Publications - The History Of Q.P.F.C. (1920)

History of QPFC
By The Spider
January 1 2003

"The History Of The Queen's Park Football Club" by Richard Robinson (1920)

Published in October, 1920, Richard Robinson's book covers the first 50 years of the Club's history from 1867-1917.

As well as 17 pages of photos spread throughout the book, it runs to an impressive 446 pages and appeared in two forms. The more common format was the one which was generally available to the public and had a light grey cover. The other version was leather bound with embossed gold print on a dark green cover and was an extremely limited edition for senior Club officials.

It is obvious that Robinson had a great love for the Club such is the extent of his research which is both exhaustive yet easy to follow. The writing is both factual and interesting; in particular a miscellaneous section at the end of the book which examines many amusing side issues.

The following is a list of the chapters which amply illustrates the wide variety of topics covered by a superb publication:

Fifty Years' Endeavour, 1867-1917

The Birth Of The Queen's Park

The Pioneers

Patrons

Football A Summer Game

The Evolution Of The Uniform

Some Earlier Games

The First International

Queen's Park And Wanderers

Early Honorary Secretaries' Reports

Queen's Park And Football Legislation

Three Historic Games

Queen's Park And Vale Of Leven

Queen's Park Team In The Making

Recruiting

Queen's Park Missionary Efforts

Queen's Park And The Scottish Association

Queen's Park And The Scottish Cup

Queen's Park And The English Cup

Queen's Park And Glasgow Charity Cup

Scottish Second Eleven Association

Queen's Park And Dumbarton

Queen's Park And Battlefield

Queen's Park And International Games

Glasgow Association

Three Half-Backs

Queen's Park And Professionalism

The Corinthians And Other New Year Games

English Clubs

Famous Brothers

Queen's Park And Scottish League

Financing The Queen's Park

First Hampden

Second Hampden

Third And Greatest Hampden

Opening New Hampden

The Pavilion

Queen's Park And Limited Liability

Commuting The Casualty Over Hampden Park

Third Lanark F.C. And Hampden Park

Riots At Hampden Park

Press And Telegraph Accommodation

Queen's Park And Amateur Athletics

Queen's Park And The Athletic Ruptures

Hampden And Rugby Football

Queen's Park Junior Elevens

The Glasgow League

Glasgow Second XI Association

Continental Tours

Queen's Park And Referees

Queen's Park And School Football

Poaching On Queen's Park

The Reinstated Professional

The Paid Secretary

The War

Mr. Arthur Geake

Officials Of The Club

Hospitality

Instructions To F.A. Delegates, 1873

Record Of Matches Played

Obituary

Miscellaneous

Nowadays, of course, the book is virtually impossibly to find. Occasionally it may turn up at some car boot sale or the like where the seller doesn't recognise its worth. Alternatively, if being sold privately or through a reputable dealer, you can expect to pay well over £100 for a copy in good condition. Then again, you can read it on an ongoing basis at the likes of the Mitchell Library where it is available in the Glasgow Room. Particularly recommended, apart from the thoroughly entertaining "Miscellaneous" chapter, is the controversial "The Reinstated Professional" chapter which is especially relevant today.