Go To War

Like its prequel, the bestselling Get It On, Go To War draws heavily on the recollections of the footballers and managers who set the tone for the decade, providing a unique insight into the contemporary game and blending football stories with historical, political and cultural insights.

---

Set against a backdrop of
economic recession, rampant hooliganism and suspect fashion, Go To War tells
the story of how triumph and tragedy shaped English football during the 1980s.
It was a decade in which some fans died watching the game they loved, and at
times, the 'slum sport' seemed set to implode. Yet, remarkably, the game was on
the cusp of morphing into the behemoth it has become today.



Throughout this explosive
book, author Jon Spurling delves into the stories behind the successes and
strife at clubs including Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, investigates the
trials and tribulations of the England team and explores how 'small-town boys'
from Luton, Watford and Wimbledon made their mark. The decade also heralded the
arrival of artificial pitches and fanzines, and Spurling introduces us to the
new breed of high-profile executives, like Irving Scholar and Martin Edwards,
who soon got busy changing the face of football.



Thirty years in the making, Go
To War draws heavily on interviews conducted with '80s icons including
Terry Butcher, Graeme Sharp and Ray Wilkins, managerial legends like Howard
Kendall and Bobby Robson and FA Cup heroes Ricky Villa and Norman Whiteside.
Like its precursor, the bestselling Get It On: How the '70s Rocked Football,
Go To War provides a unique insight into a pivotal footballing decade.