Does anyone own what they consider to be a exceptional book on football and its link with culture and rivalries between cities, parts of cities, or different ethnic groups (a la catalans versus castilians)?

Are there indeed any? I have seen an interesting, although quite facile television series on great football rivalries (from fans/hooligans point of view), and there are some good websites devoted to great football rivalries. But it seems that the great book about this side of football and what it means to people is still to be written.

Any thoughts?

I think Football Against the Enemy by Simon Kuper comes close. It's about football rivalries with deep cultural roots - from Holland against Germany to Rangers vs Celtic and also about how national politics get imprinted on the dna of football. A good read.

Another I'd recommend is A season with Verona by Tim Parks. There's lots about Italy here - the tensions between North and South and also the inter-city rivalries of the northern cities - Verona, Vizenza, Bari, Milan etc - all of which are reminiscent of the medieval city-states of the past. But it's another good read - it's not heavy going.

I'd strongly recommend them both.

Thanks crasher, I have heard of the Simon Kuper book and tried to get it at one time. Will have to try again.

I found an interesting website which looks at football rivalries around the world (worldfootballderbies.com).

Also a site that looks at rivalry between Linfield and Glentoran (and the intricacies of protestant vs protestant vs catholic)

Thanks, not seen that site before - it's very interesting. Nothing on it about my team (Brighton) and our righteous hatred of Crystal Palace though.

Yep I know how you feel. Lincoln City - Grimsby Town seems to have been overlooked as well.

Try Football Hooligans: Knowing the Score, an exploration of football rivalry in the City of Sheffield.

Thank escafeld sounds like an interesting book - and one I haven't come across before.

How are the loyalties divided in Sheffield - is it simply based on where you live? I know in some derbies there are other dimensions - religious (Liverpool - Everton), religious/cultural (Spurs - anyone else in London) etc

Message edited by its author, Nov 15, 2008, 4:57am.

As a lifelong Liverpool fan I have to say that religion really doesn't come into the rivalry between Liverpool and Everton. My own family which is predominantly Irish & catholic is split when it comes to team allegiances. My Grandma was an ardent Evertonian. She was quite literally born in Goodison. (The house she was born in was later bought and demolished by Everton when they were expanding one of the stands.) My dad, her son, is and always has been a Liverpool supporter. On my Mum's side of the family, one of my uncles is a season ticket holder at Anfield whilst his brother is a season ticket holder at Goodison. My aunt, who's Catholic, is a Liverpool supporter whilst her husband, who's not, is a diehard Evertonian.
While there might be a lot of talk, in some places, of Everton being the Catholic club and Liverpool being the protestant one I think you'll find that in Liverpool my family is representative of the norm. I think it is this division within families that is one of the reasons the Liverpool/Everton derby is known as "The Friendly Derby"

Thanks - although not born in the UK, Liverpool have also been my team since I was about 12 years old - and I only heard about the religion thing a few years back. I'm glad it isn't a real divide as I always felt there was something special about the Liverpool - Everton rivalry that isn't really duplicated anywhere else.

So just for the record I follow Liverpool (becuase I always have), Lincoln City (as I consider them my home team) and Inverness CT because i love the scottish highlands.

Because I don't come from the UK I feel I have the right to have 3 teams!!

Message edited by its author, Nov 17, 2008, 11:51am.

Consider The Global Game: Writers on Soccer, published in November by University of Nebraska Press. It contains literature about derbies in Peru, Scotland, and other places in addition to essays, poetry, short fiction and so on about all aspects of football.

Thanks John. Just had a look at your site - looks good. Always nice to find an intelligent site about football.

I'd back up Tim Parks/ A Season With Verona ... it's excellent ... also for rivalries go for Morbo on Spanish footie.

Well at the risk of being a self publicist, my book - Finn McCool's Football Club: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of a Pub Soccer Team in the City of the Dead deals with what it is like to be a football fan in the States, and how even entrenched rivalries like Celtic and Rangers can be bridged.

Finn McCool's Football Club: The Birth, Death and Resurrection of a Pub Soccer Team in the City of the Dead

Sorry, I'm new!

Hi Stevorea,
Where do I get a copy