LEAGUE JUBILEE FUND MATCHES

Before the start of World War Two, when the football league celebrated its 50th birthday in 1938, the League Benevolent Fund was launched, mainly to benefit players who 'may chance to fall into distress'.

As part of the scheme, local 'derby' games (as far as possible and with no account being taken of league cup status or position) were authorised to be played as pre-season practices on the first Saturday preceeding the official start of the 1938-39 and 1939-40 English League Seasons - or nearest possible date to it - with receipts going to the fund.

The matches were not revived after the war, although the fund still exists.

1938
20 Aug v Leeds United (a) 1-1
Team: Hayes Hesford, Hayes, R.C Mountford, Willingham, Young, E.Boot, Wienand, W. Mills, Price, Hinchcliffe, Beasley
Att: 7,352

1939
19 Aug v Leeds United (h) 5-0
Team: Hayes (pen), Price 2, Isaacs 2 Hesford: Hayes, R.C. Mountford, Willingham, Young, E.Boot, Beasley, Isaacs, Price, W. Mills, Mahon
Att: 4,630