the losing end of the matches. They were humiliated 11- 0 in the year 1888 against Wales in Wrexham. They continued to suffer heavy losses as the early years progressed, an 11 – 0 defeat against Scotland in Glasgow in the year 1901. Based on results, Northern Ireland were the weakest team in Britain, losing in the vast majority of matches they played in. Their most encouraging result during the early period was an encouraging 3-0 away victory in Middlesbrough against England. Their heaviest victory during the 1900 – 1950 period was an enjoyable 7 – 0 victory against Wales in Belfast. Their first match against a nation that was not part of the United Kingdom was against France in the year 1951, a match that finished off in a 2 -2 draw played in Belfast.