Vintage sports magazines: More than just a source of sports statistics

First of all, my sincere apologies to all my loyal readers but I've been away the whole of July on buying trips in the SEA region and just had the time to update this blog now.

I've always loved old sports magazines because they give us a glimpse about the high level of sporting pursuits back then.

Many have forgotten Singapore's prowess in the Malaya/Malaysia Cup competion and that Singapore was already a Sports Hub in the 1950s, hosting 3 Thomas Cup Finals and other Asian/World level sporting tournaments...

But these magazines also give us a succint screenshot of that particular era - from hairstyles, to fashion sense and even cultural pursuits...

My full collection of Thomas Cup souvenir magazines from 1949 to 1958

Interesting Thomas Cup Trial Souvenir magazines from 1952

A 1950s advertisement from Raffles Hotel - then and now still a luxury hotel

Sir John Nicol's welcome message. Sir Nicol's name graces Nicol Highway.

The colonial government - given their public school backgrounds - were largely supportive of Sports.

Sir Malcolm MacDonald - a keen supporter of sporting pursuits in Malaya & Singapore

Sir George Thomas - donor of Thomas Cup - in his own words, congratulating the organization of the Tournament in Singapore

A ubiquitous Tiger Balm advertisement from the 1950s. There weren't many full colour advertisements then, due to the high cost but this example was printed 

largely in blue

The Thomas Cup Finals were hosted at the Singapore Badminton Hall thrice - in 1952, 1955 & 1958.. Malaya (incorporating Singapore's Wong Peng Soon & Ong Poh Lim) triumphed in 1952 and 1955 but lost to Indonesia in 1958... Singapore never hosted another Thomas Cup Final ever again