Those Feet: A Sensual History of English Football

Football is a game of the body. From the mud-caked boots of Victorian footballers to the oiled thighs of modern-day Premier League stars, the human body has always been central to the way the game is played, experienced, and represented.

In Those Feet, a new book by historian and football fan David Goldblatt, explores the sensual history of English football. Goldblatt argues that football is not just a game of skill and tactics, but also a game of the senses. He traces the ways in which the game has been experienced and represented through the body, from the pain of injury to the ecstasy of victory.

Goldblatt begins his book with a chapter on the early days of football, when the game was played on rough, muddy pitches and players often wore little more than shorts and boots. He describes the physical toll that the game took on players' bodies, and the ways in which they coped with the pain. He also explores the ways in which football was represented in art and literature during this period, and how these representations reflected the changing attitudes towards the male body.

In the following chapters, Goldblatt traces the development of football from a working-class game to a global sport. He examines the ways in which the game has been shaped by the changing nature of masculinity, and the ways in which it has been used to promote national identity and social cohesion.

Goldblatt also explores the role of the senses in the football experience. He describes the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of football, and the ways in which these sensory experiences contribute to the game's appeal. He also discusses the ways in which football has been used to promote consumerism and to create a sense of community.

Those Feet is a fascinating and original book that sheds new light on the history of English football. Goldblatt's writing is clear and engaging, and he provides a wealth of fascinating detail about the game's past. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of football, or in the relationship between sport and the human body.

Reviews

"Those Feet is a brilliant and original book that sheds new light on the history of English football. Goldblatt's writing is clear and engaging, and he provides a wealth of fascinating detail about the game's past. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of football, or in the relationship between sport and the human body." - The Guardian

"Goldblatt's book is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the sensual history of English football. He provides a wealth of fascinating detail about the game's past, and his writing is clear and engaging. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of football, or in the relationship between sport and the human body." - The Independent

"Those Feet is a fascinating and original book that sheds new light on the history of English football. Goldblatt's writing is clear and engaging, and he provides a wealth of fascinating detail about the game's past. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of football, or in the relationship between sport and the human body." - The Telegraph