When Footballers Were Skint: A Journey in Search of the Soul of Football

Written by Jon Henderson

Narrated by Andy Cresswell

Before agents and TV mega-rights ushered in multimillionaire players, footballers' wages were capped with even the game's biggest names earning barely more than a plumber or electrician. Footballing legends such as Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews shared a bond of borderline penury with the crowds they entertained on Saturday afternoons, on pitches that were far away from the pristine lawns of the modern era. Instead of the sports cars driven by today's top players, the stars of yesteryear travelled to matches on public transport and returned to homes as modest as those of their supporters. Based on the first-hand accounts, When Footballers Were Skint delves into the game's rich heritage and relates the fascinating story of a great sporting era.

• Language: English
• Publisher: QUEST from W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: Jan 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781528892681

Jon Henderson

Jon Henderson has reported on sporting events from around the world as a journalist for Reuters and national newspapers, including The Observer and Guardian. He is the author of three other books, all published by the Yellow Jersey Press imprint of Penguin Random House: Best of British: Hendo’s Sporting Heroes, The Last Champion: The Life of Fred Perry, and The Wizard: The Life of Stanley Matthews.