A major study of the social history of football over the last 125 years written by one of the best respected historians currently working in the field. He traces the origins and development of the game and the relationship with wider English society. Association football has been a central feature of English life since late in the last century. This new book combines a thorough survey of the rapidly growing literature on the game's history with considerable new research, and analyses the major changes which have taken place in the game and explores its role within English society. It covers a wide range of important issues, including the relationship between soccer and the mass media; the growth of the `super club'; the status of the professional footballer; fan culture and behaviour; and the growth of women's football since 1918. The book focuses on the ways in which football influenced and was influenced by social and economic change. Accessibly written and well illustrated, the book will appeal to both a scholarly audience and to fans who wish to know more about the social and cultural significance of our national game.