wanderers' 50th tour, to turkey in 1939, made them the first british club to visit that country; the team included international players from wales and ıreland as well as england. they played a match with fenerbahçe as part of that club's jubilee celebrations. although the intention had been to remain in ıstanbul, they responded to popular demand and also visited the capital, ankara. on their return, horace alaway wrote to the times commending the positive attitude of the turkish people towards britain, suggesting that efforts be made to strengthen business and industrial links, and pointing out that "turkey has shrewd and intelligent leaders, but they need help and friendship, and they are looking to britain more than to any other country".
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