WW2 Wartime fixtures

Season 1945-46 - Wartime competition, friendlies and F.A.Cup

The war in Europe has ended by the time that the 1945-46 season arrives, but the Football League decides that they will allow clubs the grace of the season to put their affairs in order and recruit a playing staff over the next year, with the aim of restarting professional football in August 1946. Therefore, the Wartime Leagues continue for another season, and this allows Cyril Spiers to put together what is to become the 1946-47 'local heroes' side. Three players return after being taken prisoner by the Japanese, but their physical condition is not good. Of the three, Billy Baker stands the best chance of recovery, but Bobby Tobin and Billy James have had their health badly damaged. Ken Hollyman returns from the armed forces to resume his football career, while Cyril Spiers signs two more influential players in the post war years when Bryn Allen transfers from Swansea Town and Stan Richards signs from a junior side called Tufnell Park. The F.A. decide to play the F.A.Cup in a unique format for the competition, over two legs in each round. City are drawn against West Bromwich Albion and go out on aggregate 1-5. On November 17th, City have one of their most famous games when they entertain Moscow Dynamo. City get a beating by 1-10. However, the aim of the season has been realised, City have a small squad of professional players carefully assembled by Cyril Spiers and are ready for the resumption of full time football. However, in a shock move, Cyril Spiers resigns before the season ends reportedly over disagreement involving his salary.


MANAGER: Cyril Spiers (Resigned 7 April 1946)

Date Opponents Competition V. Res.   Goalscorers Att.
August 14 Swansea Town Friendly H 4-3 W Carless 2, Rees 2 2,000
August 18 League West XI Friendly H 2-0 W Rees, Gibson 1,000
August 25 Bournemouth & B.A. 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 9-3 W Rees 4, Clarke 2, Gibson, Carless 10,000
September 1 Bournemouth & B.A. 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 5-1 W Rees, Clarke 3, Wood 7,000
September 8 Torquay United 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 6-0 W Clarke, Wood, Carless, Rees 2, Gibson 12,000
September 12 Crystal Palace 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 0-3 L   5,000
September 15 Torquay United 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 7-0 W Spencer (og), Lester, Rees 3, Clarke 2 2,200
September 22 Aldershot 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 4-1 W Rees 2, Carless, Wood 16,000
September 29 Aldershot 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 5-1 W Rees, Moore, Clarke, Carless, Hollyman 4,000
October 6 Bristol City 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 2-3 L Moore, Rees 18,711
October 13 Bristol City 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 2-4 L Rees, Clarke 28,000
October 20 Brighton & H.A. 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 4-0 W Clarke, Rees 2, Reece (og) 22,000
October 27 Brighton & H.A. 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 3-2 W Moore, Gibson, Clarke 8,500
November 3 Exeter City 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 2-3 L Gibson, Clarke 6,341
November 10 Exeter City 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 0-0 D   18,000
November 17 Dynamo Moscow Friendly H 1-10 L Moore 31,000
December 1 Swindon Town 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 2-1 W Wood, Kelso (og) 11,876
December 8 Swindon Town 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 3-0 W Lever, Clarke, Wood 6,000
December 15 Reading 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 2-1 W Wood 2 8,000
December 22 Reading 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 1-3 L Rees 5,295
December 25 Bristol Rovers 3rd Division(S) - South Division A 2-2 D   8,000
December 26 Bristol Rovers 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 4-2 W Allen, Hollyman, Clarke 2 18,000
December 29 Crystal Palace 3rd Division(S) - South Division H 6-2 W Wright 2, Allen 2, Hollyman 2 25,000
January 12 Watford 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 7-1 W Clarke 2, Wright 2, Allen 2, Tennant 7,800
January 19 Watford 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 0-2 L   14,000
January 26 Exeter City 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 1-2 L Haddon 8,000
February 2 Exeter City 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 5-1 W Rees 2, Wright, Lever, Clarke 15,000
February 9 Torquay United 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 0-1 L   4,000
February 16 Torquay United 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 3-0 W Allen, Rees 2 14,700
February 23 Bristol Rovers 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 0-1 L   11,200
March 2 Bristol Rovers 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 3-0 W Richards 3 18,000
March 9 Bristol City 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 2-3 L Hollyman, Allen 17,375
March 16 Bristol City 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 3-2 W Hill 2, Allen 19,000
March 23 Swindon Town 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 2-3 L Rees, Moore 11,779
March 30 Swindon Town 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 2-0 W Allen 2 19,500
April 6 Reading 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 2-3 L Clarke, Richards 11,000
April 10 Combined BAOR XI Friendly N* 1-1 D Rees 15,000
April 13 Reading 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 5-2 W Richards 2, Rees, Clarke, Gibson 21,500
April 20 Crystal Palace 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) A 3-0 W Clarke 17,500
April 27 Crystal Palace 3rd Division(S) Cup (Q) H 1-1 D Allen, Hudghill (og), Rees 29,000
  Notts County Friendly H 5-1 W Clarke 2, Rees 2, Richards 7,000
            * Played in Brunswick  


Names displayed in light green indicate a player making his debut.

No. Date Opponents Competition V. Res.   Goalscorers Att. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
1. January 5 W.B.A. FA Cup (3-1) H 1-1 D Allen 33,000 K.McLoughlin A.Sherwood M.Raybould G.Wright F.Stansfield L.Lester C.Gibson K.Hollyman B.Allen T.Wood R.Clarke
2. January 9 W.B.A. FA Cup (3-2) A 0-4 L   18,025 K.McLoughlin A.Sherwood M.Raybould G.Wright F.Stansfield K.Hollyman B.Moore B.Allen W.Rees T.Wood R.Clarke