Match Summary

Switzerland Team

England Team

BERNE, MAY 21
England beat Switzerland here yesterday by four goals to none.

It had been anticipated that there would be several changes at forward from the English team which played against Italy, so disappointing had been the display of the front rank on that occasion, but the substitution of Bastin for Furniss at inside-left and the inclusion of Brook at outside-left were the only alterations in this respect. White, the centre half-back, was perforce an absentee on account of an injury, but it was felt that O'Dowd could be relied upon to fill the vacancy with credit.

The match, played in ideal conditions as regards weather, ground, which was of maximum breadth, and temperature, resulted in a win for England by four goals to none. The score was a little flattering, since in the first half their opponents were decidedly the attacking force. Whatever be the cause, the fact remains that inside forward play seems to be a lost art. Straight passes down the middle, which the best centres in the world can at best rarely take cleanly, and then with extreme difficulty, are the vogue. The old time sweep down the field, with every forward taking, or ready to take, his part, are rarely seen. In the second half this old time system was much more in evidence and gained the just reward with a defence which was as sound as against Italy. The Englishmen might well have shown a more aggressive attack, but it was left to their opponents until they were tired out to reveal their worrying tactics, which only failed to succeed by reason of inability to put on the finishing touch. Unquestionably this was largely due to lack of weight and the magnificent heading of the English defenders...

Richardson showed much improved form and scored two good goals, rivalling Bastin, who was responsible for a similar number...

In the first half, playing with the sun at their backs, England scored one goal through Bastin...

In the second half England, showing improved form, brought their score up to four through Bastin and Richardson...

There were many Continental visitors representing the Football Associations of their respective countries, and it is scarcely necessary to say that the Swiss spectators gave the heartiest reception to their visitors and were impartial in their plaudits. - The Times - Monday 22nd May, 1933

IN OTHER NEWS...

It was on 20 May 1933 that a wild civet escaped from a miniature zoo at the Kursaal Pleasure Ground which was also the home of Southend United Football Club. The cat-like creature knocked over an oil lamp and started a huge fire which killed all of the monkeys, snakes and reptiles in the zoo. Though the area was not yet open to the public for the summer, the flames were fifty feet high and attracted thousands of people, including stallholders trying to save their goods. Firefighters even had to turn their hoses on the crowd to drive them back. Chaos ensued when stored ammunition for the rifle range began exploding and there was a stampede, with several people being injured. The civet was found and recaptured, twelve days later, after returning and trying to get into the lion enclosure, looking for food.

Source Notes

Although retrospectively, it is claimed that the Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman had a hand in this tour, there is no contemporary evidence to suggest this. The newspaper reports state that the tour was in the hands of Arthur Kingscott, who in turn, answered to the FA Secretary, Sir Frederick Wall, who was also a member of the traveling party, and that the Party was trained by Derby County FC's Laurie Edwards.

TheFA.com
original newspaper reports
FA Yearbooks - various
FIFA.com/players
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CG