"A hugely entertaining book with a major difference, John Hopton's 'Following Football' charts an irresistible journey across the world, framed by a riot of fantastically animated football stories. For football fans and travel addicts alike, this is an unforgettable rollercoaster ride in a league of its own" - Steve Rudd, author of Pulse and Fifty States of Being "John's eye-opening journey has everything; hilarious and often cringe-worthy travel anecdotes together with football facts and figures told with wit and intelligence, and it will inspire you to travel too. Hopton has a unique, funny and endearing style - Following Football is essential reading for anyone interested in travel and history, and for any footy fan" - Steven Moore, author of I Have Lived Today From the Russian club that took on Stalin to the old ladies of South Africa who want to beat up Sepp Blatter with their walking sticks, John Hopton's journey takes him through twelve countries, across four continents and finally to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, just as the 2014 FIFA World Cup is kicking off. He discovers football hooliganism's female roots and learns about the Lithuanian club that sulked its way to relegation, as he examines how the face of football changes across the globe... and still has time to get started on by a giraffe.... "A characterful travelogue cleverly threaded with the history of world football. A funny, observant, slightly mad and downright fascinating account" - Karen Edwards, Travel Editor and Writer "Following Football isn't just a book about soccer, it's also a rollicking travel tale and poignant memoir of the author's adventures as he travels around the world to explore the idea that football really does make the world go round. Told with a quick wit and knowledgeable eye, Hopton has an easy style that allows even the most amateur of football fans (like myself) to get involved in his global pursuit of the world's favourite sport" - Leslie Patrick, freelance journalist and author of The Coffee Date Guides