The London XI was a

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

team that represented the city of

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

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 A trade show, also known as trade fair, trade exhibition, or trade exposition, is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific Industry (economics), industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest Product (business), products and se ...

. 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 The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional association football, football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in Association football around the world, the w ...

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 John "Joe" Mears (20 January 1905 – 30 June 1966) was chairman of Chelsea F.C., Chelsea Football Club and the Football Association. Mears was the son and nephew of Chelsea F.C. founders, Joseph Mears, Joseph and Gus Mears respectively. He was ...

, reached the final of the cup, after coming top of a group that included special XI teams from

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

and

Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

, and then beating

Lausanne Sports Football Club Lausanne-Sport is a Swiss football club based in Lausanne in the canton of Vaud. Founded in 1896, Lausanne Sport compete in the top-tier Swiss Super League after being promoted in the 2022–23 Swiss Challenge League Season. The ...

. London lost 8–2 on aggregate over two legs to

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly known as FC Barcelona and colloquially as Barça (), is a professional Football club (association football), football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of ...

. 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 Founded in 1883, the Glasgow Football Association, based in the city of Glasgow, Scotland and affiliated to the national Scottish Football Association, is one of the List of Football Associations by date of foundation, oldest such bodies in footb ...

during the 1880s, and "London" lost 4-2 to

Corinthians The First Epistle to the Corinthians () is one of the Pauline epistles, part of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The epistle is attributed to Paul the Apostle and a co-author, Sosthenes, and is addressed to the Christian church in C ...

on 21 November 1903 in front of 1500, described as Corinthians "had an easy task" in a 1904 ''

Times Time is the continued sequence of existence and events, and a fundamental quantity of measuring systems. Time or times may also refer to: Temporal measurement * Time in physics, defined by its measurement * Time standard, civil time specificat ...

'' 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 An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, or issued, in any combination, whether privately or publicly owned. Arsenal and armoury (British English) or armory (American English) are mostly ...

Brentford Brentford is a suburban town in West (London sub region), West London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It lies at the confluence of the River Brent and the River Thames, Thames, west of Charing Cross. Its economy has dive ...

Charlton Athletic Charlton Athletic Football Club is a professional association football club based in Charlton, south-east London, England. The team compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system. Their home ground is ...

* Chelsea *

Crystal Palace Crystal Palace may refer to: Places Canada * Crystal Palace Complex (Dieppe), a former amusement park now a shopping complex in Dieppe, New Brunswick * Crystal Palace Barracks, London, Ontario * Crystal Palace (Montreal), an exhibition buildin ...

Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies in a loop on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea, London, Chelsea ...

Leyton Orient Leyton Orient Football Club, commonly referred to as Orient, is a professional association football club based in Leyton, Waltham Forest, London, England. The team compete in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. ...

Millwall Millwall is a district on the western and southern side of the Isle of Dogs, in east London, England, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies to the immediate south of Canary Wharf and Poplar, north of Greenwich and Deptford, east of ...

Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers Football Club, commonly abbreviated to QPR, is a professional association football club based in Shepherd's Bush, West London, England. The team currently compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English f ...

Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Tottenham (, , , ) or Spurs, is a professional Association football, football club based in Tottenham, North London, England. The club itself has stated that it should always ...

West Ham United West Ham United Football Club is a professional Association football, football club based in Stratford, London, Stratford, East London, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English f ...

Group stage

;Team: Ron Reynolds (Tottenham), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Jim Fotheringham (Arsenal),

Stan Willemse Stanley Bernard Willemse (23 August 1924 – 5 August 2011) was an English footballer who played as a left-back in the Football League for Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and Leyton Orient. Born in Brighton, Willemse served in the Roy ...

(Chelsea), Ken Armstrong (Chelsea),

Derek Saunders Derek Saunders (6 January 1928 – 3 March 2018) was an English footballer who played for Chelsea during the 1950s. Biography Born in Ware, for whose Spartan League side he made 31 appearances in 1945–46 as its youngest ever captain, Saunders ...

