England’s Nadir? is a revealing reassessment of a highly controversial period in the history of the England football team – the three seasons from 1974 to 1977 when Don Revie was at the helm. This has long been considered the worst period in 160 years of the national team. England’s Nadir? places these three years in a broader social context and a longer historical framework, exploring many factors that have previously been overlooked. These include the dominating voices of a small number of the 52 men who played for England under Revie and the endless criticism of Revie’s match preparation through his infamous dossiers. In addition, there was the control of Revie’s work by powerful individuals at the FA and FL, the effect of stress on football managers in the 1970s and the impact of serious injuries to key players. The book examines all 29 matches for which Revie was in charge and all 52 players who appeared for England in that time. There are sections on Revie’s early life, playing career, his successful and controversial period as Leeds United manager and his dramatic resignation from the England post in summer 1977. England’s Nadir? is a must-read for all England fans and anyone interested in 1970s football.
