The London XI was a football team that represented the city of London in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

The competition began in 1955, and the first tournament took three years to complete. The entrants were the major football team of each city which held a Trade Fair. Like many cities taking part, London had several strong teams; however, rules stated that there could only be a single team from each city. Therefore, a representative team was created especially for the tournament, using the best players from the 11 London-area Football League clubs. Membership of the team varied considerably between matches, and some 54 players took part in the team's eight-match campaign.

The London XI, managed by Chelsea chairman Joe Mears, reached the final of the cup, after coming top of a group that included special XI teams from Basel and Frankfurt, and then beating Lausanne Sports. London lost 8–2 on aggregate over two legs to FC Barcelona.

The London XI only competed in the 1955–58 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Thereafter, London was represented in the competition by individual clubs who qualified.

A unified London side competed in friendly matches even earlier: a "London" team represented the FA in the historic 1866 London v Sheffield match, there were several challenges against the Glasgow FA during the 1880s, and "London" lost 4-2 to Corinthians on 21 November 1903 in front of 1500, described as Corinthians "had an easy task" in a 1904 Times article. Two other matches have been referenced – an "annual match" versus Birmingham on 3 October 1910 and a match versus Paris on 18 December 1910.

Teams and match details

Clubs represented

Arsenal Brentford Charlton Athletic ChelseaCrystal Palace Fulham Leyton Orient MillwallQueens Park Rangers Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United

Group stage

Basel XI Swiss Football Association0–5The Football Association London XI
Firmani 35' Holton 37', 43', 74' Hooper 81'

Team

Ron Reynolds (Tottenham), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Jim Fotheringham (Arsenal), Stan Willemse (Chelsea), Ken Armstrong (Chelsea), Derek Saunders (Chelsea), Harry Hooper (West Ham), Johnny Haynes (Fulham), Cliff Holton (Arsenal), Eddie Firmani (Charlton), Billy Kiernan (Charlton). Substitute: Brian Nicholas (QPR), on for Saunders 37′.

London XI The Football Association3–2German Football Association Frankfurt XI
Jezzard 46', 76' Robson 60'Pfaff 25' Kaufhold 30'

Team

Ted Ditchburn (Tottenham), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Stan Willemse (Chelsea), Danny Blanchflower (Tottenham), Charlie Hurley (Millwall), Cyril Hammond (Charlton), Vic Groves (Orient), Bobby Robson (Fulham), Bedford Jezzard (Fulham), Roy Bentley (Chelsea), Charlie Mitten (Fulham).

London XI The Football Association1–0Swiss Football Association Basel XI
Robb 87'

Team

Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), John Hewie (Charlton), Danny Blanchflower (Tottenham), Stan Wicks (Chelsea), Ken Coote (Brentford), Jim Lewis (Chelsea), Derek Tapscott (Arsenal), Cliff Holton (Arsenal), Bobby Cameron (QPR), George Robb (Tottenham).

Frankfurt XI German Football Association1–0The Football Association London XI
Preisendorfer 72'

Team

Ron Reynolds (Tottenham), John Bond (West Ham), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Ken Armstrong (Chelsea), Malcolm Allison (West Ham), Tony Marchi (Tottenham), Terry Medwin (Tottenham), Stuart Leary (Charlton), David Herd (Arsenal), Johnny Haynes (Fulham), Billy Kiernan (Charlton).

Semi-finals

Lausanne XI Swiss Football Association2–1The Football Association London XI
Vonlanden 6', 74'Haverty 70'

Team

Ted Ditchburn (Tottenham), Stan Charlton (Arsenal), Dennis Evans (Arsenal), Brian Nicholas (Chelsea), Jim Fotheringham (Arsenal), Phil McKnight (Orient), Peter Berry (Crystal Palace), Geoff Truett (Crystal Palace), Les Stubbs (Chelsea), Phil Woosnam (Orient), Joe Haverty (Arsenal).

London XI The Football Association2–0Swiss Football Association Lausanne XI
Greaves 10' Holton 76'

Team

Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), Stan Charlton (Arsenal), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Ken Coote (Brentford), Bill Dodgin (Arsenal), Derek Saunders (Chelsea), Roy Dwight (Fulham), Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea), Cliff Holton (Arsenal), Johnny Haynes (Fulham), Billy Kiernan (Charlton).

London XI won 3–2 on aggregate.

Final

First leg

London XI The Football Association2–2Royal Spanish Football Federation Barcelona XI
Greaves 10' Langley 88' (pen.)Martínez 7' Tejada 35'

Team: Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Jim Langley (Fulham), Danny Blanchflower (Tottenham), Maurice Norman (Tottenham), Ken Coote (Brentford), Vic Groves (Arsenal), Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea), Bobby Smith (Tottenham), Johnny Haynes (Fulham), George Robb (Tottenham).

Second leg

Barcelona XI Royal Spanish Football Federation6–0The Football Association London XI
Suárez 6', 8' Martínez 42' Evaristo 52', 75' Vergés 63'

Team: Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), George Wright (Orient), Noel Cantwell (West Ham), Danny Blanchflower (Tottenham), Ken Brown (West Ham), Dave Bowen (Arsenal), Terry Medwin (Tottenham), Vic Groves (Arsenal), Bobby Smith (Tottenham), Jimmy Bloomfield (Arsenal), Jim Lewis (Chelsea).

Barcelona XI won 8–2 on aggregate.

London v Glasgow

  • 8 matches played;
  • London: 2 wins (15 goals);
  • Glasgow: 5 wins (27 goals);
  • 1 draw.
#DateVenueAtt.ScoreLondon goalscorersRef.
120 January 1883Hampden (I) (A)5,0000–4
215 December 1883The Oval (H)3,5003–2
320 December 1884Hampden (II) (A)5,0002–6
45 December 1885The Oval (H)2,0002–5
527 November 1886Hampden (II) (A)4,0002–2
63 March 1888The Oval (H)3–0Tinsley Lindley J. Burns (2)
723 March 1889Hampden (II) (A)1–5scrimmage
825 January 1890The Oval (H)2–3

See also

Notes

External links