It’s incredible to think that this following collection of vintage videos, which were shot over 100 years ago at football grounds across England, would be added to YouTube and we’d be viewing on a computer via this thing called the World Wide Web. But no matter how much technology has changed in the hundred plus years, two things haven’t changed that much. People back then went in watch English football games in large numbers. And the game of football itself has changed hardly at all ever since then.

In the first video from the Mitchell and Kenyon Collection, pictured above, the cameras pan over the crowd before a 1902 match kicks off and then feature some highlights of the game between Sheffield United and Bury, including video of the legendary goalkeeper Fatty Foulkes. The film is narrated by the excellent Adrian Chiles.

In the second video, above, Mitchell and Kenyon visit Trent Bridge to film the world’s oldest professional football club, Notts County. There isn’t any football on display, but the crowd shots are incredible. Again it’s remarkable to think how things have changed from 1902 to now where the club was recently taken over by Middle East investors.

In addition to the above videos from 1902, here are an assortment of other unbelievable videos to view, such as:

The next video, above, features the most football action with Newcastle United at home against Liverpool in 1901 at a St James’s Park that looks quite different than the current monolith. The action is fast and furious.

Burnley against Manchester United from 1902 is featured above, which shows a small Turf Moor ground with a grass embankment in the corner. The video is believed to be the earliest video of Manchester United in action.

If you think controversial decisions by referees are a new phenomenon, you only have to watch the above video to see how a goal scored by Preston North End against Aston Villa was disallowed in controversial circumstances before Preston later scored in this game from 1905, which features flashier jerseys than the previous 1901-1902 videos.

Enjoyed watching these videos? There are several more to choose from the British Film Institute’s YouTube channel (just search for football to see the collection).

Tip: Footysphere.

Ah, Sir Tom Finney, one of the finest exponents of footballing skill ever to wear the shirt of England is a living legend. A gentleman and a true star of the post war game, Finney epitomises everything that was great about those halcyon days of English football. Born in Preston, in 1922, Finney is a rare breed of footballers that saw active service in the Second World War and continued playing up to 1960.

Finney has become somewhat of a national treasure, which of course he should be, for both his performances for England and Preston North End. Signing for his hometown club, Finney’s career was stopped in his tracks by the outbreak of World War II but his father had made him complete his plumping apprenticeship before he could sign professional terms with the club.

Unlike most of his contemporaries, Finney wasn’t too old to be called up to serve his country and found himself in the Royal Armoured Corps, serving in Africa under General Montgomery. He saw action with the 8th Army in Egypt, but still managed to find the time to play football in Army matches. Returning to the UK in 1946, Finney’s footballing career finally took off aged 24, making his debut in August and was picked for England within a month.

From that point on, Finney carved his name in to the history of both Preston North End and England. Looking back, perhaps it’s hard to understand why he never left Preston to join a more successful side, but Finney loved Preston and the fans loved him even more. Preston North End famously turned down a move to Palermo in 1952, which would have seen his weekly wage dramatically increased from £14 a week to £120 as well as a signing on fee of £10,000!

“Tom Finney would have been great in any team, in any match and in any age … even if he had been wearing an overcoat.” Bill Shankly

Throughout the 1950′s he continued to excel for England, playing right wing, left wing and as a centre forward. Being naturally two footed and as good on either foot, Finney was a nightmare for defenders to mark as he tended to drift along the front line, losing his markers.

An accomplished header of the ball and with a shot like a rocket, the only thing that surprises people is his relative lack of goals in his career when his abilities are taken in account. Yet, Preston were not a powerhouse of English football, they were relegated in his 3rd season at the club down to the Second Division and they took two seasons to return as Champions. Ironically, this would turn out to be the only winners medal that Finney would ever claim in his career.

“Aye, he’s as good as Tommy – but then Tommy’s nearly 60 now.” Bill Shankly after being asked to compare Trevor Francis with Finney

The 1950′s were a time of almost equality in English football, with 6 different sides winning the league title that decade. With Wolves claiming 3 and Manchester United 2, Preston did finish runners up twice but simply couldn’t mount the consistency that they needed to snatch a title. They finished runners up in 1953 and 1958, 3rd in 1957 but almost got relegated again in 1956, yet Finney kept plugging away.

