20 colour snapshots of match day fever, pre-1966

Woodbines lit, caps on and rattles ready as football matches kick off nationwide…

Saturday Fever (1961)

1. Finally, Saturday is here and football fans all over the country flock towards their team’s ground to indulge their passion.

Saturday Fever (1961)

2. Spurs supporters arrive by bus for their Saturday ritual.

Saturday Fever (1961)

3. Long before every supporter had a replica shirt and/or scarf, badges like these are what they spent their pocket money on.

Saturday Fever (1961)

4. In Glasgow, the roads around Celtic Park are filling up with fans eager for another thrilling game of Scottish Division 1 football.

Saturday Fever (1961)

5. Although now long gone, Ninian Park was for many years the place where the Cardiff City faithful came for their weekly dose of the beautiful game.

Saturday Fever (1961)

6. In Manchester, the United fans flock to see what heights Matt Busby’s team will reach this week.

Saturday Fever (1961)

7. Well, there’s no doubting the allegiance of these Wolves supporters…

Saturday Fever (1961)

8. Long before the gates open, these young Spurs supporters are there, ready for the rush for the best spots.

Saturday Fever (1961)

9. …and off they go, young, old, men and women, eager to find the best spot from which to see their beloved Spurs.

Saturday Fever (1961)

10. At White Hart Lane the pre-match entertainment is in full swing.

Saturday Fever (1961)

11. Not sure these boys fully appreciate the brass band.

Saturday Fever (1961)

12. The roar goes up as the players exit the tunnel.

Saturday Fever (1961)

13. And here we go – Spurs kick off against Manchester City.

Saturday Fever (1961)

14. The visitors are pushing hard for a goal.

Saturday Fever (1961)

15. Still no score and there are anxious looks from the home supporters.

Saturday Fever (1961)

16. “If only I had a ticket…”

Saturday Fever (1961)

17. Disappointed Spurs supporters wind their way home or maybe to the pub to discuss what went wrong.

Saturday Fever (1961)

18. Nottingham Forest and Luton Town supporters get ready for the 1959 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Saturday Fever (1961)

19. Not a single empty space at Wembley as play gets under way for the 1959 FA Cup final.

Saturday Fever (1961)

20. Her Majesty The Queen presents the FA Cup trophy to Jack Burkitt, captain of Nottingham Forest.

Saturday Fever (1961)

The film and stills on this page are taken from Britain on Film, a digital archive of UK places that mean the world to you. 10,000 film and TV titles from 1895 to now will be digitised and can be watched for free on BFI Player.

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