Craven Cottage and the 1948 Olympics

[LBNo11]

...further to an enquiry, http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=13568.0 I have decided to split this topic to keep on record in the stickies and for later addition to the History section in the 'fulham stuff' section on the 'shirts (home) page':-

...from the 29th July to the 14th of August 1948 the 14th Olympic Games were held in London.

Fulham FC's ground Craven Cottage was to be an authorised venue for two football matches:-



The 1st game was on the 31st July (18:30 KO)  and was a 1st round match between Yugoslavia and Luxembourg watched by 7,000 fans:-

Luxembourg scored first courtesy of Schammel in the 10 minute, it took Yugoslavia 47 minutes to reply through Stankovic, to be followed by Mihajlovic on 61 minutes taking the lead, and then in quick succession by Cajkovski 65' & 70', Mitic in the 74th minute and finally on 87 minutes by Bobek.

Programme for the Great Britain V France match

The 2nd and last game to be played at Craven Cottage was on the 5th of August (18:30 KO) the 2nd round match between Great Britain and France in front of a healthier 25,000 fans.:-

The Great Britain goal was scored by Hardistry on 29 minutes.

The England outside left Peter Kippax who played against France in the 1948 Olympics also played for Fulham as a guest during World War Two.

KIPPAX, Frederick Peter
Outside Left
b. Burnley, Lancs, 17th July 1922

CAREER: guest for Charlton Athletic Grimsby Town, Manchester United, West Ham United, Fulham, Liverpool, Hearts & Hibernian during the war; Burnley Am July 1946; Yorkshire Amateurs 1948; Liverpool Am Aug 1949; Preston NE 1950.
HONOURS:
Great Britain (in 1948 Olympic Games); England Am Int. 1 cap; FA Cup R/U 1947. ***

If anyone is interested, here is a chart of the games that were played and the final results:-

Tube Map issued for the games, in the bottom left you can just make out Fulham:-

Larger image of 1948 Transport Map*

 

Close up of map showing Craven Cottage as a venue *

For further information on the 1948 London Games, click this link: http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf


With grateful thanks to the London Transport Museum collection for permission to publish the pictures marked with * For further information on the history of London Transport, go to:-
www.ltmuseum.co.uk.

*** With further thanks to Alex White for the information on Peter Kippax...

[LBNo11]

...have just dusted this off from the 'stickies' section as it is the start of the Olympics - in 1948 Craven Cottage played it's part...

[chiefo]

Thanks for posting mate. Never realised this. We are the oldest team in London I believe and not to have a game in the competition now is even more unforgiving. Small ground we have, but history? Wonder why we were overlooked?? Nothing to do with a certain Mr AL Fayed ? I did see the Brazil Egypt last night in Wales with very few taken seats. Would this be the same if it was at the Cottage? I doubt it very much. Joke of an organisation!!!

[cebu]

Thanks for that LB - there was lots there that was new to me. 

[bog]

Good interesting posting Les. Thanks for that.


 

[LBNo11]

...I hope you have all enjoyed this insight into the Olympic legacy of Craven Cottage. If I get any more details, such as contemporary accounts of the matches I will add them to this post. I will leave this post up for a week or so and then return to the archives section of this site so as not to clog up the stickies section...

[Count Berbatov]

oh wow.. so much history. good to know. something to be proud of you guys

[malcbridger]

Thanks for that, really interesting. My wife is Serbian (former Yugoslavia) and is chuffed that the Yugo's beat G.B to reach the final! :-)

[LBNo11]

...new data just added concerning the Great Britain player Peter Kippax, in that he actually 'Guested' for Fulham during the second world war. Author of many outstanding Fulham FC books, Alex White, has passed these details to me for inclusion....

[Berserker]

Love the new profile picture LB

[LBNo11]

...two more snippets relating to the match at Craven Cottage between Yugoslavia and Great Britain (3 - 1 to Yugoslavia):-





The picture below I think is GB player Hardistry scoring against France in the 1-0 win:-