This clue was rather a teaser, as it shows Charlton Athletic, and that is the closest football league team to Greenwich. But disregard the popular notion that at one time the team was in an entirely different county, of Kent; for though the area may indeed have only become part of London in 1855, the team was not founded until 1905. And, curiously, we know the date of that founding, which was the 9th of June - the day I typed these words on the reveal for the theme of the week.
Here we have a very sought after, and scarce set. And yes, they are hand-coloured, but do not let that put you off, as they are really well done. The only real problem with them is the size, which is quite large indeed.
Now for some reason these were originally listed in our British Trade Indexes under "Topical Times", with a header, (at least in BTI part one), that read "Periodical. Cards issued about 1925-40. Most series are very large size and outside the scope of this volume. See C.N.N., Vol 20, pages 15/20 and 60, which also cover subjects in two series listed under Set TOA-1. For Anonymous issues, see sets ZB7-11 and ZB7-12".
None of the sets listed in this volume, or part two, are ours. For these, you have to wait until part three, where the header tells you to "Delete set TOA-1 in I, series relisted below with other larger size card issues". And what`s more, our set turns out to be in two parts :
- Footballers - Coloured (A). 250 x 94. Issued 1936. ... TOA-14
1. English Players. (16)
1. Jack . Atkinson. Bolton Wanderers F.C.
2. Robert Baxter, Middlesbrough F.C.
3. Harry Betmead, Grimsby Town F.C.
4. Len Butt, Huddersfield Town F.C.
5. W.J. Crayston, Arsenal F.C.
6. W. Dale, Manchester City F.C.
7. Jock (Ephraim) Dodds, Sheffield United F.C.
8. Alec Hastings, Sunderland F.C.
9. Harold Hobbis, Charlton Ath. F.C.
10. C. Wilson-Jones, Birmingham F.C.
11. James Mercer, Everton F.C.
12. J. Nicholas, Derby County F.C.
13. Clifford Parker, Portsmouth F.C.
14. Frank Soo, Stoke City F.C.
15. Bert Sproston, Leeds United F.C.
16. Vic Woodley, Chelsea F.C.
2. Scottish Players (16)
1. Robert Beattie, Kilmarnock F.C.
2. Andrew Black, Hearts F.C.
3. Thomas Brady, Hibernian F.C.
4. Hutton Bremner, Motherwell F.C.
5. William J. Bruce, Albion Rovers F.C.
6. Stewart Calderwell, Partick Thistle F.C.
7. Jimmy Denmark, Third Lanark F.C.
8. J. Eric Guthrie, Dundee F.C.
9. Robert Harrison Hammilton Acas. F.C.
10. John Lowe, Arbroath F.C.
11. Willie Lyon, Celtic F.C.
12. W. Martin, Queen`s Park F.C.
13. Patrick Mc Camon, St, Mirren F.C.
14. Thomas Mooney, Airdrie F.C.
15. R, Shankly, Falkirk F.C.
16. George Thomson, Aberdeen F.C.
Note : An album was issued, titled "Topical Times -Panel Portraits Album of Star Footballers" with blank spaces for 48 cards. No biographies.
The only change to this in part four is a correction, namely :
- TOA14-2 (Footballers 1936- Scottish Players). 16 listed on page 306 of III.
Correct No.6 to Stewart Calderwood, not Calderwell