Parish to Planet by Eric Midwinter
In 1872, less than 2,000 people watched the first FA Cup Final. On 9th July 2006, 5% of the human beings that have ever lived watched the World Cup Final on television. How has the simple act of kicking a spherical object become the most all-encompassing, all-consuming passion of the entire planet, irrespective of creed, culture, religion or race? "Parish to Planet" traces the pre-history of football from the towns and schools of old England through the 'nativity' of football as a codified sport with the establishment of the Football Association in 1863 and the game's consequent spread across the globe. As the major cultural interest and activity of the planet, football now dominates all other forms of collective participation, including religion. Always alive to the social and political canvas behind football's epic story, "Parish to Planet" offers a comprehensive account of the evolution of football into an unprecedented global phenomenon. In "Parish to Planet", noted social historian Dr Eric Midwinter OBE brings over seventy years of enthusiastic watching and intensive learning to bear on a penetrating commentary on the development of football from its obscure origins in medieval villages to the glittering World Cup showpieces of today's global cult by a welter of new research which reveals discoveries, such as the snobbery which saw England's first professional international play in a different coloured shirt to his amateur 'gentleman' team-mates, examples of how the FA has failed to move on from its 1921 stance that 'football is unsuitable for females', how despots such as Hitler, Peron and Mussolini have aided the development of football across the planet. It also reveals the on and off-field ructions in some of football's greatest 'derby' matches, including the battles between middle class Orgryte IS and audaciously working class IFK Gothenburg; which all makes "Parish to Planet" definitive reading for every student of the game.
This 370-page book traces the beautiful game's incredible journey from the towns and schools of old England to the multi-billion pound global industry that it is todayAlong the way noted social historian Eric Midwinter quashes many widely held beliefs and unearths a host of fascinating material.This compulsive read covers an awful lot of ground. We learn about Charles Alcock and the early origins of the FA and are given a clear picture of the evolution of the professional game...Among many clever observations, Midwinter points out that 'football itself has not changed much, relative to the vast alterations in the context in which it is played.' He adds: 'another example of its simple construction.' From Lord Kinnaird through to Cristiano Ronaldo, and from Major William Sudell's Preston Invincibles through to red Roman Abramovich's Blues via Sao Paolo, Maine Road and 'Logie Baird's Box of delights', Parish To Planet is a comprehensive account of the evolution of a wonderful pastime into an unprecedented global revolution - Winger magazine. This brilliant book marries an academic thesis with a very readable and enjoyable text. The thoughtful narrative begs some interesting questions. A richly rewarding read - Andrew Davies, The Daily Telegraph.
Eric Midwinter, social historian, social policy analyst and writer, has enjoyed a long and successful career involving senior national posts in the public and voluntary sectors. He is the author of over fifty books on a wide range of subjects, many of them adverting to the place of sport and other leisure activities against their social background. He has written extensively on cricket and other sports, and his most recent sporting book, Red Shirts and Roses; the Tale of the Two Old Traffords, about the intertwined stories of Lancashire CCC and Manchester United FC, won the 2005 Times/Cricket Society 'Book of the Year' award.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781905449309 |
| ISBN 10 | 1905449305 |
| Title | Parish to Planet |
| Author | Eric Midwinter |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Pitch Publishing Ltd |
| Year published | 2007-08-30 |
| Number of pages | 288 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |