English Gentlemen and World Soccer

The significance of the Corinthians Football Club, founded in 1882, has been widely acknowledged by historians of football and by sports historians generally. As a 'super club' comprising the best amateur talent available they were an important formative influence on football in Britain from the 1880s to the 1930s whiel also enjoying great influence as a touring club worldwide. Whilst much has been written about the Corinthians, mainly by club insiders, this is the first complete scholarly history to cover their activities both in England and in other parts of the world.

Chris Bolsmann is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University Northridge, USA and Visiting Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Dilwyn Porter is an Honorary Professor of Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University and Visiting Professor of Modern History at Newman University, Birmingham.

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The Corinthians, Corinthianism and English football, c.1882-1907; 2. The split and after: a declining influence, 1907-39; 3. Middle-Class Wanderers: Corinthians 'on the continent'; 4. 'Missionaries of Empire': the Corinthian footballers in South Africa; 5. The Corinthians in Canada and the United States, 1906, 1911 and 1924; 6. The Boys who went to Brazil: the tours of 1910 and 1913; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index