A complete record, by Tony Brown
‘Complete Record’ books provide the reader with results, scorers and line-ups of every game played by a club’s first team in League and Cup. Many volumes also include details of friendly matches and data on the players. This article looks at the story of these books for clubs in the English Football League and Premiership.
The first club to appear in print were Swindon Town.
Paul Plowman covered Swindon’s record in the Third Division South in a
self-published slide-bound book in September 1982. An earlier volume had provided Swindon’s record in the
Southern League, and a hard-to-find third volume took the story to 1985.
1984 saw a well-produced book on Portsmouth by Messrs Neasom, Cooper and
Robinson. 1984 was also notable for
the first ‘complete record’ published by Breedon Books, on Derby County.
Breedon went on to set the pace for books of this type, covering 45 clubs
(for the first time) over the next 14 years.
Gerald Mortimer’s book on Derby set the standard for Breedon’s
complete records, with sections on players, matches to remember, a
season-by-season narrative and war-time line-ups.
It is worth noting that many clubs were issued in several editions, so
‘completists’ need to collect each one!
Breedon also produced volumes on Scottish clubs Aberdeen, Celtic and
Rangers.
Dave Twydell of Yore Publications recognised there was a demand for
statistics on the less-fashionable clubs. Yore’s
first books were Cardiff City and Peterborough in 1992 and the series continues
to this day. 16 clubs were
published for the first time and the Yore series includes new editions of club
histories first published by Breedon and myself.
Discussions at the Association of Football Statisticians led to me
starting a series of ‘definitive’ club histories to try and complete the
series. I have tackled 16 ‘new
clubs’ in total, from Rochdale in 1995 to Workington in 2005.
Independent publishers have produced works on another 24 clubs. Of particular note are ‘Home of the Shouting Men’ on
Gillingham, copies of which change hands for hundreds of pounds. Also of interest is the Southport history, a 728 page effort
by Geoff Wilde and Michael Braham which ranks as one of the most comprehensive
‘complete records’ ever published.
There are of course a number of clubs with a short League record that do
not have a complete record. The
results scorers and line-ups of all clubs prior to 1952/53 are included in the
season-by-season annuals produced by the AFS and myself.
Clubs entering the League since 1970 are included in Rothmans of course.
That leaves just one club, not currently in the Football League; Newport
County.
It has to be acknowledged that most ‘complete records’ are long out of print and only to be found in secondhand bookshops and on auction sites on the internet. Revised and updated editions by Dave Twydell and myself tend not to sell as well as ‘new clubs’, so the economics of a reprint are sometimes difficult to calculate. Also, one day we can expect to see what I call ‘the ultimate database’ on the internet, which will contain the results, scorers and line-ups for every League and Cup game since 1888.
The following table is 'work in progress' and more details will be added in time.
A reference to "See MbM" means the line-ups are available in the Match by Match series. | ||
A reference to "see AFS" means the line-ups are available in AFS annuals, until they are replaced by MbM editions | ||
A reference to "see Rothmans" means the Rothmans (now Sky Sports) Yearbooks | ||
"WW" is an abbreviation for "Who's Who" | ||
Line-ups | Who's Who | |
Aberdare Athletic | (see MbM) | |
Accrington | (see Accrington Stanley) | |
Accrington Stanley | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Aldershot | The Definitive Aldershot | |
Ardwick | (see Manchester City) | |
Arsenal | Complete Record, Breedon | Arsenal WW, Harris (1996), Independent UK Sports, 1899429034 |
Ashington | (See MbM) | |
Aston Villa | Complete Record, Breedon | Aston Villa WW, Matthews |
Barnet | (See Rothmans) | |
Barnsley | The Official History, Yore | |
Barrow | The Definitive Barrow AFC | |
