The Boys Book of Soccer 1963
Still packing before moving house I uncovered the above titled bok. And a cracking read it is.Nick Barlow would enjoy it, for it describes Wolves as 'a power in English soccer', a 'cast-iron defence with a powerful, if not particularly attractive, style of forward play which brings them many victories'.
Some things however don't change. An article 'too many clubs' bemoans the fact that there are 22 clubs in Division 1, which means we can't compete with less tired Europeans. It argues for a 'super league', which fewer clubs, better ground facilities, with 'tip-up seats, good restaurants and car parks. Specators will have to pay more for admission'.
Elsewhere it has a stirring article on a European super-league. 'There is little doubt there will one day be a European league, though it will take time and their will be squabbles and arguments before it gets going. The men who run football in this country try to resist changes because they like to hold on to what they know. They fear their personal power would diminish if an internationa league was the top competition. In such a league would be Inter, Junvetus, the Racing Club and Rheims from France, Benfica from Portugal, Dukla Prague from Czechoslovakia, Barcelona and Real Madrid from Spain, Rangers from Scotland, Honved from Hungary, Hamburg SV from Germany and...'
Prepare yourselves...
'Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley From England'.
Tottenham? Burnley?
It goes on, 'international club football will then be played every weekend in the big cities. Fancy going along to see Rangers v Roma? Or Burnley v Benfica? Or Spurs v Real Madrid! You can't keep putting people off with second-rate soccer, and one the British public see players like those at Real Madrid they'll say 'That's the sort of football I want to see'.
Finally, there's a nice fictional story about a game between the boys of the 'Old Village' and those from the 'New Estate'. I'll spare you the details but leave you with this amusing passage,
"Ever since the New Estate had been built and tenants from London has moved in, there had been considerable rivalry. The new housing estate was resented because it encroached on valuable farming land; the new arrivals were resented because they were 'different'. Country peace had been disturbed.
'If we win [a soccer game] instead of those intruders', said one of the farmers, 'we'll shoot them in the back and be a hero to the Daily Mail'...sorry that bit was wrong, 'perhaps the sports ground could be used for an agricultural fair once a year',
'After all if they win', contribued somebody, 'they'll have one of those new-fangled clubhouses with a coffee bar''.
So there you go -- imposters from London, on an estate, trying to impose coffee bars on the good old rural Englishman.
posted by Matthew @ 10/02/2003 10:09:00 PM
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