Arsenal football manager Arsène Wenger sums up the premise of A Beautiful Game (Hachette, 2009) in his foreword: “Football is a beautiful game because it belongs to us all.” Football writer Tom Watt has produced a remarkable book full of stories and anecdotes by footballers around the world.
The Beautiful Game
Played across 6 continents and numerous cultures by children and adults alike, football (or soccer) is one of the few truly global sports. In A Beautiful Game Tom Watt has collected the stories of many of the world’s most famous players.
Many of the world’s great teams are represented in the book, giving a true portrait of the reach that football has throughout the globe. Among the 40 players telling their stories are Mexico’s Claudio Suárez, England’s David James, Brazil’s Gilberto Silva, Australia’s Mark Schwarzer, Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu and of course the world’s best known player David Beckham.
Accompanying the footballers’ stories are remarkable colour photographs of football around the world. From World Cup moments to fans in stadiums to street football in some of the world’s poorest areas.
Growing Up With Football
The footballers talk about their childhood, their family homes and the places where they first played the game that would make them heroes to a new generation of football fans. This is not a book glorifying the great teams or sporting achievements of the elite, but rather taking a look at the grassroots level of football that is played in streets, parks and clubs around the world.
Players talk about the simple beginnings that spurred their love of the game and the sacrifices made by their families that helped them to achieve success on the world stage. They acknowledge the simplicity of the sport that has propelled them to fame and fortune.
UNICEF and A Beautiful Game
UNICEF is the world’s leading organisation working for children. With five percent of the originating publisher’s revenue from sales of the book worldwide benefiting selected UNICEF sport-related projects, A Beautiful Game reinforces the link between football and children around the globe.
In his introduction David Beckham talk about his work with UNICEF, specifically in Sierra Leone in 2008. He talks about the hunger and illness that he encountered, as well as the inspiring work being done by UNICEF, and how a game of football by the side of the road was just the same as playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid or LA Galaxy.
About Tom Watt
Tom Watt is an actor, writer and broadcaster in the United Kingdom and US. He is currently the lead presenter for BBC London’s football coverage and writes on football for every major UK newspaper. His other books on football include The End (Mainstream, 1995), A Passion for the Game (Mainstream, 1995) and he was co-writer of David Beckham’s best-selling autobiography My Side (Collins Willow, 2003).
Beautifully presented, A Beautiful Game would make a wonderful gift for football players and fans of all ages.
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