It was a Boys Own Billy Bunter world trip to end all world trips – so of its time, it is hard to think of anything comparable. The sunset days of Empire, although no body knew it, let alone them. All amateurs. The trip was financed from the crowds attracted as they went on.
They played and won throughout India Malaya & Singapore and chits were signed for at grand luncheons, teas & dances in front of Maharajahs & Viceroys. They dodged bullets at the Khyber Pass. They played in Indo-China Shanghai & Hong Kong where they encountered some “local difficulties” with the occupying Japanese. They even played [and lost] a game in Japan itself! They travelled through Manila & Philippine beaches onto Hawaii and then Hollywood where they met up with a variety of movie stars. Then a trip along the Rockies into Canada and more games won.
It must have been a bit of a drab sight as they returned to Tilbury after the better part of a year away.
Johnny Sherwood is worthy of a special mention. He scored a bucket full of goals throughout the World Tour but suffered a war experience as bad as it gets for survivors. He flew into Singapore as a soldier just as the British surrendered becoming part of the devilish slave labour force building the River Kwai railway line. Remarkably he reckoned he came across one of the players from the Kanto Japanese team he had played against in 1938 but this time instead of the graciousness & respect of an opponent he was met with the brutality and abuse of a guard. Eventually, as the war ran away from them, the Japanese forcibly transported POW`s back to Japan in cattle class ships which had to dodge terrifying allied submarine attacks. He was in a POW camp in Nagasaki when the Americans dropped the bomb!
He survived it all and here`s to him. RIP Johnny.
As for the Corinthians, they made a short trip to Iceland in 1939, but then the War intervened and the club disappeared from view.
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Tufnell Park FC Tours of Scandinavia Itinerary Easter 1930 | Tufnell Park FC Tours of Channel Islands Itinerary Easter 1932 (pre-Corinthians trips by chairman Tom Smith)
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Islington Corinthians v London Caledonians 22.09.1932
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Islington Corinthians v Chelsea 18.04.1934
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Islington Corinthians v Ajax 15.11.1934
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Islington Corinthians v Ajax 15.11.1934
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Chelsea v Islington Corinthians 28.11.1934
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Islington Corinthians v Arsenal 28.03.1935
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Spurs v Islington Corinthians 04.04.1935
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Islington Corinthians v Walthamstow Ave 03.09.1935 | Islington Corinthians v Barking 07.09.1935
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Islington Corinthians v Walthamstow 03.09.1935 | Walthamstow v Barking 07.09.1935
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Islington Corinthians v Park Royal 12.10.1935
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Islington Corinithians v Arsenal 19.03.1936
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Islington Corinthians v Arsenal 19.03.1936 (Lapel Pin c.1935)
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Islington Corinthians v Amsterdam 17.05.1936
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Islington Corinthians v Amsterdam Blau Wit 17.05.1936
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Islington Corinthians v Chinese Olympic XI 31.08.1936
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Islington Corinthians invitation letter to Ted Wingfield 19.02.1937
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Letter "Chit" for Ted Wingfield 02.09.1937 & Signed Photo
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George Dance tour itinerary 27.09.1937
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Postal itinerary 29.09.1937
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West Ham Reserves v Islington Corinthians 30.09.1937
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Egypt FA Dinner Menu 29.10.1937
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Islington Corinthians India Tour Brochure - November 1937 and some teams did play in bare feet
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India tour brochure November 1937 (Who's Who)
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Large hand drawn map of Indian travel route
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Lunch menu Bombay 11.11.1937
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Entrance card (4 Games) 13/20.11.1937
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Entrance card 13.11.1937
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Islington Corinthians v Jamshedpur 14.11.1937
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Tisco (Tata Steel) Souvenir & Indian FA Medal
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Islington Corinthians v Calcutta 17.11.1937
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Tea party card 18.11.1937
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Dinner menu 18.11.1937 | Calcutta FC luncheon menu 19.11.1937
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Welcome to Dacca
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Welcome to City Athletic Club
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Cigarette case souvenir 14.12.1937
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Islington Corinthians Blazer Badge 1937-38
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Islington Corinthians World Tour Picture 1937/38
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Islington Corinthians - Postcard to Mum 06.12.1937
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Peshawar Itinerary 14.12.1937
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Guest escort letter (G.Dance)
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Islington Corinthians v Benares 23.12.1937
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Dinner menu 24.12.1937
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Calcutta Referees Association dinner menu (signed) 27.12.1937
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Calcutta Referees Association card 27.12.1937
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All India printed map 31.12.1937
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Penang Club dinner menu 10.01.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Penang Asiatics 11.01.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Penang Asiatics 11.01.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Penang Asiatics 11.01.1938 Referee notes
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Islington Corinthians v Malacca 20.1.1938
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Islington Corinithians v Malacca 20.01.1938 Results page
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Islington Corinithians v Selangor 22/24.01.1938 (Sherwood signature)
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Islington Corinithians v Selangor 22/24.01.1938 PG Mahindasa
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Selangor 22/24.01.1938 (Competition Ticket)
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Reference to PG Mahindasa (P415 All Hell Let Loose)
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All Hell Let Loose (Hastings) Reference to PG Mahindasa
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Islington Corinthians v Malacca 04.02.1938
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Singapore gate ticket | Saigon 13.02.1938
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Hong Kong FA dinner menu 24.02.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Manila - Cloth Badges
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Islington Corinthians v Shanghai 03.04.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Shanghai 03.04.1938 The Japanese were occupying the city!
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Islington Corinthians v Shanghai 03.04.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Kanto all Stars Japan 07.04.1938 Johnny Sherwood was to return in 7 years as a POW and witness the Nagasaki bomb
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Islington Corinthians v Kanto All Stars (Japan) 07.04.1938 pleased to meet you, hope you guessed my name
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Islington Corinthians v Kanto All Stars (Japan) 07.04.1938 (Lucky Johnny Extract)
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Lucky Johnny
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JFA Badge & Ribbon
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Empress of Japan Menu & Stats 15.04.1938
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SS Matsonia menu 18/19.04.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Douglas Aircraft (Los Angeles) 24.04.1938
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Islington Corinthians v LA All Stars ( Douglas Aircraft) 24.04.1938
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San Francisco itinerary 29.04.1938
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San Francisco press photo 04.05.1938
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Quebec landing card & exit card with hotel brochure 09.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Vancouver All Stars 12.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Vancouver All Stars 12.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Ulster United Toronto 25.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Ulster United Toronto 25.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Montreal 27.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Montreal 27.05.1938
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Islington Corinthians v Montreal 27.05.1938
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Tour Celebration Dinner Menu
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Islington Corinthians v Spurs 27.10.1938
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Around The World in 95 Games by Rob Cavallini
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Notes on Iceland tour June/July 1939 (Iceland's 1st ever Internationals)
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Notes on Iceland tour June/July 1939 (Iceland's 1st ever Internationals)
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Islington Corinthians World Tour Summary
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Photos by Cyril Longman - Islington Corithians Goal Keeper
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Photos by Cyril Longman - Islington Corithians Goal Keeper
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Photos by Cyril Longman - Islington Corithians Goal Keeper
