JOHN BRINGS COLOUR TO GREAT GAME

What They Wore – Football League Club Colours 1888 to 1988, by John Suggett, www.johnsuggett.com, Price: £20

TO SAY that What They Wore is a labour of love is an understatement.

Author and illustrator John Suggett has developed the book over two decades and it provides a fascinating look at what Football League clubs wore over the first century of action on the field.

More than 1,500 individual strips featuring more than 110 clubs are illustrated in the 250-odd pages! Each Football League club over that timespan is given care and attention.

The detail in the drawing is quite something. You can see the whole range of kits your club wore down the years.

While some clubs have stayed with the same colours, others have changed over time, and it’s all easy to see in this mighty tome.

But it’s not just the pictures. There’s plenty more to enjoy. There are interesting facts about each club, questions to answer based on the information and drawings and ideas for follow-up activities.

There’s also lots to read in the opening section of the book, too. It covers how each club came about, the development of strips, fashion, colours, designs and patterns, and away kits.

There’s a useful map with the location of all the clubs, too.

This book really is a delight. It’s described as being ‘of interest to those aged 9 to 90 who like football and enjoy seeing the splash of colour on a green field’.

I don’t think that’s an unfair description.

Rating out of 10: 9