The GAME THAT WOULD BE KING : The Uncharted History of Soccer 800-1800 AD

Thisis a time traveller’s guide to the history of soccer, tracing its origins from ahumble beginning to an established sport beloved worldwide. It is a story thatspans five thousand years, from ancient Egypt to MesoAmerica, from the GreekEmpire to Chinese Dynasties, and from the Roman Empire to medieval Britain. Fromthe Middle Ages onwards, Britain and Ireland unfurl their lineage, from thelesser-known trapball and stoolball to the lamentably extinct camping andknappan.

All forms find a voice in this book, as do hockey and hurling,baseball and bowling, tennis and golf. Primarily a narrative of British andIrish ball games, esteemed foreigners are welcomed: baggataway, knattleikur,soule, kolven, calcio. Many games come to life, revealing their motivations,and their complex inner world.

Still, soccer is firmly center stage. This is,after all, its picaresque journey. As thegames sweep across history, the social, religious, and political contexts arethreaded throughout, and this book is peppered with news snippets, anecdotes,comedy, and intrigue.

Crammed with eccentricsports ephemera, untold tales, and unearthed facts, The Game That Would BeKing is the most comprehensive work on the early history of ball games everwritten.