England's Calamity?: A New Interpretation of the 'Match of the Century'

The standard view that England's 6-3 loss to Hungary in 1953 kick-started a revolution is challenged by Chris Jones' book England's Calamity? He argues that the defeat was not a revolutionary moment but one key part of an evolutionary process, with a fascinating mix of football archetypes in the England side of 1953. The book examines the different voices, arguments, biases, myths, agendas, and responsibilities of that England XI, their coach, their observers, and commentators to bring a fresh perspective on the endlessly discussed moment in the history of the England team.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

Challenges the standard view that England's famous 6-3 loss to Hungary in 1953 kick-started a revolution. The crushing defeat has long been seen as the watershed moment when England cast off its training methods and tactics of the past to embrace new continental practices. Author Chris Jones takes a different view: that the 6-3 trouncing was not a revolutionary moment but one key part of an evolutionary process. The England side of 1953 had a fascinating mix of football archetypes - Alf Ramsey (The General), Billy Wright (The Golden Boy), Harry Johnston (The One-Club Man), Stanley Matthews (The Incomparable), Ernie Taylor (The One-Cap Wonder), Jackie Sewell (The Record-Transfer Holder) and Walter Winterbottom (The Boffin).

England's Calamity? examines the different voices, arguments, biases, myths, agendas and responsibilities of that England XI, their coach, their observers and commentators to bring you a fresh perspective on an endlessly discussed moment in the history of the England team.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 138 x 217 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801504157