Football Books: News and Reviews

Barnsley FC, 1887-1998: The Official History, by Bryan Dennis, John Daykin and Derek Hyde (1998)

This is a complete history of Barnsley football club, filled with facts and stats, players’ biographies, match records and memories.

The book’s forewords are written by two famous sons of Barnsley – legendary cricket umpire Dickie Bird and football manager Mick McCarthy.

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Back Lanes and Muddy Pitches, by Robert Rowell (2004)

This is an amusing tale about football and growing up, which starts with the author as a young child playing street football within earshot of his mother.

The story moves on to park football, student football, and then Sunday morning football where the author spends the first half waiting for half-time – and the second waiting for opening time.

There are some resonant episodes and a charming twist with a few games in Italy and France, where Rowell witnesses the game not so much at its grassroots but beneath soil level.

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