![Donaldson Sports Favourites Golden Series](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-06/Donaldson%20Sports%20Favourites%20Golden%20Series.jpg?itok=ZohULWz0)
The clue here was mainly the colour of the borders, described as gold - for one of the beaches used for the D-Day Landings was called Gold Beach. It was actually the central beach, with two other sites on each side. This landing was mostly British troops, and specifically the Army, though the Navy were given the tasks of transporting the craft, patrolling the waters, looking out for mines, and using their naval guns in the event they ran into opposition, as well as to hopefully safeguard the forces from enemy fire when they reached the beach. It was not a perfect site, there were cliffs at one end, so the action was rather funnelled into the centre.
The landings started early, just before half past seven in the morning. The idea was to take the beach, repel any opposition, and move swiftly towards the town of Arromanches, which was where they would meet up with the Americans, who were tasked with taking Omaha Beach. Then the two forces would head towards the Canadian meeting place, just off Juno Beach, where they had landed.
This set is described in our original British Trade Index Part II as :
SPORTS FAVOURITES. Sm. 63-66 x 38-40. Footballers, Boxers, Golfers, Speedway Riders, etc
White borders, back in (a) black (b) blue. Following are lowest and highest numbers known in each group of subjects.
1-247 (Footballers), 250-297 (Boxers), 300-301 (Billiards), 306-317 (Athletes), 323-330 (Golfers), 350-356 (Boxers), 360-397 (Footballers), 400-445 (Speedway Riders), 455-460 (Footballers), 58 (479) to 64 (485) (Speedway Riders).
Several numbers with two different portraits of same player.Yellow borders, back in blue, inscribed "Golden Series" (? 20)
The heading tells us that the cards were issued 1948-50, and this is the only set listed.
By our updated British Trade Index, though, more sets have appeared and the dates of issue now start at 1946, and end at 1955. The listing of this set in there is :
SPORTS FAVOURITES. 63-66 x 38-40. Commercial issue, in booklets.
White borders. Nd. (534 highest seen). Backs in (a) black (b) blue. Issued in batches, covering different sports, see details at HD-48.
1950. Yellow borders, blue back,, inscribed "Golden Series". Nd. (64). All footballers.
1953. Oldham Athletic. Unnd. (12). Issued to celebrate Oldham winning promotion in 1953. See HD-58.