The West Midlands Story
Steve Tongue's "West Midlands Turf Wars" is a poignant tribute to the origins of organised football. This volume isn't just another sports history—it's the story of how a cluster of industrial towns gave birth to the world's most popular sport, as we know it today.
The book begins masterfully, transporting us to the smoke-filled rooms where William McGregor and his contemporaries envisioned the Football League in 1888. From there, Tongue weaves a rich tapestry of rivalry, ambition, and occasional madness that defines West Midlands football.
What makes this volume particularly special is Tongue's ability to capture the fierce tribal loyalties that still burn today. The rivalry between Villa and Blues is palpable, and the Black Country derby between Wolves and West Brom stands out as one of football's most captivating blood feuds. Tongue's personal connection to the region—dating back to his first match at Coventry's Highfield Road in 1957—gives his writing authenticity that can't be faked.
The cast of characters reads like a who's who of football folklore: Stanley Matthews gliding down the wing, Billy Wright commanding the pitch, and "Deadly" Doug Ellis ruling Villa Park with an iron fist. But it's the lesser-known tales that really shine — like the failed attempt to merge Stoke City and Port Vale, which nearly sparked a revolution in the Potteries.
Tongue's journalist's eye for detail and broadcaster's gift for storytelling bring these historical figures to life. Whether it's Major Frank Buckley's pioneering use of monkey gland treatments at Wolves or Jimmy Hill's modernising crusade at Coventry City, each chapter adds another layer to our understanding of how the modern game evolved.
This third installment in the Turf Wars series might be Tongue's most compelling yet. It's a reminder that while London may be England's capital, the West Midlands was and in many ways still is football's spiritual home. For anyone interested in understanding why football means so much to so many, this book is essential reading.
The only thing that this book lacks is a few more pages on the region's non-league scene. It would be beneficial to include a few more pages discussing the non-league scene in the region, but this could potentially be a topic for a future volume. But that's a minor quibble in what is otherwise a masterful exploration of football's heartland.
The book begins masterfully, transporting us to the smoke-filled rooms where William McGregor and his contemporaries envisioned the Football League in 1888. From there, Tongue weaves a rich tapestry of rivalry, ambition, and occasional madness that defines West Midlands football.
What makes this volume particularly special is Tongue's ability to capture the fierce tribal loyalties that still burn today. The rivalry between Villa and Blues is palpable, and the Black Country derby between Wolves and West Brom stands out as one of football's most captivating blood feuds. Tongue's personal connection to the region—dating back to his first match at Coventry's Highfield Road in 1957—gives his writing authenticity that can't be faked.
The cast of characters reads like a who's who of football folklore: Stanley Matthews gliding down the wing, Billy Wright commanding the pitch, and "Deadly" Doug Ellis ruling Villa Park with an iron fist. But it's the lesser-known tales that really shine — like the failed attempt to merge Stoke City and Port Vale, which nearly sparked a revolution in the Potteries.
Tongue's journalist's eye for detail and broadcaster's gift for storytelling bring these historical figures to life. Whether it's Major Frank Buckley's pioneering use of monkey gland treatments at Wolves or Jimmy Hill's modernising crusade at Coventry City, each chapter adds another layer to our understanding of how the modern game evolved.
This third installment in the Turf Wars series might be Tongue's most compelling yet. It's a reminder that while London may be England's capital, the West Midlands was and in many ways still is football's spiritual home. For anyone interested in understanding why football means so much to so many, this book is essential reading.
The only thing that this book lacks is a few more pages on the region's non-league scene. It would be beneficial to include a few more pages discussing the non-league scene in the region, but this could potentially be a topic for a future volume. But that's a minor quibble in what is otherwise a masterful exploration of football's heartland.