LoAFRS 3 – Bloomer, Raisbeck, Meredith

Legends of Association Football Series Group 3- Steve BLoomer, Alex Raisbeck and Billy Meredith

The next three in the rookie series are probably the top three superstars of their era: Steve Bloomer, Alex Raisbeck and Billy Meredith. 

7. Steve Bloomer – Football League Career 1892–1915

If you are collecting vintage soccer, then you know Steve Bloomer and his achievements. The Derby legend is among the true giants of the game.

Rookie Card: Year 1900 – Manufacturer Ogden’s Cigarettes – Set Name – General Interest N95 – Card Number – Unnumbered Blank Back

Card Notes:

Bloomer’s first cigarette card is the General Interest N95 series. The photo is taken from his Associated Press photo shoot for the book entitled Famous Footballers five years earlier in 1895. Incidentally the date, if you look carefully, can be read on his English cap. It is very likely that this card was issued at or close to the same time as John Goodall’s rookie card as both players played for Derby. This card predates the F&J Smith’s Cup Tie card , which is from 1901 or 1902 (although most sources list it as 1906). However, there is one other serious candidate to the cigarette card rookie for Steve Bloomer. Bloomer is part of an exceptionally scarce set entitled Footballers by St. Petersburg Cigarettes Co. which was issued sometime in early 1900s that may have predated the Ogden’s set.

Rookie Card 2: Year 1900 – Manufacturer St Petersburg Cigarettes Co. – Set Name – Footballers – Card Number – Unnumbered Blank Back

I had previously mentioned (see above Card Notes) that St Petersburg Cigarettes was a candidate for being the first card of Steve Bloomer. However, I had never actually seen a copy of this card due to its scarcity. Luckily, one came up for auction and has since become very well publicized as the hammer price was 25,900 pounds plus buyers premium.

Card Notes:

St Petersburg Cigarettes were based out of Portsmouth and at least three players from Portsmouth FC are included in the set. The team played their first game on August 1899 and the set was likely created to honor the formation of the team and its application into the Southern League. However, the set has 17 known cards and also contains several star players from Football League including Steve Bloomer and Charlie Athersmith.

8. Alex Raisbeck Football League Career 1898 – 1909

Raisbeck, as a defender, may not enjoy quite the same legendary status as Bloomer and Meredith, but football historians and collectors are increasingly recognizing how important Alex Raisbeck was as a player and a manager.  He became Liverpool’s captain after just 2 seasons at only 21 years of age and went on to lead Liverpool to their first ever league title. Raisbeck is Liverpool’s first star player and set the tone for what would become the identity of the club. 

Rookie Card: Year 1901 – Manufacturer Ogden’s Cigarettes – Set Name  Our Leading Footballers –  Card No. Unnumbered

Card Notes:

Raisbeck is a challenging card to determine the true rookie. The first is that a card from Ogden’s General Interest N95 dated 1900 names Raisbeck on the card, but shows a picture of Jack Robertson who was a Scottish footballer. It could be argued that this card is Raisbeck’s rookie card. However, because I am following my general rules for determining a rookie, I consider Ogden’s Our-Favorite-Footballer card from 1901 to be the true rookie of Raisbeck as it is the first card correctly naming and picturing the player. The picture slightly predates a second Ogden’s General Interest (97) 1901 card from which can be determined by the Scottish kit he is wearing in both cards.

9. Billy Meredith – Football League Career 1893–1925

William Meredith was a veritable superstar in his day earning the nickname the Welsh Wizard. Meredith and Bloomer are probably the most sought after cards by collectors due to their legendary status. 

Rookie Card: Year 1902 –  Manufacturer W.D. & H.O. Wills (Wills) / William Clarke & Sons (Clarke’s) – Set Name Football Series – Card Number #37  

Card Notes:

This selection for a rookie card may be a bit controversial as it is not the earliest depiction of Meredith on a card. Meredith was depicted on the 1901 Ogden’s N95 General Interest card entitled “Meredith At Work”. While this Ogden’s card marks Meredith’s card debut, it is an In Action-type card of actual play and names, but does not specifically profile, the player. As a result, the first card to profile Meredith at Manchester City and therefore, his rookie card, is from the 1902 Will’s or Clarke’s Football Series, which features both Rugby and Football players.

The 1902 Will’s series has two back types based upon the Will’s cigarette brands: 1) Wild Woodbine and Cinderella. The Will’s series also comes in two colour variety 1) grey and 2) violet tinge.

The Will’s and Clarke’s series are almost identical with a few minor differences between the sets. However, the Clarke’s card is relatively scarcer than the Will’s.

The information provided is based upon research conducted on the subject; however, football cards and their issued dates should be considered vast evolving subject matter. I will update to the best of my knowledge as new information comes available but no one source should be considered definitive. If you have comments or corrections, please contact me and I will do my best to provide the most accurate information available.