This card supplies the main theme word of "Athletic", from Oldham Athletic Association Football Club. They began in 1895, as Pine Villa Football Club. However, in 1899, when Oldham County disbanded, Pine Villa not only moved into their stadium at Boundary Park, but changed their name to Oldham Athletic. They joined the Football League in 1907, and, at the time of this card, in 1914, were in the First Division.
Our man, George Woodger, was born in Croydon in September 1883. He started out with several clubs in his home town, including Thornton Heath Wednesday, from where he was signed by Crystal Palace in 1905. You can actually see him in that strip as our Card of the Day for the 13th of November, 2021
Now many sources will tell you that whilst with them, he played in the 1907 F.A. Cup against Newcastle United. However this makes it sound like it was the F.A. Cup Final, and it was not, it was a first round match, played on the 12th of January at St. James` Park, Newcastle. However it is well worth a mention, as Newcastle were a First Division team, and Cup Final contenders for the last two years - whilst this version of Crystal Palace F.C. was a Southern League side, only formed in September 1905. Another notable thing about this match was that Crystal Palace won, 1-0.
There had been another Crystal Palace Football Club, an offshoot of the Crystal Palace Cricket Club, which started in 1861 and was one of the original founder members of the Football Association in 1863.
This card shows Mr. Woodger as a player for Oldham Athletic, which he joined in September 1910. His transfer fee was quite a big one, but records do not agree as to whether it was £650 or £750. On the reverse of this card it mentions the curious term "Ta Latics", and this is a Northern nickname for two clubs, our Oldham Athletuic A.F.C., and Wigan Athletic F.C.
Whilst he was with them he was called up for the England squad. The match was played on the 11th of February, 1911, against Ireland, and England won two nil. The match was held on neutral ground, the Baseball Ground, in Derby, later the home of Derby County F.C.
In May 1914 he was actually signed up by Tottenham Hotspur, but it seems like he did not play before the First World War broke out. It is also said that he "retired" from football during that time, but after it he is recorded as a manual worker, a plumber, and a metal worker. And I have not yet been able to find any war service.
This is part of a group of cards, described in our original World Tobacco Issues Index as :
FOOTBALLERS. Sm. Nd. ... S84-9
- Size 63 x 36. Brown to dark brown, almost black. Back in brown, without series title, inscribed "Smith`s Cup Tie Cigarettes ... In Packets of 10". (120)
- Size 65-66 x 35-37. Brown to dark brown, almost black. Back in blue, without series title, headed "Smith`s Cup Tie Cigarettes".
(i) Nos. 1/52, excluding 1 and 13 (50). Base of back "10 for 2 1/2d".
(ii) Nos. 53/104, excluding 53 and 54 (50). Base of back "In packets of 10".- Size 67 x 35. Dark brown, yellow framelines and caption. Back in blue, with series title. (150). Vari-backed, 8 wordings - see C.C.N, Vol.21, page 67
The top two groups are identically described in our updated World Tobacco Issues Index, but our group is different, reading
3. Size 67 x 35. Dark brown, yellow framelines and caption. Back in (a) light (b) dark blue - many different type settings, with series title. (150). Vari-backed, 8 wordings.