The Very First Edition is in excellent condition, with tight binding, bright staples, and all pages clean. The front and back covers are clean and complete, the cover has a crease. There is a faded newsagents pencil marking at the bottom of the back cover (see photo). This first edition came out over 70 years ago, in September 1951. Charles Buchan was a seasoned journalist for the News Chronicle and the BBC and had spotted a gap in the market: the circulation started at a level modern magazines would kill for: 60,000; by 1959, it was 120,000; in 1961, it was 130,000; and at its peak in 1967, it was at an astounding 250,000 per month. In 1968, the "Boys Club" had 100,000 registered members.
Charles Buchan continued his column from its inception until his death in the south of France in June 1960. It must have been a sudden death, as his previous column had appeared in August as usual. The September 1960 issue has two pages of tributes from the world of football. We bought and sold issues between 1951 and 1966.
