January 20, 1945
Match: International trial, at Highfield Road (Coventry), kick-off: 14:45.
FA XI – RAF XI 4-6 (3-3).
Attendance: 12,000; gate receipts: £2,000.
Referee: Mr. H Bryan (Tipton).
FA XI (2-3-5): Gill Merrick (Birmingham), Bert Sproston (Manchester City), Harry Kinsell (West Bromwich Albion), Neil Franklin (Stoke City), George Smith (Charlton Athletic), Joe Mercer (Everton), Frank Broome (Aston Villa), Len Shackleton (Bradford), Tommy Lawton (Everton), Maurice Edelston (Reading), Eddie Burbanks (Sunderland).
RAF (2-3-5): Bert Williams (Walsall), Laurie Scott (Arsenal), George Hardwick (Middlesbrough), Frank Soo (Stoke City), Alan Brown (Huddersfield Town), Bill Layton (Reading), Leslie Smith (Brentford), Robert “Sailor” Brown (Charlton Athletic), Jock Dodds (Blackpool), Stan Mortensen (Blackpool), Tommy Pearson (Newcastle United).
The goals: 0-1 Mortensen (5 min.), 1-1 Lawton (6 min.), 1-2 Smith (9 min.), 1-3 Mortensen (16 min.), 2-3 Franklin (39 min.), 3-3 Shackleton (43 min.), 3-4 Mortensen (60 min.), 3-5 Dodds, 3-6 Dodds, 4-6 Shackleton.
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