The History of World Football I: The Cradle of Football and the Hell of Wars (1863–1944)

A journey to the roots of modern football!

The first part of a five-volume work entitled The History of World Football covers the cradle of football and the hell of the world wars from 1863 to 1944. The volume tells the story of the origins of football, from the ancient Greeks to the 19th century game of English gentlemen and Scottish professors.

It details the development of the FA's first rules and the birth of professionalism in England, including the tensions between amateurs and working-class players (the era of "shamateurism"). It also traces the rise of FIFA to a global federation (with 47 national associations), from Iceland to Chile and from Japan to the United States. The volume is filled with colourful background stories that shed light on the political, economic and ideological "hidden forces" behind the events that shaped football's history.