Fathers of Football, Great Britons who took the game to the world.
Written by Keith Baker, First Published in 2015 by Pitch Publications.
I haven’t written a book review for some time as I have read other than football. Sometimes a change is needed.
I came across this book in the White Rose Café in Thirsk which serves good coffee and cake as well as books. I was partly attracted to it by the fact it was only 159 pages long and a short read was all I needed.
The book is a story of Britons who left our shores prior to 1914 and were greatly influential in inspiring the start of football in general or clubs that have gone on to master the game.
These Britons were at the dawn of football in Italy, Spain Brazil, Argentina, Hungary and other countries that have been at the pinnacle of the game in modern times. In the main they went abroad for business and to seek their fortune and took knowledge or a passion about a round leather ball and the new rules being established at home. It is interesting how because of the society they travelled in the game was initially for gentlemen but this was the catalyst for working class dominance that propelled the game to a mass sport.
The book is easy and quick to read and flows, because the chapters are not long it is a book you can easily read in bite size chunks. Thank you Keith for furthering my knowledge of the game.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
As well as a few novels during my football sabbatical I read a book about cricket!
Penguins Stopped Play – eleven village cricketers take on the world.
Written By Harry Thompson Published by John Murray; 5th Reprint 2007 320 pages long.
I chose this book for its comedy not its cricket but soon found it was both and much more. Written by one of our best comedy show/script writers the comedy was assured and there had to be some cricket but what drew me in was the people interaction of the team and how they evolved and showed their true character. It was also about all of those teams up and down the country, whichever sport, who need that one pivot to cajole, chase, invent players to make sure the game happens and goes on. Some of the antics of the team are childlike but there is a seriousness to their existence and their final achievements.
You must read this book right to the end to fully appreciate it.
Payonthegate 