Today we talk to the brilliant Michael Calvin about his latest book, State Of Play, which, taking Arthur Hopcraft’s 1968 classic The Football Man as a model, seeks to get under the skin of the modern game.

How have football’s values evolved in the last 50 years? Is it now permissible to show weakness, or will hardness always rule? Does football, once described by Hopcraft as “a privileged place of working-class communion”, now stand for the spirit of elitist materialism? Can the game survive its own total commercialisation?

We also discuss the UEFA Nations League, the Harry Maguire Zeitgeist, and the unusual frog-scorpion dynamic of Ireland’s Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane managerial dream team.

Click the image at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras.

Go to Patreon

CHECK OUT OUR UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS & GET TICKETS WHEREVER YOU ARE.

LIVE SHOW TICKETS

BECOME A SECOND CAPTAINS WORLD SERVICE MEMBER AND GET COMPLETE ACCESS TO ALL OUR SHOWS AND ARCHIVE.

JOIN US