Boot Room

For many years, the football transfer window has been a dominant topic in news columns, with fans increasingly glued to social media for updates on their clubs. The Boot Room delves into the intricacies of the transfer window, tracing its evolution from its inception to its current form, shaped by data-led scouting. Author Andrew Judge engages with a diverse range of football insiders, from finance experts discussing the state of football finances to Sky Sports reporters on the front lines during deadline day. He takes readers inside the boardroom with a club secretary on Transfer Deadline Day and into the physio's room, where medical teams race against time to complete player medicals with millions at stake. The book also examines the impact of data-led scouting on Youth Academies, featuring insights from one of England's highly regarded Youth Coaches. In an era of growing fake news in football, Judge explores the challenges fans face in distinguishing fact from fiction in transfer news, which captivates the football world for a few months each year. Through conversations with scouts, fans, and analysts, The Boot Room reveals the transfer window's significance and the profound effect fake rumours can have on football players themselves.