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Savage Enthusiasm: A History of Football Fans
Savage Enthusiasm is a complete history of football fans, tracing the evolution of the fan from the sport’s earliest origins right up to the present day, exploring how football became the world’s most popular spectator sport, and why it became the undisputed game of the people.
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For old times’ sake: The Preston Invincibles reunion match
More than a decade after their historic 1888-90 season, the Preston North End Invincibles got back together to prove they were still the best. For When Saturday Comes magazine, this is the story of the Old Invincibles reunion match of 1900.
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Part of the club: how casual spectators became football fanatics
In football’s early days matches were mostly watched by curious observers but, as crowds increased, “they won” became “we won”, and the fanatic was born.
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Johnny and Jimmy: the contrasting fortunes of two Victorian football stars
The contrasting fortunes of Johnny Goodall and Jimmy Trainer, close friends, and two of the earliest stars of the Victorian game.
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Savage Enthusiasm bonus cuts
Our brand new book, Savage Enthusiasm: A History of Football, traces the evolution of the fan from football’s earliest origins right through to the modern era. It pays due attention to the beginnings of football fandom and the growing popularity of the game during the Victorian era. Here we present an assortment of bonus Victorian football tales and tidbits that didn’t make the cut and aren’t featured in the book
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Much earnestness and savage enthusiasm
Our new football fan history book, Savage Enthusiasm, takes its title from a match report of the 1888 FA Cup Final. This edited extract describes how fans watched that match between West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End.
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How did we become football fans?
Being a football fan is both a privilege and a burden. When you’re winning, it’s the best thing on Earth, and when you’re not, it’s the end of the world. And the thing about being a football fan is, whichever way fortune swings, you’re stuck with the game and your team for life. We fans have come to accept the great hold football has on us. But how did this happen? How did we become so entirely wrapped up in the game? How did we become football fans?
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Famous Footballers: Fred Spiksley, The Wednesday and England
“Hailing from North Lincolnshire is The Wednesday’s pacey winger Fred Spiksley. He joined the Sheffield club in 1891 after scoring 131 goals in his first four seasons as a professional for Gainsborough Trinity. His pace and ball control have made him a firm crowd favourite at the Olive Grove ground and on his day there is no better outside left in the country. “
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Classic Clubs: Stoke City – Uncertain Origins
Several major football clubs have uncertain origins, and none more so than Stoke City. Even the official club website says “details remain sketchy”. However, Stoke have a strong claim to be the oldest current Premier League club.
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The Victorian Premier League – Updated for 2017-18
What would the English Premier League look like if its football clubs had retained their original Victorian names and colours? The Victorian Premier League has been updated for the 2017-18 season.
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A Football Match as Seen From an Aeroplane, 1912
Claude Grahame-White was a leading pioneer during the early days of aviation. He became the first licensed British aeroplane pilot in 1910, competed in numerous air races and challenges, and became an international celebrity. He was also, it would seem, a football fan…
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