A Complicated but Important Association Football Set
Between 1950 and 1954, the now defunct Daily Herald Newspaper issued several sets of association footballers. The sets are important as they include early and rookie cards of some of the games greatest players including the legendary John Charles. However, there are a lot of variations among the sets and the even the cards themselves including misprints, misspellings etc.
This article provides an overview of the chronology of the different sets issued by Daily Herald Sportfoto.
Note: I have identified at least at least six separate sets from years from mid 1950 – approximately 1954, it is possible that there are others. In particular, I have identified two cards with narrow caption and Sportfoto caption but without the Daily Herald Copyright. It is possible that this a new series that was issued between the 5th and 6th series. These cards have narrow caption, but like the 6th series, do not contain Daily Herald Copyright.
First Series – No. Before Number Daily Herald Copyright
Date Issued – PRe-October 1950
Number of cards = 12
Card Description: “No.” written before the number. Light font of Team and Daily Herald Copyright
Set Features: Includes 12 players including Trevor Ford with Aston Villa. Ford left Aston Villa for Sunderland in October 1, 1950 and is shown in subsequent series with Sunderland. Also includes John Charles definitive rookie card.
Second Series – Light Font Daily Herald Copyright
Date Issued – Circa February 1951
Number of Cards = 32
Card Description: Does not have “No.” written before the number. Light font of Team and Daily Herald Copyright.
Set Features: Includes Neil Franklin with Hull City. Franklin joined Hull City on February 1, 1951 so the set must have come out past this date. However, the set also includes card 30 Frank Dudley’s team as Leeds United. Dudley transferred from Leeds to Southampton in February of 1951.
Third Series – Regular Font
Date Issued – February 1 – December 1, 1951
Number of cards = 32
Card Description: Does not have “No.” before the number. Regular font of Team and Daily Herald Copyright.
Set Features: Set includes Frank Dudley updated to Southampton team which he joined in February 1951. Charles Mitten wearing Manchester United jersey with Bogota. Charles Mitten transferred from Bogata to Fulham on December, 1951. Eddie Quigley with Preston North End. Quigley transferred to Blackburn Rovers in November 1951,
Fourth Series – Wide Caption Sportfoto
Date Issued – January 1952 – February 1953
Card Description: Daily Herald Copyright with Sportfoto. Name is wide caption in Sans Serif
Set Features: Charles Mitten is updated to Fulham. He joined the team from Bogota on December 1, 1953. Raich Carter with Hull transferred to Cork in February 1953. Reg Flewin of Portsmouth who retired in 1953. Ike Clarke of Portsmouth retired as a player 6th April 1953.
Fifth Series – Narrow Caption Sportfoto
Date Issued – February 1953 – July 1953
Card Description: Daily Herald Copyright with narrow name caption in sanserif font with Sportfoto caption.
Set Features – Raich Carter is updated with Cork Athletic which he joined in February 1953. Tommy Lawton is listed with Brentford. Bizarrely, Denis Compton is still featured in this set despite retiring from football in 1950.
Sixth Series – Sportfoto Serif Font
Date Issued – After August 1953 – December 1953
Card Description: Daily Herald Copyright with narrow name caption in sanserif font with Sportfoto caption.
Set Features – The set was updated with new photos for the players. It includes several changes over the previous sets including many new players. John Carey is listed as the manager of Blackburn Rovers, a role which he accepted in August 1953. Trevor Ford is listed with Sunderland but left the club to Cardiff in December 1953. Ivor Broadis is listed with Manchester City; however, he transferred to Newcastle on July 1, 1953. George Robledo listed with Chile and was transferred from Newcastle on July 1, 1953.
The Cardboard Junkie 