Why Modern Footballers Are Losing It - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Jumpers for Goalposts: How Football Sold Its Soul
by Rob Smyth and Georgina Turner
Published 1st December, £11.99 paperback original, Elliott & Thompson

Jumpers for Goalposts is a fascinating and funny reflection on why football has changed so much since the inception of the English Premier League in 1992, and why the old descriptions of "the beautiful game" and "the people's game" no longer fit.

I'd always thought that tartan in football strips was a mid 90s phenomenon restricted to Scotland's Euro 96 team and Morton.
Yet it seems it's a trend that is almost as old as the game itself.
The 10th Lanarkshire Volunteers combined navy jerseys and red socks with Black Watch tartan "knickerbockers" way back in 1884-85 while in 1888-89 Vale of Atholl adopted breeches fashioned from the local tartan.

Cashing In On Fan Support - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Jumpers for Goalposts: How Football Sold Its Soul
by Rob Smyth and Georgina Turner
Published 1st December, £11.99 paperback original, Elliott & Thompson

Jumpers for Goalposts is a fascinating and funny reflection on why football has changed so much since the inception of the English Premier League in 1992, and why the old descriptions of "the beautiful game" and "the people's game" no longer fit.

The FA's role in FA Cup's demise - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Jumpers for Goalposts: How Football Sold Its Soul
by Rob Smyth and Georgina Turner
Published 1st December, £11.99 paperback original, Elliott & Thompson

Jumpers for Goalposts is a fascinating and funny reflection on why football has changed so much since the inception of the English Premier League in 1992, and why the old descriptions of "the beautiful game" and "the people's game" no longer fit.

Browsing second hand book shops I often get pangs of nostalgia when I come across books I recognise from the dim and distant days of my childhood.
Often these books involve football.
My knowledge of today's children's literature is limited. But 20 or 25 years ago there seemed a proliferation of books that used football as a central hook to draw readers in.

The Commercialisation of the European Cup - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Jumpers for Goalposts: How Football Sold Its Soul
by Rob Smyth and Georgina Turner
Published 1st December, £11.99 paperback original, Elliott & Thompson

Jumpers for Goalposts is a fascinating and funny reflection on why football has changed so much since the inception of the English Premier League in 1992, and why the old descriptions of "the beautiful game" and "the people's game" no longer fit.

Two Left Feet - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

A brand new publication brought to the general public courtesy of Football Friends Media. This is a book full of football tales provided by real life fans who have a love for the game rather than seasoned journalists.

There is a refreshing level of raw talent throughout the publication, names of aspiring writers who will be seen in print a lot more in coming years.

Footballers and False Idols - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Jumpers for Goalposts: How Football Sold Its Soul
by Rob Smyth and Georgina Turner
Published 1st December, £11.99 paperback original, Elliott & Thompson

Jumpers for Goalposts is a fascinating and funny reflection on why football has changed so much since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, and why the old descriptions of "the beautiful game" and "the people's game" no longer fit.

"Well, that was the most boring thing you've ever taken to me."
The harsh verdict of a boy of around ten on How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won The FA Cup. Proving, if nothing else, that this play might not be for everyone. And that Edinburgh's public school production line of precocious little bastards continues apace.

Hellas Verona are something of a cult club among many UK fans due (in part) to the excellent book 'A season with Verona' by Tim Parks. It's a wonderful book, almost certainly the best football book I've ever read and in my opinion any "Top Ten of football books" isn't entirely complete unless its included.

After reviewing a few board games and one or two computer games related to football from the past I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the great football books. I've started with Merlin's Premier League '95 Sticker Album, and whilst lacking in words or a cohesive narrative I feel it has much to offer, even now fifteen years after it was first published.

The one blog a day in 2011 plan (a secret resolution, made most years, broken most years) has almost come a cropper only five days in.
In mitigation I got fair wrapped up in tonight's English Premier League action. I could write about that but I don't know which sack threatened manager or crisis hit club to focus on.