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From Imperialism to Globalisation. The British Empire and the Development of Football in Africa 1897-2022
Football and Africa, Vol. 1
Colm Hickey
ISBN 978-3-8325-5525-2
368 pages, year of publication: 2026
price: 49.00 €
From Imperialism to Globalisation. The British Empire and the Development of Football in Africa 1897-2022
Between 1897 and 2022, forty-six British football teams including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur undertook ninety-three tours of Africa; some for profit; as teams were paid handsome fees to visit; some for pleasure, as teams used tours as an end of season holiday, some to proselytise, as teams sought to demonstrate imperial supremacy and ‘British values’ through footballing success and some for all three. By 1914 there had been four tours to South Africa, three by Corinthian FC and one by an FA XI. The interwar period saw further tours and, as late as 1939, an FA XI visited South Africa. The aftermath of the Second World War witnessed the beginning of the managed decline of the British empire. This was a process accelerated by the independence movement of countries such as Ghana which used football as an opportunity to compete with (and beat) its former colonial master. British football’s relationship with South Africa continued in the apartheid era and saw five rebel tours. Yet, British football also had a positive political influence and played a role in that country’s path to independence. In the 1980s cash strapped clubs were prepared to travel almost anywhere including Algeria, Sudan, Egypt and even Colonel Gadaffi’s Libya. Globalisation, the formation of the Premier League and satellite TV resulted in clubs touring to increase their fan base fundamentally altering African football. By bringing these themes together, this book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the role that Britain played in developing the game in Africa.
‘The best thing I have read in years. A fascinating look at the impact of globalisation on football in Africa.’
Rob Cavallini, author Play up Corinth. A History of Corinthian FC.
‘Well researched and written, it makes a major contribution to Africa's football history.’
Mike Huggins. Emeritus Professor of Cultural History, University of Cumbria.
‘Colm Hickey provides a magisterial sweep across nearly two centuries of interaction between Britain and the African continent. This book is an invaluable addition to African and imperial and commonwealth history, economics and politics.’
Professor John Nauright, Penn State University
‘Colm Hickey’s book, is a must read for scholars and enthusiasts of African football. His work is indeed seminal and shall be influential in the coming years.’
Chuka Onwuemechili, Professor of Communications at Howard University
