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Under the Floodlights!

Sixty Years of the Football League Cup

Rob Carless author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Pitch Publishing Ltd

Published:5th Aug '24

Should be back in stock very soon

Under the Floodlights! cover

Under the Floodlights! is the fascinating story of the League Cup, charting its rich history through 64 seasons, with contributions from the people who were there - players, fans, managers, journalists and match officials.

The competition was conceived in 1960 as an alternative to the FA Cup, with midweek cup matches to be played under the floodlights. Initially, though, it was met with indifference by clubs and derision by Fleet Street.

The format of the competition was changed several times, and it wasn't until 1967 that it really picked up traction when the final was moved to Wembley and changed to a single leg.

It went from strength to strength, with all 92 clubs competing over the next few years and European places up for grabs. Unlike the FA Cup, the League Cup final has featured clubs from the bottom tiers of the Football League.

As the competition approaches its 65th anniversary, this book brings us the full untold story.

"I opened the book to verify if the Football League Cup Final I officiated was covered. Reading about the Queens Park Rangers v Oxford United match brought back great memories. I then could not put the book down reading about insights into the other finals. It's a must for all football fans!"

-- Keith Hackett * former top-flight referee who refereed the 1986 Milk Cup Final *

"Football’s League Cup may always have to live in the shadow of the FA Cup but against all odds this midweek competition has survived six decades – and with more than its fair share of tales to tell... Read the story of this competition from its very inception to the present day."

* Football Weeken

ISBN: 9781801507400

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

352 pages