The World's Game: A HISTORY OF SOCCER (Illinois History of Sports)
Soccer, one of the most popular games in the world, is played by many and is supported fanatically by millions. So, how did this sport come about? What were its origins? Why has it flourished for so long? Bill Murray, an Australian sports historian, answers these questions and many more as he persuasively presents the case for why soccer is the premier sport of the world.  Tracing the history of the organized game--from its origins as a leisure pastime for private-school alumni in London in 1863 to the World Cup held in the U.S. in 1994--Murray commentates on the evolution of soccer from past to present. Attention is paid to all aspects of the game, ranging from America's ambivalent attitude toward professional soccer to the progress of the women's game to the threat of hooliganism. The ground covered is vast, but Murray's readable style will be appreciated by anyone who has a passion for the game, and will inspire interest in those who know little about it.--Jeremy Storey