Soccer for Schools

Originally published in 1948, having written the first three books of this series alone, Hankinson is here joined by a colleague, A. H. Chadder. At the time many would have remembered Mr Chadder’s distinguished play at centre half for the Corinthians, and he had for some years been in charge of soccer at Malvern College. His dual experience as player and coach made him one of the leading authorities on the game, and therefore an excellent choice of a partner.

The book opens with descriptions of the basic arts: gathering the ball, kicking, heading, etc., required of all players, after which the play and tactics of each position on the field are analysed. A specially interesting chapter is that on team tactics and positional play, and this chapter is illustrated by some excellent photographs of a tactical table, in which the dispositions of the players in various situations are diagrammatically set out. Other chapters deal with captaincy, coaching, how to watch a match, and some explanatory comments on the laws of the game.

Once again the schoolboys have been used for the action photographs which illustrate the book throughout.

There was every reason to believe that this book would repeat the outstanding successes of its three predecessors, and, while primarily for schools, the instructional detail and the attractiveness of the photographs would also have appealed to more mature players. Today it can be enjoyed in its historical context.