The Players' Century 1907-2007

In 1907, Manchester United's Billy Meredith and Charlie Roberts formalised a union to give footballers a democratic voice - a say for the 'workers' in the way the professional game in England was run by their employers, the football clubs. A century on, the PFA has witnessed and influenced some seismic shifts in the game. From the first threatened strike in 1909 - which saw the FA recognise the PFA for the first time - and the abolition of the maximum wage in the 1960s, to the influx of television money in the 1980s, the establishment of the Premier League in 1992 and the Bosman ruling in 1996, the PFA has been a constant influence and participant in changing football for the greater good. This beautifully illustrated celebration recounts the greatest glories of the century, with contributions from key footballers from the past and present, on life as a player, memories of friends and colleagues now passed on, funny stories, memorable matches and sad occasions. The book also lets the reader in on some of the other work of the PFA over 100 years, breaking down barriers of race and inequality throughout football and working with charities to improve lives.