Birmingham City | Complete Record, Breedon | WW of Birmingham City, Matthews/Baker (1991), Sports Leisure Concepts, 1873171048 |
Blackburn Rovers | Complete Record, Breedon | Official Encyclopaedia, Jackman (1994), Breedon |
Blackpool | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Bolton Wanderers | The Official History, Marland, Yore | |
Bootle | (see AFS) | |
Bournemouth | The Definitive AFC Bournemouth | |
Boston United | (see Rothmans) | |
Bradford City | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Bradford Park Avenue | All About Avenue - the Definitive Bradford PA | |
Brentford | 100 Years of Brentford | |
Brighton & Hove Albion | Seagulls! Carter/Harris (1993), Goldstone, 0952133709 | Albion A-Z, Carter/Harris (1997), Goldstone, 0952133717 |
Bristol City | The Bristol Babe, Woods, Yore | The First 100 Years, Edwards/Woods (1997), Redcliffe, 1900178265 |
Bristol Rovers | The Definitive History, Jay/Byrne, Tempus | Pirates in Profile, Jay/Byrne (1994), Pottens, 0952483505 |
Burnley | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Burton Swifts | (see AFS) | |
Burton United | (see AFS) | |
Burton Wanderers | (see AFS) | |
Bury | The Official History, Cullen, Yore | |
Cambridge United | The League Era, DIB | |
Cardiff City | The Definitive Cardiff City | |
Carlisle United | Lads in Blue, Harrison, Yore | |
Charlton Athletic | Home and Away with CA, Cameron | The Valiant 500, Cameron (1991), 0951772902 |
Chelsea | Complete Record, Cheshire/Hocking (1991) Breedon | Chelsea Players WW, Cheshire/Hockings (1987), 0951271504 |
Cheltenham Town | (See Rothmans) | |
Chester City | On the Borderline, Sumner, Yore | |
Chesterfield | The Official History, Basson, Yore | Lucky Whites & Spireites, Basson (1998), Yore |
Colchester United | The Official History - The U, Yore | |
Coventry City | Complete Record, Breedon | Coventry City Footballers, O'Connor (1993), Yore, 1874427453 |
Crewe Alexandra | Crewe Alexandra Match by Match | |
Crystal Palace | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Darlington | The Definitive Darlington | |
Darwen | (see AFS) | |
Derby County | Complete Record, Mortimer (2006), Breedon | Derby County WW, Mortimer, Breedon |
Doncaster Rovers | Donny the Official History, Yore | |
Durham City | (See MbM) | |
Everton | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Exeter City | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Fulham | Fulham Facts & Figures, Taylor/White | |
Gainsborough Trinity | (see AFS) | |
Gateshead | Gateshead FC, Thompson, Yore | |
Gillingham | The Definitive Gillingham FC, Brown, Soccerdata | The Men who made Gillingham FC, Triggs (2001), Tempus, 075242243X |
Glossop | (see AFS) | |
Grimsby Town | We Only Sing When We're Fishing, Wherry, Yore | Grimsby Town - a WW, Lamming (1985) |
Halifax Town | The Definitive Halifax Town AFC, Meynell, Soccerdata | |
Hartlepool United | The Definitive Hartlepool United, Soccerdata | |
Hereford United | The League Era, DIB | |
Huddersfield Town | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Hull City | A Century of City, Peterson, Yore | Tiger Tales, Peterson (2000), Yore 1874427682 |
Ipswich Town | Suffolk Punch | |
Kidderminster Harriers | (see Rothmans) | |
Leeds City | (see Leeds United) | |
Leeds United | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Leicester City | Of Fossils and Foxes, Taylor/Smith | Foxes Alphabet, Taylor/Smith (1995), Polar, 1899538062 |
Leyton Orient | Complete Record, Kaufman (2006), Breedon | Men who Made Leyton Orient, Kaufman (2002), Tempus 0752424122 |
Lincoln City | Official History, Nannestad, Yore | WW of Lincoln City, Nannestad (1994), Yore, 1874427909 |
Liverpool | Complete Record, Breedon | WW of Liverpool, Lamming (1989), Breedon, 0907969550 |
Loughborough | See AFS, but also see The Luffs, Kirkby (1995), Echo Press, 0951574922 | |
Luton Town | The Definitive Luton Town, Soccerdata | |
Macclesfield Town | (see Rothmans) | |
Maidstone United | (see Rothmans) | |
Manchester City | Complete Record, (2006), Breedon | |
Manchester United | Complete Record, Breedon | United Alphabet, Dykes (1994), Polar, 0951486268 |
