Soccer at War : The Complete Record of British Football and Footballers During the Second World War ([Rev.] ed)

"Soccer at War" is the compelling account of the national game during this defining moment in history and, as such, makes an important contribution to the literature of football.

Jack Rollin reveals how it was during the war years that football not only continued to be played and watched but also grew in popularity and stature.

He explains how, while the country fought for freedom, the sport offered morale-boosting appeal to war workers, servicemen and civilians alike. The book tells of the hundreds of professional footballers who joined up, those who became heroes and those who did not come back, the enthusiasts who administered the game in their spare time and the players who turned out for thirty bob a week.

The servicemen who went AWOL to play and others who hitch-hiked just to get to a game also find their place in the story, along with the record-breaking goalscoring achievements.

Looking further afield to occupied Europe, "Soccer at War" also exposes the role of football in Hitler's regime.