The Roaring Red Front: The World’s Top Left-Wing Clubs

With the world turning rightwards and democracy looking at its most precarious since the 1930s, the emergence of a global network of left-wing, anti-fascist and anti-racist football fans has been one of the few shining lights in dark times.

Some support clubs that are globally renowned, including the great St Pauli - more famous for the quality of its politics and its merchandise than its football. Others, no less committed, follow virtual minnows, like Red Star Paris and Bohemians Prague. But they still have proud histories, deep convictions and something to say. The left often fails to connect.

How can these clubs inform and inspire? How can their example help collectivist, internationalist and inclusive principles defeat the seductive slogans and symbols of the growing nationalist and nativist movements across the planet?

The Roaring Red Front explores theses questions while examining the history and current struggles of these special clubs - and why it all matters.

Stewart McGill is a football fan, martial arts instructor, political activist, blogger, traveler and co-author with Vince Raison of a series of acclaimed articles on leftist football clubs in The Morning Star, which inspired this book.

Vince Raison is co-author of the acclaimed alt-travel book Today South London, Tomorrow South London. He has written for The Guardian, The Independent, Huffington Post, The Morning Star, Channel 4, Sky and ITV.