The Football Association of England has become a multi-billion pound industry. But how did English football become not only the defining sport of the nation but also one of the most successful sports in the world? This book tells the story of the early days of professional football in England, revealing the distant origins of today's game. Making use of archival materials from football clubs, unions and associations, the book presents a compelling picture of football teams and players in the early days of the twentieth century, tracing the development of the system of professional teams from t ... More

The Football Association of England has become a multi-billion pound industry. But how did English football become not only the defining sport of the nation but also one of the most successful sports in the world? This book tells the story of the early days of professional football in England, revealing the distant origins of today's game. Making use of archival materials from football clubs, unions and associations, the book presents a compelling picture of football teams and players in the early days of the twentieth century, tracing the development of the system of professional teams from the hundreds of town, club and school teams that dotted the countryside. The top tier of those teams comprised the Football League that, by the 1920s, was synonymous with the very idea of professional football in the minds of fans and sportswriters alike. The book illuminates the role played by the Football League and by successful clubs such as Arsenal and Aston Villa as the rules, standards and structure of the modern game were being codified. The book also considers the careers and influences of early players, including such well-known names as Billy Meredith, Dixie Dean and Alex James. As the popularity of the game grew and sports media proliferated, players found themselves becoming national stars, their portraits on cigarette cards bought by fans throughout England.