Download or read book Soccer at War, 1939-45 written by Jack Rollin and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 1985-01-01 with total page 485 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soccer at War is the compelling account of the national game during this defining moment in history. Rollin reveals how it was that football not only continued to be played and watched, but also grew in popularity and stature. He explains how, while the country fought for freedom, the sport offered morale-boosting appeal to war workers, servicemen, and civilians alike. The book tells of the hundreds of professional footballers who joined up, those who became heroes, and those who did not come back, the enthusiasts who administered the game in their spare time, and the players who turned out for thirty bob a week. The servicemen who went AWOL to play and others who hitch-hiked just to get to a game also find their place in the story, along with the record-breaking goalscoring achievements. Looking further afield to occupied Europe, Soccer at War also exposes the role of football in Hitler's regime.