The history of Fulham Football Club told through the stories of the major matches, charting the path of a club with humble beginnings that rose and fell several times over the last 100 years.

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.

With rare and unrivaled access, bestselling coauthor of Soccernomics and longtime Financial Times journalist Simon Kuper tells the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful club in the world-and how that era is now ending FC Barcelona is not just the world's highest grossing sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organizations on the planet. At last count, it had approximately 214 million social media followers, more than any other sports club except Real Madrid CF-and by one earlier measure, more than all thirty-two NFL teams combined. It has more in common with multinational megacompanies like Netflix or small nation-states than it does with most soccer teams. No wonder its motto is "More than a club." But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona went from a regional team to a global powerhouse, becoming a model of sustained excellence and beautiful soccer, and a consistent winner of championships. Simon Kuper unravels exactly how this transformation took place, paying special attention to the club's two biggest stars, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi, who is arguably the greatest soccer player of all time. Messi joined Barca at age thirteen and, more than anyone, has been the engine and standard-bearer of Barcelona's glory. But his era is coming to an end-and with it, a once-in-a-lifetime golden run. This book charts Barca's rise and fall. Like many world-beating organizations, FC Barcelona closely guards its secrets, granting few outsiders access to the Camp Nou, its legendary home stadium. But after decades of writing about the sport and the club, Kuper was given access to the inner sanctum and the people behind the scenes who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top. Erudite, personal, and capturing all the latest upheavals, his portrait of this incredible institution goes beyond soccer to understand FC Barcelona as a unique social, cultural, and political phenomenon.

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 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 cosmopolitan fan cultures. Covering the amateur and professional spheres, and focusing on both players and supporters, the book elucidates the linkages between race, ethnicity, gender and masculinity.

Football, in many ways, is a visual endeavour. From the visual experience within the stadium itself to worldwide media representations, from advertisements to football art and artefacts: football is much about seeing and being seen, about watching, making visual and being visualised. The FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa has turned into a perfect example of the visual dimensions of football. Stadiums have been built and marketed as tourist attractions, mass media and internet platforms are advertising South African cities and venues, logos and emblems are displayed and celebrated, exhibitions are organised in museums world-wide. This book explores the social, cultural and political role of football in Africa by focusing on the issue of its visibility and invisibility. The contributions consider the history and present of football in different parts of Africa. They examine historical and recent pictures and images of football and football players, as well as places and spaces of their production and perception. They analyse the visual dimensions expressed in sports infrastructure, football media-scapes, and in expressive and material arts. This book thus contributes to the growing interest in football in Africa by exploring a new field of research into sports. This book was previously published as a special issue of Soccer and Society.

During the 2012 European Soccer Championship (popularly called the Euro ), nearly one and a half million people attended the matches. It was the third most-watched sporting event in the world, with the best teams on the continent competing for the title. Yet, only half a century ago the idea of a European championship wasn t widely supported. When it finally received the green light from the world soccer authorities, the best European teams weren t interested in participating in the new event. But as the popularity of soccer grew across the world, and the reputation of the tournament increased with each competition, the Euro has become one of the most popular sporting events world-wide. In European Soccer Championship Results: Since 1958, Tomasz Malolepszy charts the growth and expansion of this popular sport in Europe with a complete statistical history of both the men s and women s competition. For the first time ever, soccer fans can find detailed results, rosters, medalists, and standings for the European Championships all in a single volume. In addition, this book contains a list of interesting records, many of which have never before been published. European Soccer Championship Results is a valuable resource for any soccer fan, journalist, or researcher. Companion volumes to this book include European Basketball Championship Results: Since 1935, European Ice Hockey Championship Results: Since 1910, and European Volleyball Championship Results: Since 1948."

"Derby's Days" delves deep into the historic rivalry between Derby County and Nottingham Forest, to investigate just why it is so special to everyone involved - from players to managers to supporters. It offers legendary stories, looking back at the greatest clashes between the clubs. Derby County v Nottingham Forest is a rivalry steeped in history, drama, controversy, success, failure, and pretty much anything else football can throw at you. How about recovering from your goalkeeper being sent off after a couple of minutes to win on opposition turf, a double over your rivals on the way to winning your first title while they get relegated, or even beating them in European competition? Then again, it's not always been plain-sailing. Who can forget the two disallowed goals and a missed penalty in stoppage-time, or the publicly-paraded yet ultimately failed signing of the rivals' star player, and that's without even considering the FA Cup final between the two sides? "Derby's Days" delves deep into the rivalry to see just what makes it tick and why it is so special to everyone involved - from players to managers to supporters. And as the title suggests it's a look at all things great and good from a black and white perspective, celebrating the history of this most anticipated of fixtures and looking back in great detail over many of the Rams' greatest moments against their foes from along Brian Clough Way.

