This was not the last set ever issued, but our man, Herbert Edward "Jim" Hammond , shown as a football player with Fulham Football Club, was born on the 7th of November, 1907, in Brighton, And he definitely appears to have a shadow of a Movember Moustache.
He and he was keen on all sports from an early age. His senior career started with Lewes Football Club, then, in 1928, he was signed by Fulham. He stayed with them until 1938, and then retired. He was also a cricketer, for Sussex, and later an umpire.
Sadly he appears on few cards, so it is hard to find out much about him. His "Rookie" card was one of those tall, thin, ones, which were issued with "Topical Times", in about 1932. However these cards have no text at all, the backs are blank.
He then appears on number 57 of the Gallaher/Illingworth/Pattrieouex "Footballers in Action", issued in 1934, where it chooses to only call him "J. Hammond", making it easy to miss. That does have a text, a short one, which tells us he is "Also a promising all-rounder for Sussex Cricket Club. Has a reputation of being able to control anything round. Possesses great height, unusual ball control and a terrific shot. Opened this season in sensational form by appearing at centre-forward and registering a brilliant hat trick"
Our card comes next, in November 1935. That tells us he was "expected to join [Brighton]`s Third Division club. At the age of sixteen, however, he went to Fulham as an amateur, and while retaining this status played for England in the amateur international match against Wales.". It goes on to tell us that "At the end of the same season, 1927-28, Hammond became a professional." - as well as saying he is "One of the tallest inside forwards in the game". Lastly, the card suggests why he stayed at Fulham so long, for it tells us that "a fee of over £6,000 has been refused for his transfer."
That card is quickly followed by Carreras` "Popular Footballers", number 7, issued in 1936, which uses the same picture as our set but removes the badge on his strip. This is one of the best biographies, and tells us he is "an inside left...played in 40 games last season (1934-5) and was his club`s top scorer with 22 goals. Sussex County Cricketer. Brighton born, 27 years ago. Now in eighth season with Fulham with whom he started his professional career. Is 6 ft. 1 in., and weighs 12 1/2 stones.
He died on the sixteenth of June, 1985, at the age of seventy-seven.
Our set first appears in our original reference book RB.16, "The Cigarette Card Issues of W.D. & H.O. Wills Parts I, II, and III (revised) and Part IV", published in 1950. The entry reads :
- 134. 50. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALLERS - "Frameline" back (1936). Fronts printed by letterpress in colour. Backs in grey, with descriptive text, adhesive. Special album issued. Issued 1936.
A. Home issue. with special Album and I.T.C. Clauses
B. Channel Islands and General Overseas issues. No Album or I.T.C. Clauses
Now in our original World Tobacco Issues Index it gets a bit confusing. The first set you will find, if you work from the start of the Wills listing, is in section 2.B., for issues 1922 to 1939, but this is an Irish issue, and nothing to do with our set at all. However, it is there because it does not have adhesive backs. Those cards, which do include our set, forms section 2.C, which is described as "issues 1934-39. Cards with adhesive backs. Special albums issued unless stated." Our set is entered as :
- ASSOCIATION FOOTBALLERS. Sm. Nd. ... W62-192
A. Back with framelines. (50). See W/134.A
B. Back without framelines (50) See W/135.A
As for the Channel Islands version, that has to wait until section 5.D, for "English Language issues, 1935-39. Issued chiefly in Channel Islands and Malta". It is described as "ASSOCIATION FOOTBALLERS. Sm. Nd. (50). Adhesive Back. See W/134.B... W62-492
In our updated World Tobacco Issues Index this system is followed again, the Irish issue, which is for the non framelined set, coming first, and our cards again waiting until section 2.C, where they are entered as :
- ASSOCIATION FOOTBALLERS. Sm. Nd. ... W675-235
A. Back with framelines. (50). See W/134.A
B. Back without framelines (50). No album issued. See W/135.A
As for the Channel Islands version, that has to wait right until section 6.D, for "English Language issues, 1935-39. Issued chiefly in Channel Islands and Malta" - where it is described as "ASSOCIATION FOOTBALLERS. Sm. Nd. (50). Adhesive Back. See W/134.B... W62-492