November 4 – The Russians Are Coming

CROYDON airport, November 4th 1945. As war-ravaged England struggles to get over the hardships of six years of conflict an aeroplane touches down from Moscow bringing some much needed excitement to the capital as Dynamo Moscow became the first Soviet club to visit the UK.

These days everyone from Liverpool to Livingstone can be found spending pre-season in exotic climbs, but back in post-war Europe Dynamo’s tour was a big deal. Not that London’s hoteliers thought so though – over 100 of the blighters wouldn’t let the Russians stay at their gaffs, meaning the squad spent their first night at the Coldstream Guards’ Wellington barracks in St James’s.

The English press were quick to dismiss the Muscovite’s chances. Fleet Street warned Joe Public “not expect much from this bunch of factory workers” and were sure that
“Chelsea will easily uphold the football supremacy of its fatherland with a ringing victory. Dynamos? These pale boys are far too slow for the top drawer.”

When it came to the Chelsea game it is thought that over 100,000 crammed into Stamford Bridge and were treated to a few sights they had never seen, such as players in snazzy tracksuits warming up on the pitch. When each of the Russians gave their opponents a bunch of flowers no knew what was going on.

Chelsea’s forecasted easy win was nowhere to be found. The game finished 3-3 with only Dynamo’s poor finishing preventing a famous upset. Next stop for the Russians was Cardiff and a 10-0 win, followed by a 4-3 victory at Highbury against an Arsenal side that managed to blag an appearance from Stanley Matthews. Dynamo’s jolly ended with a 2-2 draw against Rangers at Ibrox.

Almost 250,000 fans were treated to a type of football never before seen on these shores, as Dynamo’s slick passing game was in direct contrast to the traditional up-and-at-’em style that the English were used to. Still smarting from his defeat at Highbury, Stanley Matthews bigged-up Dynamo as “the finest team ever to visit these islands – we have certainly learned a thing or two from these Dynamos”. Judging by the England team’s performances against the USA and Hungary in the years following not everyone was singing from the Sir Stan’s hymn-sheet.

Try and pick out your favourite Dynamo in the grainy footage against Rangers and check out OTFD tomorrow for ****STAND BACK TRAIN APPROACHING****