2008

Hi Nigel. Sorry to say, but I'm "one of the guys" that continually has a moan at something they read in the paper and say to themselves "I must write a letter and put my point of view" but never do!!! Such is the case with your website  not complaining, mind you, in fact just the opposite. I discovered your website ages ago and have willy-nilly used it as an absolute near Bible for football card collecting. I don't know how long it took you but however long it was, it was well worth the effort. It's simply superb. Solves all my queries in a flash....Just keep up the good work . . . don't what I'd do without you !! Cheers, Rod, January

I really enjoyed looking through your website. There was a little corner shop near the junior school I attended in the early seventies and they sold A&BC cards. Nobody ever ate the gum and the pavements were strewn with discarded pink strips. For some reason, nobody ever collected the FKS stickers that Nick Hornby waxes lyrically about in Fever Pitch. Perhaps they were a regional thing. I collect Derby County cards and the Terry Hennessey interview was nice to read. His best game for Derby was the European Cup game against Benfica when we drew 0-0 at the Stadium of Light. Regards, Simon, January

2007

Dear Sir, I discover your webspace true Google's and I wanna to putt you a question. I've a blog in internet: www.cromodoscromos.com all about football stickers (panini, etc). I'm from Portugal and every day, me and a friend of mine, putt one sticker in the blog, to all fans "talk" about it. The most are stickers from Portugal, of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, but we also putt in the blog "internacional" stickers, like recently Bobby Charlton. Now, what is my question? In all your collections, do you have a sticker of any England Stickers Collection of GEORGE BEST? I've all Panini Collectios since World Cup Mexico 70 to World Cup Korea/Japan 2002, but unfortunately GEORGE BEST dont participate in a World Cup. If you can help me it was the most great sticker that I can putt in our blog! I'm a huge fan of George Best! I'll love to putt him in our blog. I hope you can help me and send me a digitalized sticker from him. PS - Sorry my bad english. Best Regards, João, December (Nigel's Webspace happily provided an image of a card for João and it was featured on his site)

What a great website. I have been collecting football cards for 5 years and have used your website as a reference. I was born in Romford and lived in Harold Hill for most of my childhood in fact my dad still lives there. Our house is some 2 miles from Spilsbury Rd where A&BC cards had their factory in the early 70s. I will always remember a fire they had and my friends and I rushing there to see the firemen throwing the gum cards out to all the kids who were there. I remember getting loads of football, star trek and horror cards. How much they would be worth now? Hope to get some photos of Spilsbury Rd and how the factory looks today if you are interested keep up the great site. Lee, November (Lee very kindly provided some photographs of the factory site, and these are now part of the A&BC story, which you can view by clicking here).

Dear Nigel, Yes I collected the ABC gum cards I still have them today from 1954 to 1955 I have Stanley Matthews, Stanley Mortenson and Alan Brown. Jimmy Armfield was the under 23 captain and Blackpool and England Captain who took over from Johnny Haynes, Ronnie Clayton and Billy Wright. We bought Alan Ball from Everton he then settled in North London. Fraternally, John, November.

Hi, Just thought I had to comment this as I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on your site, or anywhere else for that matter. Card no. 24 Alan Bloor doesn't show a picture of Bloor, it does in fact show John Ritchie. Just look at card no. 245. I've followed Stoke since the early seventies, and I'm 100 % sure of this. Cheers, Willy, October (Willy is referring to the 1970/71 A&BC Orange backs, see http://cards.littleoak.com.au/197071_abc_orangebacks/stoke_city.htm)

Dear Sir, I am currently building the Arsenal Supporters Club website and would like to to know if you would allow me to link your excellent web page of arsenal cards to our site? (http://cards.littleoak.com.au/196869_fks/arsenal.htm). We would also be very interested in displaying any other Arsenal related material that you have as it is of great interest to our members. In return we can offer to show a small advertising banner for your site. Kind Regards, Philip, Arsenal Supporters Club Webmaster. (I replied positively to this one, but have heard nothing since? - Nigel)

Nigel, The Great Stars of Football (set of 16) 1970 , D C Thomson (Jeff Astle, George Best etc) were issued with The Wizard comic, I have them! Fantastic website by the way, superb! Nick, October

