The Title
The Story of the First Division
Published on 6. September 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-4729-3664-6 (ISBN)
Description
Some folk will tell you the FA Premier League is the greatest show on earth. They may even have a point. But to build something so successful, so popular, so inescapable, you've got to have mighty strong foundations.
Prior to 1992, the old First Division was England's premier prize. Its rich tapestry winds back to 1888 and the formation of the Football League. A grand century-long tradition in danger of being lost in the wake of Premier League year zero.
No more! In The Title Scott Murray tells the lively, cherry-picked story of English football through the prism of the First Division. Rich with humour yet underpinned with solid research, this is a glorious meander across our national sport's varied terrain.
With as much about Burnley, Wolves, West Brom and Portsmouth as the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, we learn the less well-known stories the sport has to tell, such as the plight of Glossop, the smallest club to ever play top-flight football, and final day drama involving Huddersfield and Cardiff that knocks Michael Thomas into a cocked hat.
We bask in the managerial genius of Tom Watson, the bowler-hatted Victorian Mourinho; celebrate the joy of the Busby Babes; discover the shameless showmanship of George Allison; embark on righteous escapades with Hughie Gallacher; and meet some old favourites in Don Revie, Bill Shankly, Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough.
At turns exciting, surprising, witty and bittersweet, The Title is a highly informed, fresh and affectionate love-letter to the English game, and a delight for any football fan.
Prior to 1992, the old First Division was England's premier prize. Its rich tapestry winds back to 1888 and the formation of the Football League. A grand century-long tradition in danger of being lost in the wake of Premier League year zero.
No more! In The Title Scott Murray tells the lively, cherry-picked story of English football through the prism of the First Division. Rich with humour yet underpinned with solid research, this is a glorious meander across our national sport's varied terrain.
With as much about Burnley, Wolves, West Brom and Portsmouth as the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, we learn the less well-known stories the sport has to tell, such as the plight of Glossop, the smallest club to ever play top-flight football, and final day drama involving Huddersfield and Cardiff that knocks Michael Thomas into a cocked hat.
We bask in the managerial genius of Tom Watson, the bowler-hatted Victorian Mourinho; celebrate the joy of the Busby Babes; discover the shameless showmanship of George Allison; embark on righteous escapades with Hughie Gallacher; and meet some old favourites in Don Revie, Bill Shankly, Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough.
At turns exciting, surprising, witty and bittersweet, The Title is a highly informed, fresh and affectionate love-letter to the English game, and a delight for any football fan.
Reviews / Votes
Marvellous book, a treasure for any fan of the game * Budapest Times * It is going to take a place of honour next to my absolute favourite sports books written over the years. I'm sure that George Plimpton, John Feinstein, Roger Kahn and Nick Hornby will appreciate Scott Murray's company. * thelondoneconomic * Scott Murray is one of Britain's most talented sports writers and in The Title he is at his best. Meticulously researched, affectionate and often very funny, this account of the first century of English football gives the lie once and for all to the idea that the beautiful game began with the Premier League in 1992 -- Dan Jones, Evening Standard columnist and bestselling historian Richly colourful, heartfelt and, most of all, fun -- Jonathan Wilson * author of Inverting the Pyramid * A wonderful history, packed with unlikely anecdotes and trivia. Scott Murray is to football writing what Huddersfield Town were to the 1920s -- Josh Widdicombe A witty, well-informed history. * Choice * An illuminating book on the history of the First Division. * Blackpool Gazette * A fine history ... goes into considerable factual and anecdotal detail on an era-by-era basis ... Such a history could be pretty dry, but not in the hands of Murray. * Backpass * A lovingly crafted chronicle ... written in a style that brings even Victorian footballers to life ... Engrossing and informative. * Sunday Mirror * A breezy overview of the top division ... If you were reading for a degree in football history it would be a great place to start. * When Saturday Comes * Scott Murray is one of the great unsung heroes of British sports writing and this book shows why: witty, warm and with a keen eye for the all-important - and frequently amusing - detail. -- Dan Davies, award-winning authorMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
1 x 16 page colour section
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
283 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4729-3664-6 (9781472936646)
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
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2017
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Sport
€9.49
Available for download
Person
Scott Murray is a regular writer for the Guardian where he writes match reports on football and golf, as well as their much-loved daily newsletter, 'The Fiver'. He has written for many other publications including The Blizzard, The Nightwatchman, GQ, Eurosport.co.uk, FourFourTwo and Men's Health. This is his fourth book.
