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, youâve got to have mighty strong foundations.
Prior to 1992, the old First Division was Englandâs 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 sportâs 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.
Industry Reviews
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 author *
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