[Lord Stiffupperlip]

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Now & then life throws up a morsel that arouses our curiosity, an intrigue that simply cannot be ignored.
So it proved when a friend handed me a copy of 'Steam World', a publication of interest to all boys of the Hornby Dublo generation.
Thumbing casually through the pages of vintage photos, I came across one of particular fascination.
I ask you to consider the poignant image attached. A gentleman imbibing refreshment at the bar of a railway dining car attended by smiling white-coated staff.
Was this from the golden days of the 'Flying Scotsman'? Or perhaps the 'Cornish Riviera Express'? No dear friends, for the photo caption reads -'Enjoying a Guinness on a football special to Accrington on November 15th 1958'. What???
This had all the ingredients of an Agatha Christie 'whodunnit'. A mystery involving trains, football & history - 3 of my favourite subjects.
After polishing my pince-nez & waxing my non-existent Hercule Poirot moustache, I determined to crack the case without delay.
Forensic analysis confirmed the date in question proved to be the 1st round proper of the 1958 FA Cup.
Who were these fans steaming toward Peel Park in the comfort of their own train, Manchester Utd, Arsenal or maybe Tottenham Hotspur?
No! Our opponents on the day were Workington Town.
Mais oui mon ami! Lowly Workington of the 4th Division apparently warranted their own football special - complete with buffet car?
Having fired off an email to aforesaid magazine requesting permission to publish this gem for your delectation, I continued my investigation to discover the facts.
On the day in question, both teams changed strips as each wore red. Our 'Reds' played in white, while Towns 'Reds' pretended to be Newcastle Utd.
Alas, it did our visitors no favours, as a ruthless Real Madrid Stanley murdered the fake Magpies 5-1.
After Workington's demise, Stanley went on to achieve the status of FA Cup serial killers, dispatching Buxton 6-1 in the 2nd round & disposing of Darlington 3-0 in the 3rd.
Then, like little Jack Horner, they stuck their thumb into the FA Cup pie & pulled out a plum - First Division Portsmouth at home in the 4th round - are you paying attention me old 'Chimer'
12,352 fans filled Peel Park to witness Stanley thrash Pompey 0-0.
Accrington Observer's ace sports reporter Saracen opined; 'Classy Stanley give First Division opponents a lesson in football skill & manners'.
Apparently, Pompey's 'rugged tackling did not please', which I feel is a Gentleman's euphemism for 'they tried to kick us off the park!'
Before the replay, the 5th round draw took place - 'Burnley v Accrington Stanley'; the club must have thought they'd hit the jackpot.
Four days later Stanley travelled south with dreams of a 5th round date with our high-flying 1st division neighbours. Alas, destiny had other ideas - Pompey won the replay 4-1.
Oh cruel fate! Did Stanley travel back in their own football special? Drowning their sorrows in a rebuilt Gresley cafeteria car? 'Superb vehicles', according to Mr. Ken Roberts.
Perhaps not! For like every murder mystery worth its salt, there proved to be a final dramatic twist in the tale.
The kind people at 'Steam World' had checked with the author and no! It wasn't a football special from Workington but a Blackburn Rovers special to West Bromwich Albion.
Apparently, the only connection was that the locomotive for this train was supplied from the Accrington shed. The photo caption proved to be a red herring.
The 'football special to Accrington' wasn't arriving from Workington, but returning to Accrington from West Brom.
I hope you've enjoyed this journey into a distant black & white past.
Days long gone, when teams played with both 'skill & manners' & bad sports were considered absolute bounders.
Surely Monsieur Poirot would conclude; 'Ahhh!. Ce sont les jours mon ami. Sur Stanley sur!'
Image by kind permission of Steam World. All copyrights acknowledged