Combined Services team - help needed to identify them please

[Auchinleckian]

Recently purchased a programme for South Western Districts in S. Africa vs the Combined Services. The names are not familiar to me, and there's no mention of them being with professional teams. Can anyone provide the info I need re any teams they played for in 1935, please?
1. D. Renouf; 2. M. Lally; 3. J. James; 4. S. Eastham; 5. T. Rochester; 6. H. Hayles; 7. T. Pearce; 8. H.L. Coates; 9. J.M. Warfield; 10. T. Williams; 11. R. Bird.

[lambie the leap]

The Air Force and the Navy drew love all in the Inter-Services Soccer Tournament at Fulham on Saturday, March 28.
Corpl. Robinson, of Henlow, the international centre half-back, was injured
before half-time, and had to leave the field, while Sleightholme was also
hurt and almost incapacitated. Hickey was moved from left wing forward
to centre half, and played very well in his new place. The R.A.F. put up
a magnificent defence, and the two backs, Corp. Pond and Sergt. James,
covered themselves with credit. The R.A.F. had previously drawn with
the Army, so the championship will depend on the Army v. Navy match on
April 11. The teams were :—
Royal Navy and Royal Marines.—Marine D. Renour (Eastney), Marine
F. Powell (Devonport), Sergt. F. Lyon (H.M.S. St. Vincent), Pay-Lt. Cmdr.
C. E. Glemister (H.M.S. Erebus), E.R.A. J. Betts (H.M.S. Victory), Marine
A. Woods (Chatham), A.B. J. Demmellweek (H.M.S. Vivid), Rigger H. L.
Coates (H.M. Yacht), O.S. C. Breeze (H.M.S. Dolphin), A.B. T. Burn (H.M.S.
Victory), L.S.B.A. C. Chapman (H.M.S. Victory).

Roval Air Force.—A.C. Chaston (Uxbridge), Corpl. Pond (Henlow), Sergt.
Tames (Bicester), Corpl. Baldwin (West Drayton), Corpl. Robinson (Henlow),
A.C. Bulmer (Lee-on-Solent), A.C. Parris (Kenley), Education Officer, C. H.
Sleightholme (Mountbatten), L.A.C. Vernon (Halton), L.A.C Whitehead (Henlow), A.C. Hickey (Uxbridge)

John

The above report was taken from 'Flight' the newspaper of the Royal Air Force dated 3 April 1931. You will note that H L Coates, presumably the same guy as in your prog, was playing. He appears to have been a rigger on the Royal Yacht. I would also take a guess that the keepers D. Renouf & D. Renour are actually the same player.

Lambie

[Auchinleckian]

Many thanks for your help, greatly appreciated!

[Footyfan]

If your Combined Services programme is from the 1930s the players will have been 'Regulars' because conscription only existed in the UK from 1914-1919 and later, as National Service, from 1939-1960.

Therefore,it is probably safe to say that the players were all amateurs and where the RAF Flight report mentions 'international' it means an Amateur International.

[Footyfan]

John,

I have 'found' 1 of your players:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Coates

This must be J M Warfield:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mortimer_Warfield

although there is no mention of football the service record indicates he was serving as a junior officer between 1930-1938.

[Auchinleckian]

Many thanks Footyfan, never thought about the conscription angle