This site is exactly what I've been looking for !!! Even the package is there - FAB !.I maybe can help ya a little.....Somewhere in my piles of collectibles I still should have a package of the stamps/stickers for the album of Soccer 76/77. I would be proud to maybe contribute with some small thing for your great pages. Back then I was in London and bought myself both the 75/76 & 76/77 albums and stickers - need I say it almost took my pocket money completely? I was 14 and still thankful for that my Mom could get me some extra £s back then. I started collect Swedish Soccer & Hockey 68/69 and I still have a lot of it. By experienced your site, some dreams comes to me to dedicate my own pages on the www, featuring the "complete" collection of every cards/stickers etc of my Swedish favourite team AIK. But it´s gonna be hard work, becouse I know its 100s of cards out there that I ain't got a clue about, but a hobby shouldn't be too easy...as I also have 2 small kids...! Cheers Mate...Janne, March

Hello, I've just been looking at your website and its brought back my card collecting memories. I started with the Yellow backs, and amassed a large collection, sadly no longer with me (swapped for fishing tackle) or something!. The crinkle edged photographs I had completely forgotten about, but had once also collected .Anyway upon sifting through my clutter (as my partner calls it!!) I came upon some old 1970-71 world cup team posters that I had forgotten about. Thanks for the memories....Nick, March

Neil Turner, Blackpool and Crewe, died on 29 May 2001 in Tung Shin hospital, Kuala Lumpur, where he was taken after a deep vein thrombosis during a stop-over on his way to Sydney. He was aged 59...Syd, March (I'm always happy to hear from family about their relatives who played League football. I've updated the website with these details. It's a small but genuine attempt to honour their memories. Nigel)

Dear Sir, I'm disturbing you because I visited your incredible web site and I wish to ask you if there are sets of cards you know, apart of Panini's collections between 1976 and 1979, especially dedicated to the European Cups for Club (especially the Champions Cup). All I saw was some collections (one dedicated to Celtic and another to Manchester Utd) with cards representing the programmes of the matches played by the winners during the tournament. Can you help me? Thanking you so much for your welcome cooperation...Aldo (Italy), March

Israel’s only goal was scored by no. 124. Mordechai Spiegler against Sweden.....Roy, March (and Roy should know, since his father played in this Israeli team in the 1970 World Cup - many thanks, Nigel)

I am interested in OIL COMPANY history. I have started to look at your website and have noticed your entry on CLEVELAND PETROL. Your site mentions that  CLEVELAND was taken over by SHELL. I believe that CLEVELAND stations became ESSO stations....Robert, February (and he was right, Nigel)

Hi, found you after entering 'soccer dip football shields' into Google and wondered if you could help me or visa versa. Long story short, I got left 85 shield shaped football stickers, 44 of which are all different, the rest are just copies. They all look vaguely like the picture that you have but don't have a brown backing paper. Mine are definitely white.....Heather, February

Woah, the error cards list reminds me of my stamp collecting days and how, no matter how hard you try, you can never get a full set of anything. Interesting as it is (and it really is interesting) it just gives me that uncomfortable yeuk feeling which meant I never did become a collector. But the Ron Davies page, as always, I love...Bob, January (Bob is a legend, and a valued correspondent - see his site at Bob and 1970/71 Footballers - Nigel)

I was just sorting thru my mums attic and come across a box full of topps football cards for the 78/79 season with the orange backs....Rob, January

What a work of art your site is, Nigel. I take my hat off to you. I'm 45 (I think!) this year, so 68-74 were my collection years. How many days did we say "got it, got it, got it, need it, got it.." in the playgrounds of our youth? I've been locked on your site for a couple of hours now and have learned so much, making my own checklists for the crinkle-cut cards and the other A&BC extras! I was asked by my mum recently to clear a cupboard out for her, and came across an old box. Imagine how I felt when inside I found hundreds & hundreds of cards from my childhood days.There were cards for everything, 72 olympics, flags, weapons, planes, flowers(?), cards from comics and newspapers, all the 3D cards and tons of A&BC footy cards from Planets to 74/75. It's taken me ages to file them all into wallets etc but worth every minute. Mates all ask why I'm doing it, I just say its coz I'm still a kid! So thanks again Nigel for building such a great site, for all us kids out there...Nick, January

