About this Event
We are thrilled to be joined by Tony Shaw & Alan McDougall on Friday 5th June as we celebrate the release of their new book Cold War Football. The pair will be in convesration with sports writer, journalist, broadcaster and author David Goldblatt.
A gargantuan battle for hearts and minds, the Cold War is the supreme example of a 'people's war'. But what did the 'people's game' have to do with it?
From Dynamo Moscow's stormy tour of Britain in 1945 to the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1991, Tony Shaw and Alan McDougall chart the clash between capitalism and communism in ten iconic football matches. They take us across Europe, Asia, South America and Africa to uncover football's part in bolstering democracies and dictatorships and in the struggle for influence in the developing world. They show how these matches offered a rare opportunity to see what life was like on 'the other side' of the Curtain, making friends of enemies but also fuelling revolution.
Featuring legendary players, goals and on and off-field controversies, this is a fascinating history of how the Cold War shaped football and how football shaped the Cold War.
About the authors
Tony Shaw is Professor of Contemporary History at the University of Hertfordshire. His books include Cinematic Cold War: The American and Soviet Struggle for Hearts and Minds, and Hollywood and Israel: A History.
Alan McDougall is Professor of History at the University of Guelph. His books include The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany, and Dreams and Songs to Sing: A People's History of Liverpool FC from Shankly to Klopp (2025) which was a Financial Times Sports Book of the Year.
David Goldblatt is a sports writer, broadcaster, journalist, and author. His bestselling books include The Ball Is Round, The Game of Our Lives, which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, and most recently, Injury Time, which was a Telegraph and New Statesman Best Book of 2025.
Please note: Book and ticket option includes a Cold War Football (RRP £22) available for collection on the night.
Doors at 18:00
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Waterstones, 203-206 Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom
GBP 8.00 to GBP 28.00
