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Player Pages - a tribute to great players from the period 1965/66 to 1979/80, particularly highlighting their appearance in football cards.
Denis Law

A list of all of the appearances of this player in football cards in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 appears at the foot of this page.


1966/67 A&BC Gum,
Footballers, No. 53


1968/69 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No.
162


1969/70 A&BC Gum,
Footballers (green backs), No. 39


1970/71 Nabisco,
Footballers, No. 5


1971/72 A&BC Gum,
Footballers (purple backs), No. 75


1972/73 Top Sellers,
Football 72, No.
215


1974/75 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 197

Denis Law was born on February 24, 1940 in Aberdeen, Scotland.

He began his football league career in 1955 with Huddersfield Town, signing on as a 15-year old. In the 1954/55 season Huddersfield finished mid-table in the First Division, but they were relegated the following season. Law made his first team debut in December 1956 in the Second Division and obviously advanced quickly, making his international debut for Scotland in 1958.

Law remained with the Terriers for four years, making a total of 81 appearances while Huddersfield Town remained a mid-table Second Division club under the management of Bill Shankley.

In March 1960 Manchester City paid £55,000, then a British transfer fee record for Law. At the time City were a struggling First Division club, and Law was not particularly happy there. In 1961 he transferred to play for Torino in Italy, one of the first British players to make the trip to the Continent (in company with players such as Hitchens, Baker and Greaves). He had made only 44 league appearances for City, though they would have been happy with the reported £100,000 transfer fee from Torino.

Law's Italian sojourn lasted only 28 games before he was transferred back to Manchester when United signed the 22 year-old. The 1966/67 A&BC Card notes: "Manchester United inside left, Denis became the highest-priced player in English soccer in July 1962, when Manchester United paid Torino £115,000 for his transfer... He has been capped 35 times for Scotland and gained an F.A. Cup-winners medal with United against Leicester in 1963."

In Law's first season with United they struggled to finish 19th, just two places above the relegation zone. However, in the following seasons the team which included Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best finished 2nd, 1st, 4th, 1st and 2nd, before the slow decline which set in in 1968/69, leading to their relegation in 1973/74.

Probably not enough has been written about the Manchester United side of this era, particularly following on from the 1958 Munich tragedy. The 1962 to 1967 period ranks as the high point in Law's career, as well as a brief golden age for United. He played five years of scintillating football, while managing to remain relatively injury free. Two League Championships, an F.A. Cup (1963), and in 1964 announced as the European Footballer of the Year in a period when three Manchester United players won the award in five years. Terms such as 'naturally gifted', 'instinctive' and 'brilliant' were often used when referring to Law's goal scoring ability.

In 1967 Law suffered a knee injury which was to hamper him for some time. The 1969/70 A&BC Green back card notes "Now back to full-fitness, after a knee operation forced him to miss much of the 1967/68 season, including United's European Cup triumph... Capped 40 times for Scotland he is one of the deadliest finishers in the game".

The 1970/71 A&BC Orange back card notes "One of the game's most colourful personalities, Law made a return to the United side this season, after struggling for the past two seasons under the effects of a cartilage operation".

The 1970/71 Nabisco card summarises Law's contribution to the game "Denis Law is one of Scotland's all-time greats. He has won more than 40 caps, won selection for the FIFA World XI and was chosen European Footballer of the Year. On two occasions he was Britain's costliest player, his aggregate transfer fees totalling £250,000. Top European Cup scorer with nine goals in 1968/69. Denis has scored more than 40 F.A. Cup goals - a competition record".

In 1971/72 United began the season brightly, being top of the table at the end of December. New Years Day saw a defeat at West Ham, which began an incredible run of eight consecutive losses. Law, however, was a regular part of the line-up with 32 league appearances in the season where United finished in 8th place. The 1971/72 A&BC Gum purple back card notes "Made a dramatic return to the Manchester United side last season, after knee injuries threatened to put a premature end to his career. One of the most spectacular footballers of recent years...".

1972/73 saw United slip to 18th in the table. Law made only 9 league appearances in a disappointing season. At the end of the season he was released by United on a free transfer and moved across town to sign once more for City. He had made a total of 305 league appearances for the Red Devils and is acknowledged as one of the club's legends.

