Postcards from the Edge of Football

A Social History of a British Game

Hundreds of postcards illustrate the changing face of football. Picture postcards have been around almost as long as professional football, but no one has ever combined the two until now. Hunter Davies, a renowned football writer, covers the history of the game through various sorts of football cards in Postcards from the Edge of Football.

This extensive collection depicts heroic players, renowned clubs, and unforgettable events, while also highlighting lesser-known teams and players to be featured on postcards. Everything from the debut of new strips to the latest fashions and the rise of female footballers is documented, and, in a broader framework, the social history of football and its significance in our national life, as well as shifting attitudes towards the game and its history, can be detected.

The golden age of postcards was from 1900 to the 1930s, when millions of them were sent by all social classes. There were photographic studios in every high street, and travelling photographers would capture teams or individuals in their best strip; then copies would be sent on to family and friends.

While the football postcard phenomenon has been eclipsed in recent years by modern technology, these cards remain sought after by collectors. With Postcards from the Edge of Football, Hunter Davies has produced an intriguing, lavishly illustrated history of the football postcard that will appeal to both soccer fans and the general reader in its scope and attractive presentation.

In mint condition Hardcover, 240 Pages, Published in 2010 by Mainstream Publishing.