Twenty-Two Foreigners in Funny Shorts:: The Intelligent Fan's Guide to Soccer and World Cup '94

Speaking as a person who was born only a dozen or so miles from the small town of Wrexham in north-east Wales, I think that this book accurately captures the pleasure and the pain of being a grass-roots fan of a small, only mildly successful, football club, struggling in the nether regions of the English league system.If one short, sweet, book can not only explain the rules of football, but also its history, and what it's like to be an ordinary fan - then this is the book for you.Everything you need to understand football is in this book.

I picked up this book a couple of years back when a local San Francisco sports columnist described it as 'the best book on soccer ever written.' After reading 'Twenty-Two Foreigners,' I'll second that opinion.This book successfully weaves a general description of the game, a review of all Word Cups prior to US 94, and the author's own passion for his local team - Wrexham, a Third Division Welsh club struggling to gain promotion to the Second Division in 1993. Pete Davies mixes these themes together masterfully. Despite these three unique threads, the book never seems jumbled or hodge-podge. Through Davies' sections on the history and nuances of the game, you'll develop a keen appreciation for why certain teams/countries deploy different playing styles and alignments without feeling overwhelmed by jargon and technical detail. In the overview of the World Cups, you'll understand how world dominance has inexorably tilted from its initial power base in the UK to the far reaches of Europe and - especially - South America. And in detailing his long-time affair with Wrexham, you'll begin to comprehend the deep-seated passion for the simplest of games which, unfortunately, has still not quite resonated here in the States.Despite the fact that the material is now seven years old (Mr. Davies - an updated version in preparation for WC 2002 would be fantastic!), I wholeheartedly endorse this book as a comprehensive and engaging introduction to 'The Beautiful Game.'

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat as you read about Wrexham's 1993 season to see if they can be promoted to Divsion 2 from Division 3. What capitivated me, a youth soccer coach that is still (and according to the author) and will always be learning the game, is the manner and style of his writing. Direct, hard-edged and always to the point, Mr. Davies tells us the story of Wrexham (a mid-sized town in North Wales south of Liverpool), what each of the players do on the field, soccer strategy and most enjoyably, a history of the World Cup to 1994. Since I had never heard of Wrexham before and knew very little of the World Cup, the book allowed me to "follow" the 1993 season without knowing the outcome. Since most Americans are in that position, the book is every bit as fresh as it was when first published in 1994. Also, Mr. Davies has very little love and respect for the English soccer establishment and is always candid and fresh with his opinions.Now that I have become a Wrexham fan, my biggest problem now is finding reliable and up to date information on the English Division 2 soccer standings (assuming that they have not been relegated to Division 3).All in all, a great, fresh and enjoyable read!!!

Pete Davies' book entertainingly covers the world of soccer in a witty, new-journalism style of writing. From the inside story of a Welsh 3rd Division club stuggling for promotion to the details of a great USA upset win over England in 1993, to the World Cup itself, Davies offers a rich and vivid look at the details and passion that make up the world's most popular sport. Great for beginners to become educated about the game, and where soccer is going in the United States. The book takes you to soccer at every level: From the groundskeeper to the manager to each players' unique perspective on what happens over the course of a match or an entire career. A very entertaining read. A great chapter on US National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller's starting out in England at Milwall, a club in London with some of the toughest fans in Britain. You will learn a great deal about the sport of soccer, even if you fancy yourself an expert.

This book is about three things: 1) The author's favorite team, 3rd division Wrexham, struggling to gain promotion, 2) Breif but insightful descriptions of every world cup up to Italia 90 3) Descriptions of the positions and jobs of all the players on the pitch. Even if you think you know it all, read this book anyway. It will make you laugh and I guarantee that you will learn something new and interesting. Enjoy