The 1972/73 A&BC orange/red card noted: "A superb inside-forward and rated by Scotland team manager Tommy Docherty as one of the finest players in his pool. Born in Aberdeen, but missed by the local senior club. Taken as a 'teen-ager to Huddersfield Town where he became a star".

With a forward line boasting Law, Mike Summerbee, Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Rodney Marsh Manchester City were expecting great things in 1973/74. However, they finished the season in 14th position. Law made 24 league appearances, scoring 9 goals.

In 1974 Scotland qualified for the World Cup Finals, and Law was included in the squad. He played in one game, a win, though Scotland failed to qualify for the second round. In all he amassed 30 goals for Scotland in 55 appearances, an amazing statistic.

Denis Law had a playing career which spanned 17 years, most of it at the top of English football alongside other greats, including Bobby Charlton and George Best. He was a spectacular striker who seemed to relish the big stage, both as a European footballer for United, or an international footballer for Scotland. "The King" will always be remembered as a football entertainer.

Denis Law retired his playing career in 1974. He is understood to be still living in the Manchester area.


1967/68 A&BC Gum,
Star Players (black backs), No. 16


1969/70 Anglo Confectionary
Football Quiz, No. 79


1969/70 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 175


1970/71 A&BC Gum,
Footballers (orange backs), No.
193


1971/72 FKS,
The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 1
90


1972/73 A&BC Gum,
Footballers (orange/red backs), No. 219

Football cards featuring Dennis Law, issued in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80
(note: this is an incomplete list, and will updated as new information is obtained).
Season Maker Set Team Card ref.
1966/67 A&BC Gum Footballers, Series 1 (001-110) Manchester United53
1966/67 Barratt & Co Famous Footballers A14 Manchester United16
1966/67 Sugosa Ltd Footballers Manchester United 1
1967/68 A&BC Gum Star Players Manchester United 16
1967/68 Barratt & Co Famous Footballers A15 Manchester United13
1967/68 Carrs Biscuits Soccer cards Manchester United 16
1967/68 FKS Publishers The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Manchester United 161 of 330
1967/68 IPC Magazines / Fleetway Lion & Champion Album of Soccer Stars Manchester United 69 of 110
1967/68 Typhoo Tea International Football Stars, Premium Issue Manchester United
1967/68 Typhoo Tea International Football Stars, 1st series Manchester United 15 of 24
1968/69 FKS Publishers The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Manchester United 162 of 330
1968/69 Longacre Press Charles Buchan World Stars Scotland
1969/70 A&BC Gum Football Facts, Green backs, Series 1 (001-064) Manchester United 39
1969/70 Anglo Confectionery Football Quiz Manchester United 79
1969/70 FKS Publishers The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Manchester United 175 of 330
1970/71 A&BC Gum Footballers, Orange backs, Series 3 (170-255) Manchester United 193
1970/71 Anglo Confectionery World Cup / Learn the Game Manchester United 41 of 48
1970/71 Lyons Maid Soccer Stars Manchester United 9
1970/71 Nabisco Footballers (Nabisco Foods) Manchester United5
1971/72 A&BC Gum Footballers, Purple backs, Series 1 (001-109) Manchester United 75
1971/72 FKS Publishers The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Manchester United 190 of 330
1971/72 Marshall Cavendish Book of Football Top Teams Manchester United 179 of 364
1972/73 A&BC Gum Footballers, Orange/Red backs Manchester United219
1972/73 A&BC Gum Football Card Game Manchester United 15
1972/73 Americana Soccer parade Manchester United 184
1972/73 FKS Publishers The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Manchester United 189 of 330
1972/73 FKS Publishers Soccer Stars, Circular stickers Scotland S
1972/73 The Sun Gallery of Football Stars, 3D Manchester United
1972/73 Top Sellers Football 72 Manchester United 215
1973/74 Top Sellers Football 73 Manchester United 215
1974/75 Bassett & Co World Cup Stars Scotland 41
1974/75 FKS Publishers World Cup 1974 Scotland 188
1974/75 FKS Publishers The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Manchester City 197 of 320
1974/75 Top Sellers Football 74 Manchester United 202
1978/79 The Sun Soccercards Scotland 282
1979/80 Ace Sporting Aces Bobby Charlton's World Cup Aces Manchester United C1 of 32
1979/80 Sigma Sport Silhouettes Action Portraits of Famous Footballers Manchester United 39 of 60

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