Time Machine to 1955
Nat Lofthouse: Football Legends in Print
Step back into the golden age of football with this exceptional 8th edition of The Football Association Book For Boys, a time capsule from the 1955-56 season that captures the heart and soul of mid-century British football. This rare hardback annual, published by William Heinemann Ltd, stands as a testament to an era when football was transforming from a working-class pastime into the national obsession we know today.
It contains a wealth of football history that contemporary fans can only imagine. The book features exclusive interviews and articles from legends of the game, including Billy Wright, England's first player to earn 100 caps, and Nat Lofthouse, the "Lion of Vienna" himself. Young readers of 1955 would have devoured Walter Winterbottom's coaching tips, studied Stan Cullis's tactical insights, and marvelled at Roger Byrne's stories from Manchester United's glory days. The detailed match reports and league tables from the 1954-55 season provide a fascinating glimpse into a time when Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea battled for supremacy, and the maximum wage still kept even the biggest stars grounded.
What makes this annual particularly captivating is its blend of practical advice and pure entertainment. "Training on Your Own" offered boys drills they could practice in their backyards, while "Boots can be Exciting" explored the latest football equipment innovations of the day. The quizzes tested knowledge of clubs and players, while the Soccer Chronicle documented the season's most memorable moments. The illustrations and photographs, though black and white, bring the era vividly to life—showing packed terraces, muddy pitches, and players in heavy leather boots who played through conditions that would cancel matches today.
For collectors and football historians, this book represents more than nostalgia—it's a primary source document from British football's formative years. The fact that it includes contributions from Ivor Allchurch and features the complete statistics from 1954-55 makes it invaluable for understanding how the game evolved. In an age of digital media and instant replays, this annual reminds us of a time when young fans waited all year for publications like this, treasuring them as their main connection to the beautiful game beyond match day. This copy is remarkable for its outstanding condition, especially given its age. There’s no fading or tears, the binding is tight, the pages are crisp, and the price remains unclipped at 10/6d NET. The dust jacket—so often missing or damaged on books this old—is intact and excellent, with just the lightest shelf wear and a tiny chip at the top of the spine. We've cleaned the jacket with Absorene, deodorised it, and protected it with an Archival Dust Jacket sleeve. This careful preservation ensures the book stays as close to its original state as possible, making it a rare find for collectors and football fans alike. In this condition, it's not just a collectible but a genuine piece of football history ready to be enjoyed for generations.
