Collectors Corner #3: Hints on Association Football – A 1934 Pictorial Guide

I love the charm of old football cards. Pre 1940’s, the earlier the better. Could be cigarette cards, bubblegum cards, whatever. They just have that fantastic look about them.

One such collection that we have recently acquired is from 1934 and it’s a pictorial guide to help football players of the day become better players.

The aim of the series was to “not only instruct the player and so enable him to improve his own play, but also to make him more efficient as a member of the team”.

The 50 card set, produced ironically by that not so useful of products to football players wanting to be on top of their game, John Player cigarettes, is an interesting insight of how the game was approached from a coaching point of view seventy odd years ago. And of course, some of the tips are still very valid today.

We’ve reproduced the whole series below and although lengthy, we hope you find it enjoyable, if not improving your game!