Charles Buchan's Arsenal Gift Book: Selections from Football Monthly 1951-73

Simon Inglis and Jon Spurling have crafted something special with "Charles Buchan's Arsenal Gift Book," a carefully curated collection that serves as both a time capsule and a love letter to one of football's most storied institutions. Drawing from the pages of Britain's pioneering football magazine, Football Monthly (1951-73), this hardcover edition captures a transformative period in Arsenal's history with remarkable clarity and charm.
The book's greatest strength lies in its authenticity. Through the lens of Charles Buchan's Football Monthly—an innovative publication that brought color and sophistication to football journalism—readers witness Arsenal's journey through two decades of triumph and tribulation. The hand-tinted photographs, once a revolutionary feature of the original magazine, retain their ability to transport readers back to a Highbury that was slowly recovering from wartime damage yet maintained its majesty.
What makes this collection particularly compelling is its insider perspective. Charles Buchan himself, having played for Arsenal in the 1920s, brings an intimate knowledge to the narrative that modern retrospectives simply cannot match. His firsthand accounts, combined with contributions from Arsenal legends like Joe Mercer, Jack Kelsey, and Frank McLintock, offer insights that feel remarkably immediate despite the passing decades.
The book chronicles Arsenal's evolution from the fading glamour of their 1930s heyday through to their resurgence in the early 1970s. It's fascinating to observe the gradual changes—from the evolution of kit designs to the modernization of playing styles—all documented through contemporary eyes rather than retrospective analysis. The journey between the FA Cup victory of 1950 and the Double triumph of 1971 is particularly well-documented, showing how the club maintained its dignity and traditions even during leaner years.
Inglis and Spurling deserve credit for their editorial approach. Rather than merely reproducing archive material, they've provided valuable context that helps modern readers understand the significance of each era. The introduction sets the historical stage perfectly, while the selection of articles and images creates a narrative thread that keeps readers engaged throughout.
However, this isn't just a book for Arsenal supporters. As a historical document, it offers valuable insights into how football journalism evolved during a crucial period in British cultural history. The transition from post-war austerity to the more flamboyant 1960s is reflected not just in the content but in the very way the stories were told and presented.
If there's any criticism to be made, it's that some readers might wish for more extensive commentary on certain periods or players. But this is perhaps inevitable given the wealth of material available from the magazine's 22-year run.
For anyone interested in football history, sports journalism, or Arsenal Football Club, this book represents an essential addition to their library. It's both a serious historical document and a nostalgic journey through one of football's most fascinating periods, told through the pages of a magazine that revolutionized sports journalism in Britain.
ROYAL MAIL Tracked: 48 
 Publisher: Malavan Media
Published: October 22, 2007
Price: £9.99
Hardcover: 144 pages
ISBN-10: 0954744535
ISBN-13: 978-0954744533
Description: The book is in very good condition. May have been opened and read, but shows minimal wear.