My earlier email was written after only seeing your A&BC pages. Now I've seen your home page and, well, you've got EVERYTHING on there. Even the jam jar lids I remember!! Stuff I didn't know what their origins were are there.Truly brilliant, my friend....Nick again, 40 minutes after the previous email

It's taken me ages to find a copy of the Malcolm McDonald footie card from 1974/75 series (red back). This card had almost mythical history as me & my friends remember it from school. Why?... you ask. Take a close look at Mr McDonalds shorts...... is he or isn't he exposing his tackle? You decide...!!! The evidence is plain to see... a playground legend if there ever was one. How did the photographer, printer & publishers not notice!...Sean, January

Apologies for this unsolicited Email but I clicked on a link in your Website. I have a number of football cards from the 1965 “International Footballers of Today” set issued by Reddish Maid, Reddish, Stockport. Looking through the collection – which I put together myself as a 10 year old living close to Manchester – now discovered in my loft – I have around 50 cards but cannot make a full set as I am missing card number 13...Alan, January (I just love these 'loft finds'. More people should go up into their lofts and search out old football cards. Alan and I did a trade and he now has number 13 to complete his set - Nigel)

Wow - just stumbled upon this site - I'm 43 and remember many of these collections, covers, etc vividly. Sadly I do not have any of them now, but collected fervently from 1969 through to the 1978 World Cup. I also remember collecting the Postcard set you feature (but do not have a gallery for - it would be good to see some of those pics again). I remember some strange clubs were featured such as Atvidaberg of Sweden and Magdeburg, teams I'd never heard of at the time. Also, in reply to the comment from someone who noted that all the WBA pics from the 1970-71 set were taken at Stamford Bridge - so were the Newcastle ones (my team). They obviously just sent one photographer round to each Chelsea game to take a few pictures to save on the budget! I stumbled on this site an hour ago, and have been lost in it ever since... David, January

2006

Thanks a lot for your fantastic site! It got me collecting A&BC, Topps and Monty cards again which gives me great joy and brings back a lot of memories. I also collect Monty WC cards from 1982 and would like to ask you if you know where I can buy them + if there are checklists anywhere on the internet. The same goes for A&BC cards older than 1966. Do you know any sites who lists these checklists? Thanks a lot and keep up the good work....Øivind, December (I get asked these questions often, but don't know of any similar sites - Nigel)

I have some information on Alan Stephenson the old West Ham Player. He is now an attendance liaison officer at a Colchester school....Jack, December

Just wondered if you'd like to swap links. I illustrate and publish my drawings as cigarette style cards, so a link my be worthwhile for both of us. Please have a look at www.philneillcards.co.uk....Phil, December (Thanks Phil, no problems at all - Nigel)

Great site and very useful as I've been fulfilling childhood ambitions and FINALLY completing my A&BC gum and FKS sets from the late 60's after a gap of nearly 40 years. One little improvement for your records. In the A&BC Orange back 1970/71 series apart from the confusion over 174/216/Greenhoff/O'Rourke in both instances where John O'Rourke is shown in a blue shirt it is an Ipswich shirt rather than a Coventry shirt as it is the same photo from the Green backs of the year before... Newy, November 2006

I have collected cig cards since early 1960s, always collecting Nature and Transport subjects, amassing over 60,000 cards. However I have started a football type collection and with your site and the effort it required to produce I salute you. It is a mine of useful info, you deserve a cartophilic award to say the least? [in my opinion]. I have improved my knowledge greatly...Ian, November 2006

I have long admired your website; it is truly awesome! The yellow backs are my faves too though I never acquired all of them. Frustratingly you don’t have a gallery for this very set!!  Any chance of one??? (I still need to collect numbers 63 and 95 - when I have those I'll add the gallery - Nigel). The green backs & the b/w crinkle photo cards as well as the Typhoo b/w cut-outs & all the Soccer Stars stick in sets were amongst my all time favourites too!... John, November 2006

Found your site by chance. Wow, what memories, happy happy days of childhood innocence. Makes you wonder what it's all about today? Many thanks for loads of "I had them" & "those were the ones?"...John, November 2006

Great site, do visit regularly, being 46 years old and an avid collector of 60's/70's footy cards, stickers, mags etc can really relate to it's content. Hate to read the latest R.I.P.s. Don't know why but I suppose when you were a kid you thought these players were immortal. Shoot magazine autumn 1969 did a series of stand up footballers taller than DC Thomson ones, think you collected tokens and sent away for them, they came in sets of 8 players. I reckon I have 30 odd of these... Jim, October 2006 (Jim kindly sent scans of his stand-ups for this website. Click here to view the gallery of Jim's collection).