This is the autobiography of one of Ireland's greatest ever full-backs - Dave Langan. Brought to England by the legendary Brain Clough, Langan made his name as one of the best young full-backs in Britain. With brutal honesty, Dave Langan tells of his battles on and off the field, as well as his international career with Ireland. Dave Langan, regarded by many as one of Ireland's greatest full-backs, was also a mainstay of the famous Oxford United team that made history in 1986 when they won the Milk Cup. Managed by Maurice Evans, Langan and his teammates, including fellow Irish legends Ray Houghton and John Aldridge, were part of the side which beat QPR 3-0 in the final. Brought to England by the legendary Brian Clough, Langan made his name as one of the best young full-backs in Britain with Derby, before making a then record breaking transfer to Birmingham. With a brutal honesty reminiscent of his playing days Dave Langan tells of his battles on and off the field, as well as his international career with Ireland.

This is an autobiography of former Morton and Celtic footballer and all round fans favourite, Andy Ritchie. Retired by the age of 28, Ritchie still managed to make his mark on Scottish football, not only for his amazing ball skills but also for his larger than life personality and colourful personal life. AT 22 Andy Ritchie had the footballing world at his feet. Scotland's disastrous World Cup campaign in Argentina left the nation crying out for an entertainer and Morton's 'Idle Idol' filled the void. A former Celtic prospect, his spectacular goals, close control, dead ball genius and dazzling skills made him Scotland's player of the year and the nation's top goalscorer three years running. But by the age of 28 Ritchie dumped his boots in a bin and quit football for good. Plagued by depression, panic attacks and attitude problems one of the Scottish game's biggest ever characters tells with brutal honesty of the match-day drinking, the gambling, the indiscipline and the casual drug abuse which cut short his playing days and drove the late Jock Stein to despair. Celtic's chief scout under Tommy Burns, he expresses his regrets at the failure to patch up a rift with his lifelong friend before he died and of the spell of homelessness he survived following a breakdown and the break-up of his marriage.

This is a humourous and touching account of an Everton fans unexpected move abroad. It is loaded with adventure and surprise, a true journey of self-discovery. Football fans passionate about their team will relate to the intense need to 'get the result' no matter where they are in the world. On Friday, 1 September 1989 Cliff Green boarded a plane from Heathrow to Nairobi to begin what he imagined to be a two year interlude to his teaching career in the UK. He was 27 and had never lived overseas before. In all respects he was very much a 'homeboy' being immensely attached to the British culture notably pop music, English pubs, Coronation Street and, most significantly, Everton Football Club. In all respects he was the last person on earth that anyone would have expected to live away from the shores of the UK. He even surprised himself with the decision. On 15 March 2011 he returned to England after more than two decades of teaching overseas in a journey that included Kenya, Bermuda and Uganda and a career path that led to his appointment in 2009 as Principal of one of the largest international schools in East Africa. There was also a personal journey of discovery and adventure loaded with humour and surprise and, while the pull of British culture diminished, the passion for Everton just grew and grew, no matter how difficult it may have been to 'get the result'.

This is a book dedicated to being a Norwich Supporter, the highs, the lows and the extraordinary. There seems to be few books dedicated to Norwich, even though it's the highest achieving club in Norfolk. It looks at the 2011/12 season on and off the field, from the jubilation of promotion from the Championship to the thrills and spills of competing with the best teams in England, the feelings before, during and after games and the all consuming nature of being a Norwich supporter. Over the years much has happened at Carrow Road. The supporters have been poked, prodded, dealt cruel blows and seen dour performances. They've been encouraged to pay up and shut up, and believe the line that you can be prudent and ambitious. But since the club board changed and the management team was reinvigorated it's been a fantastic rollercoaster ride. The spirit of the team, the dedication of the support, and the humour and excitement surrounding the club has catapulted Norwich back to where they belong - in the Premier League. It casts a humorous eye over the strange world of a football fan, dealing with a whole host of subjects from the weekly hike to Norwich from London to watch games, the constant struggle to convince your partner that you aren't crazy and the weird and wonderful opportunities that arise to show your support for the team. It tells of some of the extraordinary situations he has found himself in over the club's first season back in the big time since 2005. Being a Norwich fan is never easy, but the ride is worth it.

