Jumpers for Goalposts: How Football Sold its Soul

by Rob Smyth

Overview

Jumpers For Goalposts is a fascinating reflection on the history of British soccer, which examines why the charm, innocence, and good humor has disappeared from today's game, compared to the golden days of yesteryear. Smyth considers everything from the huge wage bills, to players' lack of loyalty to their clubs, and their escapades off the pitch. He concludes that the true beauty of football is when it's at its simplest. Including anecdotes from players, past and present, and other sporting insiders, Jumpers For Goalposts is an exhaustive study of whether football has lost its charm—and, perhaps more importantly, whether it can ever get it back.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781907642227
Publisher:	Elliott & Thompson
Publication date:	12/15/2011
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Rob Smyth is an experienced sports journalist who writes for the Guardian, Wisden Cricketer, The Economist, and many other newspapers and magazines. His first book, The Spirit of Cricket was published in 2010.

Table of Contents

Introduction: How Football Sold its Soul 1

Chapter 1 False Idols 22

Chapter 2 The Miserable Game 57

Chapter 3 In a League of their Own 95

Chapter 4 Powers that be 142

Chapter 5 We're Not Singing any More 163

Chapter 6 Stop the Press! 192

Conclusion: Balancing the Books 221

Bibliography 235

Index 243