Famous Football Programmes

A history of famous football programmes

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The programme has been an essential part of the football match experience for well over a century. Long after the final whistle, the programme can evoke memories of great players, famous matches, major occasions in sporting history and some of the greatest teams to grace the national game. There is nothing better to commemorate such a moment in football history as the simple match card or, in modern times, the more sophisticated match-day magazine. This volume contains a selection of the most memorable, and historically significant matches in the history of the game, and describes the match programmes which commemorate them to this day. Fro the humble nineteenth-century handsheet to modern glossy publications, it traces the history of the programme from its early beginnings to its present form. Examples include the 'White Horse' FA Cup Final in 1923; the Wembley Wizards, when Scotland beat England 5-1; the 1966 World Cup Final; League and Cup double successes for Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool; Manchester United's remarkable treble in 1998/99 and British success in European competitions. The tragedies are recalled as well as the triumphs, the memories flooding back as the names of players, teams and occasions rise from the pages of the football programmes featured here. Written by John Lister, the editor of Programme Monthly magazine, this book is lavishly illustrated by over 100 images, many in full colour, and will delight football fans and collectors alike.