Work and Play: The Industrial Roots of English Football

What role has industry played in the growth and development of English football? What were the origins of some of the country’s most famous clubs? Do the links between industry and football still endure today?

Work and Play: The Industrial Roots of English Football takes a look at the roots of some of English football’s most famous clubs, and how the relationship between industrial communities and football clubs still survives at a local level throughout the semi-professional and grassroots game.

Writer David Proudlove visits post-industrial cities, towns and villages around the country examining the places and facilities - including grounds and former grounds - that sustain clubs that were born as works teams. He talks to supporters, volunteers and club officials, while sharing his own experiences, and celebrates the continued survival of these clubs in this fascinating exploration of the ties between football and industry.

David Proudlove is the author of When the Circus Leaves Town: What Happens When Football Leaves Home. He writes a weekly column for the North Staffordshire daily newspaper The Sentinel, and was also a regular contributor to the former Stoke City fanzine Duck. He is a contributor to the Forgotten Football Clubs blog, and regularly collaborates with artists and other writers.