Football on Film

Terrific portrait of Bobby and Jackie Charlton, pillars of football history, at the height of their playing careers

Bobby Charlton and his brothers Gordon and Jack meet their father Bert, a miner, as he clocks off from work.

A young Bobby Robson is one of the footballers profiled in this 1962 documentary following a week in the life of West Bromwich Albion FC.

A fresh-faced football legend-in-the-waiting is interviewed for the first time and enjoys a kickabout on the local Cregagh estate.

Browse through the oh-so-fashionable goods on offer at the George Best boutique. Silken scarves, corded belts, trendy jackets and what’s this? A football icon turned tailor!

The football legend talks about life as player and 'pop star'

Glorious Ladies All Stars get a 10-0 lead against the QB's: time for an uplift with Quick Brew's quicker teabags!

Pete and Dud prove to be stout football fans in this Guinness commercial recalling a great sporting moment - however fleeting.

The great Stanley Matthews reveals the new range of football boots he helped design exclusively for Co-operative stores in this 1950s advertisement.

Preston's famous Dick, Kerr Ladies FC - one of the earliest known women's football teams in England - play local side, Lister's Ladies, at Bradford's Valley Parade ground.

Difficult times for women's football, but it doesn't stop the battle of the lightbulb makers in North London.

A light-hearted newsreel item on the Football Association's proposed ban on women's football in 1921.

Leicester City players meet their new manager who has introduced a brutal new training regime.

Soccer silliness at West Ham courtesy of the 'Ancient Order of Froth Blowers' and pals - including music hall stars and the world's tallest woman.

A football match with no teams or goals? Atherstone's traditional free-for-all has only one rule - killing is not allowed!

Southern League football team Gloucester City call in famed hypnotist Henry Blythe to take them to a higher plane.

England team struggle with deplorable weather conditions in Belfast.

Baker tries to best baker, as the two distinguished firms compete in a Gaelic football game in West Belfast.

Exiles v Nomads in the Smallest League in the World

1928-29 Irish Cup Semi-Final action between Ballymena and Coleraine, from Belfast's Windsor Park.

An enlightening account of the first Nigerian football team to tour outside West Africa.

The earliest surviving Merseyside derby on film catches two of Everton's goals in a 3-1 home win.

World Cup year 1966 but this is a different kind of 'beautiful game' and in these conditions Geoff Hurst would've certainly struggled to get his famous hat-trick.

Arsenal v Leeds United from Highbury in the opening match of the 1929-30 season.

Cloughie waves his magic wand and it's the greatest day thus far for the lads of Forest. Their first European Cup victory and the city grinds to a halt in scenes of jubilation.

Wolves, 1980's League Cup winners, celebrate with an open topped bus parade that brings back memories of the glory days of the 1950s when the team was unstoppable.

After relegation from the Football League Division One the previous season, Bury FC turn up at Craven Cottage for their first ever meeting with Fulham.

First-ever footage of Manchester United in a tense Edwardian football fixture.

Derby Day - Manchester City clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford for the bragging rights of the city.

Liverpool and England footballer Emlyn Hughes gets nostalgic when he takes a team of aspiring youngsters through their paces

Music hall star George Robey kicks off the action at this international ladies' footie match at Herne Hill, South London.

Close calls in the goalmouth as Celtic and Rangers meet at Parkhead for the 1929-30 Glasgow Cup final.

The chaps of 6th Battalion, the Queen's Royal (West) Surrey Regiment, enjoy a game of football while a man cooks a rustic stew outdoors.

Aston Villa, the must successful cup side in England, have fallen on hard times but the 1971 League Cup final might just be the game that takes them back to the big time.

Tottenham Hotspur takes on an assortment of music hall performers (and their horses) in this comic charity match.

A daring rescue by a plucky lady fan saves the day for Bestham Vampires in this early footie short.

Do not adjust your set! This off-beat jukebox cartoon is definitely more freaky than footbally

Women munitions workers from the Kynoch and Vickers Maxim factories take to the pitch in Southend during WWI.

Canaries defender Mel Machin attempts to dominate the pitch in this 1975 match for Norwich City at their home ground Carrow Road against West Bromwich Albion.

