The stories are completely varied and range from comical, unusual, interesting, scary and fascinating. All the supporters feature in the book speak with equal passion about the club they all clearly adore. It starts with supporters' tales in Leeds itself and then goes around the west side of England, into Wales, across to Southern and Northern Ireland, over to America and Canada, down to the Caribbean. Further south to Brazil and Argentina, it then continues around the globe to places such as South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Azerbaijan, Russia, Norway, Iceland and many more. Throughout the book there are tales of the author's experiences following the club and there are three chapters from 'super-fan' Gary Edwards, who has only missed one Leeds match including all pre-season friendlies anywhere in the world since 1968.

No-one in their wildest dreams could imagine the success the pair would bring to Maine Road. Within 12 months City had won the Second Division title. Two years later they were League Champions and by 1971 had added the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup-winners' Cup. And for good measure they had at last overcome the always looming shadow of Manchester United. This is the fantastic story of those great days at Maine Road.

The System is the story of Scotland's mission to re-establish itself as a footballing nation that can produce world-class players again. Such was the quality of the footballer once produced in Scotland that by the time the 22 players from the 1982 World Cup Scotland squad retired, they could boast 32 European club competition winners' medals between them. Although Scotland went on to compete in the 1998 World Cup finals, they have yet to qualify for the competition in the 21st century. This book looks at the science of talent development and how players are brought on under Scotland's current system. It explores everything from the influence of Scots on the game worldwide, to the demise of street football, the potential flaws in the way children are selected for elite academies, how they are coached and much more. After examining every aspect of the process, Graeme McDowall has concluded that we need to turn the system on its head to produce the type of player Scotland was once famous for.

This title captures the dramas and emotion of Manchester City's victories and losses, as witnessed through the eyes of two lifelong City fans. Feel their hopes, fears, nerves, disappointment, resignation, exultation and final relief.

A comprehensive look into early professional football, this biography of Everton and Liverpool's founding father John Houlding breaks new ground by addressing the important role of football club ownership in the early history of the game. Football supporters the world over are aware of the great rivalry that exists between the two giants of Merseyside football, Everton and Liverpool. This rivalry was created out of a split within Everton FC that gave rise, in 1892, to Liverpool FC. The two clubs subsequently went on to dominate the English game, amassing twenty-seven English top flight titles between them, more than any other city in the country. What isn't as well known is that one man was responsible for the rise of both clubs: former Lord Mayor of Liverpool, John Houlding. In The Man Who Created Merseyside Football: John Houlding, Founding Father of Liverpool and Everton, David Kennedy recounts the sporting legacy of Houlding. A brewer and Conservative politician, Houlding was a polarising yet fascinating figure. His financial input, first at Everton Football Club and then at Liverpool Football Club, provided the launch pad for the establishment of two nationally and internationally known sporting organizations. By the time of his death in 1902, both clubs had reached the pinnacle of the English game and Houlding's place as the founding father of professional football in Merseyside was assured. More than just a football biography, The Man Who Created Merseyside Football also details the many other aspects of Houlding's life-a family man, businessman, and local politician with parliamentary aspirations. His business and political life, in fact, became entangled in dramatic fashion with the Liverpool football scene on more than one occasion. The complete story of this captivating and influential individual is finally told for the first time in this book, in full and wonderful detail.

El Más Grande is the story of Argentina's biggest and most successful football club, River Plate. From their humble origins in the southern districts of Buenos Aires, River grew into one of the largest clubs in South America, earning the nickname 'The Millionaires' as they established themselves at the iconic Monumental Stadium. Over the years, River have propelled some of the greatest talents on the continent to fame, whilst enchanting generations of fans with their stylish play. The book journeys back to the 'máquina' team of the 1940s, arguably the most attractive club side of the pre-television era, with its fabled frontline of Moreno, Loustau, Pedernera, Labruna and Muñoz. It takes us through the great sides of the 1950s, 70s and 90s right up to the all-conquering reign of present coach Marcelo Gallardo. Along the way, we discover the great players who have worn the distinctive white shirt with the red sash - from Bernabé Ferreyra, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Enzo Francescoli to Manchester City's new signing Julián �lvarez.