Content
Preface
Introduction: Old Mac pours a cup of coffee (206bc to 1888 - 89)
1 Tom and George set a high bar (1888 - 89 to 1900 - 01)
2 Colin and Toffee Bob lead the renaissance (1901 - 02 to 1908 - 09)
3 Charlie misses two penalties (1909 - 10 to 1920 - 21)
4 Billy and Frank blow everyone's mind (1921 - 22 to 1925 - 26)
5 Hughie shoves a referee into the bath (1926 - 27 and 1927 - 28)
6 Norman releases a novelty record (1928 - 29 to 1930 - 31)
7 Herbert and George sprinkle some showbiz glitter (1931 - 32 to 1935 - 36)
8 Sam gets lost in the fog (1936 - 37 to 1938 - 39)
9 Stanley and Bob go to war (1946 - 47)
10 Dennis slips on a pebble (1947 - 48 to 1954 - 55)
11 Matt and Billy pick up the pieces (1955 - 56 to 1958 - 59)
12 Yvonne stokes a militant mood (1959 - 60 to 1961 - 62)
13 Johnny takes a taxi to the Orient (1962 - 63)
14 Jimmy reverses into a canal (1963 - 64 to 1964 - 65)
15 Malcolm speaks way too soon (1965 - 66 to 1970 - 71)
16 Brian takes off for Tresco (1971 - 72 to 1973 - 74)
17 Archie enjoys a kickabout in the street (1974 - 75 to 1979 - 80)
18 Helenio is turned away from the door (1980 - 81)
19 Chas & Dave wheel out the old Joanna (1981 - 82 to 1986 - 87)
20 Howard tucks into his Sunday roast (1987 - 88 to 1991 - 92)
Afterword
Bibliography
Appendices
Acknowledgements
Index
Introduction: Old Mac pours a cup of coffee (206bc to 1888 - 89)
1 Tom and George set a high bar (1888 - 89 to 1900 - 01)
2 Colin and Toffee Bob lead the renaissance (1901 - 02 to 1908 - 09)
3 Charlie misses two penalties (1909 - 10 to 1920 - 21)
4 Billy and Frank blow everyone's mind (1921 - 22 to 1925 - 26)
5 Hughie shoves a referee into the bath (1926 - 27 and 1927 - 28)
6 Norman releases a novelty record (1928 - 29 to 1930 - 31)
7 Herbert and George sprinkle some showbiz glitter (1931 - 32 to 1935 - 36)
8 Sam gets lost in the fog (1936 - 37 to 1938 - 39)
9 Stanley and Bob go to war (1946 - 47)
10 Dennis slips on a pebble (1947 - 48 to 1954 - 55)
11 Matt and Billy pick up the pieces (1955 - 56 to 1958 - 59)
12 Yvonne stokes a militant mood (1959 - 60 to 1961 - 62)
13 Johnny takes a taxi to the Orient (1962 - 63)
14 Jimmy reverses into a canal (1963 - 64 to 1964 - 65)
15 Malcolm speaks way too soon (1965 - 66 to 1970 - 71)
16 Brian takes off for Tresco (1971 - 72 to 1973 - 74)
17 Archie enjoys a kickabout in the street (1974 - 75 to 1979 - 80)
18 Helenio is turned away from the door (1980 - 81)
19 Chas & Dave wheel out the old Joanna (1981 - 82 to 1986 - 87)
20 Howard tucks into his Sunday roast (1987 - 88 to 1991 - 92)
Afterword
Bibliography
Appendices
Acknowledgements
Index