The 1850 Factories Act, gave workers trapped in long working hours and a six day working week, the Saturday afternoon off work. Imagine the relief of some proper time to yourself in daylight hours. Time for the family, a social drink, a smoke (that some advertisers claimed was good for you) and perhaps time to play or to watch a game of Football with your mates.
With Football games, a growing ‘Saturday’ ritual for hundreds of thousands developed. Memories of this are captured now in advertising, ephemera, pipes, tins and drinking vessels, and other everyday items. Reflecting a time when life for many was often far more harsh and ‘time off’ a precious commodity..