Crosbie, Centre-half

When the Great War broke out there were British citizens who had the misfortune to find themselves trapped within German borders. Ruhleben, the site of a Berlin racecourse, became a prison camp for such citizens. Steve Bloomer of Derby County and England fame was one of them. Being England's most prolific goalscorer of his day, his fame ascended to legendary status. A fellow prisoner was John Cameron who had been player-secretary-manager of Tottenham Hotspur's FA Cup winning team of 1901. He was the first secretary of the Players' Union and a prime force in guiding Spurs from the Southern League to the higher echelons of the English game. Both Bloomer and Cameron were on coaching assignments in Germany at an inopportune time. They were largely influential in organising football leagues whilst in captivity. With the proliferation of former professional footballers within their midst, the standard of football was consistent with the meticulous planning. In Crosbie, Centre-half, his first novel, established football historian and author Duncan Carmichael imagines a similar scenario from a different angle.