The Great Uncrowned

Football Most Celebrated Losers

Neil Jensen

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781801503358
• Year: 2022

The Great Uncrowned: Football's Most Celebrated Losers is the story of football's ultimate bridesmaids, those clubs that were good enough to win the major prizes but, for various reasons, didn't. In an age when victory is all too often viewed as the be all and end all, this book celebrates the teams that were beaten by bad luck, limited resources or an outstanding set of players. From early 20th-century runners-up from Lancashire and Wales to flamboyant teams from Europe and South America, near-misses can be found anywhere in the world. Some have been forgotten, pushed aside by the elitist nature of modern football. Others have passed into history and are rarely revisited. As well as reviving the exploits of great players and impressive teams, The Great Uncrowned also provides context around the development and social position of each side and asks if football needs a structure that provides more winners and fewer losers.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• 1. No disgrace in almost being champions
• 2. Oldham Athletic 1915: The forgotten runners-up
• 3. Cardiff City 1924: Beaten by the law of averages
• 4. Argentina 1930: The second best team in the world
• 5. Austria 1934: The end of Das Wunderteam
• 6. Brazil 1950: The men of Maracanazo
• 7. Hungary 1954: And the world wept
• 8. Burnley 1962: Homegrown heroes run out of steam
• 9. Chelsea 1965: Docherty’s flawed diamonds
• 10. Rangers 1968: In any other year
• 11. Leeds United 1972: Trying too hard
• 12. Poland 1974: No tears for the clown
• 13. QPR 1976: Total football in the Bush
• 14. Netherlands 1978: Déjà vu in Buenos Aires
• 15. Ipswich Town 1981: Suffolk comes to the party
• 16. France 1982: Les Bleus denied
• 17. Brazil 1982: The last cavaliers
• 18. Everton 1986: Heartbreak at the double
• 19. Hearts 1986: Marooned at the peak
• 20. Newcastle United 1996: Everyone’s second favourites
• 21. Schalke 04 2001: The four-minute heroes
• 22. England 2021: Trying to get football to come home 257 Bibliography
• Photos