Football: A Short History, by Matthew Taylor
This is a slim volume, but then it is called ‘a short history’. At just 64 pages, it might not seem possible to cover in great detail the history of the game, but the conciseness of this book (published in October 2011) is what makes it attractive, as well as the many illustrations in what is an attractive layout.
Taylor starts with the origins of association football, which lie “in the chaotic and unregulated forms of folk football popular throughout Britain from the Middle Ages”, before discussing the split between the amateur and professional games.
It’s interesting to note the perception of early 20th century footballers as drunk and disorderly, compared to the ‘gentlemen’ of the 1950s. Nowadays, of course, the reputation of top-flight footballers is arguably on the decline once more, the difference being that they are vastly overpaid as well as out of control. Another fascinating insight is that in the early days, the game wasn’t seen as a profit-making business, and many clubs with large wage expenditures soon saw themselves in dire straits. Much may have changed in the modern game, but there are some startling parallels with football 100 years ago.
What is also evident on reading Taylor’s account is that the sense of community in relation to football has been much eroded over the years, as clubs have increasingly turned themselves into brands, with the supporter becoming more of a consumer who can pick and choose who they want to support like any other commodity on the shop shelf. And no book on football history would be complete without a reference to the Hillsborough disaster and its impact on modern football.
Taylor’s commentary is incisive, managing to cover an impressive number of events and issues within so few pages, and it is well supported by some excellent illustrations, archive photos and pictures of other artefacts such as cigarette cards. Given that Taylor is professor of history at the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at Leicester’s De Montfort University, it’s understandable that there is a higher proportion of Leicester City memorabilia among the illustrations.
This book is an excellent introduction for anyone with a passing interest in the origins of football as well as those looking at studying the game in more detail. It has been put together with a great deal of care and thought, with much to look at as well as read. It’s almost like taking a short trip through a football museum.
Review by Sam Hawcroft
