Around the World in 80 Clubs
A Journey Through the Weird, Wacky and Wonderful World of Football
Published on 14. May 2026
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-3996-3788-6 (ISBN)
Description
'Well researched, emotive and hugely entertaining' Guillem Balague
'Wonderful. Perfect for anyone who loves football but has forgotten why' Joey D'Urso
'This book is a joy to read' Max Rushden
'A treasure trove of new and untouched stories' Suzy Wrack
Have you ever heard of the football club founded by ex-KGB officers, the 21-time champions of Moldova?
How about the Vatican Cup, contested by eight clubs made up of clerics, priests and Vatican members, where countless players have ended up in the sin bin?
Or maybe you're more familiar with the Spanish team that actually resides in North Africa?
Whether you're a football hipster or five-a-side novice, join renowned football writer and podcaster Paul Watson for an intrepid guide through the weird, wacky and wonderful world of football. Around the World in 80 Clubs takes the reader on a global tour of the beautiful game, from the squirrel-costume wearing fans of Andorra's UE Santa Coloma to the Buddhist monk ultras of Bhutan's Thimphu City, via Greenland's one-week season, through to priestly punch-ups in the Vatican City. This compendium is packed with footballing stories you have never heard of but will never forget.
A book for the football lover, there will be no Manchester United, no Juventus, no Boca Juniors here. Instead, Around the World in 80 Clubs is filled with unique stories that have never been told before, shedding a humorous and thrilling light on cultures and communities formed - and sustained - through football.
'Wonderful. Perfect for anyone who loves football but has forgotten why' Joey D'Urso
'This book is a joy to read' Max Rushden
'A treasure trove of new and untouched stories' Suzy Wrack
Have you ever heard of the football club founded by ex-KGB officers, the 21-time champions of Moldova?
How about the Vatican Cup, contested by eight clubs made up of clerics, priests and Vatican members, where countless players have ended up in the sin bin?
Or maybe you're more familiar with the Spanish team that actually resides in North Africa?
Whether you're a football hipster or five-a-side novice, join renowned football writer and podcaster Paul Watson for an intrepid guide through the weird, wacky and wonderful world of football. Around the World in 80 Clubs takes the reader on a global tour of the beautiful game, from the squirrel-costume wearing fans of Andorra's UE Santa Coloma to the Buddhist monk ultras of Bhutan's Thimphu City, via Greenland's one-week season, through to priestly punch-ups in the Vatican City. This compendium is packed with footballing stories you have never heard of but will never forget.
A book for the football lover, there will be no Manchester United, no Juventus, no Boca Juniors here. Instead, Around the World in 80 Clubs is filled with unique stories that have never been told before, shedding a humorous and thrilling light on cultures and communities formed - and sustained - through football.
Reviews / Votes
A fascinating and entertaining look at the "Beautiful Game" through the lens of some of the most obscure and inaccessible places on the planet. Nuuk in Greenland, Easter Island, Saaremaa in Estonia who played their rivals Hiiumaa on a ferry in the middle of the Baltic. My abiding memory is the lone fan from Malmuk who, at a match in Nuuk, could be heard shouting loudly for his team... I loved this book. Well researched, emotive and hugely entertaining whether you're a football fan or not. A great example of the lengths people go to to play sport. * Guillem Balague, award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author and journalist * A wonderful read by an author who has put in the miles. This is perfect for anyone who loves football but has forgotten why. * Joey D'Urso, author of the critically-acclaimed More Than A Shirt: How Football Shirts Explain Global Politics, Money and Power * I love Paul Watson, I love the football that Paul Watson loves and I love that Paul Watson watches all the football I don't have time for and then tells me about all of the best bits. This book is a joy to read. So buy this book and read it immediately, or we cannot be friends. * Max Rushden, Radio and TV Presenter, host of the Guardian Football Weekly Podcast * We're oversaturated by the ins and outs of elite football, and our knowledge of players in the top leagues. We know everything from their backgrounds, personal lives, ambitions and fears, to what they like to eat for breakfast. It is, frankly, boring. With Around the World in 80 Clubs, Paul Watson has delivered a treasure trove of new and untouched stories, and shares them with the wit, charm, and style of a good novel. Football is the people's game, a global game, and this book takes us to the core of its unique and uniting power. * Suzanne Wrack, journalist for The Guardian and author of A Woman's Game *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 145 mm
Width: 226 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
288 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-3788-6 (9781399637886)
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
Paul Watson
Around the World in 80 Clubs
A Journey Through the Weird, Wacky and Wonderful World of Football
E-Book
05/2026
Seven Dials
€10.99
Available for download
Persons
Paul Watson is the author of Up Pohnpei - the tale of his time coaching the world's worst football team on a tiny Pacific Island - and Around the World in 80 Clubs - a hilariously entertaining voyage through the world's most obscure football teams. He is also a journalist and broadcaster as well as the co-host of The Sweeper podcast that focuses on football off the beaten track.