Football in wind and rain - John Williams

Football in Wind and Rain provides educational but entertaining bite-size accounts of the history of British football and its people - an essential bedside book for all fans.

Filled with succinct observations and narrative stories, the book charts changes in the people, events and culture of the game from its origins in 1863 to the modern-day global dominance of the Premier League. Its short, episodic chapters highlight the unusual, the epic, the remarkable or simply vital lost detail.

It includes the sporting lives and experiences of women right from the start. The voices of commentators, observers, fans, managers and players all feature, with topics such as fandom, stadia, great events, legal changes, memorable goals, players, managers, owners and regional differences given due coverage.

Written by a retired academic sociologist who has spent his working life examining British football's history and wider impact, this book is a 'must' for casual fans and serious football students alike.