When the Secretary of the Football Association, Charles W. Alcock, wrote to the GLASGOW HERALD in 1870 expressing an interest in arranging matches between the best Scottish and English players, little could he have realised that his concept for regular international competition between the two nations would develop into the greatest sporting phenomenon in world history. Following a series of unofficial matches between England and Scotland at The Oval in London, the first-ever official international football match took place in Glasgow on 30th November 1872. Although the match ended in a goal-less draw, a number of ‘firsts’ were created in international football history.

Fast-forward 134 years to the 27th June 2006. In the World Cup second round match between Brazil and Ghana in Dortmund, Germany, the Brazilian striker Ronaldo scored the opening goal to create a new goalscoring record in the competition. This was the player’s 15th goal in World Cup tournaments, a feat which surpassed the 32-year-old record held by the legendary West German striker Gerd Muller.

Ronaldo’s goalscoring record was just one of a number of ‘firsts’ in the same tournament, proving that international football history is being written and rewritten all the time.

FIRST FOREVER brings together for the first time a unique collection of occurrences and achievements by players, coaches, managers and administrators who have helped to make association football the most popular sport the world has ever known.

This is a tribute to all of the people who have made a unique contribution to ‘the beautiful game’.

Geoff Swaine is a supporter who has watched the Arsenal for nearly sixty years. From the late forties, right through the hopeful fifties to the uninspired sixties. His story is all there, which includes a few revelations, from his father who first watched in 1929. The story largely surrounds the final three years of Highbury when the author 'came back in' via the debenture scheme. He then set about writing down his very individual thoughts about supporting the team. Stand Up North Bank takes you right into the heart of that famous Highbury terrace - from standing behind the goal of Jack Kelsey in the fifties to sitting fourteen rows back in luxury, some fifty years later. With an Architectural background, he is able to talk with authority, not only about the team, but the classical Architecture too.

Vamos! The Avon Plate story is a celebration of ten years of the existence of this Sunday League football team. Formed out of a group of enthusiastic rather than talented mates, discover the team that attempts to fuse South American flair with the uncompromising attitude and woeful first touch of the English amateur.

Experience a season that contains the commitment, cock-ups, thrills, despair, violence, glory and heartache usually associated with the standards of football and behaviour at grass roots level. Will the team survive another season? Can the ageing bones of our 39-year-old author stand the pace? Will the author's marriage and family stand the continued commitment to the cause?

The history of the club is woven into the tale of the 2006/07 Bristol & District Sunday League season. As ten years of Mr Blair draws to a close, the author intersperses match commentaries with his take on the world around him amidst the last days of our outgoing Prime Minister.

A wonderful collection of quotes, notes and anecdotes throughout the history of Celtic. This is a perfect gift to share with Celtic supporters everywhere.

Number 1. Celtic jerseys are not for second best, they don't shrink to fit inferior players. Jock Stein.

Number 148. My league debut for Celtic was in October 1969 when we played Raith Rovers. Bobby Murdoch was sitting beside me and asked if I was nervous. "No" I replied. "Well" he said, "you are putting your boots on the wrong feet". I looked down and he was right. Kenny Dalglish (Celtic won 7-1).

Number 167. I liked Henrik Larssons's modesty. To him he was always part of the team and never played the superstar bit. He never took the credit for himself. Billy Connelly

Number 237. A man must be a Celt on and off the field, otherwise he is of no value to this club. Celtic's first manager Willie Maley in the early 1900Õs

Number 881. Nakamura is such a good player he could open a can of beans with his left foot. Steve Perryman

The Cup of Death goes beyond merely recounting the events which took place during the farce known as the '94 World Cup and examines the corruption of the tournament and its causes as well as documenting the acts of corruption themselves.

The book is a voice of protest in defense of soccer and all true lovers of the game. It is meant as a voice of truth for those already in love with the game as well as a guide to soccer's true beauty for those not yet acquainted with it. Writte not only from facts but from the heart as well, The Cup of Death is a first of its kind book found nowhere else.

The labels that the pioneering fashionistas adorned have been comprehensively explored. The photo section sets new standards showing the way they behaved.

From Blues landing heavy to Red Star Belgrade and the back cover I defy any man not to smile.

Any body who has a love for youth culture books from The Wanderers, The Warriors, Skinhead, Suedehead, A Clockwork Orange, Quadrophenia, and Trainspotting to The Football Factory will enjoy this timely mix of social satire and ace faces nostalgically recalling "them were the days."

Jim Brown of UB40 has the final word and pavement philosophy in the form of Kingy's poetry is crow-barred in for creative measure.

The 2004/2005 season was one I eagerly awaited, which in essence, made it no different to any other season. There had been plenty of friendly matches to go to, but I wanted the real business to start.

