The recent injury, and apparently miraculous recovery, of George Cox set me thinking about how everything to do with football has changed over time.

In no way is this more true than the treatment of players with an injury and the ways of trying to ensure match fitness for those who are not injured.

Back in the time before World War One, Sam Allen attributed the golden era, which saw Swindon win two Southern League Championships and reach the FA Cup final on two occasions, as having begun with a victory at Sheffield in 1908 when Swindon won a cup replay.

Swindon had been reduced to ten men but with no subs allowed in those days, they were desperate to get the injured full-back, Jock Walker, back on the pitch. He had sustained a leg injury which was treated by having whisky rubbed into the affected area. He was then returned to the field of play and helped Swindon win the tie after extra time. Walker evidently suffered no ill effects as he went on to win Scottish caps and was still playing after World War One.

An interesting story relating to the injury of players between the Wars is that of Fred Laycock. I managed to purchase a collection of letters from his solicitors relating to his suing Swindon for the injury he suffered while playing for them in the early 1930s.

Laycock sounds to have been a bit of a character having been fined five Guineas, for signing for one team, Nelson, at........

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