Football is more than just a game. Over the past 150 years it has become a source of identity, conflict and debate for all who follow and play it. It has reached the farthest corners of the globe and boasts more players and supporters than any other sport. Football's Fifty Most Important Moments charts the illustrious, colourful and often tragic history of football, uncovering the sport's most significant and staggering moments. Starting in Victorian England with the 1857 introduction of modern football, we journey through 160 years of incredible events to the modern day, where new and innovative ideas are changing the game. Since its creation, football has been shaped by the actions of teams, supporters and of course remarkable individuals on and off the pitch. Whether through mass spectatorship at the 1923 'White Horse Final' or the infamous 'Hand of God' in 1986, football has never failed to amaze and inspire. Learn about its evolution from its modest 19th-century roots to the modern age of nine-figure transfer fees and billionaire investors.

"Hibernian The Players 1949-2009" seeks to capture all of the stories of the Hibernian players through the clubs history. The all-time great Hibees are all in the book - Baker, Smith, Reilly, Sauzee, Cormack, Turnbull and Combe - but they jostle for space with the likes of Hamilton, Stein, Wright, Riordan, Goram, Rae, Best and a host of others. Some wonderful players, some wonderful stories, and above all a host of memories. Hibernian players have come in all shapes and sizes. They have written their part in the club's history in a variety of ways and this book seeks to capture all of their stories. Every player who has featured in a Hibernian competitive match since 1946 is to be found between these covers. There had to be a cut-off point therefore only players who have made a senior appearance in a competitive match are included. I have made League, Scottish Cup, League Cup and European outings the criteria for inclusion. How best to sum up the range of players covered in this book? There is the Hibernian goalkeeper who played only one match for the club...a European Cup semi-final. There is the player who played well over 200 games as a Hibee without ever scoring, but did just that in his one and only Scotland appearance. There is the Hibernian player who edited the Hearts match programme. There are two Hibs players who did some male modelling. There is the strange case of the farmer who became a reluctant Hibernian goalkeeper. There was the tragic debutant who broke his leg just 20 seconds into his career. There are brothers and fathers and sons serving the club. There are men who both played for and managed Hibs. There is the young winger who played only one game for Hibs...a League Cup Final at Hampden. The above, in a nutshell, is the essence of this book.

The ideal gift for football fans to read between matches during the 2022 Qatar World Cup Pairing epic sports photography with articles from The Times and The Sunday Times archive, this volume brings together 100 of the most iconic moments from World Cup history. With striking, full-colour photography, rarely seen archival images and sensational reporting on the action, The Times World Cup Moments tells the unofficial story of the world's largest single sporting event as it unfolded on - and off - the pitch. Featuring the greatest goals, most historic line-ups, heroic players and unforgettable controversies, these split-second moments have changed the course of World Cup history and generated a global sensation along the way. The perfect Christmas gift for any football fan, some of the best moments from this book include: * The first World Cup, Uruguay 1930 * North Korea's fairy tale, England 1966 * David Beckham's perfect free-kick, France 1998 * Brazil's golden line-up, Mexico 1970 * The infamous Hand of God, Mexico 1986 * Roger Milla's celebration, Italy 1990 * Zinedine Zidane's chipped Panenka penalty, Germany 2006 * Germany's humiliation of the hosts, Brazil 2014 * Cristiano Ronaldo's spectacular hat-trick, South Korea 2018

Institutionalized as a fascist game in Mussolinis Italy, football was exploited domestically in an attempt to develop a sense of Italian identity and internationally as a diplomatic tool to improve Italys standing in the global arena. The 1930s were the zenith of achievement for Italian football. Italy hosted and won the 1934 World Cup tournament and retained the trophy in 1938 in France. In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Italy won the soccer tournament with a team of university students, affirming the nations international football supremacy. At club level, calcio was reorganized into a single, national league in 1929namely, Serie Aafter which the first Italian club teams emerged to dominate European competition and threaten previous British notions of supremacy.In this time, Italian Fascism fully exploited the opportunities football provided to shape public opinion, penetrate daily life, and reinforce conformity. By politicizing the game, Fascism also sought to enhance the regimes international prestige and inculcate nationalist values. The author argues that the regimes attempt to use sport to formulate identity actually forced it to recognize existing tensions within society, thereby paradoxically permitting the existence of diversity and individuality.The book serves as a cultural history of Fascism in Italy viewed through the lens of football.

