The Founders of Soccer
The Founders of Soccer
ISBN: 9780-9545017-4-7 268 pages 240 x 170 £11.99 (2008, 13) Amazon Kindle (Revised Version) $4.99 (2015)
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This was re-printed on the 150th Anniversary of the Football Association
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1. Codes and Rules
2. Barnes Association
3. American Links
4. Alcock and the Oval
5. The Wanderers
6. Eton and Harrow
7. The Royal Engineers
8. Gibraltar Connections
9. The Empire Builders
10. F.A. Scandals
11. The Amateur Game
12. The Professional Era
13. Balham F.C.
14. Sheffield 'Rules'
15. Up For The Cup
16. Archibald Leitch
17. The Re-Election Lottery
18. Speculative Ventures
Appendix, Index (also see pictures below)
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The publication of The Wow Factor was a huge learning curve a bit like the banana shot in football, and indicated several drawbacks but also new opportunities. Due to the requirements of old fashioned paperback offset printing which stipulated 500 copies, there were several left over, and this prompted visits to the London Book Fair first at Earl’s Court and then at the ExCel Arena in Docklands. This was a good experience meeting members of the industry and allowed some business with remainder companies.
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Meanwhile during a visit to family in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2006 there was an opportunity to take the second edition to publishers there. However not surprisingly they were un-interested including Caxton Press a leading publisher, on two counts, firstly that it was about British soccer, and secondly it was about soccer. This should have been obvious, but some of the founders were related to pioneers of that city. Despite this a visit to one downtown publisher whose office has since been swept away in the earthquake was of considerable value. He pointed out in gruff tone that the book was all over the place, and in urgent need of foot notes.
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After returning to England this advice was eventually taken on board and typesetters were abandoned in favour of preparing and editing the work up to pdf ready standard. By this time the wonder of digital printing was widely available, making it possible to produce realistic numbers of books, and all these innovations were used in Arthur Pember’s Great Adventures and then on the revised version of The Founders of Soccer. The latter summarised the salient points of The Wow Factor to give the reader all of the information on the founders but without the detailed genealogies.
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At the back was an appendix of Cup Finalists, League Titles and Ground Opening Dates with index, whilst the book aimed to be the definitive work on the subject. With Waterstones taking just a few copies and no way of competing with larger publishers who could pay for extensive advertising, it was hard to promote the work despite its obvious attractions.
However, after the Football Association moved to their plush new premises under the now famous arch, they did stock some copies in their shop in honour of their anniversary. Indeed for those who want to know about the founders of soccer, this volume contains everything of major significance from the officials, to the players, to the clubs, to the grounds.
Pictures from the Book
26 The Terrace, Barnes was the home of Ebenezer Cobb Morley a solicitor at Temple in London. He formulated the rules for soccer in the house and also promoted rowing and the Boat Race on the river just in front.
Craigflower near Dunfermline was the home of Sir Francis Arthur Marindin who inherited it from the Colvile-Wedderburns. He was a Royal Engineer, president of the Football Association and nine times Cup Final referee.
The Royal Engineers were stationed on Gibraltar and Malta and evidence of their presence can still be found. Edmund Creswell and Hugh Mitchell brothers in law played for them in the Cup Final and lived on the Rock.
Archibald Leitch came from the Argyll Peninsula in Scotland, but was a football ground designer in England and worked for many leading clubs. He resided at Etruria House, Barnes once owned by the Wedgwoods.
Craven Cottage, Fulham was built on the site of an historic house by the Thames, and Archibald Leitch designed the iconic listed stand in 1905.
Click on the front cover to go to the Book Shop, or on the back cover to go to Kindle and purchase the e-book.
