The Team that Could Have Been
The Rise and Fall of Crystal Palace's Team of the 80s
by Stephen Brandt
With the aid of fan memories and in-depth research, the book The Team that Could Have Been: The Rise and Fall of Crystal Palace's Team of the 1980s provides a thorough account of a fascinating period in Palace history. The Croydon team undertook an ambitious effort (later dubbed the "Team of the Eighties") to transform a mediocre team into one of the most glamorous in the nation, under the leadership of assistant Terry Venables and manager Malcolm Allison. Allison altered the team's colours from claret and blue to the familiar red and blue vertical stripes in an attempt to imitate Barcelona. The team was formerly known as the Glaziers. The story unfolds amid a backdrop of bigotry, hooliganism, desperation, and a government working against its people, replete with vibrant characters, cup runs, and the ambitions and dreams of a club in a challenging part of London that rises above its peers for a brief period. This book is the first of its kind about the remarkable Team of the Eighties.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephen Brandt is a Buffalo, New York-born writer who has written about football nostalgia for many years in various parts of the globe. Stephen holds a master's degree in sports management from Canisius in Buffalo, New York, and an undergraduate degree in contemporary European history from the University of Kansas. Additionally, he has tutored refugees in Western New York. In 2005, Daryl Grove of Total Soccer Show, Stephen's mentor, encouraged him to start writing.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
Published: October 14, 2024
Price: £15.99
ISBN-10: 1801506639
ISBN-13: 978-1801506632
Hardcover: 242 pages
Dimensions: 222 x 144 illustrated