Football used to be better in the past - and here's the proof. Got, Not Got focuses on British football's apparent lost Utopia of the '60s, '70s and '80s - the fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mudbaths and cloggers, of miniature, carpet-level games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. It evokes the feel and smell of football past, its rituals and relics. But there's more to the agreeably grumpy authors' vision than a hilarious, heartstring-tugging celebration of everything we miss in modern football. Here are hundreds of beautiful images of a lost football culture, pin-sharp observations and memories shared by generations of fans - in all, an ideal blueprint to help restore the game to its former glories! This Aladdin's cave of memorabilia brings back the magic of league ladders and dogs on the pitch, sock tags and the magic sponge - and was runner-up in the BSBA Book of the Year Awards 2012.

The period leading up to 1999 had been grim for Stoke City fans - relegation, stagnation, embarrassment and board conflicts were commonplace at the club. As the new millennium approached, fans demanded change, but no one could have predicted what would come next. An Icelandic consortium, brought together by Gudjon Thordarson, set sail for the Potteries with the promise of exciting foreign imports and Premier League football. What followed was a mixture of flashy arrivals, cup successes, broken curses, flop signings and plenty of fallouts, with extraordinary on-field moments along the way. Cult heroes and villains were made as Stoke became a living soap opera for seven remarkable years. Twinned with Reykjavik lifts the lid on that rollercoaster ride with the views of the people who experienced the wild journey. Integral players and fans look back on the key moments that defined the era as the book ponders that vital question: was the Icelandic takeover actually a success for Stoke City?

A Times Sports Book of the Year The story of Jack and Bobby Charlton, and a family that characterised English football for decades 'Gripping' Daily Mail 'Wilson is a fine, nuanced writer' TLS 'A powerful chronicle' Irish Times 'Surprisingly moving' Guardian 'Razor-sharp tactical analysis' Irish Independent In later life Jack and Bobby didn't get on and barely spoke but the lives of these very different brothers from the coalfield tell the story of late twentieth-century English football: the tensions between flair and industry, between individuality and the collective, between right and left, between middle- and working-classes, between exile and home. Jack was open, charismatic, selfish and pig-headed; Bobby was guarded, shy, polite and reserved to the point of reclusiveness. They were very different footballers: Jack a gangling central defender who developed a profound tactical intelligence; Bobby an athletic attacking midfielder who disdained systems. They played for clubs who embodied two very different approaches, the familial closeness and tactical cohesion of Leeds on the one hand and the individualistic flair and clashing egos of Manchester United on the other. Both enjoyed great success as players: Jack won a league, a Cup and two Fairs Cups with Leeds; Bobby won a league title, survived the terrible disaster of the plane crash in Munich, and then at enormous emotional cost, won a Cup and two more league titles before capping it off with the European Cup. Together, for England, they won the World Cup. Their managerial careers followed predictably diverging paths, Bobby failing at Preston while Jack enjoyed success at Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday before leading Ireland to previously un-imagined heights. Both were financially very successful, but Jack remained staunchly left-wing while Bobby tended to conservatism. In the end, Jack returned to Northumberland; Bobby remained in the North-West. Two Brothers tells a story of social history as well as two of the most famous football players of their generation.

This book examines how football, as a mass spectator sport, came to represent a novel, unique cultural identity of Bengali people in terms of nation, community, region/locality and club, contributing to the continuity of everyday socio-cultural life. It explains how football became a viable popular social force with a rare emotional spontaneity and peculiar self-expressive fan culture against the background of anti-imperial nationalist movement and postcolonial political tension and social transformation. In the process, it investigates certain key questions and problems in the social history of football in Bengal, which have hitherto been ignored in the existing works on the subject.

The author offers some original arguments in treating football as a cultural phenomenon, setting it squarely in the context of Bengali politics and society. It strengthens the premise that social history of South Asian sport can be meaningfully understood only by looking beyond the sports field. The study, using sport as a lens, has tried to consider some relevant themes of social history, and brings forth important issues of political and cultural history of 20th-century Bengal. Simultaneously, it highlights the transformed role of football as an instrument of reaction, resistance and subversion. It indicates that the football field of Bengal proves to be a mirror image of what society experiences in its cultural and political field, through a series of historical projections of identity, difference and culture.

