1937 Wills British Sporting Personalities Set

‘It’s In The Details’

Title Wills British Sporting Personalities
Year 1937
Size 2″ x 3 1/8″
Images Black and White
Type Tobacco
Number in Set
48

1937 Wills British Sporting Personalities Overview

1937 Wills British Sporting Personalities Padgham Golf1937 Wills British Sporting Personalities Fred Perry TennisWills British Sporting Personalities BoxingThe 1937 British Sporting Personalities set was distributed in packs of Wills Cigarettes products. A 48-card, multi-sport release, the set features some of the country’s most important athletes of the time.

In addition to hockey, there is a hodgepodge of other sports represented here. Among other things, the set also includes boxing, soccer, swimming, cricket, golf, rugby, tennis, and auto racing.

Although many sports are featured, most names will not be familiar to American collectors as these cards profiled British athletes. There are some big time athletes here that will be recognized, though. Tennis Hall of Famers Fred Perry, Bunny Austin, and Dorothy Round are some of the famous names from that sport. Boxing Hall of Famer Len Harvey is also included in the set.

Hockey

Bates

The biggest subjects of interest to many American collectors are likely the two hockey players included – Lou Bates and Joe Beaton. Both played in the English National League and Bates became a member of the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.

In addition to hockey, there is a hodgepodge of other sports represented here. Among other things, the set also includes boxing, soccer, swimming, cricket, golf, rugby, tennis, and auto racing. Although many sports are featured, most names will not be familiar to American collectors as these cards profiled British athletes.

The cards featured real black and white photographs on the front with the athlete’s name printed in the bottom and a white border around all four sides. The back had a short description of the player as well as the Wills Cigarettes name.

1937 Wills British Sporting Personalities Checklist

  1. A.G.K. Brown
  2. J.E. Lovelock
  3. H. Whitlock
  4. Len Harvey
  5. Benny Lynch
  6. J. Walsh
  7. G.O. Allen
  8. Walter Hammond
  9. Maurice Leyland
  10. Edward Paynter
  11. Peter Doherty
  12. E. Drake
  13. David McCulloch
  14. Frederick Steele
  15. Thomas Walker
  16. Alfred Young
  17. B.C. Gadney
  18. Cliff Jones
  19. Prince Obolensky
  20. R.W. Shaw
  21. J.A. Siggins
  22. J.W. Brough
  23. G. Nepia
  24. J. Sullivan
  25. Pam Barton
  26. A.H. Padgham
  27. H. Thompson
  28. The Aga Khan
  29. Earl of Derby
  30. Earl of Lonsdale
  31. C. Boyd-Rochfort
  32. Joe Dawson
  33. Gordon Richards
  34. E. Smith
  35. H. Wragg
  36. Lou Bates
  37. Joe Beaton
  38. H.W. Austin
  39. Fred Perry
  40. Dorothy Round
  41. Kathleen Stammers
  42. Dixon and Dodson
  43. G.E.T. Eyston
  44. Frank Charles
  45. E. Langton
  46. Eric Phelps
  47. Phyllis Harding
  48. Norman Wainwright

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