Henry Winter is the Chief Football Writer of The Times and a five-time winner at the Sports Journalists' Association awards. He loves the England national team with a passion that borders on masoschism and has covered every one of their games from Wembley to Beijing, Chicago to Rio over the past twenty-two years, as well as seven World Cups. Along with Wayne Rooney and Roy Hodgson, he also has the third English vote for the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player.
Powerful... Winter feels the pain as acutely as any ordinary fan. He also has a mischievous turn of phrase. The quips, however, don't dilute the serious issues he raises. It's a horribly sobering, as well as a revealing and entertaining read. * The Times * A wholly original work on arguably the biggest topic in football. Winter has a wonderful turn of phrase and his skilful hand is necessary because the subject matter is so well known. The recontextualisation of the past as a means to understand the present is this book’s gift. Winter is justifiably proud of his attendance at every England match since 1993, and his asides, observations and anecdotes are what elevate this above other accounts of the Three Lions. History suggests that Winter's tale is likely to remain relevant for years to come. * Independent * Deeply felt, highly readable and enjoyable. * When Saturday Comes * Elegaic... Winter's excellent contacts have brought him interviews with key players. * Economist * This is an utterly fascinating, moving and very dramatic book. Great footballing heroes past and present leap from the pages. Never has the beautiful game been more beautifully written about. * Jilly Cooper *