In the year that I was born (1953), LS Lowry completed his painting Going to the Match. I can gaze at the familiar matchstick figures for ages. They leave behind their background of smoking chimneys and terraced houses for a brief sojourn at an oasis of pleasure - a football ground. I too am inexorably drawn away from my places of work and domicile to spend time out of a football matches. The painting is now owned by the Professional Footballer's Association and is loaned to the Lowry Gallery, who have also displayed fans' video diaries of their own journeys to matches. I cannot paint or make videos so I decided that I would write about my season.

My original plan was to go to as many different grounds as possible, and to see as many matches as possible. This had to be changed very early in the season. First I changed to a late shift, which meant a huge reduction in the number of evening matches I could go to, and then began to have problems with my leg, which would make it difficult to travel to matches and to sit in confined spaces. I came to see this as a blessing. It caused me to seek out matches at a variety of levels, and to visit non-league grounds that I had never been to before, but which were within easy reach of my home. It also led me to reflect on a life spent watching football.

Join Andy Brassell as he spends the 2003/4 season travelling all over Europe to get to the heart of the Champions League, tracking the progress of the clubs who boss the competition, those who aspire to join the elite, and the clubs that the Champions Cup chewed up and spat out. Discover the Champions League that isn't just about the Beckhams, Zidanes, and the Maldinis. Meet the Croatian reserve striker who puts four past the Spanish champions of 2000, the former Motherwell midfielder who became the first Brit to win the Champions League, and the goalkeeper rejected by Liverpool who helped make the Spanish provincial underdogs into Champions Cup achievers. Discover the greatest Champions Cup song of all time (and no, it's not the one they play before the matches). And snigger along with the grinning superstar Ronaldo too, as he tortures a goalkeeper to the brink of insanity in his own inimitable way.

Sweat through a balmy August night in manic Marseille, shiver while Lokomotiv brave the Moscow winter to put Russia back on the map, marvel at the magic of Real Madrid's galácticos, and salute 'special' José Mourinho leading FC Porto to glorious triumph in May, as players, fans and pundits say what the competition means to them, their teams, their cities and their countries. This is, quite simply, the closest you will get to being a part of the most exciting high stakes poker game on earth.

You may visit Andy's website at : www.allornothingbook.com

The book contains separate sections showing the complete history of every country that has ever participated in the finals of every competition. It also shows the achievements of every player (4008 players) who have ever participated, detailing every match that they ever appeared in, including every goal ever scored by them. It also, unlike any other book on the market gives the history of every goal-keeper, showing every goal ever conceded by them. There are also separate sections showing :

1. Complete records at a glance

2. Leading goal scorers

3. All scorers of own goals

4. Scorers in penalty shoot-outs

5. All match venues

6. Achievement league tables

Written for ages 0-8. Just like Mom, I Want to Play BASEBALL And I Know Just What I Need!, Mom, I Want to Play SOCCER And I Know Just What I Need! was written for parents to read to their children or for children to read to their parents.

Children will learn about soccer equipment, playing the game, sportsmanship, and having fun!

A wonderful introduction to understanding the game of soccer.

Please visit Mom I Want to Play BASEBALL And I Know Just What I Need!

Please visit Mom I Want to Learn KARATE And I Know Just What I Need!

At the 2002 World Cup in South Korea, the United States National Team proved to their fellow Americans and everyone else in the world that they could play the world's game. Avenging their last place finish in 1998, the Americans stunned the world by advancing to the Final Eight, shocking one of the favorites, Portugal, and eliminating their archrivals, Mexico, along the way.

Part-time journalist and full-time fan, Andy Gustafson, was there for it all! In 23 Days in Korea, he brings the reader along for the very wild ride. Cheer with Sam's Army from the cheap seats as the US shocks opponent after opponent. Revel at the outrageous victory parties. Hear the songs and taste the kim'chi. Meet fans from around the world and travel to exotic cities, stadiums and restaurants. The descriptions are so vivid, the readers will be able to experience all the action, both on and off the field.

The Cup of Death goes beyond merely recounting the events which took place during the farce known as the '94 World Cup and examines the corruption of the tournament and its causes as well as documenting the acts of corruption themselves.

The book is a voice of protest in defense of soccer and all true lovers of the game. It is meant as a voice of truth for those already in love with the game as well as a guide to soccer's true beauty for those not yet acquainted with it. Writte not only from facts but from the heart as well, The Cup of Death is a first of its kind book found nowhere else.

What makes this book unique may be the fact that every article was written without publication in mind. These are just average United fans. Well, maybe above average but the authors are as diverse as the subject matter. Their ages are equally diverse. So is their length of service in the Red Army. Yes, these are simply United fans 'speaking' their mind to a group of other United fans.

This book is a good yarn of how technology, and the revolution people don't yet understand, can affect them. It has affected me in a way I never could have guessed. I may still not fully understand its implications. I have never edited a book before but technology allows an ordinary supporter like me to be able to put together a project like this. I have had a huge amount of assistance from many people. It has been a truly collaborative effort. About 20 people working in 10 countries have helped it to become a reality. I have only ever met one of these people and have only spoken with three of them. Over 1,000 email messages went back and forth across the globe as it took shape... The marvels of technology!