Original copies of this book, published in 1921, now sell for well in excess of £200.  Now followers of Queen’s Park, and students of the history of Scottish football, can purchase this first hand account of the first half century of Scottish football history, for “less than a tenner”.    The entire contents of this remarkable book have been faithfully reproduced in a 300 page, softback version.

Richard Robinson wrote the first history of Queen’s Park Football Club to mark the club’s Jubilee in 1917. It was published in 1921, and over the decades, the few remaining copies of the book have become very rare, and expensive to purchase.   The contents of the book provide a unique and fascinating account of the first five decades of organised football in Scotland, and, to a degree, throughout Britain ; told by a pioneering football writer from personal recollection, and with access to original documents and records.

Topics covered in detail include the birth of the Scottish Cup, the formation of the Scottish Football Association, the establishment of international football, the formation of the Scottish League and introduction of professionalism    The book also provides a detailed and authoritative account of the first five decades of the famous football club, and its equally renowned stadia.

This reproduction is designed to allow 21st century football enthusiasts and historians to enjoy the unique insights provided by the original book, at an affordable price.


Available priced £10 plus £2.90 UK p&p (= £12.50) from John Litster, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW.  Send a cheque, postal order, or for alternative methods click on payments

FOOTBALL'S WHITE FEATHERS

Scottish Football’s Battle for Survival during the early months of the First World War.  
By John Litster

The story of the Footballer’s Battalion in the 1914-1918 Great War is well known, but its formation, and subsequent decimation in the conflict, is merely the tip of an iceberg on which professional football in Scotland came close to being broken up in the early months of the First World War.

In over 100 pages of narrative, Scottish football’s reaction to the outbreak of war is described, followed by the huge public outcry for football to be stopped as it was allegedly preventing young men from volunteering for the slaughter on the Western Front.   Football’s climb-down, along with the public relations triumph of the formation of McCrae’s Battalion, is described in great detail, as are the consequences for Scottish football from the disruption of the war years.

Also included are comprehensive statistics from 1914-15 season; full results and scorers, match-by-match appearance grids for all First Division and (uniquely) Second Division clubs, and a detailed analysis of what the First World War did to the footballing careers of the Scottish League players of 1914-15.

Reproduced within the book’s 160 pages are the contents of the 1918 booklet “The “Hearts” and the Great War” by John McCartney

£10 plus £1.90 UK p&p from John Litster, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW   Postage and packing to Europe is £5.30, elsewhere abroad is £8.     Cheques payable to J.Litster.    Payments may be made by paypal or direct electronically - click on payments for further details

THIRD LANARK
Life and Death of The Hi-Hi
by John Litster

The story of how a club died, tracing the roots of the problems which culminated in the extinction of Third Lanark in 1967, told in one half of this major book.

The other half tells of the club’s history ; formed in 1872, twice winners of the Scottish Cup, Scottish League Champions in 1904, and a power in the Scottish game over its first half century.
  

Also told is the story of the two Cathkin Parks, hosts to Scottish Cup Finals and International matches before the First World War.

Statistics include results, scorers (for both teams) and attendances for all League, Cup and local cup ties, and season-by-season summary statistics for appearances in League and Scottish cups.

First published in 250 large pages, hardback, dust-jacket, this is now OUT OF STOCK.   It is available on CD Rom (or via Dropbox) in PDF format for £11.00 (including UK postage) from
John Litster, PM Publications, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW.

Click on payments for further details
Emailprogm@hotmail.com for postage rates abroad

Third Lanark was one of the top clubs in Scottish football for the first 50 years of its existence.  Formed in 1872, Thirds were founder members of the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Football League, whose championship they won in 1904. They were twice winners of the Scottish Cup, and their last two grounds, both called Cathkin Park, hosted Scottish Cup Finals and Scotland international matches.

In its last decade, the club played in a Scottish League Cup Final and finished third in the First Division, scoring 100 League goals in the process. This distinguished history, and the impressive list of Scottish international footballers to have played for the club, make it all the more bewildering that they were allowed to die in 1967, in their 95th year.

Their death has been popularly attributed to the actions of their majority shareholder for the last five years of the club’s existence, but the reason for the club’s demise is not quite as simple and as straightforward as the mismanagement by one man.

The seeds of the club’s destruction were sewn as far back as the very early years of the 20th century, and the confluence of events which eventually led to its extinction include decades of disharmony amongst shareholders and in the boardroom, the cost of purchasing (the second) Cathkin Park, the expense of developing it as a modern ground which could hold over 40,000 spectators for Glasgow derbies, the financial burden of full-time football and the difficulty in replacing top class players who either retired, or were transferred for substantial fees.

