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In the period from 1953 through to 1970 the Rover Comic, and
later the Rover and Wizard, published pictures of 'Football Stars'
on their front covers. |
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In the period from 1965 to 1976 D.C. Thomson issued a number of
different stand-up footballers in the Hotspur and Victor comics. The
footballers came in sheets, complete with their name on a separate
base. The first stand-ups were issued with issues of the Victor
comic in January 1965. Sheet 1 had eight players, Sheet 2 had
eight players, while Sheet 3 had only four. |
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The Hornet comic commenced on 14 September 1963, and was merged
with The Hotspur in February 1975. Starting in January 1966 the
comic began the give-away of a set of cards called Top Cup Teams.
The first issue included the wallet and four of the cards (Brazil,
Celtic, Wales and West Ham United). Subsequent issues provided the
later cards, for example, England, Real Madrid, Scotland and
Manchester United were given away with issue 125. |
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These two giant posters were given away with the Hornet comic.
They both fold out to large posters with many coloured images of
teams and players. |
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Bernard (Bouncing) Briggs appeared in the Hornet, Hotspur and Wizard comics. He was a powerful young fellow who earned his living as a General Dealer. He had a yard of his own in Slagton, and rode a motor bike with a sidecar made from an old bathtub. He was a keen amateur sportsman taking up various sports including Baseball, Boxing, Football, Ice Hockey, Rugby League, Tennis and Wrestling. Bernard excelled at all the sports he tried (from www.britishcomics.20m.com).The album was presented with the Hornet. The stickers inside appear to have been cut from a colour sheet. |
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A set of 16 cards in a plastic wallet, issued with the Wizard
comic. The Wizard comic was relaunched on 14 February 1970, and 8 of
these cards were given out with the plastic wallet with No. 2 (21
February), and the remaining 8 cards with No. 3 (28 February). |
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Football Favourites, presented with the Victor. A set of 2
posters, each with 8 panels of colour and black and white photos. |
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The Week-By-Week Record of All Football Leagues, presented with "The Victor". A fascinating booklet with pages for each of the English and Scottish leagues, including league ladders. In the centre of the booklet was a page of stickers with each of the 129 teams. The idea was that you cut out each of the team names, removed the backing paper and stuck them down in the correct place in the league tables. According to D.C. Thomson there was no need to wet the panels, they stick by themselves! Each week you could unstick the panels, move them and stick them down again. The panels would 'retain their stickiness no matter how often they are moved'. Where has this technology gone? P.S. I've got one of these, but unfortunately after 30+ years they are no longer able to be unstuck and restuck - pity! |
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A small set of 12 from the Wizard. They appear to have been cut
from a sheet, suggesting that the comic provided the reader with one
or two sheets and suggested that the cards be cut out. |
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These cards were presented in the Hornet and Hotspur comics in
blocks of 8 or 10 which were to be cut into individual cards by the
reader. Some of the uncut blocks still exist, and are quite
collectable. A plastic wallet was given away with the first sets of
cards. The cards were issued as: |
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A 16-page booklet produced as a lead-up to the Mexico World Cup (31 May to 21 June). The booklet was a free gift in the Wizard Comic dated 9 May 1970. It was printed by Buckley and Bland, Stockport. Copyright D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. 1970. |
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A large fold-out banner presented with the Wizard comic. The banner includes: Arsenal (League Champions and F.A. Cup Winners 1970-71), Francis Lee, George Best, Steve Heighway, Billy Bremner, Ron Davies, Martin Chivers, John Jackson, Joe Corrigan, Iam McFaul, Peter Shilton, Phil Parkes, Pat Jennings, Peter Bonetti, Gary Sprake, Bob Wilson, Gordon Banks, Jeff Astle, Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey, Sandy Jardine, and Celtic (Scottish League Champions and F.A. Cup Winners 1970-71) |
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An interesting set of 14 small cards, plus an answer card, given
away with the Victor comic on 11 March 1972. Each card has a question on the
front in colour, and another on the back in black and white. |
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A set of 24 cards presented in two sizes. The smaller cards came
with the Victor comic in a sheet of 16 issued on 26 February 1972,
while the larger ones came in four pairs in issues from 4 to 25
March 1972. The Victor comic commenced on 25 February 1961 and ran
until November 1992 (source
www.26pigs.com). The set came with a plastic wallet for storage. |
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A football calendar for 1974, presented with the Victor comic in
its edition dated January 19, 1974. |
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