Chris Lee
Football history and travel writer, author,
podcaster and speaker
About me
I write about football history, culture and travel, at the places where the game meets politics.
I'm the author of three books with a fourth on the way, and I've written for Glory, and Football Weekends, among others.
I host the Football Travel by Outside Write podcast, guest lecture at universities in English and Spanish, and appear on podcasts and documentaries as an expert on football history.
I am a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers.
11+
Years Writing and Podcasting About Football
3
Books Published
250+
Podcasts produced
Talks and Lectures
I deliver talks, seminars and guest lectures on how football shapes, and is shaped by, politics, identity and culture. Recent topics include football's global origins, football against fascism, Irish football, and identity in the River Plate nations.
Available in person across the UK and Ireland, remotely worldwide, in English or Spanish.
I've lectured for the University of Bath and given talks for the Football and War Network (University of Wolverhampton), the International Football History Conference, and ANPI (Italian National Partisans Association), among others.
Media Expert
I'm a regular podcast and TV guest on football history, culture and the crossover between sport and politics.
Recent appearances include the BBC, Arte TV (France/Germany), Football Heritage, and the Brazilian Shirt Name Podcast.
Published Author
I have authored three books: Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World (2021); The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism (2022); and Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football (2025), which was talkSPORT's 'Book of the Week'.
My fourth book, Barrio Clubs: Football in the Shadow of Iberian Giants, is out in 2027.
Follow me...
Every week on Outside Write, I dig into football history, travel, and culture around the world, writing on my Substack and on my Football Travel by Outside Write podcast, where I am at 250+ episodes in.
If you're interested in football history, groundhopping, and politics, please give me a follow to receive my newsletter or podcast every Sunday.
Testimonial
"Chris delivered a really engaging lecture in Spanish on football and identity in the River Plate nations for our Latin American Studies students, which they really enjoyed and generated a lot of discussion and questions afterwards."
Dr Penny Miles, Lecturer in Latin American Politics, University of Bath
Testimonial
"Chris has delivered a few talks for us now. They've always drawn a crowd and stimulated a lot of debate."
Dr Alex Alexandrou, Chair of the University of Wolverhampton's Football and War Network
