Author: Mark Metcalf

In 1888, Englands Football league came into being and ever since a player has been recognised each year for the highest number of goals scored in the league, First Division or Premier League. The fir …

As one of the twelve founding Football League clubs in 1888/89, Everton Football Club has a long, proud history. Having played more top-flight League games than any other English team, the Toffees ha …

On Saturday 8 September 1888, League football kicked off. Twelve clubs had combined to play regular fixtures and the result was to revolutionise not only English football but virtually every nation a …

You would be mistaken in thinking the rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United was only something that has existed in recent times. Obviously there was considerable hype as United equalled and …

Manchester United may be world famous today, but back in 1907 the club had yet to win either the League Championship or the FA Cup. Things were to change dramatically over the following four seasons, …

In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers’ strike of 1984/5 was the longest national strike in British history. For a year over 100, 000 members of the National Union of …

In addition to being the most bitter industrial dispute the coalminers’ strike of 1984/5 was the longest national strike in British history. For a year over 100, 000 members of the National Union of …

This is the first detailed account of Barnsley Football Club’s most illustrious and successful period. Between 1910 and 1912 ‘Battling Barnsley’ won their way through to the FA Cup Final, then the mo …

The South Yorkshire football club’s legendary journey to victory at the 1912 FA Cup Final is recounted in this illustrated history. In Lifting the Cup, Mark Metcalf and David Wood tell the stor …

A visual portrait of a British city and its people fighting to survive an era of industrial decline, captured by a steelworker-turned-photographer.The social, industrial, and economic changes imposed …

A visual portrait of a British city and its people fighting to survive an era of industrial decline, captured by a steelworker-turned-photographer.The social, industrial, and economic changes imposed …

Gainsborough’s Fred Spiksley was one of the first working class youngsters in 1887 to live ‘the dream’ of becoming a professional footballer, before later finding a role as a globe-trotting coach. He …

Gainsborough’s Fred Spiksley was one of the first working class youngsters in 1887 to live ‘the dream’ of becoming a professional footballer, before later finding a role as a globe-trotting coach. He …