Indian XI football team 1948, Swansea

 

The South Wales Daily Post reported on 22^nd July, 1948, that the Indian team was to play in Swansea.

South Wales Daily Post

On 26 August 1948, just weeks after competing in the London Olympics, the Indian football team travelled to Swansea to play an exhibition match against the Welsh Amateur XI at the old Vetch Field. The game drew an unexpectedly large crowd of around 15,000 spectators, eager to watch the much-discussed Indian side, many of whom famously played without boots. For Swansea, it was not just another friendly but something of a spectacle, and the local press would later describe it as “the best game for seasons at the Vetch.”

From the outset, the Indians captured attention with their style. Eight of the eleven players took the field barefoot, while the remaining three wore boots. This was not out of poverty, as was sometimes misreported, but out of preference—most Indian players had grown up playing barefoot and were more comfortable that way on firm grounds. Despite the wet Welsh conditions, the team showed remarkable control, using short, accurate passes and neat ball movement that contrasted with the more physical, direct style of their opponents. Their precision and composure impressed both the crowd and the local press.

The match itself ended 0–0, but it was far from dull. The Welsh amateurs worked hard to disrupt India’s rhythm, while the visitors produced moments of flair that drew applause. The defensive resilience of both sides meant that neither could break the deadlock, but the game was celebrated as a sporting success and an entertaining display of contrasting football cultures. For many in the crowd, it was their first glimpse of a non-European national side, and it left a lasting impression.

After the final whistle, the two teams gathered for a celebration dinner at the Mackworth Hotel on Swansea’s Wind Street. At the event, the Indian tour manager, Mr. Antharay, spoke warmly about the connections between Indian and British football, noting that many Indian players had first learned the game from British and Welsh regiments stationed in India. He expressed hope that the match would be “the forerunner of many more meetings,” though such encounters remained rare in the following decades.

This Swansea exhibition was part of India’s wider post-Olympic tour of Britain and Europe, which also included a 4–1 victory over the Welsh Amateurs in Wrexham just days earlier. For India, it was an important stage in proving themselves internationally, and for Welsh fans, it was a memorable occasion that brought an exotic flavour to post-war football. The barefoot team from India, playing with style and grace, carved out a small but enduring place in Swansea’s footballing folklore.