Herald Cup 1932 Finalists Medal

I don't know who he played against Barton, but would love to know, I think Ant said this was found in an old house and the finder wanted Ant to have it. Maybe the information is written somewhere, but I would not know where to look, do you?

And I rather suspect - thanks to online research - that he may be the same Peter Tisdale of New Riviera Estates who are involved in the Torwood Street development proposals. I stand to be corrected of course.



I'd imagine you'd need to go back to the original records and yearbooks of governing bodies such as the AFA. In the nature of some of these organisations I would guess representative games were played against armed forces, public schools, university and civil service opposition. Maybe also some of the more august leagues and associations around London.

Yearbooks and annuals are as old as the organised game itself with some dating back into the 19th century. I often quote the Rothmans/Sky Sports annuals but these only started in 1970. Of current publications, the Playfair and News of the World (recently retitled) annuals go back much further under their various titles. I've certainly managed to build up a News Chronicle/Playfair series from 1946 through to 1970.

As for the period in question I noticed this one today at www.sportspages.com/football/football_books/football_annuals_periodicals:



It's doubtful that a mainstream publication such as this would cover the lower reaches of the amateur game (although there would be coverage of the higher echelons). However, there was a post-war attempt to record amateur football on an annual basis as I discovered when I discovered this in a second hand bookshop in Porlock:

What a brilliant memory and what a small world!

The idea of the Football Association XI v Royal Marines and Royal Navy XI exactly fits the idea of a traditional representative match played on an annual basis. We can also imagine those games taking place at venues such as Home Park and Fratton Park with the teams probably being picked from players who were stationed or resident nearby. In that way, the FA XI was most likely a West Country XI rather like that team which faced the British Universities in 2000. Whilst it might have been a fine occasion for the "blazers" you can guess it was a great thrill for the players concerned with "call up" letters and badges kept for ever.

In view of somebody’s excitement and pride seventy years ago it probably doesn’t matter it if was an FA XI or an AFA XI. Nonetheless I’m still intrigued by the badge: was it “A Football Association XI” or an “Amateur Football Alliance XI?” I suspect the latter as otherwise I think it would just be “FA XI” on the badge. If there was confusion it’s understandable because it’s part of football’s culture to be slightly dismissive of all the governing bodies. National FA, county FA, league – they’re all the same to some and are often lumped together as “the FA.” And, of course, there’s no guarantee that the letter and badge relate to the same match (but I suspect they do). Overall I like the sound of it being an "FA XI" but perhaps the SDL was affiliated to the AFA in those days?

Either way, let’s hope representative football meant a lot to the participants in those days. In recent years it’s all gone down the plughole and just recently the SW Counties competition – in which Devon participated – has been put out of its misery. Mind you, there is now the National League Systems Cup - www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFANLSCup.aspx - which offers a place in Europe to the winners.

I'll take your word for the letter saying "1937" as you have the original. With my screen at a certain angle it did look like it could have been "1935" (there seems to be a very neat, but small "7" written quite boldly with a lighter dash above which half-suggests a "5").

If it's 1937 it's quite possible that our man could have played representative football for two different organisations. Perhaps sillsunited can throw some light and help us date the match(es)?

It's not a league table because those clubs would have been in different divisions. I reckon it's his pools coupon workings! He's got seven draws in mind and is looking for another one....