Sacred Grounds
A Journey Through People's Football in India | Stories of the Players, Communities, Tournaments & Traditions that Keep Indian Football Alive
Will be published approx. on 24. November 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-14-346530-0 (ISBN)
Description
Khep, 7s and Basti
Football in India is alive and kicking! Not because of a few famous clubs and the top competitions, but because of the regional tournaments, local heroes and the people who keep football culture alive. The hugely popular Khep games in Kolkata, the hotly contested 7s league in Kerala, the many Basti tournaments in Meghalaya--all of these have kept the ball rolling. And that's not all. Be it in hilly Mizoram and Nagaland, amidst the lush greens of Punjab, the sandy beaches of Thoothoor in Tamil Nadu or the fabled villages of Goa--football holds a special place in the hearts of many. Sacred Grounds is an attempt to tell the stories of the many unique Indian football cultures. It is an effort to shine a spotlight on local heroes and other names lost in history or restricted to certain silos, to narrate their fables and myths, and archive their unknown and forgotten stories. It explores the history, folklore, terrain and culture of different corners of India through the prism of football, using the sporting culture and values to reflect the society and its people.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
India
Publishing group
Penguin Random House India
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 137 mm
Width: 217 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
332 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-14-346530-0 (9780143465300)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Sandeep Menon is a journalist, author and educator whose writing moves from the playing fields to the page with ease. An automobile engineer by training, he swapped machines for words (after a brief fling with broadcast media), chasing the highs of telling stories and capturing sporting moments.
He spent over a decade as a sports correspondent, where he chronicled not just sports, but also culture, gender, movies, music and several other areas for newspapers such as Deccan Herald, The Times of India and Deccan Chronicle. His commentary on Indian football, particularly through his podcast Injury Time, was noted for its depth, nuance and empathy. He now works as the Senior Editorial Manager at the Office of Communications, Indian Institute of Science, helping with outreach initiatives and science communication. He also teaches narrative writing and journalism as a visiting faculty at several institutions, while looking out for new subjects to write. His first book, Out of the Blue: Bengaluru FC's 10-Year Odyssey was released in April 2025. He lives in Bengaluru with his wife, Anchitha Krishna.