The English Amateurs’ 1937 tour of Australia and New Zealand is a remarkable part of pre-war football history, and one that gives collectors a very different view of the game beyond the domestic season. Taking place between April and September 1937, the tour included matches across New Zealand and Australia, with fixtures against regional sides, national opposition and representative teams.
For collectors of old football programmes, issues from this tour are especially interesting because they are far less commonly found than standard league or FA Cup programmes from the same period. Matches against Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, New Zealand, Australia and Western Australia all form part of a wider story of English football being carried overseas during the amateur era.
These programmes offer more than simple team line-ups. They capture travel, sporting exchange and the growing international reach of football in the years before the Second World War. Many surviving examples are scarce, fragile and highly distinctive, often reflecting local printing styles and the enthusiasm of host associations. As a result, the English Amateurs’ tour programmes from 1937 are valuable pieces for collectors interested in England representative football, overseas tours and rare pre-war matchday history.
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English Amateurs Tour of New Zealand and Australia - Tour Itinerary April - Sep 1937
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England v Hawkes Bay 27.05.1937
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England v Wellington 29.05.1937
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England v New Zealand 05.06.1937
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England v Australia 10.07.1937
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England v Australia 17.07.1937
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England v Australia 24.07.1937
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England v Western Australia 02.08.1937
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Tour Press and Photos 1937
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Tour Press and Photos 1937
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Tour Press and Photos 1937
