Ireland's rich football heritage is captured in this quirky and readable guide that will fascinate, educate and entertain. Association football in Ireland has a wonderful, rich and, indeed, fraught history. From its early days as the 'Garrison Game' it has grown to be the most popular sport on the island. This book explores that rich history as well as the legends, the teams and the memorable moments, all intertwined with tales of humour, strife and political skulduggery. Here you can immerse yourself in Ireland's footballing culture and the famous names and games that remain in the collective memory. You will also discover strange and obscure facts about the game on the Emerald Isle, the quirky and the unusual that have created a rich and vibrant tapestry. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this will be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the sport, the legends and the characters who have created such a vibrant past and present. AUTHOR: Born in Belfast in 1970, Barry Flynn has written eleven books of Irish interest, his most recent being The Little Book of Irish Boxing and The Little Book of Armagh . He has worked as a freelance broadcaster for BBC Northern Ireland, RTE, Newstalk and BBC Radio Ulster. He is a tour guide and conducts tours of Belfast's footballing heritage ? and is a host at the George Best house ? which is a historic B & B. He gives talks to clubs and societies on the history of Irish football and has established close working links with every club on the island. 20 b/w illustrations
