This reference work aims to provide sports enthusiasts, journalists, librarians, students and scholars with an authorative source of information on a comprehensive range of subjects covering the history and organization of football in Britain. Over 250 entries focus on key organisations or individuals, famous clubs, major competitions, events, venues and incidents, institutions and organisations as well as key issues such as gender, racism, commercialization, professionalism and drugs, alcohol and football.

The best chants, the funniest nicknames, the greatest headlines and enough little-known facts to keep the average football supporter entertained - and entertaining - for several seasons. This is the story of the greatest game on earth, from 'abandoned matches' to 'Yeovil Town', via celebrity fans, mascots, punditry and superstitions, written from the fan's point of view and with a separate entry for every club in the English and Scottish leagues. Who cares why, if Torquay United's strikers had been more prolific in the 1950s, England may never have won the World Cup; or where football hooliganism actually began; or who the hell Captain Henry Blythe Thornhill Wakelam is? We do. Because as every true student of the game knows: it's important.

For more than 120 years, the University of Southern California Trojans have maintained a tradition of football excellence that has placed the team among the perennial elite in the collegiate ranks. Eleven national championships, 38 conference titles, 150 All-Americans, and seven Heisman Trophy winners all stand as testaments to the greatness of the Cardinal and Gold. This definitive reference chronicles the history of USC football from its first-ever game on November 14, 1888--a 16-0 victory over the Alliance Athletic Club--through 2012. Synopses of each season include game-by-game summaries, final records, ultimate poll rankings, and team leaders in major statistical categories. Biographies of head coaches and all-time USC greats, a roster of every player to don a Trojan uniform, a look at USC football traditions, and a catalog of honors received by both players and coaches through the years complete this essential encyclopedia for the Trojan faithful.

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Footballis the ultimate celebration of the most popular sport on the planet. This comprehensive and fully illustrated book is written by one of the world's leading football writers and describes the history and development of the game, its legendary players, clubs and international teams, notable coaches and stadia. There is also in-depth information on the major competitions at both national and club levels. Each entry comes with graphical statistical information to show the greatest achievements of each player, club or nation. It even includes the action and results of the 2017/18 season and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Football has been central to the British culture since the late-nineteenth century. From stadiums to world cups and from Stanley Matthews to Michael Owen, this book covers what the football fans need.