Mansfield Town | MT The First 100 Years, Retter/Taylor (1997), 0953069419 | WW of the Stags |
Merthyr Town | (See MbM) | |
Middlesbrough | The Boro Bible | Boro Alphabet |
Middlesbro' Ironopolis | (see AFS) | |
Millwall | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Milton Keynes Dons | (see Rothmans) | |
Nelson | (See MbM) | |
New Brighton Tower | (see AFS) | |
New Brighton | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Newcastle United | Complete Record, Breedon | Black & White Alphabet, Joannou (1996), Polar, 1899538038 |
Newport County | None, but see Amber in the Blood, Ambrosen, Yore | Ironsides - a Lifetime in the League, Ambrosen (1989), Yore, 0951332171 |
Newton Heath | The Definitive Newton Heath, Soccerdata | |
Northampton Town | NT FC, Grande, Yore | The Cobblers, Grande |
Northwich Victoria | (see AFS). Also, A Team for All Seasons (1992), RR Edwards, Cheshire Country Publishing, 0949001082 | |
Norwich City | Canary Citizens, Davage | Glorious Canaries, Davage (1994), NCFC, 0952385708 |
Nottingham Forest | Forest - the First 125 Years, Smales | |
Notts County | The Official History, Brown (1995), Yore | Meadow Lane Men, Dykes (2005), Yore, 0954783069 |
Oldham Athletic | Complete Record, Breedon | Latics Lads, Dykes (2002), Yore, 1874427496 |
Oxford United | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Peterborough United | The Posh, Yore | Peterborough WW, Hill, DIB |
Plymouth Argyle | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Port Vale | The PV Record, Kent (1993), Witan Books, 0950898198 | Port Vale Personalities, Kent |
Portsmouth | The Definitive Portsmouth, Soccerdata | Pompey People, Cooper (2000), Yore, 1874427585 |
Preston North End | Proud Preston | |
Queen's Park Rangers | Official History of QPR, | Heroes in Hoops, Marks (2003), Yore, 1874427844 |
Reading | Heavon on Earth, Yore | Royals Remembered, Sedunary (2001), Yore, 1874427046 |
Rochdale | Rochdale AFC - The Official History (2001) | |
Rotherham County | (see Rotherham United) | |
Rotherham Town | (see AFS) | |
Rotherham United | Now we are United, Somerton, Yore | |
Rushden & Diamonds | (see Rothmans) | |
Scarborough | The Official History, Yore | |
Scunthorpe United | The Official Centenary History | |
Sheffield United | Complete Record of SU, Clarebrough/Kirkman | |
Sheffield Wednesday | Complete Record, Breedon | The Wednesday Boys |
Shrewsbury Town | Breath on 'em Salop | |
South Shields | SS FC, Thompson, Yore | |
Southampton | Complete Record, Breedon. See also In That Number | Aphabet of the Saints, Holley/Chalk (1992), Polar, 0951486233 |
Southend United | SU, Mason, Yore | |
Southport | The Sandgrounders | |
Stalybridge Celtic | (see MbM) | |
Stockport County | Complete Record, Breedon | |
Stoke City | The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City, Matthews | The WW, Matthews, Breedon |
Sunderland | Complete Record, Breedon, 2005 | All the Lads, Dykes/Lamming (1999), Polar, 1899538143 |
Swansea Town/City | The Official Biography of the Swans | The First Complete Player A-Y, Jones |
Swindon Town | No single volume, but see | |
Thames | (see MbM) | |
Torquay United | TU, Edwards, Yore | |
Tottenham Hotspur | Complete Record, Breedon | Spurs Alphabet, Goodwin (1992), Polar, 0951486284 |
Tranmere Rovers | A Complete Record, Upton/Wilson | |
Walsall | The Saddlers, Matthews, Breedon | |
Watford | Watford Season by Season, Jones | Watford Illustrated WW, Jones (1996), 0952745801 |
West Bromwich Albion | Complete Record, Breedon | WW of WBA, Matthews (1989), 090558567 |
West Ham United | The Definitive West Ham United | WHU WW, Hogg/McDonald |
Wigan Athletic | The Latics, Hayes, Yore | |
Wigan Borough | (see MbM) | |
Wimbledon | From Southern League to Premiership, DIB | |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | Complete Record, Breedon | A-Z of Wolves |
Workington | The Definitive Workington AFC | |
Wrexham | Complete Record, Breedon | The Racecourse Robins |
Wycombe Wanderers | The Official History, Yore | |
York City | Complete Record, Breedon | Citizens & Minstermen, Yore |
Yeovil Town | See Rothmans, but also see | |