An Annual Event- Football Yearbook 1949-50

Most football annuals are released for the Christmas market and look at the calendar year prior to that mentioned on the cover, but the Football Yearbook of 1949-50 is rather different, as it reviews a complete season- that of 1948-49, which perhaps makes you wonder why they didn’t call if a 48-49 Yearbook in the first place. Published by Fenmore Publications of Cork Street, London W1, and printed by FA Clements of Chatham, it rather uniquely doesn’t just cover Association Football, but also looks at Rugby Union and Rugby League- but we’ll steer clear of the last two as- as you will of course recall- they are sports played by folks with funny shaped balls.

The book begins with an introduction by Arthur Drewry, the President of the Football League, who extolls the work done by F.I.F.A. Perhaps he was promoting himself for a new job with the organisation- and indeed the former Director of Grimsby Town was appointed President of F.I.F.A in 1950. He has perhaps an element of notoriety hanging over him, as he was the team selector for the England side during the 1950 World Cup; where he overruled manager Walter Winterbottom, who wanted to rest some players for the match against the USA. The subsequent defeat against the rank outsiders still stands in the annals of football history as one of the worst moments in the history of the national team.

It then goes on to celebrate the team of the year- Portsmouth, who had just won their first ever League Championship. They won it again in 1949-50, but have never won it since. Wolverhampton Wanderers are also featured as FA Cup Winners, defeating Leicester City by three goals to one- and our image shows the trophy nestled in front of captain Billy Wright. Billy later married “pop star” Joy Beverley of the Beverley Sisters, and the two became the Posh and Becks of the late 1950’s. Billy was Runner Up in the Football Writers Player of the Year Awards, behind Manchester United’s John Carey. Carey was United’s captain, and had won the cup the previous season; United finished second in the league during 1948-49, and he captained the side to four second place finishes before finally becoming a title winner in 1952. Horatio “ Raich” Carter, by this point at Hull City, was placed third.

The money in football had become a big topic by this point (although that money certainly wasn’t ending up in the pockets of the players who were bringing in the spectators). Jimmy Seed, Manager of Charlton Athletic, bemoaned “The Drift Towards Commercialism” whilst Tom Whittaker, Manager of Arsenal, demanded that “Transfer Prices Must Come Down.” Johnny Morris (no, not the fellow from Animal Magic, but the Derby County player), argued however that “money will buy your stars, but not all the money in the world can buy team spirit,” citing the fact that the Portsmouth team was essentially home grown. Newcastle United centre-forward Jackie Milburn extols the ability of “Centre Halves I Have Met,” being particularly complementary about Leon Leuty of Derby County, Tommy Jones of Everton and Leslie Compton of Arsenal- who was the brother of England cricketer Dennis and appeared alongside him for Middlesex, taking on the role of wicket keeper.

Books of this period are filled with statistics, and this one is no exception. It lists every match from the home international calendar, including a three one defeat for England by Scotland in front of one hundred thousand at Wembley. What is perhaps notable is that every English player played for an English club, whilst every Scottish player barring one played their football in Scotland. It also lists the FA Cup matches, notable for Leytonstone’s defeat of Watford and Walthamstow Avenue’s win over Cambridge Town in the First Round. Leytonstone departed in the Second Round after a seven goal thriller against Newport County, whilst Avenue held Oldham Athletic to a two-two draw before falling to defeat in the replay at the always cold and windy Boundary Park.

The FA Amateur Cup saw our very own Romford reach the Final, where they lost one-nil to Bromley. Boro had defeated Crook Colliery Welfare, Billingham Synthonia, Moor Green, Briggs Sports and Hitchin Town en route to Wembley, where they played in front of ninety five thousand fans.

The match patently wasn’t a classic. These were the days before the introduction of substitutes, and Bromley, who went ahead in the nineteenth minute, then suffered two injuries. The players continued- they had little choice- but, to use more modern parlance, this persuaded the Hayes Lane side to ‘park the bus.’ They did this so well that Jose Mourinho would have been proud. Romford attacked, but never quite managed to get a clear sight of goal, wingers Patterson and Brooks firing wide in the first half- the latter also having a shot cleared off the line- and the Bromley keeper making a number of decent saves in the second half. Bromley held on for the victory.

The statistics section also includes the results of four Amateur International Fixtures, and the England squad, as you can see, included J.L. Lewis of Walthamstow Avenue, L. Joseph, Kavanagh and Jarvis of Leytonstone, but nobody from our Champions, Dulwich Hamlet. For some reason, although it includes the Southern League table, it doesn’t have the Isthmian League- but amongst the Southern League sides is Hastings United, who were fourteenth on thirty eight points.

The Book ends with some black and white images- on glossy paper- of the stars of the day. These included Reg Allen of Queens Park Rangers, Walley Barnes of Arsenal, Roy Bentley of Chelsea and Ronnie Rook, now manager of Crystal Palace after the end of his playing career with Arsenal and Fulham.