Marine FC v Nigeria 1949

[Flaming Pie]

There was an interesting article in The Liverpool Echo a few days ago about a Nigerian team touring UK 1949. It’s worth a read. ..Apparently they played barefoot . Can’t imagine , in the days of those big heavy football boots , what it would have been like to have played barefoot. Brave lads!

[grantham]

Quite well known I thought, as it keeps cropping up

Nigeria had a tour in the UK, playing several matches against non-league opposition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx084XcJ_cw
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[Flaming Pie]

Grantham, just had a look. Mr Cholmondley-Warner off The Harry Enfield programme is hilarious doing the match commentary. Noticed the Marine players were all smoking pipes Puskas also made an appearance( 1967) on Merseyside in a charity match after the war. Apparently the great man enjoyed a drink or two and l think he ended up partying up in Glasgow during this visit .

[slightfold]

The Nigeria team played South Liverpool on 28/9/49 in what was the very first floodlight game in the UK after the end of WW2. It is therefore important that the club being recognised as the pioneers of the start of a new era, and the prescient programme notes say "Tonight's attendance goes to show that candle is blowing on a wind that blows in the right direction."

A picture shows some players with bare feet, maybe it was how they learned to play in their country I guess?

South Liverpool also hosted the 2nd ever floodlight game, 25/1/40, Everton v Liverpool former players which included Matt Busby and a Mr W.R.Dean !!

[Basford United]

The Leytonstone v Nigerian XI on 8 September 1949 also mentions the bare footed players, also seem to remember the Gold Coast XI that played at Romford did likewise!

[Flaming Pie]

I see Holly Park was redeveloped in 2006 and is now part of the South Parkway Railway Station.l’ve never been there. I wonder if there is a plaque stating that it was the sight of the first ever post- war floodlight football match? On the subject of Nigerian footballers in England, I remember Tranmere having a Nigerian player, ElKanah Onyeali, in their team when l was a kid , but never got to see him play. He must have been one of the first black players to play professional football in GB.