WW2 Wartime fixtures

1944-45 - Wartime competition and friendlies

Cyril Spiers uses many of the players that he has unearthed the previous season. Billy Rees is the star of the side and he wins a War-time international cap against England. April 14th 1945 is one of the more notorious days in the clubs history when City meet Bristol City in the second leg of a two legged League North 2nd round cup tie. City have already won the Ashton Gate leg by 2-1, but Bristol City are winning the return 2-1 after 90 minutes. 30 minutes extra time is played, but there is no further score, so another 30 are played. Once again, there are no goals, so the referee orders yet another 30 minutes extra time. War time regulations mean that the match has to be finished, so the sides play on in a state of exhaustion. Finally, after 202 minutes play, Billy Rees scores the winner. Crowds begin to recover a little, as the War drifts towards it's end.

The City side that won the War League West competition in 1944-45.
BACK (L-R): Dr. Alex Brownlee (director), Walter Riden (director), Tudor Steer (director), Chris Page (director).
MIDDLE: Cyril Spiers (manager), Colin Gibson, Billy Rees, Albert Smith, Arthur Lever, George Wright, Danny Lester, Jim Merrett (trainer).
FRONT: Beriah Moore, Alf Sherwood, Fred Stansfield, Herbert Merrett (chairman), Roy Clarke, Terry Wood, Ernie Carless.


Date Opponents Competition V. Res.   Goalscorers Att.
August 26 Bristol City War League West H 4-1 W Rees 3, Wood 6,000
September 2 Bristol City War League West A 0-3 L   3,930
September 9 Bath City War League West H 2-1 W Wood, Rees 8,000
September 16 Bath City War League West A 2-2 D Rees, Wood 3,000
September 23 Aberaman War League West H 8-2 W Rees 3, Moore 2, Wood 2 3,500
September 30 Aberaman War League West A 6-0 W Rees, Moore, Wood 2, Clarke 2 700
October 7 Lovell's Ath. War League West H 1-1 D Moore 9,500
October 14 Lovell's Ath. War League West A 1-1 D Moore 5,500
October 21 Swansea Town War League West H 3-2 W Wood, Clarke, Moore 7,000
October 28 Swansea Town War League West A 4-0 W Clarke 2, Wood, Rees 5,000
November 4 Aberaman War League West A 3-0 W Wood, Rees 2 800
November 11 Aberaman War League West H 3-0 W Wood 2, Moore 4,000
November 18 Bath City War League West A 2-4 L Rees, Raybould 3,000
November 25 Bath City War League West H 6-2 W Wood 2, Clarke 2, Rees 2 6,000
December 2 Swansea Town War League West A 3-1 W Wood, Moore B., Moore R. 3,500
December 9 Swansea Town War League West H 3-1 W Clarke, Wood, Rees 4,000
December 16 Lovell's Ath. War League West A 3-2 W Clarke, Moore, Rees 4,800
December 23 Lovell's Ath. War League West H 0-1 L   2,500
December 25 Swansea Town War League North Cup (Q) H 3-1 W Lever, Clarke, Wood 4,000
December 30 Swansea Town War League North Cup (Q) A 3-1 W Clarke, Rees, Wood 4,500
January 6 Lovell's Ath. War League North Cup (Q) A 0-1 L   7,000
January 13 Lovell's Ath. War League North Cup (Q) H 3-0 W Moore, Rees 2 8,000
January 20 Bath City War League North Cup (Q) H 4-2 W Gibson, Clarke, Rees 2 3,600
February 3 Aberaman War League North Cup (Q) A 5-2 W Rees 4, Gibson 1,000
February 10 Aberaman War League North Cup (Q) H 0-0 D   3,500
February 17 Bristol City War League North Cup (Q) H 4-2 W Gibson, Lester, Moore 2 11,500
February 24 Bristol City War League North Cup (Q) A 0-1 L   11,657
March 3 Bath City War League North Cup (Q) A 4-1 W Clarke, Gibson, Rees 2 3,000
March 10 Swansea Town War League West Cup A 0-1 L   4,000
March 17 Swansea Town War League West Cup H 6-2 W Gibson, Rees 4, Lester 10,000
March 24 Lovell's Ath. War League North Cup (1-1) H 1-0 W Rees 12,000
March 31 Lovell's Ath. War League North Cup (1-2) A 0-0 D   10,000
April 2 Bristol City War League West Cup H 3-2 W Carless 2, Gibson 14,000
April 7 Bristol City War League North Cup (2-1) A 2-1 W Carless, Lester 20,714
April 14 Bristol City War League North Cup (2-2) H 2-2 D Hollyman, Rees 23,161
April 21 Wolverhampton W. War League North Cup (3-1) A 0-3 L   30,000
April 28 Wolverhampton W. War League North Cup (3-2) H 2-1 W Hollyman, Carless 35,000
May 12 Lovell's Ath. War League West Cup H 0-4 L   5,000
May 19 Plymouth Arg. Friendly A 2-1 W Carless, Griffiths 2,000
May 21 League West XI Friendly H 4-4 D Pembrey 2, Jones E. 2 3,000
May 26 Plymouth Arg. Friendly H 2-2 D Carless, Rees 3,000