I'm trying to find a copy of a book written by Sydney Horler which was awarded to a relative of mine as a school prize in 1939. I'm told the title was "The Hope Of His Side" - a school sporting novel obviously - but in lists of the prolific Horler's books this title doesn't appear. Long shot I know but perhaps it was a subtitle to one of his listed books?
It could be a subtitle to one of the Tiger Standish books.
Another thought is that at about the same time (1935) a film was put out called "Hope of His Side", which was about football and starred Sydney Howard. Maybe the book and the film are overlapping memories?