At the beginning of the 20th Century, and long before Greggs became a fixture on the high street, City Bakeries Ltd was one of Glasgow’s leading chains of bakeries and tea-rooms. Based in St George’s Road in the heart of the City. The Company ran a recreation ground with putting green, bowling greens and tennis courts. There were social events, theatre outings and a crafts club.

Similar it would seem, if not on such a grand scale as that envisage by Thames Ironworks founder Arnold Hills with his West Ham federated clubs. Arnold Hills’ Memorial Grounds were regularly used for Sports Meetings including cycling and motorcycle races which would often attracted crowds in excess of 16,000.

By the 1930s City Bakeries had more than sixty branches and, besides Lyons tea rooms, was the largest retail baker in Britain. Over a six-year period Glasgow’s top bakers issued a series of 300 ‘Football Club Shields’ with their pastry delights which helped fuel the “Flicksy” card crazy in the late 1960s early 70s, where children would flick their cards against a wall to see which bounced back the furthest and therefore to win the game and all the cards thrown. Inevitably many of these shield-shaped game cards today would be found in poor condition, but will still set you back the best part of £50 for the West Ham versions.