Football in Wind and Rain provides educational but entertaining bite-size accounts of the history of British football and its people – an essential bedside book for all fans.

Filled with succinct observations and narrative stories, the book charts changes in the people, events and culture of the game from its origins in 1863 to the modern-day global dominance of the Premier League. Its short, episodic chapters highlight the unusual, the epic, the remarkable or simply vital lost detail.

It includes the sporting lives and experiences of women right from the start. The voices of commentators, observers, fans, managers and players all feature, with topics such as fandom, stadia, great events, legal changes, memorable goals, players, managers, owners and regional differences given due coverage.

Written by a retired academic sociologist who has spent his working life examining British football’s history and wider impact, this book is a ‘must’ for casual fans and serious football students alike.

"Brilliant ride. An absolute delight, building on decades long work in football."

"John Williams has a rare talent for popularising, without sensationalising or compromising quality, bringing a lifetime of knowledge and love of the game to a wider audience."

"Football in the Wind and Rain is a superb mix of serious scholarship and page-turning storytelling. It is essential reading for all general readers, sports academics, students, and anyone else who simply enjoys watching or playing the beautiful game, in all weathers."

"A highly readable, and extremely well researched, account of the birth of the British game (and its spread around the world) told through 80 fascinating stories reaching into the Premier League era. If you are a committed football fan, or simply someone interested in popular social history, this book is a must-have for future bedside reading."

"Through a wonderfully vivid series of vignettes Williams tells the story of the people’s game in the UK. He brings a sociologist’s capacity for rich description, a social historian’s understanding of broader cultural context, and a storyteller’s eye for detail to produce a delightfully entertaining book."

"A collection that works very well indeed. A wonderful spread of stories, with some very imaginative choices delivered in an attractive light, as well as with an informed touch. I wanted the chapters to be longer!"

"One of Williams's greatest strengths is his ability to communicate informed insight to readers unlikely to expose themselves to the risk of being blinded by social science."

John Williams is a recently retired and widely published British academic sociologist who has spent his working life examining British football’s history and the game’s cultural and social impact over time. He began his research career exploring fan hooliganism, but has since been involved in research, film and writing on sports cultures, fandom, and issues of fairness, race and gender equality in sport.