This book recaptures the excitement of the memorable games and key personalities of each of Fulham Football Club's eight promotional seasons from 1907. It includes comprehensive statistical appendix attached to each chapter, highlighting how the seasons unwound with the turning points identified. Since joining the Football League in 1907, Fulham Football Club has enjoyed eight promotion seasons, three from the second tier to the top flight, four from the third to the second and one from the fourth to the third. Each of these seasons had its own special features, memorable games and key personalities. This book tries to recapture some of that excitement as the individual seasons are put in the context of the club's history, the season discussed as it unwound, the key personalities and turning points identified plus a comprehensive statistical appendix attached to each chapter. Written by club historian and director Dennis Turner (who personally can recall all but two of the eight promotions) and, with the exceptions of the two earliest campaigns, the chapters are illustrated from the remarkable archive of club photographer Ken Coton. It is a timely reminder to many supporters who now take Premier League football for granted, that getting to where they are today has been a long, tortuous and occasional painful path.

This is the ultimate guide to Hartlepool United featuring over 400 photographs of teams and players, many of which have never previously been published. It contains full match stats, player profiles and a year-on-year look at Hartlepool. It is a must-have for all Hartlepool United fans. "Hartlepool United: The Complete Record" is the definitive record of the club since its formation in 1908. Written by Malcolm Errington the book covers every aspect of Hartlepool United's history from the early days of the North Eastern League through to membership of the Football League to the present day. The book details the history of a unique football club who survived not only wartime bombardments but also a record 14 re-election applications to continue its unbroken membership of the Football League since 1922. Over 400 photographs and illustrations, many never previously published, support the text and provide an insight into the evolution of the club. Every Football League season is covered with match details including teams and substitutes where applicable. A personal and career biography of all 41 managers is included along with similar details of prominent players. A detailed commentary is included from the foundation of the club in 1908 as a member of the North Eastern League through to membership of the Football League Division 3 North in 1922 and the resulting rollercoaster ride through to the Second World War when the club was forced to withdraw from wartime football due to prevailing circumstances.

With anecdotes and humour throughout, the book will not only interest Carlisle United fans as they re-live the halcyon days, all football fans should find something that they can also relate to. Over a twelve year period during the 1960s and 1970s the small Cumbrian club rose through the Football League, winning promotions and titles, performing heroic giant-killing acts, and taking part in its one and only European competition. This book tells that story. "The Golden Era of Carlisle United, Fourth, First & Fulham" is part conventional history, part commentary on the period, and part personal memoir, as told through the eyes of a small boy going to live football matches for the first time and experiencing some unusual goings-on in a strange adult world. Forty years on, his footballing heroes of the time, including players like John Gorman, George McVitie and Tot Winstanley have shared their recollections of the great adventures. Supporters and journalists from the period, as well as the current chairman Andrew Jenkins, who was a director at the time, have also contributed. It all gives the book an authenticity that will allow the reader to experience the mood in the dressing room, the rational in the boardroom, the excitement on the pitch, and the agony and ecstasy on the terraces. With anecdotes and humour throughout, the book will not only interest Carlisle United fans as they re-live the halcyon days, all football fans should find something that they can also relate to.

This is a complete history of Norwich City, including facts, figures, highs and lows and a short biography on each personality. It is a must read for all Norwich supporters that appreciate those whose time at Norwich have done so much to shape a brilliant club. "Hall of Fame - Norwich's All Time Greats" looks at some fascinating facts and figures about the Hall of Fame in general before examining each personality in more detail though a short biography. The biographies look at each characters career, focusing specifically on their achievements, their records and their memorable moments with Norwich City illustrating just why Canary supporters hold them in such great esteem. Written in chronological order it takes you on a journey through the complete history of Norwich City, reliving the many successes and also the lows, through the 'Famers' involved in that era.

Containing 1,000 challenging questions, "The Blue Army Quiz Book" will test the memory of all Leicester City fans with sections covering every aspect of the club's history. It is all here, from the club's humble beginning at Fosse Road through to the magnificent King Power Stadium, from fixtures with Harborough Town through to Real Madrid, from Arthur Chandler to Gary Lineker, Johnny Duncan to Sven Goran Erikson, from a 6-6 draw with Arsenal to Wembley wins, and from relegation battles to promotion play-offs. Informative as it is entertaining, this book is guaranteed to provide hours of fun for Leicester's Blue Army of fans.

