THIS week, Green Barmy returns to look at club handbooks.

The 1960s saw these publications really come into their own. Although they had been a regular feature for supporters of Plymouth Argyle since the 1940s, by the swinging 60s, more uniformity came to the fore.

Today, magazines and publications are in great competition with each other. Glossy photographs and promises of star interviews are used to set them apart from the competition.

But half a century ago, it was much more innocent as books, especially concentrating on one club, were few and far between.

But that is not to say that every effort was spared in making some very collectable items.

Club handbooks at Home Park were issued in good time ahead of each season and by the summer of 1966, supporters were used to a format that proved to be compact, full of detail, and eith no shortage of insight from the club.

Printed by EJ Rickard of Holborn Street and compiled by WS Tonkin, the 1966-67 edition was the 21st published by the Plymouth Argyle Supporters' Club.

The front cover has a classic photograph under the club badge, with skipper Johnny Newman leading out the team as was the way at that time, from the entrance to the field in the corner of the stadium at the Barn Park corner at its junction with the grandstand.

Turning inside the front cover and the full club details are revealed.

Hard to imagine now, but as the Pilgrims prepared to enter a new season, they were members of the Football Association, Football League Division Two, the Wessex League, the Football Combination, the Plymouth and District League, the Western League and the Devon Wednesday League.

The listing of club officials is led by Alderman Sir Clifford Tozer JP as president of the club. The board of directors was chaired by local restaurateur Stafford Williams with Clifford Crookes as vice-chairman.

Future chairman Robert Daniel was also on the five-man board, as was Stafford Williams' son, Brian.

Williams senior compiled the foreword opposite a full-page picture of the board in which he revealed his hopes that the new signings and youth players provided him with much hope for the challenges that lay ahead.

In a sobering epitaph, a tribute was paid to former vice-chairman Douglas Fletcher, who graduated from the terraces to the boardroom, and who had passed away during the preceding season.

Manager Derek Ufton also proved he was no stranger to writing informed comment. Nowadays, most managers dictate their programme notes and they are ghost-written, but this was an era it was straight from the lip.

Ufton reflected on the 1966 World Cup with the observation that all countries were more defence minded.

He outlines his fears that some of those negative thoughts may enter the domestic game and how new tactics would have to be deployed so that stronger defences may be breached.

The aim, Ufton said, was First Division football. When that is achieved, the status must be maintained, added the Argyle manager. Time, it seems, does not change ambitions and dreams.

Team photos are a mainstay of any official club publication, and while the senior squad and youth team are included, there is another surprising team photo which is quite a rarity.

The backroom staff are given a public airing and these included long-time Argyle stalwart and former player Bill Harper.

Club secretary Graham Little, head groundsman Harry Elsworth and public relations officer Fred Easton also line up alongside the office staff for their moment in the spotlight.

Statistics provide a valuable official record of a club's progress, and the complete appearance and goals records from all the competing Argyle teams of the previous campaign are detailed.

Tony Book led the appearance charts with 40 league games, while the top scorers were Mike Trebilcock (11) and Mike Bickle (9).

The team line-ups for every game, with referees, attendances and full league tables are meticulously maintained.

That includes friendlies, which shows that Eintracht Frankfurt paid a visit to Home Park in May with Keith Etheridge on target for the Pilgrims in a 1-1 draw but, surprisingly, just 3,677 turned up for what many may have considered an attractive fixture.

Looking ahead, a detailed guide on the first team opponents to be faced during 1966-67, give a potted guide to each team.

The likes of Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth, and Wolves gave an indication of the challenges that lay in waiting.

The reserves would not get away with an easy season, either, in the Football Combination.

As well as champions Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest were just some of the names to ensure that second string football was set to be very competitive.

The pen pictures (a phrase you don't often see in the 21st century) are a joy to behold.

Uniformity was maintained with the archetypal head-and-shoulders picture of each player featured, wearing the equally stylish green shirt with the black and white band across the chest that featured the club badge.

The images were accompanied by a single paragraph that would sum up each player to date.

Interesting to note that one of the new faces in the Argyle squad was John Sillett, who later in his career would manage Coventry City to FA Cup glory.

Supporters are well represented in the handbook.

Honorary general secretary and treasurer of the supporters' club, SG Cox, wrote of the increasing popularity of the annual publication.

Advance orders had been received from exiled Plymothians and supporters in the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, providing that its production had a useful service in keeping fans informed.

Easton's notes concerning the Plymouth Argyle Development Association outlined the importance of the organisation in increasingly challenging financial times.

Advertisements give a lovely view of social history, and this handbook carries many fine examples.

Modern comfortable coaches were the boast of Embankment Motors, with capable and courteous drivers. How wording in adverts has changed!

No doubt aimed at the predominantly male readers, The Tandem Inn at The Octagon purchased advertising space.

Maybe no surprise as landlord of the public house at the time was former Argyle player Bill Strauss.

It is no wonder that the same design of the Argyle handbooks through the 1960s maintained a similar design.

It was a winning formula.

Beautifully produced and all the detail any fan would want included.

The handbook for 1966-67 sold for one shilling (5p). Good value for the 96 pages which sold out as the season got underway.

As for its current value, you would be very lucky to find a copy in good condition for under £10 at football programme fairs.

IF YOU would like to have a piece of memorabilia included in Green Barmy, please attach a photo with some details and email to sports@theplymouthherald.co.uk or by post to Herald Sport, 17 Brest Road, Plymouth PL6 5AA.