Turf Wars: A History of London Football - Softcover

Steve Tongue

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1785311913 ISBN 13: 9781785311918

Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd, 2016

Synopsis

Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue. It was in the English capital that the Football Association - the first of its kind anywhere - was founded in 1863 and that the FA Cup, the world's most famous domestic cup competition, was born. After the North and Midlands dominated the first forty-odd years of league football, three clubs in particular - Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea - began to challenge them and eventually succeeded, joining West Ham United as trophy winners not only at home but in Europe. Between those four clubs, and more than a dozen other professional clubs past and present, grew the turf wars that are the bedrock of the great rivalries and derbies across England's most vibrant football city. Turf Wars tells the story of football in the capital.

About this title

Review

"Fascinating. He knows the London scene from top to bottom." --John Dillon, Evening Standard

"Written with the erudite yet digestibly light touch you would expect from Tongue's excellent journalism , this is the most compelling survey of London football and its strife-torn history. A standard work of high class: objective yet delightfully revealing. Sheer enjoyment from first to last." --Patrick Barclay

"A quite wonderful book" --Philippe Auclair, France Football correspondent

"A wealth of fascinating stories. Has a grasp on the meaning of club rivalries that the younger generation might not share. Has taken it further in this engaging history." --Backpass magazine

"The classic case of the right man for the right story at the right time. I recommend this 320-page rollercoaster ride without reservation." --Football Book Review

"No-one in the football-loving population of London, or indeed further afield, should miss out on acquiring this terrific book." --London Football Coaches' Association

"Engaging history - a wealth of fascinating stories" --Backpass magazine

"A great read and recommended for anyone who wants an interesting insight into London football" --Programme Monthly

"Steve Tongue makes a case for London being the largest football city on earth. By his own criteria he is probably right. We could debate this forever and not find a consensus. Better to just enjoy the book, which is one of the best about football in 2016 and does the author credit." --Soccerama

"An absorbing new history of London football." --TheGoodLifeSurbiton.co.uk

"While the rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs is well documented, the west London rivalries between Chelsea, Fulham, QPR and Brentford are less thoroughly chronicled. Which makes Turf Wars, a history of London football, written by broadcaster and journalist Steve Tongue, such fascinating reading." London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham website

"Erudite and pithy. Writes about each club forensically and with humour and knowledge. Well organised, fascinating and comprehensive history. A real gem. I can wholeheartedly recommend it to all students of London football." --Greville Waterman, BFCTalk

"The capital's football clubs have been involved in more moves than Pickford's. Their tangled web is unravelled in a book which records their colourful histories. Exhaustive research. A gem of a book which will be fascinating to soccer scholars all over the country." --SportsJournalists.co.uk

"Even football history buffs should discover something. A laudable, increasingly enjoyable effort and the author knows his stuff." --When Saturday Comes

"Captivating. Plenty of nostalgia-inducing nuggets and pieces of trivia sure to impress your mates down the pub. Labour of love provides an insightful, enjoyable, good-value read." --Racing Post

"It's a superb combination of history, real-life drama and reference book - a constantly entertaining and informative delight." --Pandamonium, Leyton Orient fanzine

About the Author

Born in Walthamstow and brought up at Leyton Orient, Steve Tongue saw his first match in 1957. After a spell on the Waltham Forest Guardian, he became football correspondent of LBC Radio. Spells with the London Daily News, Sunday Correspondent, BBC Radio, The Independent and The Independent on Sunday followed. He's covered nine World Cups, nine Euro Championships and two Olympic Games; previous books are World Football and David Beckham, Fifty Defining Fixtures.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1785311913
• ISBN 13: 9781785311918
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320