Team: Brown, Poppitt, Ingham, Clayton, Spence, Farrow, Muir (Waugh), Smith, Addinall, Stewart, McKay
Four years ago I featured the 1951 home friendly against Clyde. The following year the R’s went on a mini-tour of Scotland in aid of Y.M.C.A. funds.
The team stayed at the Y.M.C.A. hostel at Bonskeid near Pitlochry. Then on Friday the 9th May, the R’s took on Arbroath at Gayfield, which kicked-off at 7.30pm and the Rev. D. O. Noble refereed the game. The Arbroath Herald & Advertiser reported on the match:
‘Queen’s Park Rangers, who have just been relegated to the English Third Division, had no difficulty in beating Arbroath 5-1 in a charity match at Gayfield on Friday.
Although leading by only one goal at half-time, the visitors always gave the impression they could walk away with the game at will. They were a faster lot, much more business-like in their passing and use of the open space, and streets ahead with their finishing. Once into their stride they made scoring look all too easy.
For a while, Arbroath more than held their own with the visitors in the outfield, but it was obvious they lacked shooting accuracy and finishing power in attack, where outside-left Rennet was the only man to catch the eye. It was fitting that he should score the Maroons’ only goal from a free kick late in the game.
Both teams fielded substitutes in the second-half. Rangers had Waugh on the right-wing for Muir who was injured, and Arbroath introduced Willie Hill at inside-left for Clyne, their provisional signing from Arbroath Victoria.
At left-half the Maroons played George Mitchell who had been given a free transfer by Dundee United.
A shot by Rennet struck the post before Rangers took the lead ten minutes from half-time through a cute flick by Addinall. The visitors forged ahead mid-way through the second-half when they scored three times in nine minutes. McKay, Smith and Addinall being the marksmen.
Rennet’s goal came eight minutes from time just before which Addinall completed his hat-trick.’
Final Score: Arbroath (1) – QPR (5)
The Dundee Courier also reported on the match:
‘Arbroath were up against it in this charity game at Gayfield last night. The speedy Englishmen had the Gayfielders struggling all the time after a fairly even first-half.
Arbroath brought in Willie Hill as substitute for Clyne in the second-half. Willie tried hard to keep the front-line moving, but it was of no avail. Rangers brought Waugh on in place of winger Muir, who received an injury in the first-half.
There was only one goal in it in the first-half – a fine flick by centre Addinall, which had Dorward diving the wrong way.
In the 67th minute, McKay accepted a square pass from Clayton and banged it past Dorward. Three minutes later Smith added another. It was all Rangers during this period, and Addinall collected a fourth when he lobbed the ball over Dorward’s head.
Rennet scored Arbroath’s crumb of comfort from a “free” just outside the box, but two minutes later Addinall got his “hat-trick”.
Arbroath trialist left-half was George Mitchell, who has been given a free transfer by Dundee United.’
Both sets of players were invited to the Palace Cinema after the game to watch a newsreel of the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Newcastle United.
The following Tuesday (13th May), Rangers were scheduled to take on Ayr United whilst the previous Monday, the R’s had played Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Steve Russell
(The above pic features Lewis Clayton. My thanks to Colin Woodley for his assistance)
Certainly an age of Austerity as far as off field events are concerned!