Digging out some research apparently the England national squad was supposed to go but was unable to for whatever reason and Bert Millichip at the time suggested that we go as a replacement. As to who was involved on the Chinese side I have no idea.
Not that it means anything but it is interesting. We were the first English team to visit China? I didn't know about that.
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Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club in UK, on Wednesday hailed Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin a "pioneer" after he bought a 20% stake in Spanish champions Atletico Madrid for 45m euros($52m).
"I would think he is a pioneer against a broader strategy that will emerge over 5 years or so," Perry, who himself failed in an attempt to buy an 8% stake in English Premier League side Arsenal five years ago.
"He would be aware of the long term interest of China to build its capability in football," he told Xinhua.
Perry, whose independent business network committed to promoting positive links with China, is a pioneer in Chinese football history.
He brought West Bromwich Albion football club to Beijing to take on the "China Eleven" on Aug. 1, 1979, making it the first English team visiting China. He later found out late leader Deng Xiaoping was sitting in the stadium that day.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2015-01/22/content_34624363.htm