This book is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother, Lucy May (1872– 1956), who was its original inspiration. Until I undertook the research for this book, I was puzzled by this otherwise Victorian lady's interest in football, but I did not realize how early women's football developed in this country. She was particularly interested in questions of promotion and relegation, but considered one had to look beyond the manager and the teams, important though those were, to explore longer-term socioeconomic trends which is what I have done in this book.

I am a long-standing fan of Charlton Athletic where I am a regular contributor to the fanzine. At my local non-league club, Leamington, I am secretary of the Vice-Presidents’ Club and write an article in each home match programme. I have therefore been able to observe changes in football from two ends of the spectrum. Both Charlton and Leamington have had troubled histories, losing their grounds. Leamington disappeared altogether as a club for over a decade and was only revived due to the tireless efforts of fans. Hence, I have direct personal experience of the struggles faced by clubs and their fans to survive, let alone succeed.

Football is being transformed by forces outside the control of the ordinary fan. These may be summarized by one word that offers a central theme of this book: globalization. Clubs are increasingly controlled by foreign owners who usually have no personal or emotional link with the club. They have a variety of motives, ranging from prestige and political protection to making money. Not all foreign owners are bad, indeed the “rogue owner” problem often occurs domestically. However, as the owner of a football club you are a trustee for a community asset and many owners do not understand that.

While this book is written by a football fan, my working life has been as an academic with a broad interest in what has been termed “political economy”. In particular, one area of interest has been in the way in which the excesses of a capitalist market economy may be tempered by regulation. Indeed, regulation may be necessary to prevent a market economy destroying itself and its potential benefits.