Tony Collins has published over 1400 books, and racked up innumerable errors. Dozens of titles have failed. He's been involved in a court case, overlooked bestsellers and offered bad advice. But he has always loved books, and the crafting of books. For more than forty years he has tried to publish books that make a difference. This is his tale.
The book delves into the transformation of rugby from a sport for public schoolboys to one that became synonymous with the working classes of northern England. It highlights the class conflicts that led to the establishment of rugby league, exploring themes of amateurism versus professionalism, the north-south divide, and the intersection of rugby and masculinity. Through the narrative of working-class involvement and the resistance from middle-class leaders, it recounts the pivotal 1895 split that birthed a new ideology and rule changes, ultimately shaping rugby league as we know it.
A Global History of How the World's Football Codes Were Born
Exploring the evolution of football, this history examines its transformation from a marginal pastime to a global winter entertainment phenomenon. It highlights the development of various major forms of football, providing insights into the cultural and social factors that contributed to its rise in popularity. Through comparative analysis, the book reveals the intricate dynamics that shaped the sport and its significance in society today.
Tells the story of the game in all its glory, from global superstars to local supporters, professionals and amateurs, men and women, officials and grassroots volunteers. It explains why rugby league was born, grew around the world, and what enabled it to triumph over adversity - a social history of the life and times of the north of England.
Rugby is full of mysteries on and off the pitchIt is played with an odd-shaped ball. There are twoversions. The rules seem to change regularly. Fans of the twogames still argue about things that happened over a centuryago including who invented it. Award-winningsports history professor Tony Collinscracks many such enigmas.