Finney’s talents were recognised by all around him though and he won the Footballer of the Year award in1954 and 1957, becoming the first player to win it twice and his continued selection in the England side merited his continuing contribution to Preston’s First Division survival. There is no doubt that without Finney, Preston North End would not have been a top Division side.

Amazingly Finney’s two best seasons for goalscoring came back to back towards the end of his career, hitting 54 goals in 75 appearances between 1956 and 1958. The following and ultimately his penultimate season for Preston saw him pick up a groin injury that began to effect his ability. He managed only 16 games in the 1958-59 season, but roared back for the last time the following season. Even at 38 and with a damaged groin, Finney was a class apart. He played 41 games and scored 21 goals, his third highest total in his career and decided to call it a day.

Football wise, Finney only came back once, turning out for Irish side, Distillery in the European Cup but never went in to management. As his Father had advised him before he joined Preston, Finney had completed his plumbing apprenticeship. He’d actually continued to work throughout his football career and continued plumbing after his retirement.

Finney has been a towering figure since his retirement and is feted as one of England’s greatest players from any age. The Life president of Preston North End, he still replies to his fan mail and is staunch supporter of the Alzheimer’s Society, after losing his wife, Lady Elsie to the disease in 2004. That same year, in July, a statue celebrating the photograph that leads this article was unvieled outside the National Football Museum in Preston. Known as “The Splash” it’s a fitting testament to his legacy.

• 473 games and 210 goals for Preston North End
• 76 games and 30 goals for England
• Played in the 1950, 1954 and 1958 World Cup Finals
• Twice Footballer of the Year, 1954 and 1957

“I’d never played with a winger like that and I never would. I was amazed by Tom Finney”  Bobby Moore

Personally, I think the weekend of the FA Cup Third Round is the most exciting weekend of the English Football campaign. The one weekend where all sixty-four teams are equal and the weekend where it doesn’t matter how strong your squad it, it’s a matter of wanting it more than your opposition…regardless of the gulf in class.

Viewers of Fox Soccer Channel were fortunate to see two entertaining ties live (depending on your defintion of live as the games were on at least a 2-3 minute delay…typical for a FSC broadcast) in Forest Green Rovers/Derby County and Preston North End v Liverpool.

Those at The New Lawn were probably treated to the most entertaining tie of the round. Forest Green threw everything into getting a 2-0 lead that was gone before halftime. They got it back, for it to only be short lived. But the critical moment on the nearly frozen pitch has to be the Forest Green red card and penalty that Derby County put away. Forest Green were caught out going for the winner and Kris Commons ends up on the breakaway one v one with Terry Burton. Commons unsure of taking the shot ends up not having to worry about it as Darren Jones comes barrelling in from behind.

I won’t argue the penalty as Jones made no attempt at playing the ball. However I am unsure if there should have been a red card given. From my vantage point watching the replay, Commons looks to be coming to a stop and is unsure if he should continue on the run to set up another player to score. In my mind, that becomes the moment when ‘denying a goal scoring opportunity’ ceases. The most I think Jones should have received was a yellow card.

Had Jones been allowed to stay on the park, who knows. Maybe Derby County still win 4-3, but I think with the way Forest Green were playing on the day, we may have just seen a replay at Pride Park.

The other critical decision of the day happened at Deepdale. Liverpool had their chances in the first half and in all honesty should have had this tie put to bed before this. However their lack of fire power up front allowed Preston to stay in this match. The circumstances surrounding Preston North End’s disallowed goal are bizarre to say the least. A free kick not cleared and it eventually finds it way to the back of the net, only to have the goal ruled out.

During live play it seemed a perfectly legit goal, that is until you see the love Jon Parkin decides to give Jamie Carragher inside the Liverpool six yard box. At the moment the ball is crossed into Sean St. Ledger, Parkin makes the mistake of holding Jamie Carragher to the ground. The foul has to be given and the goal disallowed. What’s more disheartening if you’re a Preston fan is Parkin didn’t have to hold him down. The ball was crossed in with enough pace that if Parkin had just let him up, I don’t think Carragher could have done anything to stop St. Ledger from equalizing.

Had Preston equalized from this moment, I think the game swings into Preston’s favor and Liverpool are hanging on for an Anfield replay. However, one moment of stupidity cost Preston the game as their push for a goal late gave Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres a training ground run up to goal…an opportunity Fernando Torres isn’t missing. Then possibly we aren’t seeing the celebration above.