Our first clue was going to, once more, be Brentford, where the Grand Union Canal actually begins, (at the Thames Lock), but we have used them such a lot, and I was saved by Garry Locke, whose name is only an "e" away from a lock on a canal.
A lock is actually the most important feature of a canal, because it enables the vessels travelling on it to be raised and lowered onto all the different waterways which form part of the same canal system. How it works is that the boat motors in to a little box, through a gate, and the gate seals behind it. Then, whilst it is still in its water, someone turns a handle on the mainland, and the little box rises or falls, depending on the height of the water it is going to join. Then, once it is at the same level, the gates are opened on the side in front of it, and the vessel motors merrily out.
As far as Gary John Locke, he was born on the 12th of July, 1954, at Park Royal, in Middlesex. He started out at Chelsea, but on their youth squad, and they kept him on as a senior, from 1971 until 1983. He was also voted their Player of the Year in 1974, which was the end of the same season that these cards were issued. They tell us that he won an England Youth Cap, and that he "is one of several exciting young stars drafted into the League side during the 1972-73 season." It also tells us that he "made his League debut against Coventry in September 1972". However it spells his name wrong on both sides of the card, calling him Garry with two "R"s - but, curiously, they get it right for the cartoon, which says "Gary is set for a big future in League Football".
In 1974 he appeared on one card and two stickers. The card was another A. & B.C. Gum "Footballers", which we know as 1974-75. That tells us that the tournament for which he won his England Youth Cap was held in Spain in 1972, and from that he was given his chance with the first team. It also has his height (5` 10"), and his weight (10.8 stones). The stickers were Panini/Top Sellers` "Football 1974-75", and FKS`"Wonderful World of Soccer Stars", but neither of those had any biography at all.
In 1982 he was loaned out to Crystal Palace, and made it permanent the following year, staying until 1986, in which year he moved to Sweden, and played for a team called Halmstads Bollklubb, who never seem to have appeared on a card. He didn`t stay there long though, as in 1987 he moved even further away, to New Zealand, and a team called Napier City Rovers. There he did very well, even making captain, but then, in 1991, was suddenly passed over for a spot on the team, which led to him moving on again, to Waikato United, also in New Zealand. That means he probably appears on several antipodean sets we know nothing about, unless readers from those parts tell us.
The set appears in our original British trade index part three, as part of a group :
- Football Series - 1973-74 (A) ... ABF-51
1. Players, 80 x 55. Back in style of ABF-51.1, except checklist cards
1. English issue. (262) Cream border to front, back in blue and black, issued in two batches
(1) Nd. 1/131. Checklist at No.36
(2) Nd. 132/234, 236/261 and 263/4. Nos. 235 and 262 not known. No.182 is with a checklist back, listing (a) Nos.132-264 (b) Nos.132-261. No.241 (John Toshack) is found with picture on front (a) head and shoulder (b) full length
It almost certainly next appears in our updated British Trade Index, but I can`t find it! The only 1973/4 are black and white, which these are not. Anyway I`ll keep looking.