Peter J. Beck is Emeritus Professor of International History at Kingston University, UK. He served on the History Panel for two UK Research Assessment Exercises (now Research Excellence Framework).

• 1. Introduction: The British Government, Football, and the Outbreak of the Second World War, 2. British International Football Between Two World Wars: Continental Europe Twists the Lion’s Tail, 3. Using Soccer Diplomacy as an Invaluable Instrument of British Soft Power: Britain as a ‘Troubled Giant’ Fighting a ‘Fierce War of Ideas’, 4. Viewing Football in Weimar Germany Through a First World War Lens: ‘To Play, or Not to Play, Germany?’, That Was the Question for British Football, 5. ‘The Greatest Ever Triumph’ Keeping Politics Out of International Football?: The 1935 England-Germany Match, 6. Facing Hitler’s Germany On and Off the Football Field, 1938-1939: England’s Nazi Salute as Virtue Signalling in Support of Footballing Appeasement?, 7. Projecting British Power On and Off the Football Field: Facing the Challenge Posed by Mussolini’s Italy, 1933, 8. ‘The Most Important’ and ‘The Most Controversial’ Match Played in Britain Since the First World War: “The Battle of Highbury”, 1934, 9. Britain’s ‘Football Ambassadors’ Play Italy, 1939, 10. An Exceptional Case of British Governmental Intervention in Football?: Banning Stalin’s ‘Red Jerseys’, 1930, 11. The British Government and the Football Association, 1938-1939: Collaborating to Ensure ‘a Good Impression is Made Abroad’ by British Football, 12. Conclusion: Using ‘the Power of Football’ for Britain

Peter J. Beck is Emeritus Professor of International History at Kingston University, UK. He served on the History Panel for two UK Research Assessment Exercises (now Research Excellence Framework).

• 1. Introduction: The British Government, Football, and the Outbreak of the Second World War, 2. British International Football Between Two World Wars: Continental Europe Twists the Lion’s Tail, 3. Using Soccer Diplomacy as an Invaluable Instrument of British Soft Power: Britain as a ‘Troubled Giant’ Fighting a ‘Fierce War of Ideas’, 4. Viewing Football in Weimar Germany Through a First World War Lens: ‘To Play, or Not to Play, Germany?’, That Was the Question for British Football, 5. ‘The Greatest Ever Triumph’ Keeping Politics Out of International Football?: The 1935 England-Germany Match, 6. Facing Hitler’s Germany On and Off the Football Field, 1938-1939: England’s Nazi Salute as Virtue Signalling in Support of Footballing Appeasement?, 7. Projecting British Power On and Off the Football Field: Facing the Challenge Posed by Mussolini’s Italy, 1933, 8. ‘The Most Important’ and ‘The Most Controversial’ Match Played in Britain Since the First World War: “The Battle of Highbury”, 1934, 9. Britain’s ‘Football Ambassadors’ Play Italy, 1939, 10. An Exceptional Case of British Governmental Intervention in Football?: Banning Stalin’s ‘Red Jerseys’, 1930, 11. The British Government and the Football Association, 1938-1939: Collaborating to Ensure ‘a Good Impression is Made Abroad’ by British Football, 12. Conclusion: Using ‘the Power of Football’ for Britain