Love your site. Just a quick note to let you know that it was selected as "Web Site of the Week" in a recent issue of the EPL Talk Email Newsletter...The Gaffer, September 2006

Congratulations!! Your site is really cool! I’m from Brazil, and since some months ago, I found out your pages in the internet and I appreciated a lot the material. It’s very rare to find in the web good material and good memories about football history. The players, the teams, etc... Sergio, August 2006

Nigel - this is utterly fantastic. I came on this site by chance 30 mins ago and I've emailed many of my friends to check out the 70/71 season. Talk about going straight back in time, I just now need to find those Esso World Cup coins!!!!...Rhys, August 2006

You have stopped me doing any work today, what a fantastic site! Brings back so many childhood memories... Stuart, July 2006

I'm a sad collector of 1970 World Cup memorabilia and thought you might be interested to know that Esso also produced a sterling silver set of the famous coins as well as the bronze set you mentioned. These were issued to the players and a few others, and I bought Geoff Hurst's set a couple of years ago!?...Nick, June 2006

I wonder if you can help me? I have a collection of plastic football figurines, 5cm (2 inch) tall, gold coloured. I have had them since I was a child and can't remember where they came from but presume they were free gifts or similar, perhaps issued with breakfast cereal. I have eight of them, footballers represented are Jeff Astle, Alan Ball, Gordon Banks, George Best, Terry Cooper, Derek Dougan, John Hollins, Emlyn Hughes. Have you ever come across such figures or have any idea who might have issued them or what year they might be from? (I'm guessing 1970ish). I have searched the web including ebay but haven't found any reference. Your site has some similar types of things on it but not my figures. Sorry to take your time.I know that this is outside your stated scope of football cards but any help you can give would be appreciated...Rod, June 2006 (Newy suggests that these came with Quaker Oats. Does anyone know? If so, please email me.)

I recently managed to obtain the 16 busts from the Joe Mercer Cleveland Petrol collection for the 1971 soccer squad. I used to have this collection as a kid, but it unfortunately disappeared many years ago. I wasn’t able to get the base for these figures though, so I’m going to try and make a replica out of wood. I noticed on your website that you have a good picture that appears to identify a section of the locations for each bust with the players names.  Would it be possible to get a detailed picture of the whole base so I can see the location for each bust, or if not a picture, then a list of the order the busts go in?  As far as I can tell, it was 11 players on the top row and five on the bottom...Peter, Canada, June 2006

Do you know who played in the No. 15 shirt in the 1974 Scotland World Cup squad? I own this shirt as my Dad bought it for me as a young boy at a Glasgow Hilton Hotel dinner dance auction. I’m trying to find out who played in it...Peter, June 2006 (Solved!!! The owner has confirmed that it was Peter Cormack, then playing for Liverpool. Interestingly Cormack was named in the Scotland squad but didn't get to play in any of their World Cup games - Nigel)

I've just purchased a selection of Purple back cards, and noticed that one of the cards namely Jimmy Robertson (Ipswich) is number 69, your list has him at number 8. I was wondering if there is an error on the list, or is my card a fake?...Dave, May 2006 (Turns out Dave has bought some cards from the 1971/72 A&BC Scottish set, which includes Robertson as card 69 ....Nigel)

That A&BC gum was tough old stuff wasn’t it. The coin sets, the cards – it all comes back. Is there any mention of the Soccer Action Replay Letraset Action Transfer series on your site? I have one I carried around for years featuring Arsenal beating Liverpool in 1971 – it has George Best on the front and my wife was able to get his autograph on it when he went into her shop a few years back! Strangely enough, I seem to have applied the transfers in a way which defies all known rules of perspective. Though I was around 7 at the time.....Luke, April 2006

