A bumper crowd of 17,000 turned up at the new Municipal Grounds in Toronto on May 24, 1949, to watch the Ontario All-Stars play against Newcastle United. It was the first sports event held at the new $3,500,000 grounds. The grounds would later be known as C.N.E. Stadium.
Newcastle United had finished fourth in the English First Division in the 1948-49 season. The team from northern England went on an 11-game tour of North America in the summer of 1949.
English international forward Jack Milburn scored four goals for Newcastle United. Bobby Mitchell scored two, George Robledo and Ernie Taylor got one each.
Jackie Davidson and Tommy Wallace scored the goals for Ontario.
The referee was Hugh McLean, of Hamilton. H was aided by linesmen Bill Kerr of Guelph and Hugh Bloomer of Toronto.
The programme cover was kindly provided by Ontario All Star fullback Jock Perrett’s daughter Jennifer.
Prospective Line-ups (as listed in the programme):
Ontario All Stars: Dick Arends; John Perrett, Bill Kennedy; Archie McDowall, Jock Telford, Jimmy Allison; Ian Dickson, Bob Kennedy, Jackie Davidson, Jean Wyler, Tommy Wallace. Subs: Norman Briley, goalkeeper; Harry Phillips, defender; Geordie Campbell, forward; Jackie Butler, defender.
Newcastle United: Jack Fairbrother; Bob Cowell, Ronnie Batty; Joe Harvey, Frank Brennan, Norman Dodgin; Tommy Walker, George Robledo, Jackie Milburn, Ernie Taylor, Bobby Mitchell. Subs: Tommy Thompson, Frank Houghton, Doug Graham, Bob Fraser, Ben Craig