One of my favourite things about football is old photography of it, firstly because of how good it looks, and secondly because how much you can discover from them. Looking up the context of the photo you often learn something interesting about the history behind it, so check the photo descriptions as I will be including lots of hopefully interesting and distracting hyperlinks in the descriptions to such things, videos, bonus connected photos or topics, or wikis. Because it’s the internet, and that’s what it’s good for.
Seems right to start with one of the most photogenic footballers of all time - Jairzinho. I want to do a photo post of this man alone at some point. Vs Zaire 1974. He scored a nice goal in this game too, after some inventive build up team play. Zaire on the other hand, were told if they lost this game 0–4, the presidential guards of Mobutu would not let them return home. The match ended 0–3.
The colours here. Of the sort only old film could capture. Also, that old scoreboard. Italy vs Poland 1974. Number 15 is Giuseppe Wilson, born in Darlington, Northern England.
Just look at that fantastic adidas Zaire kit again. Scotland vs Zaire another one of these match ups only a World Cup could throw up. Joe Jordan, who scored and assisted both goals in a 2–0 win, and Raymond Bwanga. Scotland vs Zaire, 1974. Here’s another T-shirt homage to that Zaire team.
Again, the old film colours here just blow you away. Looking at the length of the grass it’s a wonder Pele could even get the ball to roll. 1970 Pele sending an Italian defender off balance seems like a fitting way to end the first photo post. He scored a magnificent header in this game, which happened to be the final, of the type only he could.
