All information is complete to and including England's last match, the seventh of the 1948-49 season, against Norway on 18 May 1949.

Diary

Monday, 2 May 1949 - The Football Association have chosen 26 players to tour the continent later this month. The retiring Frank Swift makes his last tour and will share goalkeeping duties with Ted Ditchburn and Bert Williams, close rivals as Swift's successor in the international sphere. Bill Ellerington, the Southampton full-back has now superseded Alf Ramsey in both club and representative honours. Walter Harrison deserves recognition, for his strong wing-half play was conspicuous throughout the successful cup run of Leicester City. Stan Matthews has not been too fit of late, but his omission is probably more attributable to personal commitments in the close season. Their are five matches in nine days, served by two teams, England and England B. The players fly from Northolt to Stockholm on 10 May in two planes.

Wednesday, 4 May 1949 - Dennis Wilshaw, the young Loughborough college student who cannot command a a regular place in Wolves' side, despite scoring ten goals in eight league games, is to tour Europe with England. He goes in the place of Newcastle's Jackie Milburn, and is the fourth member of Wolves to make the journey.

Tuesday, 10 May 1949 - England footballers started today upon a 3,000 mile Continental tour. Both Arthur Wright and Peter Harris had to drop out of the party almost at the last minute, and in their place went Eric Parsons, the West Ham forward, and Billy Nicholson, the Tottenham half-back, who played at Sunderland during the war-time football when stationed at Brancepeth.

Wednesday, 11 May 1949 - The teams to play Sweden and Finland are announced this morning.

Friday, 13 May 1949 - Sweden's unexpected 3-1 win over England caused great jubilation throughout Sweden. The Swedish Telegraph Board stated that they had never handled so many congratulatory telegrams. Several sacks of telegrams were delivered at the banquet given to both teams by the Swedish FA.

Sunday, 15 May 1949 - The England team defeated by Sweden will be well and truly in the melting top as a result of the England B team's comfortable 4-0 win against Finland. That changes will have to be made was obvious before this game, but the selectors face something of a problem because six members of this team, Williams, Ellerington, Westwood, Dickinson, Morris and Mannion, staked a claim for inclusion in the side that meets Norway on Wednesday.

Monday, 16 May 1949 - The team arrive in Oslo by air tonight in the pouring rain. A second plane, carrying the FA officials and British journalists, met the full force of a thunderstorm, and received a severe buffeting before touching down.  The teams to face Norway and Netherlands are announced.

Wednesday, 18 May 1949 - The Norwegian press were critical of England's performance, calling England's football is still far below its pre-war level. Morgenbladet calling the performance colourless and monotonous. The National blaming Norway's bad luck to to their loss.
Frank Swift's match in goal in Oslo was the last of his career. At the banquet after the match it was stated that Swift would not take part in the last game of the tour, against France on Sunday. Swift, in a delightful speech, thanked the FA for all they had done for him. A special toast was called. He was specially thanked for his services to the game by England's present captain, Billy Wright. Normally a humorist, Swift was in tears as he responded. It was all he could do to say 'Thank you!'

Thursday, 19 May 1949 - The England team leave Oslo by air for Paris, and those in Amsterdam arrived in London. Eight members of the Amsterdam party return to their homes, only Jack Rowley and Bill Jones were retained to go onto Paris. They joined up with the team that arrived from Oslo, including the two reserves, Bert Williams and Dennis Wilshaw. Eric Westwood joined up with his Manchester City teammates in Denmark.

Friday, 20 May 1949 - The Selectors chose their team to play France in the final tour match.

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CG