I was going through some JS memorabilia recently and realised that our family never got to the bottom of this particular medal, although I suspect the last time we tried was in the pre internet era.
Fortunately Google has come to our aid, and I discovered a website devoted to The London FA, an organisation that was like a sister organisation of The Football Association.
From the website
https://www.londonfa.com/about/history‘Every football follower will know that the starting point for any history of the sport is October 26th 1863 at the Freemasons Tavern, Great Queen Street, London when The Football Association was formed.
The Football Association Laws of 1863 regulated the game in and around London but in some provinces clubs continued to follow their local rules for some time. The most important of these regional variants was at Sheffield. It should be remembered that until the London Football Association was formed The Football Association itself was often referred to as ‘London’.
In December 1871, a football match was played in Sheffield against London under Sheffield Rules. Return fixtures were played in London under their own Rule version and often a third match, with one half of each version, was played.
This series of matches led to the Sheffield Association adopting F.A. Laws in 1877 with The Football Association absorbing certain clauses from the Sheffield code. Under a common set of Laws the F.A.’s power as the central authority of the game raised it to a level above all the Counties.
The Football Association now needed to free itself to concentrate on international matches against Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and to determine the Laws of the Game therefore the London Football Association was created on 2nd February 1882 to cater for club football in the capital.
It was described in ‘The Football Annual’ yearbook published by the F.A. in 1882: “In London an Association has been formed for the management of solely metropolitan affairs in affiliation to the parent society, and there is every appearance that it will soon rank as the most influential English Association.” ‘
‘Representative matches against European opposition became popular in the fifties having started in 1947 with an annual Armistice Day match in Belgium, a commitment which was eventually taken over by the Football Combination.
A typical itinerary for a trip to Europe was undertaken by a party from the Association in 1953 when A.J.R.Coward, F.A.Gibbs, J.Martin, W.H.Perry and Secretary C.W.Fuller accompanied Team Manager Jimmy Seed, team attendant W.Milne and thirteen players who left England for Genoa in Italy at 10.00am on Wednesday 3rd June, playing the match at 5.00 p.m. on 4th and returning at 7.55pm on Saturday 6th June.’
So mystery solved. I’m now trying to find out who played in that match. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few Charlton players made the trip to Italy.
Comments
Thankfully, the bulk was loaned to Bexley Archives 20 years ago and then 10 years ago came to the museum.
The match poster (from the Genoa Museum collection)
Translated rom the Italian website:
‘Just a few days before the end of the 1953 Serie B championship, an international friendly match was organized against a selection of players from Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea, along with other London clubs (Charlton and Brentford). The match was scheduled for Thursday at 4:30 PM, and despite being an afternoon midweek game, the Gradinata Nord (the northern terrace) enthusiastically turned out for the event. Moreover, judging from the images, there was also a decent turnout in the Gradinata Sud (southern terrace) and the stands.
The match was preceded by a parade involving about fifteen former Genoa players, including some who had won league titles. These ranged from the players who claimed the first national championships between 1898 and 1904 to those who secured the most recent titles in 1922-23 and 1923-24, as well as others who won the club’s last national trophy: the Coppa Italia in 1937.’
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‘This phenomenon, which I have called a second wave of English players, is, in my opinion, a very important aspect, as it highlights a relationship of over a century between Genoa and some historic London clubs.
Thus, I can conclude this recollection of this sporting event in the Rossoblù’s history by saying that, in some ways, the match on June 4, 1953, played by Genoa against the London F.A., reaffirmed those ancient ties dating back to the early decades of the 20th century.
Match Summary – Genoa C.F.C. vs. London F.A. 1–2
Goals: Jezzard (26’), Lishman (34’), Dal Monte/Persi (53’)*
London Selection: Sam Bartram (Charlton), Mor (Moore?), Stan Willemse (Chelsea), Bill Nicholson (Spurs), Billy Dickson (Arsenal/Chelsea**), Eddie Lowe (Fulham), Gordon Hurst (Charlton), Jimmy Logie (Arsenal), Bedford Jezzard (Fulham), Doug Lishman (Arsenal), Don Roper (Arsenal).
Genoa: Gandolfi (Gualazzi), Melandri, Becattini, Acconcia, Cattani, Gremese (Bergamo), Dal Monte, Previsani, Cassani, Chiumento, Persi (Toncelli).
Referee: Buchmuller from Zurich.
The Stadium: The central stand and terraces were sold out, and the stadium was entirely adorned with flags, making the Marassi field look like a ship ready for its launch. Crowds packed the balconies and leaned out of windows, seemingly shouting, “This is our celebration!”
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*Match reports indicate that Dal Monte and Persi kicked the ball simultaneously as it was on the opposing goal line. It is therefore unclear to whom the goal was officially credited.
**Northern Ireland international Billy Dickson was transferred from Arsenal to Chelsea in 1953.
So the remaining unidentified player is ‘Mor’ (Moore?).
Nice!
We lost 4 - 2 in front of 55,000