The Sportsview Book of Soccer #2

The Sportsview Book of Soccer #2 1959 is more than just a sports annual—it's a fascinating snapshot of football during one of its most transformative decades. Published as a companion to BBC's groundbreaking Sportsview programme, which regularly drew an impressive audience of 8-9 million viewers, this book captures the excitement and evolution of the beautiful game in post-war Britain. 
Under the expert guidance of Peter Dimmock, a former RAF pilot who had become one of television's most recognisable faces, the book brings together an all-star cast of contributors. Modern readers might raise an eyebrow at the inclusion of Bobby Charlton and Johnny Haynes alongside television personalities, but this mix perfectly reflects the era's shifting media landscape, when football was first becoming truly intertwined with television coverage.
The book's content is remarkably forward-thinking for its time. Its coverage of England's South American tour and Real Madrid shows an increasingly international outlook, while profiles of domestic giants like Arsenal and Newcastle United sit comfortably alongside features on "giant-killers" Norwich City. This balance between the established powers and emerging forces in football demonstrates the sport's democratic appeal during this period.
What makes this volume particularly special is its "crisp and fresh approach, a style that mirrors the innovative television programme it accompanies. The inclusion of firsthand accounts from players-turned-broadcasters like Denis Compton and Walley Barnes offers a unique bridge between football's past and its television-dominated future. The popular soccer quiz section, carried over from the previous volume, adds an interactive element that was quite novel for its time.
The book's greatest strength lies in its ability to capture a pivotal moment in football history. Published in 1959, it documents a period when the sport was transitioning from a simple working-class pastime into the multimedia spectacle we know today. Through its pages, we see the early signs of modern football journalism emerging, with the BBC's pioneering television team—including names like Kenneth Wolstenholme and David Coleman—helping to shape how football would be presented to future generations.
For modern readers, this book serves as both a historical document and a reminder of how far football media has come. While some of its content might seem quaint by today's standards, its ambitious scope and innovative approach to football coverage were well ahead of their time. The Sportsview Book of Soccer #2 1959 stands as a testament to an era when television was beginning to transform football into the global phenomenon we know today. 

This annual shows significant foxing throughout, particularly affecting the first three-quarters of an inch of the page block. The dust jacket, while intact, exhibits heavy shelf wear with some small tears. While not suitable for collectors, it would serve well as a reading or reference copy.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 
Published: 1959
Price: £12.00 
Hardcover: 192 pages
The edition now protected with Archival Dust Jacket Protection