This is a book guaranteed to provide hours of fun for Leyton Orient's loyal fans. Containing over 1,300 challenging questions, "Leyton Orient The Official Quiz Book" will test the memory of all O's fans with sections covering every aspect of the club's history. Some of the questions being fairly easy, and some a little more difficult, but all done with the purpose of enlightening all O's and footballing fans around the world about our grand history and important events. It also covers many of the players and officials over the years right down to today when we all look to the Gaffer, Russell Slade and his boys taking O's up the League. As informative as it is entertaining, this book is guaranteed to provide hours of fun for Leyton Orient's loyal fans.

This book takes the reader on the journey with a fanatical Ayr United supporter, detailing his fascination with football from the day of his birth right up to the conclusion of the 2011/12 Scottish football season. The story offers something different from the usual football yarns, as it provides an insight into the thoughts of a provincial club supporter from four different perspectives. "One Honest Man, Four Different Perspectives" takes the reader on the journey with a fanatical Ayr United supporter, detailing his fascination with football from the day of his birth right up to the conclusion of the 2011/12 Scottish football season. The story encapsulates the full range of emotions of a young boy and his football obsession, his dream to become a top player and the roller-coaster of emotions he experiences through his life as a supporter, a coach and a referee. He becomes hooked on Ayr United in 1967, as a twelve -year-old on his first visit to a league match at the hallowed ground that is Somerset Park, Ayr, and embarks on a dramatic and emotional 45 year journey that comes to a climax as the now fifty seven-year-old in 2012, surrounded by his family, friends and tribal colleagues at Hampden Park in Glasgow, the national stadium, witnesses the latest attempt at glory and a new chapter in the history of the Honest Men. The story offers something different from the usual football yarns, biographies and statistical accounts. It provides an insight into the thoughts of a provincial club supporter from four different perspectives, with his passion for football and the contrast of bitter disappointment and laugh out loud humour evident throughout in the numerous anecdotes taken from each of the different angles of a diehard follower of Ayr United, a football player in school, youth, amateur and pub football, a coach, manager and chairman in grass roots football and as a qualified referee in amateur and youth football.

"Son of My Father" explores the changing relationship between father, son and their beloved football club - Derby County. Along with the changing faces of managers and players: the fads, news and music of the eighties and nineties are brought to life. To the backdrop of driving through clouds to Oldham, to driving rain in Bristol, "Son of My Father" explores the changing relationship between father, son and their football club. From the eyes of a hero-worshipping four-year-old, through to a relationship of mutual admiration and shared understanding, via the angst and traumatic misunderstandings of an adolescent, Matches from Leyton to Liverpool punctuate a story about growing up at the end of the second millennium. The novel includes the family life as well as the football and what it was like supporting Derby County in a house occupied by a brother whose allegiance stood steadfast towards rivals Nottingham Forest. It also covers the friendships that were made at school, just because we supported the same team. Along with the changing faces of managers and players: the fads, news and music of the eighties and nineties are brought to life, as well as the dawning of the new millennium where overnight we all realised that despite the Y2K Bug promising computer meltdown, 1 January 2000 was just the same as 31 December 1999. "Son of My Father" charts the relationship between the author, his Dad and Derby County Football Club, from their first visit together to the Baseball Ground in November 1979 and through two and a half decades spent watching their team.

Gil Merrick, also known as 'Mr Birmingham City', gave his life and soul to Brimingham City serving it as both a player and a manager before the club broke his heart with the manner of his dismissal. This biography looks at how Merrick's time at the club coincided with many of the best days (and nights) in its history; promotions, an FA Cup Final appearance, European success, domestic success, the introduction of European coaching methods and debuts of many great young players. Birmingham City Football Club is acknowledged as 'a sleeping giant', the trouble is that this so-called giant has never awoken since its formation in 1875. Over 130 years of professional football in the heart of the industrial Midlands has produced only one major trophy - The League Cup in 1963 - alongside a million heartaches and disappointments for its fans. Faced with an underachieving football club, Bluenoses have had to look to their heroes to justify their blind faith and continued enthusiasm - Gil Merrick is the greatest hero of all! Gil is held in high esteem because he loved the club as much as the supporters, even though his father was a Villa fan. He gave his life and soul to Birmingham City serving it as both a player and a manager before the club broke his heart with the manner of his dismissal. Loyalty could have been Gil's middle name. Known as 'Mr Birmingham City', his time at the club coincided with many of the best days (and nights) in its history; promotions, an FA Cup Final appearance, European success, domestic success, the introduction of European coaching methods and debuts of many great young players. Who knows how Gil would have fared in today's game where money rules and international players become celebrities. I have little doubt that he would have remained level-headed and taken the trappings of success in his stride, but would he have remained with one club for 25 years? Whatever happens in the future to 'The Blues', whether they ultimately regain Premier League status and conquer Europe, there will never be another club servant to match my hero - Gil Merrick.

