Ten essential books about football’s early history

If you watched The English Game on Netflix, you might be interested in the pioneers of Association football. While The English Game uses a fair deal of dramatic licence for entertainment reasons, here are some recommended reads to give you the true story of football’s early history.

The Ball is Round, David Goldblatt

If you want one whistle-stop tour through the entire history of the game, then The Ball is Round will give you that overview. The first few chapters deal with how the game’s rules were established, how football became the new opium of the masses, and was exported worldwide. Goldblatt then continues the story up to the 21^st century.

Mister, Rory Smith

Once the game had been exported around the world, these new footballing countries needed experienced British and Irish coaches to teach them how to play. In Mister, Rory Smith chronicles the story of those pioneering, enterprising coaches – like Jimmy Hogan at MTK in Budapest, or William Garbutt at Genoa CFC – taught the world how to overtake the British teams.

Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson

You’ll have noticed the players talk about formations in The English Game, heavily focussed on forward play. In Inverting the Pyramid, Wilson follows the development of football tactics through the ages from its early days in the open parklands of Britain through to the modern era.

How Football Began, Tony Collins

In the late Victorian era there were several popular football codes around the world – Association, Rugby rules, Collegiate (American), Victorian/Australian rules, Gaelic. How did these different kicking games emerge and why did only Association expand after World War I? Collins explains all in his brilliant book, How Football Began.

Arthur Kinnaird: First Lord of Football, Andy Mitchell

One of the leadings protagonists in The English Game along with Fergus Suter is Arthur Kinnaird. Who was the real Kinnaird? Mitchell explains all in his biography of Arthur Kinnaird, one of the most important figures in the early years of football.

Andy Mitchell is a prominent historian of the Scottish game, in particular, and was a historical consultant for the production of The English Game. Check out our podcast with Andy on Scotland’s football roots.

The Victorian Football Miscellany, Paul Brown

Another fact-filled journey through football’s early years is Paul Brown’s The Victorian Football Miscellany. It’s a great dip-in, dip-out look at the characters and events that made the British game what it is.

Beastly Fury: The Strange Birth of British Football, Richard Sanders

Football’s early years were anarchic, and football didn’t just suddenly start with the formation of the Football Association in 1863. British football goes back centuries. It’s a rough-and-tumble story that Richard Sanders tells expertly in Beastly Fury.

England’s Oldest Football Clubs, Martin Westby

Who were England’s first football clubs as the game grew and spread, and what happened to them? Martin Westby collects his exhaustive research culminates in the incredibly informative book, England’s Oldest Football Clubs.

Listen to our podcast with Martin Westby to learn more about England’s oldest clubs.

The Invincibles, Michael Barrett

Here’s a different take on one of the most important early stories in English football – Preston North End’s unbeaten run to the first League and FA Cup double in 1888-89 season.

Preston fan Michael Barrett brings the story to life in this graphic novel illustrated by Roy of the Rovers artist, David Sque.

Check out our podcast with Michael on the story of Preston’s Invincibles.

Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World, Chris Lee

Just a quick plug for my own book, which came out via Pitch Publishing in April 2021! Origin Stories is about the pioneer Association football clubs, individuals, sponsors, administrators and tournaments in each major footballing nation. It’s a country-by-country account in (rough) chronological order of the birth of the game in the main footballing nations or regions, from the very first kick until the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, by which time the Association game is everywhere.

I interviewed local historians wherever possible and even got to meet descendants of club founders and players. It’s taken four years to research and write and was inspired by a visit to the ‘Rules Derby’ – the world’s oldest football rivalry between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC.