Football in the Irish Republic is booming: crowds are up and the league has a spring it its step. However, the story of football across the Irish Sea is made up of many varied chapters and this is revealed in Shades of Green.
Author Chris Lee travelled the length and breadth of the island to find out more about the complex Irish history of the beautiful game. He spoke to historians, academics and most importantly fans. He learned about how association football – denounced as a ‘foreign game’ by some – fared after the island split in 1921.
He also checked out historic stadiums, lost clubs and the vibrant match cultures. Politics, identity and division have played their part in Irish football history but there’s plenty to be positive about in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
We have three copies of Shades of Green to give away to Football Weekends readers!