Category Archives: Football Book Reviews

Review – The Football Battalions: The Elite Players Who Fought in the Great War by Christopher Evans

Posted on December 9, 2025 by ianhaspinall

The Football Battalions is the heartbreaking story of how professional footballers went to war. Christopher Evans explains, ‘In 1914 Britain is slowly becoming football obsessed: players are turning into household names, attendance is increasing and George V attends the FA … Continue reading →

Posted in Christopher Evans, First World War, Football Book Reviews, Late Tackle magazine, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Review – Injury Time: Football in a State of Emergency by David Goldblatt. 

Posted on October 14, 2025 by ianhaspinall

Acclaimed football historian David Goldblatt’s new book is a wide-ranging examination of contemporary society through the lens of football. ‘Injury Time’ explores Brexit, Covid and the current ‘polycrisis’ (climate change, economic instability, and political conflict) through the prism of football … Continue reading →

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Review – I Can’t Stop Thinking About VAR by Daisy Christodoulou

Posted on August 21, 2025 by ianhaspinall

This thought-provoking book by Daisy Christodoulou strongly challenges the view that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is the way forward for football.  Many people believe that since it’s introduction in 2019 VAR has been a disaster: players hate it, pundits … Continue reading →

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Summer Reading 2025 – The Best Football Books

Posted on June 30, 2025 by ianhaspinall

Here’s the best football books of recent months for reading on the beach or by the pool. Kick off the summer with one of these six great reads. Review – Brian Moore Saved Our Sundays – The Golden Age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Hurrey, Chris Evans, David Peace, Football Book Reviews, Gary Lineker, Geoff Hurst, Matt Eastley, Miguel Delaney, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Review – Gary Lineker: A Portrait of a Football Icon by Chris Evans

Posted on June 10, 2025 by ianhaspinall

Chris Evans’s biography of Gary Lineker provides a fascinating insight into one of football’s most popular characters. Lineker led the itinerant life of a footballer with Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Spurs, Grampus Eight and England before becoming the accomplished presenter … Continue reading →

Posted in Chris Evans, Football Book Reviews, Gary Lineker, Late Tackle magazine, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Review – Last Boy of ’66: My Story of England’s World Cup Winning Team by Sir Geoff Hurst

Posted on April 15, 2025 by ianhaspinall

Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst is the last surviving member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team and his latest book delves deepest into his life and the key characters of the final. Hurst has had a bittersweet life with … Continue reading →

Posted in Football Book Reviews, Geoff Hurst, Late Tackle magazine, Wigan Athletic, World Cup | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Review – States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football by Miguel Delaney

Posted on February 13, 2025 by ianhaspinall

The Independent’s Chief Football writer Miguel Delaney has produced a forensic investigation into sportswashing and how it has damaged the beautiful game. Delaney journeys from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle and onto London, Paris, Moscow and New York to investigate the … Continue reading →

Posted in Football Book Reviews, Late Tackle magazine, Miguel Delaney, Sportswashing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Review – Extra Time Beckons, Penalties Loom: How to Use (and Abuse) The Language of Football by Adam Hurrey 

Posted on December 12, 2024 by ianhaspinall

Ten years after producing his amusing ‘Football Cliches’ book Adam Hurrey returns with another witty and insightful book about the language of football. Hurrey is also the creator and host of the popular ‘Football Cliches’ podcast which explores the unique … Continue reading →

Posted in Adam Hurrey, Football Book Reviews, Late Tackle magazine, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Review – Munichs by David Peace

Posted on October 24, 2024 by ianhaspinall

David Peace has had varying degrees of success with his three football novels. He had great success with ‘The Damned United’ about Brian Clough and Leeds United which subsequently became a film, but less so in ‘Red or Dead’ about … Continue reading →

Posted in Busby Babes, David Peace, Football Book Reviews, Manchester United, Munich Air Disaster, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Review – Brian Moore Saved Our Sundays – The Golden Age of Televised Football by Matt Eastley

Posted on August 21, 2024 by ianhaspinall

Matt Eastley’s book is a joyously nostalgic journey through the golden days of regional televised football in the 1970s. The iconic commentators of the period, Brian Moore, Hugh Johns, Gerald Sinstadt, Gerry Harrison, Martyn Tyler, Keith Macklin, and Roger Malone … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970s, 1980s', Brian Moore, Football Book Reviews, Late Tackle magazine, Matt Eastley, Wigan Athletic | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments