2008 Reasons Why Merseyside is the Capital of Football

This ground-breaking book captures the contrasting emotions of a game that outstrips even music and comedy as an inherent part of Merseyside life, which in 2008 celebrates Liverpool's award as European Capital of Culture, highly appropriate for a city that has so often conquered Europe on the football field.

Joint authors John Keith and Gavin Buckland present the feats, the facts, the laughter, the tears, the highs and the lows engendered by a litany of Mersey stars at Everton, Liverpool and Tranmere from Dixie Dean to Kenny Dalglish, Elisha Scott to Neville Southall, Harold Bell to John Aldridge, Billy Liddell to Andy Johnson, Alan Ball to Steven Gerrard.

The great managers who have illuminated Merseyside football - Bob Paisley, Harry Catterick, Bill Shankly, Howard Kendall and Johnny King through to current bosses Rafael Benitez, David Moyes and Ronnie Moore - also play their part in the story, as does Sir John Moores and his family whose patriarchal influence at both Anfield and Goodison was massive.

Every Merseyside appearance at Wembley, including amateur and non-league, is chronicled as well as the remarkable European odyssey. But in addition to the momentous and dramatic moments the lighthearted ones are included, too, such as the time an outbreak of boils threatened an FA Cup tie; the manager who wrote a football prayer at a religious shrine; the unlikely dressing room message a new signing received on his debut; and how television received a sharp rebuff in the early days of match screening.

With American owners having moved in at Anfield and new stadiums on the horizons for both Everton and Liverpool, Merseyside is poised to adorn its unique status as the Capital of Soccer.

That rich heritage is portrayed in this book - which is a must for all football followers.

This work celebrates the facts, feats and legends from Merseyside's rich soccer history.

Liverpool is the City of Culture in 2008. It features the great players, managers and matches.

The authors are authorities and big Merseyside names.