National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
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Caerdydd, Tachwedd 1949 - Cymru 5 Belgium 1
At Ninian Park, 23/11/1949, the Welsh football team is victorious but perhaps only because the Belgians, according to a report in the South Wales Echo, were “disappointing”.
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Overview
Ninian Park, Cardiff, 23/11/1949: Geoff Charles, photographer for 'Y Cymro' newspaper, captures highlights of the football match on film. This was the first time that Wales and Belgium had played on Welsh soil, an earlier match in May, at Liege, having resulted in a Belgian win (3-1). Reports in the South Wales Echo & Express refer to the “disappointing” Belgians, their play not being a patch on what it was 6 months ago, but acknowledge that it was “a big day” for Wales.
The South Wales Echo & Express gives the teams as follows: Wales - Shortt (Plymouth Argyle); Barnes (Arsenal, capt.), Sherwood (Cardiff City); Ivor Powell (Aston Villa); T G Jones (Everton); Burgess (Tottenham Hotspur); Griffiths (Leicester City); Paul (Swansea Town); Ford (Aston Villa); Aubrey Powell (Everton); Clarke (Manchester City). Belgium - Meert; Aernaudts (capt.); Gillard; Van der Auwera; Carre; Mees; Lacroix; Coppens; Mermans; Albert de Hert; Anoul. Referee - Mr H. Pearce (Luton). Ford scored a hat-trick. An after-match banquet was given by the Football Association in honour of the Belgians at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff.