# A Random History of Football

Canonical: https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-murray/a-random-history-of-football/9781409103769

![A Random History of Football](https://quivercdn.com/covers/orion/colin-murray/a-random-history-of-football_978-14-0910-376-9.jpg?v=2026-05-19%2023%3A38%3A05)

- Book: [A Random History of Football](https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-murray/a-random-history-of-football) ([A Random History of Football.md](https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-murray/a-random-history-of-football.md))
- Authors: [Colin Murray](https://www.bookquiver.com/colin-murray)
- Publisher: Orion
- ISBN: 978-14-0910-376-9
- Pages: 1
- Published: 2010-09-02
- Language: en_GB
- Binding: Softcover

## Description

'A real knock-out' DAILY TELEGRAPH Random occurences that shaped the history of football - an alternative history of the game from loveable broadcaster Colin Murray. Nowadays a top Premiership football club can spend £50 million on a Portuguese pin-up or a legendary Italian goalkeeper, but you cannot take into account the effects of a dodgy takeaway meal, a dropped bottle of aftershave on a goalkeeper's toe, or the fact that your most creative player has to leave town because of a chance drunken encounter with another player's wife. It is these random moments that have shaped football as much as the headline-grabbing Cantona kung fu kick and that Russian linesman in 1966. In this witty alternative history of football you will learn: * Different sizes of football were used in each half of the inaugural World Cup Final of 1930. * Sheffield United almost signed Diego Maradona. * Saddam Hussein changed the result of an Iraq versus Chelsea match. * Bury FC's Robbie the Bobby tops the league of worst-behaved mascots. From the height of international football to the scandal of the Conference league Christmas party that cost far more than a bar-bill, Colin Murray tries his best to make you believe, once more, in football's unpredictability.