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Around the World in 80 Clubs

A Journey Through the Weird, Wacky and Wonderful World of Football

Paul Watson Paul Watson

$49.99

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

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English
Seven Dials
25 August 2026
'Well researched, emotive and hugely entertaining' Guillem Balague

'Wonderful. Perfect for anyone who loves football but has forgotten why' Joey D'Urso

'This book is a joy to read' Max Rushden

'A treasure trove of new and untouched stories' Suzy Wrack

Have you ever heard of the football club founded by ex-KGB officers, the 21-time champions of Moldova?

How about the Vatican Cup, contested by eight clubs made up of clerics, priests and Vatican members, where countless players have ended up in the sin bin?

Or maybe you're more familiar with the Spanish team that actually resides in North Africa?

Whether you're a football hipster or five-a-side novice, join renowned football writer and podcaster Paul Watson for an intrepid guide through the weird, wacky and wonderful world of football. Around the World in 80 Clubs takes the reader on a global tour of the beautiful game, from the squirrel-costume wearing fans of Andorra's UE Santa Coloma to the Buddhist monk ultras of Bhutan's Thimphu City, via Greenland's one-week season, through to priestly punch-ups in the Vatican City. This compendium is packed with footballing stories you have never heard of but will never forget.

A book for the football lover, there will be no Manchester United, no Juventus, no Boca Juniors here. Instead, Around the World in 80 Clubs is filled with unique stories that have never been told before, shedding a humorous and thrilling light on cultures and communities formed - and sustained - through football.
By:  
Read by:  
Imprint:   Seven Dials
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 216mm,  Width: 144mm,  Spine: 22mm
Weight:   300g
ISBN:   9781399637886
ISBN 10:   1399637886
Pages:   176
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming

Paul Watson is the author of Up Pohnpei - the tale of his time coaching the world's worst football team on a tiny Pacific Island - and Around the World in 80 Clubs - a hilariously entertaining voyage through the world's most obscure football teams. He is also a journalist and broadcaster as well as the co-host of The Sweeper podcast that focuses on football off the beaten track.

Reviews for Around the World in 80 Clubs: A Journey Through the Weird, Wacky and Wonderful World of Football

A fascinating and entertaining look at the ""Beautiful Game"" through the lens of some of the most obscure and inaccessible places on the planet. Nuuk in Greenland, Easter Island, Saaremaa in Estonia who played their rivals Hiiumaa on a ferry in the middle of the Baltic. My abiding memory is the lone fan from Malmuk who, at a match in Nuuk, could be heard shouting loudly for his team... I loved this book. Well researched, emotive and hugely entertaining whether you're a football fan or not. A great example of the lengths people go to to play sport. * Guillem Balague, award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author and journalist *


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