In the 1980s, politicians declared war on football; football supporters declared war on each other inside crumbling stadiums that resembled bomb sites and the ’82 and ’86 World Cups were played against the backdrop of the Falklands conflict. It was a decade in which some fans died watching the game they loved, and at times, the ‘slum sport’ seemed set to implode. Yet, remarkably, the game was on the cusp of morphing into the behemoth it has become today.
Set against a backdrop of economic recession, rampant hooliganism and suspect fashion, Go To War tells the story of how triumph and tragedy shaped English football during the 1980s. Throughout this explosive book, author Jon Spurling delves into the stories behind the successes and strife.
Thirty years in the making, Go To War draws on interviews conducted with ’80s icons including Terry Butcher, Graeme Sharp and Ray Wilkins, managerial legends like Howard Kendall and Bobby Robson and FA Cup heroes Ricky Villa and Norman Whiteside. Like its precursor, the bestselling Get It On, Go To War provides a unique insight into a pivotal footballing decade.
Set against a backdrop of economic recession, rampant hooliganism and suspect fashion, Go To War tells the story of how triumph and tragedy shaped English football during the 1980s. It was a decade in which some fans died watching the game they loved, and at times, the ‘slum sport’ seemed set to implode. Yet, remarkably, the game was on the cusp of morphing into the behemoth it has become today.
Throughout this explosive book, author Jon Spurling delves into the stories behind the successes and strife at clubs including Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, investigates the trials and tribulations of the England team and explores how ‘small-town boys’ from Luton, Watford and Wimbledon made their mark. The decade also heralded the arrival of artificial pitches and fanzines, and Spurling introduces us to the new breed of high-profile executives, like Irving Scholar and Martin Edwards, who soon got busy changing the face of football.
Thirty years in the making, Go To War draws heavily on interviews conducted with ’80s icons including Terry Butcher, Graeme Sharp and Ray Wilkins, managerial legends like Howard Kendall and Bobby Robson and FA Cup heroes Ricky Villa and Norman Whiteside. Like its precursor, the bestselling Get It On: How the ’70s Rocked Football, Go To War provides a unique insight into a pivotal footballing decade.
“Enthralling ... Another tour de force.” --Backpass magazine
“A tremendously readable chronicle of English football in its darkest age, brimming with evocative anecdotes. From the violence on the terraces to the high drama on the pitch, Go To War perfectly captures the moodiness of the 1980s. I enjoyed it enormously.” --Dominic Sandbrook
“A beautifully crafted book on a pivotal footballing era.” --Jim Rosenthal
“Jon Spurling’s eye for detail and character makes him the perfect writer to chronicle a decade when football was about so much more than what happened on the pitch. Not just the best book about ’80s football but one of the best books I’ve read about ’80s Britain.” --Josh Widdicombe
"Spurling perfectly captures a sport on the brink of becoming a global phenomenon but still grappling with violence, neglect and tragedy." --When Saturday Comes
"A great education for those not around in the tragic, turbulent decade that preceded the Premier League." --Paul Hawksbee, Talk Sport
"A brilliant, evocative read. Takes you right back to Football’s front Line, life or death struggle for survival.” --Paul Ross, Talk Sport
"Stellar writing transports you to the decade that changed the national sport." --Reading Panel. William Hill Sports book of the Year 2025
