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Turf Wars - A History of London Football

New book written by Steve Tongue.

Really good read.
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Comments

  • Lincsaddick
    Lincsaddick Posts: 32,348
    thanks for the heads up ((:>)
  • stonemuse
    stonemuse Posts: 33,998
    look interesting, cheers
  • bazjonster
    bazjonster Posts: 2,875
    Hmmm.......... I was having a moment. Didn't mean to drop it in 'Not Sports Related'!!
  • AFKABartram
    AFKABartram Posts: 57,825
    Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"
  • Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"

    I agree, they've got some cheek to say that. Maybe, it's tongue in cheek though.
  • It's my holiday reading next week, looking forward to it, will not look at this thread until I've finished it. Top bloke is Steve.
  • C_A_F_C
    C_A_F_C Posts: 3,866
    You sure it's not a history of Burnley football?
  • Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"

    Makes sense to me.

    Hope he's a better judge than his sister who's keen on KM
  • Alwaysneil
    Alwaysneil Posts: 13,806
    So he doesn't explore the history of any clubs in the book then?

    What is it about?
  • bazjonster
    bazjonster Posts: 2,875

    So he doesn't explore the history of any clubs in the book then?

    What is it about?

    No, he explores a history of London football!. Clue's in the title!

    'Haven't laughed this hard in a long time, I better stop now before I start crying!'
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  • Better than the book of tongues by Steve Football
  • _MrDick
    _MrDick Posts: 13,104

    Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"

    Makes sense to me.

    Hope he's a better judge than his sister who's keen on KM
    I thought Jo Tounge was his daughter?
  • _MrDick said:

    Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"

    Makes sense to me.

    Hope he's a better judge than his sister who's keen on KM
    I thought Jo Tounge was his daughter?
    Think you are correct.
  • Daggs
    Daggs Posts: 1,344

    Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"

    He's speaking in tongues ..................
  • bazjonster
    bazjonster Posts: 2,875
    edited July 2017
    Had it since sept but have only just started to read it properly whilst sunning it in Skiathos!!

    Fascinating chronological history of London football clubs, with no small amount written about Charlton.

    Author has an interesting take on CAFC, stating that if (Woolwich) Arsenal had not have moved in 1913 Charlton would not have flourished in the manner in which they did and arguably wouldn't be the club (pre Belgian ownership) that they became.
  • GlassHalfFull
    GlassHalfFull Posts: 2,351

    I've been abused in the past for suggesting that if Millwall had left their 1910 move from the Island until 1913 they could have moved straight into Woolwich Arsenal's vacant stadium in Plumstead and we could all be Spanners now ....
  • stonemuse
    stonemuse Posts: 33,998


    I've been abused in the past for suggesting that if Millwall had left their 1910 move from the Island until 1913 they could have moved straight into Woolwich Arsenal's vacant stadium in Plumstead and we could all be Spanners now ....

    Aaaaarghhh
  • SheffieldRed
    SheffieldRed Posts: 3,772


    I've been abused in the past for suggesting that if Millwall had left their 1910 move from the Island until 1913 they could have moved straight into Woolwich Arsenal's vacant stadium in Plumstead and we could all be Spanners now ....

    Tempted to flag you for that.

    But how likely was it really? Plumstead is further away from their original home. Arsenal left because they deemed it wasn't the best area in terms of potential amount of support. New Cross was deemed attractive by Millwall directors because of it's potential for greater support levels.

    The cost of acquiring land and building a stadium, as opposed to moving to an existing ground in Plumstead, would probably not be hugely significant.
  • Henry Irving
    Henry Irving Posts: 85,221

    Had it since sept but have only just started to read it properly whilst sunning it in Skiathos!!

    Fascinating chronological history of London football clubs, with no small amount written about Charlton.

    Author has an interesting take on CAFC, stating that if (Woolwich) Arsenal had not have moved in 1913 Charlton would not have flourished in the manner in which they did and arguably wouldn't be the club (pre Belgian ownership) that they became.

    A fairly common and long standing take on the move.
  • seth plum
    seth plum Posts: 53,448
    I am sure I read somewhere that one reason Arsenal moved was because it was thought that the sporting potential in our area was Rugby Union.
    In 1905 15,000 fans filled the Rectory Field for a match between Blackheath and the All Blacks.
    Other clubs like Westcombe Park and Charlton Park were around and thriving I believe. of course this might all be a minor comment in the history of Arsenal.
    What I do know about Arsenal is that they play in the top division as the only team never having to have won legitimate promotion to that level.
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  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,331

    Does the intro gambit on Amazon make no sense at all???

    "Few cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue"

    Yes, you're right. It's a really badly written intro.
  • Hastingsaddick
    Hastingsaddick Posts: 4,079
    seth plum said:

    I am sure I read somewhere that one reason Arsenal moved was because it was thought that the sporting potential in our area was Rugby Union.
    In 1905 15,000 fans filled the Rectory Field for a match between Blackheath and the All Blacks.
    Other clubs like Westcombe Park and Charlton Park were around and thriving I believe. of course this might all be a minor comment in the history of Arsenal.
    What I do know about Arsenal is that they play in the top division as the only team never having to have won legitimate promotion to that level.

    Interesting...just looking in old book that states they were promoted in 1904 as Woolwich Arsenal (finishing 2nd in division 2) and then again in 1915, when they finished 5th....during the war years, known then as just Arsenal.
  • charltonbob
    charltonbob Posts: 8,254
    seth plum said:

    I am sure I read somewhere that one reason Arsenal moved was because it was thought that the sporting potential in our area was Rugby Union.
    In 1905 15,000 fans filled the Rectory Field for a match between Blackheath and the All Blacks.
    Other clubs like Westcombe Park and Charlton Park were around and thriving I believe. of course this might all be a minor comment in the history of Arsenal.
    What I do know about Arsenal is that they play in the top division as the only team never having to have won legitimate promotion to that level.

    Yes finishing 5th in Division 2 was good enough for the gooners for some reason. I have no idea what that could be :wink:
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 7,783
    seth plum said:


    What I do know about Arsenal is that they play in the top division as the only team never having to have won legitimate promotion to that level.

    That's true in that they play in the top flight now, but there is another team that has played in the top flight but never achieved promotion...

    Any guesses?
  • SheffieldRed
    SheffieldRed Posts: 3,772

    Everton
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 7,783


    Everton

    Good guess but no.
    Won division two in 1930-31
  • SheffieldRed
    SheffieldRed Posts: 3,772

    Ah is it an inaugural member a Glossop or Bury etc
  • lordromford
    lordromford Posts: 7,783
    Not those two, but go on...
  • SheffieldRed
    SheffieldRed Posts: 3,772

    er..... Darwen, Accrington, Northwich
  • My guess it must be one of the original 12 and, without checking the records,out of them it's most likely to be Accrington