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Mention of football (soccer) trading cards often prompts thoughts of Topps trading cards from the 1970s. However, Topps are just one of many companies who have capitalised upon little boys (and girls) love of collecting trading cards for their favourite players. Some of the other companies that have blazed a trail for football cards and stickers include A&BC, Panini, and The Sun newspaper.

The history of trading cards actually goes back as far as the very early Twentieth century when baseball cards started to be offered alongside products such as bubble gum and tobacco in the United States. As their popularity took off it is no surprise that an increasing number of companies took notice of the potential of trading cards to boost product sales. It is also not surprising that the trend which had begun with American baseball players spread to include other sports such as American Football and Association football (soccer).

This article is specifically about soccer cards, with a focus on the cards that began to be offered in the UK. To begin with, here's a rundown on some of the main players whose names are most associated with soccer trading cards.

A&BC:

A&BC were one of the real trailblazers for English football trading cards. Formed in 1949, the company started producing football cards in the 1950s and continued throughout the 60s and up until 1975.

The popularity of trading cards was given a massive boost by England's success in hosting and winning the World Cup in 1966. The 1967/68 version of the cards featured ten of England's victorious starting line up from that World Cup final, the odd man out being Liverpool's Roger Hunt.

The A&BC cards were 8 cms long by 5.5 cms wide and really set the benchmark that all football cards would subsequently be judged against.

Topps:

By 1974, the Topps Company Inc had taken over A&BC and issued a set of football cards covering players from the English First and Second Divisions. Topps would eventually offer football cards covering seven seasons, from 1974/75 until 1981/82.

When I was getting into football in the late Seventies, Topps cards were all the rage. They came with chewing gum, though I'm sure I wasn't alone in throwing the gum away and only being interested in the wonderful cards that were contained within. The cards were approximately 9 cms long by 6.5 cms wide and tended mainly to feature players from the English (and sometimes Scottish) top division.

The front of the cards contained a photograph

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