Did you know that the first ever floodlit football match was played 136 years ago? For the first 17 years, tape was used for crossbar in the football league? And Goal nets were introduced as late as 1890? Not even the ardent followers of the game know the basic history of football, the mega event of which will grip the whole world in its fever from June 12. But before you experience the World Cup kickoff, how about study the game’s past … 1001 Greatest Football Moments is the best way to do so.

Eminent portswriters - Sam Pilger, Leo Moynihan, Louis Masserella, Rob Wightman, Robert Lodge and Mike Hooley - collaborate to bring 1001 Greatest Football Moments which literally doesn’t have a dull moment for the readers. You get to know things about football that you didn’t know at first - be it at club level or international one. You may have known that the Football Association was formed in 1863, but did you know that Ebenezer Cobb Morley drafted the first laws? Similarly, you must have read somewhere that FA Cup was inaugurated in 1871, but did you know that the FA Trophy for which teams fight is not the original one!

This book is a treasure trove for fans of the game since it lists the greatest moments of football - 1001 to be exact. The narrative is short and crisp, providing you with authentic information in simple words. From the establishment of official rules in 1863 to the development of the FIFA World Cup, this book covers it all. A look at the cover might suggest that this volume will feature off-the-field activities that you have read many a times but never judge a book by its cover. This richly illustrated book covers the greatest goals scored in the history of the game (including Hand of God), mentions the debuts of the illustrious players (Pele, Maradona and Messi to name a few), discusses the intense rivalries between football clubs and international teams and details the many tragedies that happened on the field (The Ibox Disasters, The Black Day of ‘64) or involved football teams (the Munich Air Disaster in ‘58).

It also talks about the many events that managed to become part of the football history, that too with pictures (black and white as well as colour) of each and every incident. Be it the reintroduction of shin pads in 1874, the refusal of Corinthians to take penalties in 1891, the formation of FIFA in 1904 (and England’s inclusion a year later), the real reason behind Chelsea’s formation (to fill a home ground) and/or the theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy (aka World Cup) in 1966, all are given equal importance by the writers and help the readers get to know how much the game they love has changed since its inception.

When you have a book about the history, you can’t leave out the controversies, can you? This book details all controversies football has witnessed including the defending Champions Uruguay’s boycott of the 1934 World Cup; the Chilean goalkeeper’s self-inflicted injury during a qualifier that saw the country miss the next 2 World Cups; Euro Cup champions Marseille’s victory bash cut short by bribery allegations; and the kidnapping and release of Robinho’s mother! There is more to know about the villains of the game (yes yes, the Zidane incident is there too!) and this book has it all listed down for you, chronologically.

Would you believe the first Asian team to play international football was neither Japan nor South Korea, but Philippines. The numbered shirts were used for the first time in 1933 and that when Brazil lost the World Cup in 1950, a young boy named Pele promised his grieving father that he will win the World Cup for him, and he did that thrice! With the World Cup just round the corner, the best way to celebrate the mega event is to know about the game that has evolved into a major sport. You can challenge your friends to trivia about their favourite teams, players and tournaments, and in order to do that, all you need is a little time and a copy of 1001 Greatest Football Moments! Enjoy.