With the country once more in the grips of football fever thanks to the Euros, now is the perfect time to seek out some of the more interesting and possible overlooked books which show the economic, social and psychological angles of our most beloved national sport.

Africa United: How Football Explains Africa by Steve Bloomfield
Travelling to twelve countries across the vast continent, Steve Bloomfield tells the story of modern day Africa through the lens of it’s obsession with football. We find out the role football has played in propping up an authoritarian regime in Egypt, how it ended a conflict in the Ivory Coast, and how it offered hope to war-torn Somalia. Interviewing politicians, players and fans along the way, many of the stories Bloomfield finds are disturbing, surprising and often inspiring.

Twelve Yards by Ben Lyttleton
Twelve Yards is a fascinating deep dive into the simple art of the penalty. With a mixture of interviews and analysis, Ben Lyttleton goes in search of what makes the perfect penalty – the all-or-nothing single moment which can change everything. Is it tactics and preparation, or some intangible x-factor which can mean the difference between success or failure? Famous (and infamous) penalty takers such as Antonin Panenka, Matt Le Tissier and Brandi Chastain weigh in with their experiences throughout this interesting and enjoyable read.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Soccer by Ian Penderleith
This is the strange and in some ways cautionary tale of the failed attempt to get football (or soccer) pushed as a major sport in America back in the 1970s. Divisive from it’s conception, attempts were made to appeal to yanks using superstar footballers such as Pele, Rodney Marsh and George Best. However, behind the scenes there were dodgy financing and attempts to change the basic rules of the game which eroded away any confidence in football as a major franchise in the US. Rock And Roll Soccer is a fascinating look at a project which was perhaps always doomed to failure.