Terrace Heroes: The Life and Times of the 1930s Professional Footballer

Front Cover
Psychology Press, 2005 - Sports & Recreation - 174 pages
The 1930s saw the birth of the football idol - prototype for today's powerful media sport stars.
The players of the 1930s were the first generation of professionals, yet until recently the life and careers of footballers of this generation has been little studied.

In 1930s Britain, football became increasingly commercialized, and the rise and development of both local and national media enabled players to become widely recognized outside of their immediate local context for the first time.

Tracing the origins, playing careers and 'afterlives' of several First Division players of the era, Graham Kelly's revealing history explores the reality of living in Britain between the wars and draws interesting comparisons with lives of the modern football hero today.
 

Contents

Professional footballers as terrace heroes
1
The career path of professional footballers
6
Footballers as employees
16
Directors managers trainers and coaches
25
Footballers lifestyles
36
Footballers and the media
43
Jack Atkinson Bolton Wanderers
53
Bob Baxter Middlesbrough
61
Jack Crayston Arsenal
79
Billy Dale Manchester City
91
Jock Dodds Sheffield United and Blackpool
103
Harold Hobbis Charlton Athletic
113
Joe Mercer Everton
125
Cliff Parker Portsmouth
135
Conclusion
153
Index
169

Harry Betmead Grimsby Town
69

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