A CLUB ON THE RISE. A CITY IN FLUX. THIS IS UNION BERLIN. No football club in the world has fans like 1. FC Union Berlin. The underdogs from East Berlin have stuck it to the Stasi, built their own stadium and even given blood to save their club. But now they face a new and terrifying prospect: success. Scheisse! tells the human stories behind the unexpected rise of this unique football club. But it's about more than just football. It's about the city Union call home. As the club fight to maintain their rebel spirit among the modern football elite, their trajectory mirrors that of contemporary Berlin itself: from divided Cold War battleground to European capital of cool. Scheisse! will appeal to readers who are captivated by sports biographies such as Raphael Honigstein's Das Reboot and social history like John Kampfner's Why The Germans Do It Better.

The King Takes Over: Liverpool and the Dalglish Years 1985–1991 is a fast-paced and nostalgic account of a time when Liverpool were the best team in the land, and played a brilliant style of football still talked about more than 30 years on. It is the story of how Liverpool’s greatest player became one of its greatest managers. Taking a wistful look back at the glory years of 1985–1991, the book revisits the great games and goals of the Kenny Dalglish era. It examines the circumstances of the Heysel tragedy and how Dalglish became Liverpool’s first player-manager in the darkest period in both the club and the city’s history, amid the chaos wrought by Thatcher’s government. How did the Hillsborough disaster impact Dalglish, the club, players and fans? How did John Barnes, the first black player signed by Liverpool, overcome racism from the terraces to become a legend in red? Why did the Reds not win the championship for 30 years after 1990? What were the real circumstances behind Dalglish’s shock resignation in 1991?

International Research in Science and Soccer showcases the very latest research into the world's most widely played sport. With contributions from world-leading researchers and practitioners working at every level of the game, from grass roots to elite level, the book covers every key aspect of preparation and performance, including: contemporary issues in soccer coaching psychological preparation and development of players physical preparation and development of players nutrition and recovery talent identification and development strength and conditioning in soccer injury prevention and rehabilitation soccer academies. Sports scientists, trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, psychologists, educational officers and professionals working in soccer will find this in-depth, comprehensive volume an essential and up-to-date resource. The papers contained within this volume were first presented at The First World Congress on Science and Soccer, held in May 2008 in Liverpool, UK. The meeting was held under the auspices of the World Commission of Science and Sports.

Science and Football VI showcases the very latest scientific research into the variety of sports known as football. These include the games of association football, the rugby codes (union and league), and the national codes (American, Australian and Gaelic). The book aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice in football studies, and presents important new work in key areas such as:

Biomechanics

Sports medicine

Paediatric exercise science

Match analysis

Environmental physiology

Physiology of training

Fitness assessment

Psychology

Social sciences

Sports scientists, trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, psychologists, educational officers and professionals working in the range of football codes will find this in-depth, comprehensive text an essential and up-to-date resource of scientific information for their respective fields.

The papers contained within this volume were first presented at The Sixth World Congress on Science and Football, held in January 2007 in Antalya, Turkey. The meeting was held under the auspices of the International Steering Group on Science and Football, a representative member of the World Commission of Science and Sports.

Thomas Reilly is Director of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University. He is President of the World Commission of Science and Sports and Chair of the International Steering Group on Science and Football.

Feza Korkusuz is Director of the Medical Centre and Chair of the Department of Physical Education and Sports at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He is corresponding editor for Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research and is on the International Education Board of Technology and Health Care Journal.

"This book aims to provide an extensive overview of how football is organized and managed on a European level and in individual European countries, and to account for the evolution of the national, international and transnational management of football over the last decades"--

'Folklore and Fables' is a collection of articles on his beloved Blades, by Sheffield United supporters' liaison officer, club historian and 'encyclopedia of Blades knowledge', John Garrett. A lifelong Blade, whose grandfather first watched the Blades in 1892, John has worked at Bramall Lane for over two decades and began writing his popular, and award-winning, 'Folklore and Fables' feature for United's matchday programme almost 10 years ago. This book is a compilation of his best work, giving his inimitable take on life at Bramall Lane - featuring his family history, music, holidays abroad, club legends and, rather occasionally, football...

