From the publisher:
Over Land and Sea is the story of West Ham United in Europe, exploring the rich history of the Hammers' European fixtures dating back more than a century. Aside from winning two major trophies 58 years apart - the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965 and the UEFA Conference League in 2023 - West Ham have not exactly blazed a trail through Europe. But there's more to the club's connection with the continent than first meets the eye.
The Hammers have a rich tradition of playing friendlies against continental opponents, having travelled to Spain as long ago as 1921; while in the 1950s top European sides played under the new floodlights at Upton Park. Although West Ham's success in Europe has largely been in competitions that no longer exist, there's a great deal to discover about their wider European story, as captured in this immersive book.
The author:
Over Land and Sea is Mike Miles's second West Ham book, following his 2021 biography of 1960s manager Ron Greenwood. In 2013 he wrote Heading for the Line, a guide to rugby league grounds, and from 2016 to 2018 completed an MA in Sports History through De Montfort University. He has contributed to numerous rugby and football publications, including Rugby World, The Rugby Paper, Late Tackle and Football Weekends.
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