Leyland man shows off his cigarette card collection

The grandfather-of-one has been an avid collector of the cards since the late 1980s.

He has lost count of how many he has, but with 20 cases of up to 100 cards, it is safe to say he has a fairly large collection.

Edward, of Leyland, says: “I don’t smoke myself but I have always been interested in the old cigarette cards.

“It all started in the late 1980s. I found a card with an athlete at Park Hall antiques fair. At first I thought it was a cigarette card but it actually wasn’t.

“I read an article in a magazine about cigarette cards in the 1900s and it piqued my interest. I have been collecting ever since.

“I am interested in athletes and sports cards.”

Edward has a few Leyland-related cards, which he is particularly fond of.

He says: “There are not many cigarette cards of Leyland. I found some of North West football clubs, issued by Ardath Tobacco Company, and I took a punt of whether Leyland Motors would be in it and there it was.

“I also have one of cricketer John Stanning in 1906 who founded Fox Lane Cricket Club. His dad, also John, used to run the bleachworks.

“I also have one of 1920s showbiz star Zona Vevey, who was from Leyland. Vevey Street is named after her.”

Edward, who has two children, admits his favourite card is American, of race walker Charles Rowell.

He adds: “Another interesting one was of athlete Edgar Bredin. It was published by Smiths and was the most expensive.”

After the photo of the Leyland Motors FC cigarette card appeared in the Guardian, Colin Pass got in touch.

He used the card as part of his research on the history of Leyland Motors FC, which started in 1919 with a senior team , until disbanding in 2001.

He says: “The card is number nine of the set, this one titled Leyland Motors FC.

“It was printed in 1936, but features Leyland Motors FC team from season 1933/1934 when they joined the Lancashire Combination from the West Lancs League.

“The team left to right, back row: W Ratcliffe (Sec), R Parker, J Pedder, W Ashcroft, J Mather, J Campbell, A Eaves, J Catterall (Trainer).

“Front Row; T Lindsay, S Hurst, R Haydock, A Jones, W Prest, A Ramsden.”