THE LUFFS WHO’S WHO 

The Players of Loughborough Athletic and Football Club, 1889 to 1900

By Paul Taylor

ISBN 978-1-905891-85-6

Price: £10

Mid-sized paperback of 62 pages, illustrated 

The premier football club in Loughborough existed for only 14 years, and was confined to local friendly and cup competition for the first three of them.  But it competed in the Football Association Cup from 1889, in the Midland Alliance during 1890/91, in the Midland League for four seasons thereafter, and in Division Two of the Football League from 1895 until the clubs demise in 1900.
            

The Luffs story is not one of sustained glory.  However, it is story that is part of the fabric of football history.  This book recalls the club’s history through accounts of the men who wore the black-and-white-striped shirts, sometimes with energy and enthusiasm, and at other times, perhaps, with embarrassment.  From international luminaries to local near-nonentities, they were at some point in their careers and their lives, the Luffs.

Paul Taylor is a lifelong Leicester City fan who has co-authored (with Dave Smith) the club’s official history ‘Of Fossils & Foxes’ (1989, 2001 & 2010), plus ‘The Foxes Alphabet’ (1995); scripted the club’s history DVD; and for many years contributed columns to the LCFC matchday magazine. Recently retired from 40 years working professionally within film culture (as a programmer, festival director, critic and journalist, and in venue development), he is now happily engaged in researching various esoteric by-ways of football history.
            

The book is a mid-sized paperback book of 62 pages with many b/w illustrations.  The price is £10.  Copies are available from sports booksellers and by post from Tony Brown.  If ordering by post, please send a cheque or postal order for £11.50 (which includes £1.50 for UK postage and packing), payable to Tony Brown, to 4 Adrian Close, Toton, Nottingham NG9 6FL.  Trade copies are available from Gardners and Bertram.