Product Description

Over 200,000 England fans travelled to watch Euro 2004 in Portugal. More tickets were despatched to English addresses than any other country apart from the host nation, and England's Supporters' Club boasts more members - 17,000 - than those of many other European nations combined. Almost all of these members travel to every England away game. What has led to this explosion in interest? Is it just an offshoot of the embracing of football within our celebrity-obsessed culture? Or is it more to do with the slow but inexorable eviction of the archetypal England football thug from stadiums?In "Ingerland: Travels With A Football Nation", noted pundit and commentator Mark Perryman takes the pulse of an England away crowd as we approach one of the biggest tournaments for years: the 2006 World Cup, forty years after England's triumph, hosted by the old enemy, Germany. He finds that although young working-class white men still make up the majority of fans, they are far less likely to be the hooligans of the 1970s and 80s and much more likely to be singing and chanting alongside black, Asian and women fans of the national team. Both celebration and exploration, "Ingerland" is a thought-provoking and evocative account of what it means to support the national team, and what that says about England's place in an increasingly disunited Kingdom.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #392111 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

Real footy fans
A great insight into the long suffering adventures of real football fans, and how they have to contend with rogue elements of supporters, and also the authorities, in order to do what they love - follow England.

Oh no not another football book !! But this one is different
INGERLAND.What does it mean??And no it's not a typo. Those of us who traipse around the world in far flung and godforsaken places will know what INGERLAND is.What does it mean to be English?What does a wheelchair user have to suffer in the name of the England football team? And what about the ethnic minorities who call England home?Ever had the suspicion the press had a hidden agenda when it comes to the truth?Many books have been written on one of these subjects, but never have ALL of the above been covered in one tome.And many books have been written on football hooligans.If your expecting something similar you may be disappointed.To those thousands of regular diehard supporters who follow Beckham and the boys all around the world for a 90 minute kick about will know the answer to many of the questions, but even some will be surprised at some of the stories/topics covered within.To anyone who has never seen England abroad, read why we do it,how we do it, and what goes on when we're guests in a foreign country.Why did a gang of England fans clean up a beach in Portugal? And no , it wasn't a community service sentence but a service to the Portuguese community.You may be surprised and learn something.We're not all bogey men.Go on , it won't hurt you, its only a book.