Football Programmes Centre

James73 · Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Posts: 419 Location: Gravesend, Kent

Been going through the boxes and have come across 2 Free Lions

Issue 108 - England V Bulgaria 3rd Sep 2010 (complete with betting slip)

Issue 94 - Netherlands V England 12th Aug 2009

If anyone is interested drop me a line please

Dorking · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2529

Interesting fact of the day, I came up with the name for Free Lions. There was a competition to come up with the name, and my suggestion won! I got a large framed signed England squad photo, (which is on my dining room wall above me now!) and a picture of me being presented with it is in one of the first few issues

James73 · Joined: 09 Oct 2013 Posts: 419 Location: Gravesend, Kent

That is awesome stuff Dorking

Out of interest which game was issue 1?

Ronsaunders · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 296

James73 wrote:

That is awesome stuff Dorking

Out of interest which game was issue 1?

It first came out as "The Low Down" as it covered Euro 2000 in the Low Countries. The first 3 were the group games, starting with Portugal in Eindhoven.

Due to work commitments (and an upcoming marriage), I had to commute there driving there and then straight home after the game. As a consequence I missed the first 3 and couldn't be arsed to pay the cash required to get them as they often used to sell for £50+.
I also missed the France game (another wedding) and was in a corporate for Mexico at Derby and so the first one that I ever actually picked up myself was the one from Athens the week after Mexico.

Crusader66 · Joined: 11 Jul 2014 Posts: 68

I have the complete set from issue 1. First 4 were The Lowdown. Issue 5 is simply called The Fanzine and then Free Lions from issue 6 ( Mexico) onwards

Ronsaunders · Joined: 11 Feb 2010 Posts: 296

Crusader66 wrote:

I have the complete set from issue 1. First 4 were The Lowdown. Issue 5 is simply called The Fanzine and then Free Lions from issue 6 ( Mexico) onwards

You are right - I'd forgotten Finland at home was also one!

Crusader66 · Joined: 11 Jul 2014 Posts: 68

Correct issue 5 was Finland at Anfield

Tynie Topics · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 3572

I might be wrong with this, but I believe the idea came from the then Scotland Travel Club (now the Scotland Supporters Club), who issued "Guidance Notes" to travelling fans, which generally contained a welcome from the manager, do's and dont's, contact details of SFA and Embassy staff, stadium details, maps and latterly brief guides to things to do an see and handy phrases.

The oldest one I have is from the game in Bucharest in 1991, there could be older. 12 page photocopied booklet. They lasted in various guises upto around 2011 when they stopped, probably due to SFA cutbacks.

At one point they even had video guides uploaded online prior to games.

ATAC (Association of Tartan Army Clubs), started to produce their own online guide a few years back which can be printed.
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