The Bournemouth home match programme dated 1st May 1946, stated that: ‘The team were called upon to play four vital league matches in six days, pack their bags and leave by air for Hamburg the following day to play the B.A.O.R. (British Army of the Rhine) side on Wednesday, returning by air Thursday.
(Shown above are Club Director, George Wodehouse and the players noted are; Joe Mallett, Jack Rose, Billy McEwan, Alf Ridyard, Bill Heath and Reg Chapman)
Service players had then to travel to their units, travelling back again very early Saturday morning to make the trip to Bournemouth. How can players be expected to give their best in the circumstances?’
The game was against a Combined Services X1 and took place on Wednesday 24th April in the Bahrenfeld Stadium in Hamburg. The match kicked off at 2.30pm and admission was one mark.
The R’s line-up was as follows: Allen, Rose, Heath, Daniels, Ridyard, Chapman, Neary, McEwan, Addinall, Mallett, Pattison. Rangers lost the encounter 0-5.
(Shown above are; Alf Ridyard, Jack Rose, Jimmy Eggleton, Billy McEwan, Reg Chapman, Johnny Pattison, Billy Daniels, Bert Addinall, Joe Mallett, Director – B. Baker, Bill Heath, Director – W. Turner and Manager – Dave Mangnall)
That match against Bournemouth was a vital Division 3 South (North) Cup semi-final which the R’s drew 1-1, just three days after the match in Hamburg. Rangers lost the replay at Loftus Road, one-nil.
Steve Russell
(My thanks to Sammy and Gordon Macey for their assistance)
Very very spooky Steve. I was talking to Peter Ascher about this game just yesterday afternoon…..ever seen a match programme?
Really!!!! Never seen a match programme Martin and only recently that match ticket & press pics