The "Burnley FC Miscellany" offers a detailed history of Burnley FC, where you can read some of the odd, quaint and quirky things that have been part of the past 125 years of Clarets history. 'Read all about it!' in "The Burnley FC Miscellany". Burnley Football Club come from the smallest town ever to win League Division One and the FA Cup. Some big city clubs currently in the Premier League have won neither! Burnley FC's history sparkles with international players, 'football firsts' and record-breaking achievements. Among their players have been a Footballer of the Year, one who played for Great Britain, several who played in World Cups and at least one who captained his country. But this book is mainly about Burnley 'off the record'. Here you can read some of the odd, quaint and quirky things that have been part of the past 125 years of Clarets history. Who scored three goals for England and was never picked again? When did Burnley play 10 Scots in the first team, making the only Englishman feel 'lonely'? And what has golf in a hotel bedroom got to do with anything? When Burnley were in Division Four, how was it that they attracted over 80,000 to watch them in one game? When did 10 Blackburn Rovers players walk off the pitch? Which position did Blackadder play in the Burnley team? And which bricklayer became the club's greatest ever player?

"Deep into the Forest" is the story of Daniel Taylor's quest to track down those legendary figures who defined Nottingham Forest club's history. The book gathers the legends' first-hand accounts about the most exhilarating highs and the most excruciating lows, from the European Cups and Wembley triumphs to the relegations, cup shocks and controversies. It is a must read for any "Forest" fans! EVER SINCE HIS ADDICTION began with a 1-1 draw against Coventry City at the age of seven, "Guardian" sportswriter Daniel Taylor has been both blessed and cursed to be a Nottingham Forest fan. "Deep into the Forest" is the story of his quest to track down those legendary figures who defined the club's history and gather their first-hand accounts about the most exhilarating highs and the most excruciating lows, from the European Cups and Wembley triumphs to the relegations, cup shocks and controversies. In the most colourful book ever written about the club, we learn about the long-running feud between Kenny Burns and Trevor Francis, how Forest were cheated out of a European final by a 'dodgy' referee and how Brian Clough once punched Stuart Pearce in the dressing room. From the 'glory years' Garry Birtles, John Robertson, Viv Anderson and Larry Lloyd recall those magical days when unheralded, unfashionable Forest won the European Cup twice and could rightly claim to be the greatest football team in the world. Nigel Clough lifts the lid on what it was really like being the manager's son, the fiercely secretive Des Walker breaks the habit of a lifetime to offer his own personal insight and Pearce explains why a part of him will always hate Derby County and Liverpool. Add to that the stories of Ian Storey-Moore, Archie Gemmill, John McGovern, Roy Keane and Neil Webb and "Deep into the Forest" is the ultimate read for supporters of a club that has inspired so many emotions.

This is a season by season record, including every line up plus details of the war years. It offers pen portraits of the club's top players and profiles of York City's managers over the years and much more. It is a must read for any York City fan! This is the detailed story and comprehensive history of York City Football Club since its formation in 1922 illustrated with pictures many from archives. It looks at the early pioneering days in the Midland League and election to the Football League in 1929. It covers seventy-five years proud membership of the Football League, including two seasons in the second tier of English football in the mid 1970s. They had six promotion successes including the winning of the Fourth Division Championship in 1983-84 when they became the first Football League club to reach 100 points. In 1992-93 they made their first appearance at Wembley when they won promotion via the Play-offs. The club's many Cup giant-killing exploits over the years with appearances in the quarter and semi-finals of the FA Cup are also fully chronicled. In 1937-38 they reached the sixth round of the competition and 17 years later became the first Third Division side to reach an FA Cup semi-final replay. In the 1980s they twice reached the fifth round of the competition beating Arsenal and having four memorable tilts against Liverpool. In the 1990s in the Football League Cup they defeated Manchester United and Everton. It offers appearance records and a look back at memorable matches together with many other facts and figures.