Match magazine was launched in 1979 at a price of 25p, it had Kevin Keegan on the front cover and an 80 - page sticker album inside. Weekly columnists included Ossie Ardiles Steve Coppell and Brian Clough - Kevin Keegan's column was called, 'Learn to Play the Keegan Way'.
We took a trip down memory lane at Balls after digging up a copy of Match Magazine from June 1994; the summer of Ireland's magical World Cup campaign in the USA. Gary Kelly's face is on the front cover and Ireland's World Cup campaign takes pride of place as the issue's selling point.
Ireland isn't the only country profile to feature in the magazine, Italy, Mexico and Norway all appear with definitive lists of top players manager profiles and their routes to the finals; the Norwegian jerseys are something special.
This John Sheridan poster is fantastic. He looks like he just spotted 50p on the ground.
Country profiles include stars to watch, and key players from each of the World Cup squads. Here are the Italian 'one's to watch'.
The Jason Wilcox player profile is also great, "I like to eat almost anything I can because I'm so thin. I can have 6 pints down the pub and a curry and end up losing six pounds".
Perhaps the best section of the magazine is the Andy Townsend interview, he gives his views on the campaign and some insight into the complex mind of Jack Charlton.
Going on the 'Match' stats, Andy was one of the most complete footballers of his generation, an 84% shooting rating combined with 82% skill puts Townsend right up there with the greats, surely.