(Chelsea),

Harry Hooper Harry Bartholomew Hooper (August 24, 1887 – December 18, 1974) was an American professional baseball right fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB). Hooper batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Hooper was born in Bell Station, C ...

(West Ham),

Johnny Haynes John Norman Haynes (17 October 1934 – 18 October 2005) was an English association footballer who played as an inside forward. He made 56 appearances for his country including 22 as captain. He was selected for three World Cup finals squads ...

(Fulham), Cliff Holton (Arsenal), Eddie Firmani (Charlton), Billy Kiernan (Charlton).
Substitute: Brian Nicholas (QPR), on for Saunders 37′. ;Team:

Ted Ditchburn Edwin George Ditchburn (24 October 1921 – 26 December 2005) was an English professional football goalkeeper who played for Northfleet United, Tottenham Hotspur, Romford, Brentwood Town and represented England on six occasions at internation ...

(Tottenham), Peter Sillett (Chelsea),

(Chelsea),

Danny Blanchflower Robert Dennis Blanchflower (10 February 1926 – 9 December 1993) was a Northern Ireland footballer, football manager and journalist who played for and captained Tottenham Hotspur, including during their double-winning season of 1960–61. H ...

(Tottenham), Charlie Hurley (Millwall), Cyril Hammond (Charlton),

Vic Groves Victor George Groves (5 November 1932 – 24 January 2015) was an English footballer. Career Born in Stepney, London, Groves started his career at east London non-league clubs Leytonstone and Walthamstow Avenue, and then briefly as an amateur ...

(Orient),

Bobby Robson Sir Robert William Robson (18 February 1933 – 31 July 2009) was an English football player and coach. His career included periods playing for and later managing the England national team and being a UEFA Cup-winning manager at Ipswich Town. ...

(Fulham),

Bedford Jezzard Bedford Alfred George Jezzard (19 October 1927 – 21 May 2005) was an English footballer. Jezzard's teenage years coincided with the Second World War, and he began football as an amateur with Croxley Boys and later Watford, for whom he made th ...

(Fulham),

Roy Bentley Roy Thomas Frank Bentley (17 May 1924 – 20 April 2018) was an English football player and manager. A former forward, Bentley played 367 games for Chelsea and captained the club to their first League Championship in the 1954–55 season. ...

(Chelsea),

Charlie Mitten Charles Mitten (17 January 1921 – 2 January 2002) was an English football player and manager who came through the junior ranks at Manchester United. Over his career, Mitten also played for Fulham, Mansfield Town and Altrincham in England, and ...

(Fulham). ;Team: Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), John Hewie (Charlton),

(Tottenham),

Stan Wicks Stan Maurice Wicks (11 July 1928 – 1983) was an English professional footballer who played for Reading and Chelsea. Wicks won the League Championship in 1955 Events January * January 3 – José Ramón Guizado becomes presiden ...

(Chelsea),

Ken Coote Kenneth Alexander Coote (19 May 1928 – 2 August 2003) was an English footballer. He is best remembered for his 14 years as a full back and utility player with Brentford, for whom he tops the all-time appearances list with 559 and was also cap ...

(Brentford), Jim Lewis (Chelsea),

Derek Tapscott Derek Robert Tapscott (30 June 1932 – 12 June 2008) was a Welsh professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), forward. Tapscott played for Barry Town F.C., Barry Town, Arsenal F.C., Arsenal, Cardi ...

(Arsenal), Cliff Holton (Arsenal), Bobby Cameron (QPR),

George Robb George Robb may refer to: * George Robb (footballer) (1926–2011), English footballer * George Robb (rugby union) (1858–1927), Scottish rugby union player * George S. Robb (1887–1972), United States Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient ...

(Tottenham). ;Team: Ron Reynolds (Tottenham), John Bond (West Ham), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Ken Armstrong (Chelsea),

Malcolm Allison Malcolm Alexander Allison (5 September 1927 – 14 October 2010) was an English football player and manager. Nicknamed "Big Mal", he was one of English football's most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, fedora a ...

(West Ham),

Tony Marchi Anthony Marchi (21 January 1933 – 15 March 2022) was an English football player and manager. Career Marchi played for Tottenham Hotspur in the position of wing half from 1950 until 1965, which was broken up by a two-year spell in Italy with ...

