Collecting Focus 2012 - the Votes Are In

Well folks, the votes have tabulated. I spoke to colleagues, viewed the message boards and of course read your comments here.

I had some very good suggestions and thought about what would best fit my collecting focus. There were several sets to consider - from the easy to complete 50 card Churchman's and Phillip's  sets of the 1930's to the more desireeable like B.A.T. or Galleher's.

 There were a few modern sets that were suggested. And given an unlimited or bigger budget, any of the A&BC or Topps (below) sets would have been challenging.

In the end, my decision was based on historical guidelines and the desire to obtain significant players in various eras.

While surfing the net, I came across a list of the top 100 players of the (English) Football League.  The circuit established in 1888 has featured mostly British players (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland) for the first century. But as the Premier League has become THE LEAGUE which the world follows, some of the best international players are included.

The set is within my scope of 100, although not numbered as such. I have quite a few of the players already so I have devised a two-level checklist. The first is to just get one card of every player on the list.

The second, if it is all possible, is to obtain the 1st card on which each player appears. I will refrain from using the term "rookie card" in the quest. The challenge will be the 34 pre-war players. The easier are the 29 players who appear after 1980. 

Lastly, this list allows me to move through the historical eras as well as a type collection. Without further ado, here is the checklist (listed chronologically with the club they are best associated):

 1. Billy Bassett - West Bromwich Albion

 2. Archie Hunter - Aston Villa

 3. John Goodall - Preston North End, Derby County

 4. Steve Bloomer - Derby Co.

 5. Billy Meredith - Manchester United, Manchester City

 6. Bob Crompton - Blackburn Rovers

 7. William "Fatty" Foulke - Sheffield United, Chelsea, Bradford City

 8. Alf Common - Middlesbrough

 9. Sam Hardy -  Liverpool

10. Billy McCracken - Newcastle United

11. Viv Woodward - Tottenham, Chelsea

12. Clem Stevenson - Huddersfield Town

13. Charlie Buchan - Sunderland, Arsenal

14. Elisha Scott - Liverpool

15. David Jack - Bolton, Arsenal

16. Dixie Dean - Everton

17. George Camsell - Middlebrough

18. Hughie Gallacher - Newcastle United, Chelsea

19. Harry Hibbs - Birmingham City

20. Alex James - Preston North End, Arsenal

21. Eddie Hapgood - Arsenal

22. Cliff Baston - Arsenal

23. Wilf Copping - Arsenal

24. Stan Matthews - Stoke City, Blackpool

25. Ted Drake - Arsenal

26. Joe Mercer - Everton, Arsenal

27. Riach Carter - Sunderland, Derby Co.

28. Peter Doherty - Manchester City, Derby Co.

29. Frank Swift - Manchester City

30. Tommy Lawton - Everton, Chelsea

31. Wif Mannion - Middlesbrough

32. George Hardwick - Middlesbrough

33. Johnny Carey - Manchester United

34. Stan Mortensen - Blackpool

35. Neil Franklin - Stoke City

36. Trevor ford - Swansea, Aston Villa

37. Nat Lofthouse - Bolton Wanderers

38. Tom Finney - Preston North End

39. Alf Ramsey - Tottenham

40. Len Shackleton - Newcastle United

41. Jimmy Dickinson - Portsmouth

42. Billy Liddell - Liverpool

43. Arthur Rowley - W.B.A. Fulham United

44. Billy Wright - Wolverhampton Wolves

45. Jackie Milburn - Newcastle United

46. John Charles - Leeds United

47. Ivor Allchurch - Swansea, Cardiff City

48. Danny Blanchflower - Tottenham

49. Bert Trautmann - Manchester City

50. Jimmy McIlroy - Burnley

51. Tommy Taylor - Manchester United

52. Cliff Jones - Swansea, Tottenham

53. Johnny Haynes - Fulham United

54. Duncan Edward - Manchester United

55. Jimmy Armfield - Blackpool

56. Terry Paine - Southampton

57. Bobby Charlton - Manchester United

58. Jimmy Greaves - Chelsea, Tottenham

59. Denis Law - Manchester United

60. Gordon Banks - Leicester City, Stoke city

61. Dave MacKay - Tottenham

62. Bobby Moore - West Ham United

63. Alan Mullery - Fulham, Tottenham

64. Geoff Hurst - West Ham United

65. Nobby Stiles - Manchester United

66. Johnny Giles- Leeds United

67. Billy Bremner - Leeds United

68. Frank McLintock - Arsenal

69. Alex Young - Everton

70. Martin Peters - West Ham United

71. Tommy Smith - Liverpool

72. Norman Hunter - Leeds United

73. Pat Jennings - Tottenham, Arsenal

74. Alan Ball - Everton, Arsenal

75. Colin Bell - Manchester City

76. George Best - Manchester United, Fulham United

77. Peter Shilton - Leicester City, Nottingham Forest

78. Ray Clemence  Liverpool, Tottenham

79. Malcolm McDonald - Newcastle United

80. Kevin Keegan - Liverpool, Newcastle United

81. Trevor Francis - Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest

82. Graeme Souness - Liverpool

83. Liam Brady - Arsenal

84. Glenn Hoddle - Tottenham

85. Bryan Robson - W.B.A., Manchester United

86. Alan Hansen - Liverpool

87. Kenny Dalglish - Liverpool

88. Gary Lineker - Everton

89. Ian Rush - Liverpool

90. Ossie Ardilles - Tottenham

91. Neville Southall - Everton

92. Paul McGrath - Manchester United

93. John Barnes - Liverpool

94. Tony Adam - Arsenal

95. Paul Gascoigne - Tottenham

96. Alan Shearer - Newcastle United

97. Ryan Giggs - Manchester United

98. Eric Cantona - Manchester United

99. Peter Schmeichel - Manchester United

100. Dennis Bergkamp - Arsenal

Let the search begin !