Excerpts from a New England

David Winner delivers a perceptive and wry analysis of Gareth Southgate’s time as England manager, cleverly placing Southgate’s enlightenment, achievements and legacy in the context of a turbulent period of political, social and cultural upheaval. If you loved Dear England, you’ll love this!

Winner is the author of such classic football books as the William Hill-shortlisted Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football and Those Feet: A Sensual History of English Football.

Through eight years of weird tumult, one modest and bearded Englishman embodied decency and tried to keep us happy and sane – he wasn’t bad at being a football manager either …After the national team’s nadir of defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016, Gareth Southgate woke England, re-imagining, re-energising and taking them to a World Cup semi-final and two Euros finalsA nation rejoiced – well, some of the time – for still there was criticism: of being ‘woke’, for stepping beyond sporting boundaries and trying to make the nation proud of its modern diversity; and for the tactics – born of being an England defender himself – that some considered too cautiousExcerpts from a New England is the sixth book in the innovative Football Shorts series. It’s a must-read for every England fan.