What great work! Bizarrely, almost all of the WBA 1970/71 orangebacks have been photographed at Stamford Bridge....Peter, April 2006 (Does anyone else recognise the setting for any of the other photo shoots? ....Nigel)

Regarding the Esso 73/74 Top team Collection: The packets the discs came in that you feature, had details of a world cup competition inside. I, believe it or not, won one of the prizes that took you over to Germany for a week to watch 4 matches of the 1974 World Cup. I vaguely remember, 1st prize was 50 winners to go to Germany (25 for the 1st week, 25 for the 2nd week), 2nd prize was a Pony trekking week somewhere in England, & 3rd prize was some rather fetching sports watches!! (which, I recollect is why I entered). I went over, with my Dad (I was 13), for the second week, and saw Scotland v Brazil, Scotland v Yugoslavia, Holland v Bulgaria (I think !!) & Italy v Argentina. Staying in rather a posh hotel for the week in Frankfurt. My Dad never moaned at having to buy his petrol in an Esso garage again. I suppose I should get to my point, and say that to win you had to cut out the faces inside the wrappers and stick on an entry form the 11 players from the 24 in the collection that you thought could win a World cup, & it had to match the judges team......Mark, April 2006 (What a fantastic story, many thanks for sending it in ....Nigel)

I am 55 tomorrow and used to collect the A&BC gum cards as a kid, all varieties including 92 footballers 1958, airplanes around the same time, flags of the world from 1958 again and most sorts including cricketers. I can remember around 1978 sending to Murray Cards of Hendon who had a cigarette and gum card business and buying Nos 1-46 of the 1958 footballers set for £1.....Pete, February 2006

The cards (Nabisco, Footballers, 1968/69) were definitely single cards, unwrapped, just slipped in between the wrapped Shredded Wheats. Trouble was, you looked like a bloody Shredded Wheat by the time you collected the set !!!!.....Mark, April 2006

I took another look at your website, and noted with interest your comment about the free transfers in A&BC Orange Backs, Series 3. I thought to myself.. yes, I remember those. Then it came to me in a flash. I still have some! I remembered a little box full of my little treasured things from when I was 10.  I’ve kept it all this time, and sure enough, a big wad of transfers. Nearly all perfect.....Dave, February 2006 (Envy ....Nigel)

I must admit to having seen Pepys International Football Whist and It's a Goal when I played with them in the late forties. I think they were about 2/6 (15p) when my parents bought them for me. Unfortunately, I can't remember what happened to my original sets but the appreciation is significant over 60 years.....Michael, February 2006

2005

The first football season I followed was 1970-71 when I was seven and I loved seeing those orange back cards again - the memories evoked were so vivid I swear I could smell the gum from the packet they came in!! I'd forgotten about the jam jar lids - I think I had the lot, but I know for certain I had all of the tiny squelcher booklets. It prompted me to call my mother and ask what the Hell she did with them all!!!...Andy, November 2005

Thank you for having the Typhoo Tea card of George Best on your webspace on this sad night. This was the first time I remember seeing him [I was nine] and little did we know then of the glory to come for Man Utd. thanks to him....John, November 2005

I am collecting information on motor neurone disease and have found a connection to football players. I would like to know if pulsed electromagnetic treatment of any kind was used to heal football players injuries?... November 2005 (Can anyone help with this one? If so, please use the email link at the top of the page - Nigel)

First can I say what a great web site, it has brought so many good memories from my childhood, and now I've started to collect again....Peter, November 2005

Just a quick word on the Thomson, stand up footballers. They were issued from 1965 onwards, the first sheets were in the Victor Jan 65 issues and consisted of 8 players, sheet 2 also had 8 players, sheet 3 had just 4 players. October 65 in the Hotspur they issued 2 sheets of 5 players each. February 68 Victor again and they issued two sheets of nine players...Gary, November 2005

Just wanted to congratulate you on a great website, I collect soccer cards and its been a big help to me. I have taken advantage of your set checklist's and your team checklist's, its so helpful....Ray, November 2005

