Sheffield Wednesday 1951-1972 : Through The Pages of Charles Buchan's Football Monthly

For football history enthusiasts and devoted Owls supporters alike, this compilation from Charles Buchan's Football Monthly archives offers a remarkable window into one of Sheffield Wednesday's most fascinating periods. Launched in September 1951, Charles Buchan's Football Monthly wasn't just another sports publication—it was the premier football magazine of its era, making this collection particularly significant.
The book's greatest strength lies in its authenticity. Through contemporary photographs, interviews, and articles, readers are transported to an era when football was transforming from a simple working-class pursuit into the modern game we know today. The historical context is particularly well handled, painting a vivid picture of a Britain still dealing with post-war rationing and National Service, yet filling stadiums to unprecedented levels.
At the heart of this chronicle is the legendary Derek Dooley, whose story epitomises both the glory and heartbreak of football. By the end of the 1951-52 season, Dooley had scored an astounding 46 goals in just 30 games, helping Wednesday secure the Division Two championship. His tragic, career-ending injury makes his chapters particularly poignant. 
The book excels in its coverage of the club's key figures. Beyond Dooley, the book provides intimate portraits of Alan Finney, whose local boy-made-good story resonated with supporters; Ron Springett's heroics behind the posts; and Jim McCalliog's creative midfield mastery. These weren't just players; they were characters who shaped the club's identity during a transformative period in English football.
What makes this collection particularly valuable is its use of primary sources from Football Monthly's extensive archives. Rather than retrospectively interpreting events, we get the immediate reactions, the raw emotions, and the contemporary perspectives of those who lived through these moments. The magazine's stated mission to "provide a publication worthy of our national game" is evident in the quality of reporting and photography throughout.
However, the book is more than just a nostalgic journey. It serves as a crucial historical document, showing how Sheffield Wednesday navigated the massive changes in English football during this period. From tactical evolution to the abolition of the maximum wage, from the emergence of television to changing fan culture, the book captures a club and sport in transition.
While the format—drawing exclusively from one publication's archives—might seem limiting, it actually works in the book's favor. The consistent editorial voice of Football Monthly provides a thread that ties these two decades together, making it easier for readers to track the club's evolution through both triumphs and setbacks.
For younger fans, this book offers invaluable context about their club's heritage. For older supporters, it will undoubtedly spark memories of matches witnessed and heroes cheered. And for students of football history, it provides a focused lens through which to view the broader changes in English football during this pivotal period.
This isn't just a book about Sheffield Wednesday—it's a time capsule of English football's golden age, told through the story of one of its most storied clubs. In capturing these bygone days, it helps us understand not just where Sheffield Wednesday has been, but how the club became what it is today.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 
Published: October 31, 2022
Price: £19.99
Hardcover: 180 pages