(Tottenham),

Terry Medwin Terence Cameron Medwin (25 September 1932 – 1 May 2024) was a Welsh footballer who played as an outside right for Swansea Town and Tottenham Hotspur. At international level, he made 30 appearances for the Wales national team scoring six goa ...

(Tottenham),

Stuart Leary Stuart Edward Leary (30 April 1933 – 21 August 1988) was a South African sportsman who played professional football as a centre-forward and cricket as an all-rounder. Leary started his career with Cape Town side Clyde before moving to English s ...

(Charlton), David Herd (Arsenal),

(Fulham), Billy Kiernan (Charlton).

Semi-finals

;Team:

(Tottenham),

Stan Charlton Stanley Charlton (28 June 1929 – 20 December 2012) was an English footballer and manager. Charlton featured as a right back with clubs Bromley, Leyton Orient and Arsenal. As a manager he was one of the longest serving at Weymouth. Career Bro ...

(Arsenal), Dennis Evans (Arsenal), Brian Nicholas (Chelsea), Jim Fotheringham (Arsenal), Phil McKnight (Orient), Peter Berry (Crystal Palace),

Geoff Truett Geoffrey Frederick Truett (23 May 1935 – 5 January 2015) was an English professional footballer, who played as a winger. Early and personal life Geoffrey Frederick Truett was born on 23 May 1935, in Forest Gate, Essex. He was evacuated to Am ...

(Crystal Palace), Les Stubbs (Chelsea),

Phil Woosnam Phillip Abraham Woosnam (22 December 1932 – 19 July 2013) was a Welsh association football inside-right and manager. A native of Caersws, Powys, Wales, Woosnam played for five clubs in England and one in the United States. He played internati ...

(Orient), Joe Haverty (Arsenal). ;Team: Jack Kelsey (Arsenal),

(Arsenal), Peter Sillett (Chelsea),

(Brentford), Bill Dodgin (Arsenal),

(Chelsea), Roy Dwight (Fulham),

Jimmy Greaves James Peter Greaves (20 February 1940 – 19 September 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and one of England's best ever players, he is England's fifth- ...

(Chelsea), Cliff Holton (Arsenal),

(Fulham), Billy Kiernan (Charlton). ''London XI won 3–2 on aggregate.''

Final

First leg

Team: Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), Peter Sillett (Chelsea), Jim Langley (Fulham),

(Tottenham),

Maurice Norman Maurice Norman (8 May 1934 – 27 November 2022) was an English association football, footballer who played nearly 400 times in the Football League as a Defender (association football), centre half for Norwich City F.C., Norwich City and Totten ...

(Tottenham),

(Brentford),

(Arsenal),

(Chelsea), Bobby Smith (Tottenham),

(Fulham),

(Tottenham).

Second leg

Team: Jack Kelsey (Arsenal), George Wright (Orient),

Noel Cantwell Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell (28 February 1932 – 8 September 2005) was an Irish football player and sometime cricketer. Club career Cantwell was born in Cork, Ireland, and was educated at the Roman Catholic Presentation Brothers College ...

(West Ham),

(Tottenham), Ken Brown (West Ham),

Dave Bowen David Lloyd Bowen (7 June 1928 – 25 September 1995) was a Welsh football player and manager, who captained his country to their first ever World Cup finals, in 1958. Playing career Born in Maesteg, Bowen first played for Northampton Town. ...

(Arsenal),

(Tottenham),

(Arsenal), Bobby Smith (Tottenham),

Jimmy Bloomfield James Henry Bloomfield (15 February 1934 – 3 April 1983) was an English football player and manager. He made nearly 500 appearances in the Football League, including more than 300 in the First Division with Arsenal, Birmingham City and West H ...

(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.

Notes

References

External links

Details of the 1955–58 Fairs Cup
{{Football in London Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Football in London 1955 establishments in England 1958 disestablishments in England Football teams in England Football combination XI teams Association football clubs established in 1955

Teams and match details

Group stage

Semi-finals

Final

First leg

Second leg

London v Glasgow

See also

Notes

References

External links