Title: A History of Football in 100 Objects
Genre: Sport History
Year: 2012
Pages: 290
Origin: bought from Truro Waterstones
Nod Rating: 1 nod out of 5
Telling a history of a particular event, country or thing within the space of one-hundred objects has become all the rage in recent years. It was fantastically executed in the BBC Radio 4 series A History of the World in 100 Objects; and less tremendously so here in this book, Gavin Mortimer’s A History of Football in 100 Objects.
Mortimer is a nice enough (if sometimes annoying in his desperate attempt to please) host in this journey through one-hundred objects. However, there are many annoying features. Many of the objects hold a rather tenuous link with the actual related article (such as a loaf of bread or a cone of chips), whilst much of the text reads as a glorified Wikipedia article – a few dates, key people but lacking in engaging commentary. However, Mortimer must be applauded for his attempts to give a true span of history of the sport, with many objects located in the Victorian era. This may come as a surprise for many fans who believe that football was invented in the 1990s when the Premier League (copyrighted the “World’s best league”) was created.
A History of Football in 100 Objects is perfect Christmas stocking-filler material; the present fodder for family/friends/acquaintances (delete where appropriate) who you may no longer care about as you once did, but whom you still recall having a fascination for good ole’ “footie”. Beyond that, it will be surprising to see Mortimer’s book on the shelves of good book-stores within a couple of years. As for the Worm’s copy, the Oxfam-destined box awaits.
Yes, it is agreed that this is a different approach to the history of football; but it is a shame that this sport has so few quality writers able to tell a narrative that engages and fulfils serious readers.
Buy it here
