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Boys’ Friend

“The Boys’ Friend” was first published by The Amalgamated Press, and started life on 29th January 1895, running until it’s final issue on 31 December 1927, at which point it was combined with another Amalgamated Press stalwart, “The Triumph”.

4 sets of cards were produced during 1911, all of which featured just 3 cards each.

3 further sets were released in 1922/23, which were the final releases from the magazine.

Famous Footballers Series (1911) – 3 Cards

#1. Windridge (Chelsea)

#2. Colin Veitch (Newcastle)

Newcastle’s Colin Veitch shown on a 1911 Boy’s Friend “Famous Footballers Series” card – a set of just 3 cards. Born in Heaton in 1881, Veitch spent his entire career with the Magpies, scoring 49 goals in 322 appearances, captaining them to League wins in 1905, 1906, 1909 and an FA Cup in 1910.

During WWI he served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery, being posted to the front line in France, before returning to Newcastle as a coach after the war had ended.

Veitch died in Bern, Switzerland in 1938 after contracting Pneumonia whilst on a recuperation holiday.

#3. Speirs (Bradford City)

Bradford City’s Jimmy Speirs shown on the 3rd and final card in the Boys Friend “Famous Footballers Series” of 1911. Born in Govan in 1886, James Hamilton Speirs joined Rangers in 1905, before moving to Clyde in 1908, Bradford City in 1909 and Leeds City in 1912.

He was part of the Bradford City FA Cup winning team in 1910-11. Speirs voluntarily signed up for the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders in 1915, and was posted to France in 1916. Awarded the Military Medal for his part in the Second Battle of Arras in April 1917, Speirs was sadly killed during the Battle of Passchendale in August 1917, aged just 31, and leaving a wife and 2 young children.

He is buried at Dochy Farm New British Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.

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