While these undercurrents were loosening the foundations of the famous old club, the club’s loyal band of supporters were watching the ups and downs of its playing fortunes.

Both stories, on field and off, are told concurrently in the pages of this book. Also included are full statistics of matches played in League and Cups, and the players who played in them.   Initially a story of endeavour and success, it has the saddest possible ending nearly a century later.  The book explains how and why this happened, and gives the reasons why the club which launched the careers of Jimmy Brownlie, Jimmy Mason, Jimmy Denmark, Jimmy Carabine, Ally McLeod, Bobby Mitchell, Ronnie Simpson, and the famous forward line of Goodfellow, Hilley, Harley, Gray and McInnes, is no longer with us.

The Boys from Leven's Winding Shore :
A History of Vale of Leven Football Club
 by John Weir 

108 pages detailing the birth, successes, failures and death of one of the foremost clubs in 19th Century Scottish football. Illustrated, with statistics and features never before published.
The definitive history of former Scottish Cup winners and members of the Scottish Football League, Vale of Leven  
Available from John Litster, PM  Publications, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW
priced £4.95 plus £1.05 postage.

Click on payments for further details.

A GREAT NEW NOVEL FOR SCOTTISH FOOTBALL FANS

HOW SCOTLAND WON THE WORLD CUP

A novel by John Jackson

The ultimate feel-good book for every Scot

It is Wednesday February 7th 2018, and St Johnstone manager Jimmy Murray is watching a Scottish Cup replay between Hearts and Dunfermline Athletic.   As he is leaving the stadium he has two conversations which start a sequence of events over the next 151 days which will change his life - and the lives of every Scot - and the course of World Football History.    The twists and turns of how Scotland won the 2018 World Cup are thrillingly described in this 260 page softback novel.

£9 plus £2.90 UK p&p from John Litster, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW   Postage and packing to Europe is £7.00, elsewhere abroad is £11.     Cheques payable to J.Litster.    Payments may be made by paypal or direct electronically - click on payments for further details

HOW THE CUP WAS WON

A History of Scottish Cup Finals in words and statistics
by Forrest H.C. Robertson

From 21st March 1874 at 1st Hampden Park, Crosshill, to 17th May 2014 atCeltic Park, each Scottish Cup Final is described by a match report, and detailed match statistics, many of them published for the first time.   Included are the full names of participating players, non-used substitutes, referees, umpires and linesmen and kick off times.

Following the narrative, the data is then summarised and highlighted, providing a complete alphabetic list of players of have appeared in Scottish Cup Finals, and lists of players who have made most appearances in finals, scored most goals, played for different clubs in finals etc.   Highlighted are fastest goals, latest goals, youngest and olders players, penalties, free kick goals, hat-tricks, own-goals, venues, sendings off, referees, relatives, colour clashes etc.  Also included are lists of captains and managers of the Cup Finalists.

In short - everything you ever wanted to know about Scottish Cup Finals will be contained in this 160 page book.   
A fascinating read - and a great reference book.

THE BOOK HAS SOLD OUT, but a PDF version is available for £5 from John Litster, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW    This can be sent via Dropbox, on CD Rom (add £1 for p&p, £5 abroad) or on a returnable USB Stick (add £2)

Payments may be made by paypal or direct electronically - click on payments for further details

RAITH ROVERS HISTORIES ......

ALWAYS NEXT SEASON

125 Years of Raith Rovers Football Club

The 384 page hardback book celebrating 125 years of Raith Rovers, has SOLD OUT and there are no plans for a reprint.

Instead, the entire contents of the book, including all illustrations, and complete statistics from 1883 to 2008, and original page layouts, are available on a CD Rom, in PDF file format.

If you prefer (or do not have a CD Rom on your computer) the down-loadable package may be emailed to you.

This CD Rom may be purchased for £15, inclusive of UK postage, from the author and publisher,
John Litster, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW

Purchasers who live abroad should add an additional £1 for postage and packing. 
Click on payments for further details.

For more details, email progm@hotmail.com

ROVERS RECALLED Volume 2
The second book of 100 pages of Raith Rovers images and photographs, complete  with explanatory text. £7.95 plus £1 postage

The above are  available from John Litster, 38 Lowther Road, Norwich, NR4 6QW

I have a vast range of Raith Rovers programmes, handbooks, photographs and other memorabilia for sale.  Some of them are listed elsewhere on this website (click here), but if you have any specific requirements, please contact John Litster at the above address, by email progm@hotmail.com or telephone 01603 449237.

To return to the Football History page of this website, click here football history