<Tr> <Th> Referee </Th> <Td> William Keay (Scotland) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Attendance </Th> <Td> 4,000 </Td> </Tr> <P> The 1872 match between Scotland and England was the first ever association football official international match to be played . It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England . The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland . The match finished in a 0--0 draw and was watched by 4,000 spectators . </P> <P> Following public challenges issued in Glasgow and Edinburgh newspapers by The Football Association (FA) secretary Charles Alcock the first encounter of five matches between teams representing England and Scotland played in London took place on 5 March 1870 at The Oval, resulting in a 1--1 draw . Scotland did not record a win in all five matches . The second match was played on 19 November 1870, England 1--0 Scotland; 25 February 1871, England 1--1 Scotland; 18 November 1871, England 2--1 Scotland; 24 February 1872 England 1--0 Scotland . All players selected for the Scottish side in these early "internationals" were mainly from the London area, although Scottish players were invited from Scotland . The only player affiliated to a Scottish club was Robert Smith of Queen's Park FC, Glasgow, who played in the November 1870 match and both of the 1871 games . Robert Smith and James Smith (both of the Queen's Park Club) were both listed publicly for the February 1872 game, but neither played in the actual match . </P>

When was the first international football match played