The Longest Winter: A Season with England's Worst Ever Football Team

In 1973-74,Britain was in meltdown due to the Arab-Israeli War, energy prices soaring, petrol scarce, offices limited to 17C, and power cuts frequent. The Rochdale team of 1973-74 is considered the worst to play in the Football League, finishing bottom of the third division, winning just twice in 46 league matches, and closing the season with a 22-game winless run. The Longest Winter is a forensic social history of the early 1970s, evoking the smells, textures, and moods of the time.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2022
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd

Britain experienced a severe crisis in the years 1973-74, marked by soaring energy prices, scarcity of petrol, limited office temperatures, frequent power cuts, and the introduction of a three-day working week due to inflation and strikes by miners and other workers. The northern mill town of Rochdale, in particular, suffered greatly, with its cotton industry shut down due to cheap imports and its football team reflecting the town's struggles, struggling to survive. The Rochdale team of 1973-74 is widely regarded as one of the worst to have played in the Football League. They finished bottom of the third division, winning just twice in 46 league matches. Their season ended with a 22-game winless run and a record-low post-war crowd of just 1,120 spectators for one of their home matches.

In terms of player composition, the team featured a significant number of players who were drafted in from amateur or Sunday league clubs. The Longest Winter, by author David Peace, is not only a sports book but also a remarkable piece of forensic social history. It vividly captures the smells, textures, and moods of the early 1970s, providing a detailed account of the social and economic challenges faced by Rochdale and Britain during that period. The book offers a poignant reflection on the impact of political, economic, and social factors on individuals and communities, and how sports can serve as a lens through which to understand and analyze these challenges.

Overall, The Longest Winter is a captivating and informative book that provides a valuable insight into the history of football and society during a tumultuous period in British history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in sports, history, or social issues, and offers a thought-provoking examination of the human cost of economic and social change.

Weight: 144g
Dimension: 222 x 144 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781801501576