Over the Moon, Brian

From songs to slang, inflatable bananas to players' haircuts and sheepskin coats, this aims to be an intelligent and entertaining look at the written, spoken and visual language of association football. As a cornerstone of popular culture, the game has always influenced and been influenced by changes in fashion and society. The book explores the way in which football expressions, from "back to square one" to "sick as a parrot", have entered the language and how football commentary, journalism and debate have changed over the years, from the times when the goalkeeper was "guardian of the posts" (because journalists were paid by the word) to the individual styles of Motson and Moore. There is also a look at the colourful (literally and figuratively) language of spectators, players (on and off the pitch) and managers, and the author delves into the social codes and status symbols displayed from the club boardroom to the terraces.