Really good site but am very very sorry to see that John Charles died so young in 2002. I didn't know this until discovering your site. I have his autograph upstairs on the same piece of card as Bobby Moore, Frank Lampard and Harry Rednapp. My uncle had his wedding reception in the back room of the Black Lion, the pub where the team used to have a beer after a game hence I got to meet them there in absolute awe as I was only 12 at the time...Andy, November 2005

I particularly remember a series of footballer cards, in colour, probably from A&BC from the early 1960's. My parents would not let me eat bubblegum, but I used to buy it, give the gum away and keep the cards. This meant though that I didn't have as many cards as most of my friends... Michael, October 2005

Re Esso World Cup coins. Did you know that they produced two Bobby Moore coins. One with O.B.E and another with C.B.E.?... Robert, September 2005

69/70 A&BC Green Backs. Carlin and McKay (Derby County) both wearing Millwall shirts…Apparently Derby forgot their strip and Millwall gave them a second strip. Trivia, but fun... Mark, September 2005 (click to view - Nigel)

Thanks for the information on the purple backs. One of very few A&BC sets with many Wolves players in it, which is a bit of a surprise to me. Wolves had a very good side in the early 70´s but that only reflects in the orange back and purple back series. The 1973/74 and 1974/75 sets seem to be completely without Wolves players. Any clue why?... Urban, July 2005

Wow, what a fantastic site. I've recently cleaned out my loft & found untold amounts of "gum cards" & stickers from my youth (great days). I didn't fancy throwing them away (my wife's suggestion -- typical), so decided to try & find a site which could tell me about them. Three disheartening days I tried & the only site anywhere near was ebay. Then, I don't know how, I stumbled across your site & all my questions were answered. Thank you... Simon, July 2005

I have a completed book of the Americana Munchen series. When they were published, I was living at my grandmother’s house because there had been a fire at our family home. The newsagent opposite her house must have had trouble selling this cheap and unattractive series (compared to the hugely popular FKS paper cards), and around Christmas time 1973, my grandmother bargained with the newsagent to sell her his complete stock for a knock down price. Even then, I remember that I still had to send off to this obscure company for about a dozen stickers to complete the album!... Alan, May 2005

I have attached a picture of a particular album that is on your website. My father played for Red Star Belgrade from 1973-1979, and I am curious to know if my father is pictured in this particular album, since I already know that Red Star is indeed depicted in it... Marko, April 2005 (and yes, he was - Nigel)

Hi - and thanks for a very interesting site, which brings back a lot of memories. I wondered if you've ever come across a coin minted in error from the Esso 1972 FA Cup Centenary collection, which had the Tottenham crest on one side, but the Everton cup wins on the other side. I've never seen a reference to it on any website?... Rod, April 2005

This site is tops! It's brought back so many memories. I'm forty two year old, and still jarred off cause I never got Pat Rice in my card collection. I'm a Leeds fan and I've lived overseas for a long time so finding this site recently has been great. I've passed it on to a lot of ex pats like me... Keith, March 2005

Saw your website today - this is the only other place I've ever seen the footballers jam jar lids that I keep in an old tin, so nice to know someone else remembers them!... Neil, February 2005

Have just found your site by pure accident and would like to congratulate you on an absolutely superb site. It brings memories flooding back. I see that there are a few cards of Ernie Machin who over the past 20 years has become a very good friend of mine. I will no doubt tell him about your site when I manage to see him... Gary, January 2005

Hi, brilliant site! Had you ever noticed on the Esso World Cup Coins that they got Colin Harvey and Tommy Wright mixed up?... Alan, January 2005

Great site, you have taken me back to my childhood and more importantly into my loft. I have managed to find lots of old things up there... Andy, January 2005

You are correct that 'Reddish Maid' was made at the factory on Newark Rd in Reddish, Stockport, Cheshire. Were you aware that this factory was owned and operated by the Co-operative Society? I used to live about 200m from the factory and when we were children during the long summer break from school, we would all play on the fields that bordered the factory. At tea break and lunch times, some of the workers would sometimes throw handfuls of lollipops and other toffees from the upper windows of the factory to us kids on the fields! I can't remember collecting the football cards though!... John, January 2005