Stanley Mortensen, the only man to score a hat-trick in a Wembley FA Cup Final, delivers more than just another football book—he presents a masterful chronicle of international football's golden age, published at the height of his career. The book's photographic content stands as a testament to post-war publishing innovation. Its special colour section, featuring over 50 international players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, employs the era's cutting-edge large-format camera technology. These hand-tinted photographs, with their meticulous attention to detail and manually enhanced features, create an almost three-dimensional quality that brings these legendary players to life. What sets this volume apart is its impressive roster of contributors. Football stars, including: ◾Billy Wright ◾Sam Bartram ◾Johnny Carey ◾Archie Macaulay Each shares intimate insights into international football, offering readers unprecedented access to the minds of the era's greatest players. The biographical collection featuring 94 footballers serves as an invaluable historical record. With hundreds of action photographs and detailed career stories, the book provides a comprehensive snapshot of football talent across the British Isles in the late 1940s. The photography deserves special mention. The colourization process, particularly in the international caps section, represents the pinnacle of sports photography craftsmanship of the period. Using sophisticated techniques employed from the base of a large-format camera plate produces exceptional results. Published just four years before the seismic shock of Hungary's defeat of England at Wembley, this book captures international football at a crucial turning point. Mortensen's position as England's first World Cup qualifying goalscorer adds particular weight to his perspective on the international game. For modern readers, this book offers: A comprehensive who's who of post-war British football Pioneering sports photography techniques First-hand accounts from the era's greatest players a unique glimpse into international football before tactical modernization
