Abide With Me

As part of my current research, I'm going through a lot of old football programmes (as you can imagine, this task is in no way massively enjoyable to me).

This is the oldest of the lot: from February 20th 1932, a Second Division match between Stoke City and Wolves at the Victoria Athletic Grounds, Stoke. Every business in the Potteries seems keen to have their wares hawked within the pages, and it proudly trumpets news of the half-time 'entertainment' from a local marching band, playing such hits as "On The Quarter Deck", "Time Alone Will Tell", "Meet Me In The Cow Shed", "Sunshine & Roses" and "Pat In America". (Delilah was a long way away at this point).

Sheffield United were top of the Football League, closely followed by Everton, The Arsenal, Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion (happy days). Economic depression had hit the country, but at least Europe remained at peace. And Saturday afternoons were a nation all of their own, a sovereign space filled with the sound of feet striking leather, whose borders were only ever invaded by the fall of nighttime, and the call to head home down the streets and alleys for tea.