Keeping Schtum - a secret history of Jews and football

About

this, at any rate, is the myth. They are people of the book not people of the penalty kick. Anthony Clavane argues that the game's transformation, from a working-class pursuit played in crumbling arenas to a global entertainment industry, would not have been possible without such Jewish Sports Legends as Louis Bookman, Harry Morris, Leslie Goldberg, Mark Lazarus and Morris Keston. Their untold stories — as well as the more familiar rags-to-riches tales of the likes of David Dein, David Pleat and Roman Abramovich — are emblematic of an immigrant community's successful integration into English society. But many of these big names have "kept schtum" about their Jewishness. Anthony Clavane examines their influence - and their silence. Anthony Clavane went to Sussex University and taught History in various schools for six years before becoming a journalist. His new book 'Does Your Rabbi Know You're Here' examines Jewish involvement in English football and is published by Quercus in October 2012.