ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL & THE MEN WHO MADE IT (FOUR VOLUME SET) by GIBSON, Alfred & PICKFORD, William (1861-1938) - 1905-06

First Edition. Medium 8vo (9 x 6.5 ins) pp viii + 224; viii + 215; viii + 216; viii + 220. With a frontispiece in each volumes and a total of 103 full page photographic plates and numerous in-text illustrations. This is perhaps the most attractive football book ever produced, and seldom found in this fine condition, with no colour fading and just the merest hint of rubbing to corner tips and ends of spines. Original pictorial blue cloth with the John Hassall design of a Victorian footballer in white kit with a football on front boards and spines. Top edge of the pages slightly dust stained. A Fine set of an authoritative account of football from its Victorian origins. William Pickford was an English football administrator, who played an important role in the early development of The Football Association. He also worked as a journalist for 'The Athletic News' under the editorship of James Catton. Alfred Gibson worked as a journalist for 'The Morning Leader' and 'The Football Star'. According to the author and football memorabilia collector Hunter Davies, the four volumes are "the best books on football ever written. They're the best produced, the best published, with the best photographs and best information" [Football Association Bible]