Rangers 101 distils the history of the most successful football club in the world, Glasgow Rangers F.C. From their founding in 1872 and their first (drawn) League Championship, all the way through to the present day, Rangers' history is brought to life via people, matches and objects. This fascinating volume traces the nearly 150 years of this unsurpassed institution - sometimes irreverent but always faithful to the characters, controversies, disasters and achievements that have taken place to give the club such a rich tapestry of triumph. Whether an old fan or new this is a perfect partner for those who support the club, are interested in its history and who love to recall past and present glories.

As the first edited collection dedicated specifically to race, ethnicity and British football, this book brings together a range of academics, comprising both established commentators and up-and-coming voices. Combining theoretical and empirical contributions, the volume will addresses a wide variety of topics such as the experiences of Muslims, the recruitment of African players, devolution and national identities, case studies of minority ethnic clubs, "mixed-race" players, multiculturalism and anti-racism, sectarianism, education, and foreign club ownership. Covering the both amateur and professional spheres, and focusing on both players and supporters, the book elucidates the linkages between race, ethnicity, gender and masculinity.

Does the sight of half-scarves enrage you? Does transfer-deadline day make you want to throw a brick through the TV? Do the opening bars of goal music make your ears bleed? If the answer is 'yes', then this could be the book for you. Since English football's very own 'Year Zero' in 1992, the game has changed beyond recognition, rejecting the rough-and-ready days of the past. And like any change, not all of it has been welcome. The quality of the 'football product' might be better but it's come with spiralling levels of debt, yawning inequality and Neymar advertising batteries. These, and many other ills of the modern game, form Jim Keoghan's exploration of the nation's favourite pastime. Navigating a world populated by dodgy owners, celebrity referees and Ray Winstone's floating head, he searches for an answer to the question: Is it Just Me or is Modern Football S**t?

When a struggling Korean football club wants to transform its fortunes, who does it turn to? A former Chelsea manager and a trio of players with Premier League experience, of course. Who Ate All the Squid?: Football Adventures in South Korea charts the year Ian Porterfield managed faltering K League giant Busan IPark. The Sunderland FA Cup legend lured three players from English football out to Korea: striker Jamie Cureton, an ex-England youth international who turned down Manchester United; Andy Cooke, a former Burnley and Stoke City forward who started his career building cowsheds; and Jon Olav Hjelde, who bolstered Nottingham Forest after achieving UEFA Champions League heroics with Rosenborg. How will the players cope with South Korea's unfamiliar culture and language? Can the Brits overcome personal demons, including car crashes, divorces and alcoholism? And does a British football revolution really stand a chance of succeeding in Northeast Asia? The book also casts a humorous glimpse at the world's game inside South Korea.

An effective strength and conditioning program is an essential component of the preparation of any athlete or sportsperson. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the theory and practice of strength and conditioning, providing students, coaches and athletes with everything they need to design and implement effective training programs. Revised and updated for a second edition, the book continues to include clear and rigorous explanations of the core science underpinning strength and conditioning techniques and give detailed, step-by-step guides to all key training methodologies, including training for strength, speed, endurance, flexibility and plyometrics. The second edition expands on the opening coaching section as well as introducing an entirely new section on current training methods which includes examining skill acquisition and motor learning. Throughout the book the focus is on the coaching process, with every chapter highlighting the application of strength and conditioning techniques in everyday coaching situations. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance includes a unique and extensive section of sport-specific chapters, each of which examines in detail the application of strength and conditioning to a particular sport, from soccer and basketball to golf and track and field athletics. The second edition sees this section expanded to include other sports such as rugby union, rugby league and American football. The book includes contributions from world-leading strength and conditioning specialists, including coaches who have worked with Olympic gold medallists and international sports teams at the highest level. Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is an essential course text for any degree-level student with an interest in strength and conditioning, for all students looking to achieve professional accreditation, and an invaluable reference for all practising strength and conditioning coaches.