1969 - Japan v Middlesex Wanderers

Japan v Middlesex Wanderers - 1969

The second tour of Japan by Middlesex Wanderers took place in May 1969. The Wanderers played four games. In the first game on 13 May Japan defeated Middlesex Wanderers 2-1. In the second game on 15 May the Wanderers gained revenge with a 2-1 victory over the Japan National Team. The final two games were drawn - a 1-1 draw on 18 May and a 3-3 draw against Mitsubishi FC on 21 May.

To mark the 1969 tour, Middlesex Wanderers presented a trophy to the Football Association of Japan (JFA), requesting that it be used to help promote the sport among Japan's youth. The trophy is still used today as the prize in the annual National High School Football Tournament.

The official programme, which covers all four games has 16 x B5 pages (four of which are adverts) and is all in Japanese. The programme begins with an introduction from the Japanese Football Association. There is then a two-page article on Middlesex Wanderers followed by two pages listing the Middlesex Wanderers squad together with small photos of the players and officials. Details of the Japan National Team and Mitsubishi squads are given along with small photos of their players. There is an article giving the results of British clubs playing previously in Japan - Islington Corinthians (1938), Stirling Albion (1966), Middlesex Wanderers (1967) and Arsenal (1968). Finally there is a page where the scores and line-ups etc. can be entered.

The medal and tie-pin I have in my collection for this game are very rare and interesting and would have been presented to one of the players or officials involved in the games.

Medal