The Booked Pitch – 6th November 2026.
FOOTBALL BOOKS • PHOTOGRAPHS • CARTOONS | |||||||||
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ONE FOR THE FROG & FOOTBALL'S FORGOTTEN STORIES
One for the Frog — The Mike Trusson Autobiography. | |||||||||
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FOOTBALL NOSTALGIA / THE BACKSTREETS OF THE 1950s When the Street Was Our WembleyCoats for goalposts. A lamppost for floodlights. And just one more goal before tea. 
The streets were the training grounds; the rules were whatever the players agreed. 
Street football: no referee, no crossbar, no shortage of arguments! Long before expensive boots, academies and artificial pitches, children learnt their football in the street. In the 1950s, a pair of coats made a goal, a wall made a perfect passing partner and every kickabout came with its own disputed rules. The dreaded final whistle? “Your dinner's ready!” Our nostalgic SoccerBooks feature recalls the Barking and Dagenham football culture associated with Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Moore, as well as childhood ball skills remembered by Sir Alf Ramsey and stories of Duncan Edwards. A battered tennis ball or a colourful Frido football was often all the equipment anyone needed. Those pavements were an unlikely football academy — and for many, the happiest ground they ever played on. 
Frido football — a familiar name from childhood kickabouts. 
The 1950s Frido ball — every street had its own star. |
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FROM THE ARCHIVES / FOOTBALL'S SATURDAY NIGHT PAPERS Classified Results! Star, News, Standard!Before results arrived on a screen, they arrived with a shout — and a bundle of freshly printed newspapers. 
The evening news vans delivered the scores when Saturday's final whistle blew. “Classified Results! Star, News, Standard!” The street seller's cry once rang across London as football supporters hurried to buy the latest Pink Finals, Green 'Uns and Sporting Stars. Some editions were sold on street corners and in pubs; others arrived at newsagents in vans, fresh from the presses. Think of the speed of it: a match kicked off at 3pm, a photographer's early action shot travelled by motorcycle to the darkroom, and reporters telephoned their match reports while the typesetters raced the clock. By teatime, the latest football scores, league tables and football-pools results were in supporters' hands. For many families, checking the pools coupon was part of the Saturday ritual. 
The Pink Final — Saturday's results in print. 
The press camera — getting the pictures to print. The final whistle, the first edition, and the question every newsagent heard: “Is the Star in yet?” | |||||||||
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CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS / THE 2027 SOCCER ANNUALS A Christmas Morning Tradition
Football annuals have been part of Christmas morning for generations, a tradition stretching back to the early 1900s. Packed with football stories, facts, photographs and memories, the 2027 Soccer Annuals continue that much-loved tradition. The perfect Christmas present for football fans young and old.
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THE WEEKLY PANEL / WEEK #45 / 4 NOVEMBER 2026 The Sack Race — East End Pie 'n' Mash WeekAn eel pie for the bookmaker, a scream at the counter, and the 8 of Hearts for this week's Pick-a-Card. 
The latest managerial merry-go-round, served with a generous helping of East End humour.
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AND FINALLY.....Tommy “The Doc” Docherty classics“I promised I would take Rotherham out of the Second Division – and I took them into the Third. The old chairman said, ‘Doc, you’re a man of your word!’” “I’ve always said there’s a place for the press but they haven’t dug it yet.” “If football directors are too old to do it to their wives, they’ll do it to their managers.” “I would rather have you in front of me, Mr Chairman.” | |||||||||
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