The Sporting Chronicle newspaper 3rd July to 29th December 1888, a fine selection of the daily newspaper for the above period, the collection is of s

The Sporting Chronicle newspaper 3rd July to 29th December 1888, a fine selection of the daily newspaper for the above period, the collection is of special interest to football collectors as it coincides with the first season of the Football League 1888-89, the first Saturday of fixtures taking place on 8th September, to demonstrate that some things have not changed in football over the proceeding 133 years or so, a reporter from Deepdale witnessed 'handbags' when "Russell and Sloane came in contact, and, in fighting attitude, blows were exchanged"; on a more serious note, and not at a FL fixture, the death of a 12-year-old boy is reported by the giving way of spectator barriers; a match played under Manchester Ship Canal floodlights took place; as well as many League games other football matches are reported including a small column for Newton Heath which includes the commentary "throughout, shooting simply wretched"; reports on discussions of professionalism; crowds of up to 15,000 mentioned; F.A. Commission on 'Rough Players' meeting deliberated on Everton's Alec Dick in the League match v Notts County, and his behaviour a combination of foul play and language led to him being suspended for over two months under a serious misconduct charge; curiously well over two months into the first season, the FL announced how the championship would be decided regarding points, settling on 2 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss; the lot includes many other interesting reports with some superb writing, a report filed by "White Squall" on the Newcastle v Middlesbrough match is worthy of mention and paints a vivid sense of the occasion "even the wounded come out to fight when the blood is up and the heart is in the battle" ... "How often do we find something which promises so little turn out far above expectations, as the boy said when he found five sovereigns wrapped up in his piece of sugar paper, so it was with this match" ... "play was real, play was earnest"    This lot will also prove of interest to horse racing collectors as it contains extensive coverage of all aspects of the sport.