Footballer Geoffrey Hurst signs on the line for fans

Woolwich Arsenal at home to Liverpool in front of a crowd of 12,000 in the opening match of the 1911-12 season.

A load of balls - footballs and cricket balls, that is - are crafted by hand from leather and string.

Back to the bad old days of skinners, as worn by these Man. United troublemakers, being escorted by police dogs along that perilous walk from Elland Road to Leeds railway station.

Everyone knows their place in this now familiar weekly football ritual of rowdy working class youth arriving at Leeds, separated from their counterparts by police and fences.

Supporters' Pitch Invasion and Violence Exeter v Torquay

Hats off to the huge crowds that turn out for the opening day of the football season at Arsenal and Chelsea.

The short-lived minnows Wigan Borough F.C. take on the mighty Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the FA Cup.

Rotherham United talent scout Joe McGuire is on the look out for miners with footballing flair.

A daydream at the back of the class takes young Glynn Curtis all the way to Filbert Street.

Lionel Martin is just fifteen years old but with eight top football clubs wanting to sign him his future appears mapped out.

A fascinating compilation of local topical footage from Workington.

At Ninian Park, 23/11/1949, the Welsh football team is victorious but perhaps only because the Belgians, according to a report in the South Wales Echo, were “disappointing”.

Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City

Minehead Town's player-manager Bob Boyd on FA Cup tie with Exeter City

What does it take to manage a football team? Two former players talk of the tough role at the top in a world where players are demanding Ј200 a week in wages.

A day in the life of stylish “Gentleman George” Hardwick, the new manager of Sunderland Football Club.

Professional footballers answer the call of duty and get in training; many would go on to fight in the Battle of the Somme.

Argyle's Mariner scores in front of Bobby Robson

Action shots of the great Billy Meredith, the ‘Prince of Wingers’, the legendary soccer star who played for Manchester City, Manchester United and Wales.

Ninian Park Stadium (1910-2009), home ground of Cardiff City Football Club and used by the national team, is shown here in its heyday. If you can identify the teams, please tell us.

On a muddy Belvoir Drive training ground Leicester City players demonstrate the drive and dedication required to reach the top.

Scottish international Andy Wilson plays his first home game at a chilly Stamford Bridge after joining Chelsea from Middlesbrough.

Barnstaple in pre-season friendly against Exeter City

St. James’ Park Derby : Exeter City v Bristol Rovers

Heading, tumbling, skipping and tomfoolery at White Hart Lane as Tottenham’s first team prepare for the new season.

An Edwardian contest between teams representing the English and Irish Football Leagues, with plenty of goal-line action.

From 'Red and White' Rosemary to 'Zigger Zagger' and veteran Fred Trimble, who has been watching the Potters since 1913: Stoke City's fans are a devoted bunch.

In October 1934 a high-flying Grimsby Town team put four past Derby County at the Baseball Ground.

At a packed Edgar Street ground non-league Hereford United take on Sheffield Wednesday in a foggy and chilly cup tie.

Listen to the wonderfully clipped tones of the commentator and the attempt at wit by his companion and you'd swear that Harry Enfield's 90s creation Mr Cholmondley-Warner really was alive and well in the 30s.

Tom Finney, Tommy Lawton, Spurs and the Chinese team all help explain to young football enthusiasts how to play the beautiful game.

Arsenal footballers including Ted Drake, Eddie Hapgood and Cliff Bastin show off their skills in training for this council film to promote healthy living.

Exeter City take on giants Aston Villa at St. James’ Park

A whirlwind tour of the 1923-24 season opener: Manchester City's Maine Road debut, Blackburn v Chelsea and goals for Spurs against Preston North End.

Derby County take on Leicester City at the Baseball ground in April 1939 - the last full season of football before the outbreak of war.

Exeter City goalkeeper Ian Main at Exeter University

Derby pits Argyle against Exeter

Great evocative shots from a boggy Upton Park, where West Ham play Tottenham in front of the Prince Of Wales.

Watford hosts the lowkey wedding of Tottenham and England captain, Arthur Grimsdell.

Did the Brummies of 1966 have a clue about the World Cup?

Baggy shorts abound in this footie film from the thirties - where the chaps from Shippams Ltd play various matches, in rain or shine, and win a championship trophy.

A Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough football match interrupts the many news reports about World War I.