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England Football: The Biography: 1872 – 2022
£18.00£23.80 (-24%)
SHORTLISTED FOR FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE ;The greatest story in English sport told beautifully by one of its greatest writers. The unmissable account of the story of the England men’s football team, published as they prepared for the World Cup in Qatar. On 30 November 1872, England took on Scotland at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, a match that is regarded as the first international fixture. More than 5,000 fans watched the two sides play out a 0-0 draw. It was the first of more than a thousand games played by the side, and the beginning of a national love affair that unites the country in a way that few other events can match. In Hayward’s brilliant new biography of the team, based on interviews with dozens of past and present players and coaches, including Viv Anderson, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and current coach Gareth Southgate, we get a vivid portrait of all aspects of the team’s story, reliving highlights such as the World Cup victory in 1966 and the time when football came home in Euro 96, as well as the low points when the players were obliged to give the Nazi salute in 1938 and the era when England’s hooligan fans brought shame on the nation. From Stanley Matthews and Bobby Moore through to more modern heroes such as Paul Gascoigne, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane, Hayward brings a large cast of characters to life. For anyone who wants to understand England football, and why it means so much to so many, England Football: The Biography is an essential and vital read.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Simon & Schuster UK (27 Oct. 2022) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 613 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 147118434X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1471184345 |
| Dimensions | 15.3 x 4.25 x 23.4 cm |
by Tabitha
Ok
by joe
Good value for money. Comprehensive account of the England football team over the years with insight in to the managers and the FA
by greasey
Despite this so called biography of the England national team, been given 5 stars, I found it to be rather boring and disappointing. There was very little about the early days of England playing Scotland, and the other home nations. There was no mention about when the Home International Championship was first played in 1884 until it ended in 1984. The author kept going back and forth in time in the chapters to go off track. This was evident in the chapters about 1966 and how we won our only World Cup, which was disappointing. The rest of the book was also boring and only goes up to when England lost the 2021 European Championship Final on penalties to Italy at Wembley. Why couldn’t there have been statistics at the end of each chapter showing each team we played and the outcome, rather than having an appendix at the back about most goals scored, the oldest and youngest players to play for England. This would have improved the book if we knew England’s longest unbeaten run, and tournament records. The 20 year old book The Essential History of England is by far much better than this book and so provides a statistical record. Overall at 25 pounds I would urge others not to waste their money like I did.
by Lorraine holliday
My brother in law enjoyed the book
by Dawnilou
Bought as a gift; loved by the recipient
by Tabitha
Great book but upon receiving the book it is clearly marked and shows sign of use.
by brookc
Very interesting reading, I enjoyed it very much. To
be expected from a writer with Paul’s pedigree. What is next?
by Michael Laub
This is NOT a comment on the substance of the book. But my copy came with both picture sections being identical!! Has anybody else experienced this problem/defect?
I should not have given a rating at all, since, as I pointed out, it was not based on the substance, but on my annoyance, as discussed above (a publishing issue)
Having now read portions of the book, I can say that it is informative, analytical, and easily merits 5 stars.
Without getting in to detail, what I liked most is that beyond football on the field, (sorry, I mean pitch), which at any rate is covered extensively, in the final analysis, it is a book about character, history, culture, etc. – in short, about people.
I was so impressed with Gareth Southgate as a person and manager, that I now have a rooting interest in England winning the Cup!
Read, learn and enjoy.