I have a keen interest in history, which underpins my fiction projects.
Football
Football Timelines
The Football Timelines series has been curated to list key events and stories in the histories of football clubs, competitions, and countries in an easily accessible format. They make ideal introductions to football history for new fans, and older fans wanting to quickly check their facts.
Broken down by year and decade, each football club book also features lists of Managers, Honours and Records/Firsts for easy reference and to show the mark made on football history by your favourite team.
Programme Notes run throughout the books, providing background information on the major football developments in each period.
It is hoped that, as the flow of history weaves its way in and out of times and places, readers of this series of books will step off at different points and explore more about football clubs, competitions, and countries for themselves - as well as the general social and political history providing the backdrop to each tale.
These books are independent, unofficial football histories and are not endorsed, authorised, licensed or in any other way approved by any third-party.
Each book will be revised and republished at the end of each football season or competition, to also include any updated Programme Notes.
Broken down by year and decade, each football club book also features lists of Managers, Honours and Records/Firsts for easy reference and to show the mark made on football history by your favourite team.
Programme Notes run throughout the books, providing background information on the major football developments in each period.
It is hoped that, as the flow of history weaves its way in and out of times and places, readers of this series of books will step off at different points and explore more about football clubs, competitions, and countries for themselves - as well as the general social and political history providing the backdrop to each tale.
These books are independent, unofficial football histories and are not endorsed, authorised, licensed or in any other way approved by any third-party.
Each book will be revised and republished at the end of each football season or competition, to also include any updated Programme Notes.
Football Timelines: Arsenal FC - Key events in the club's history
Football Timelines: Arsenal FC is not intended to be a comprehensive history of the Arsenal FC men’s team from training ground to trophy cabinet. It is written as a story for the fans – a timeline of some of the characters, scenes and events that introduces some key moments in the club’s history; from their humble origins in Woolwich as ‘Dial Square’ in 1886 to the present day.
The club we now know simply as ‘Arsenal’ grew out of a set of unpromising conditions – geographically, politically and financially – and has always had to fight to survive, as well as being prepared to take risks.
A backbone of steel has always run through the club – a determination not to be beaten on or off the pitch – in order to challenge the rules that others created.
The team that used to train on the stones and muddy craters of Plumstead Common has become known for its silky skills and stylish football as displayed on the lush pitch at the all-seater Emirates Stadium. However, there are many moments when the club could have lost its way altogether. Although Arsenal became known as the ‘establishment club’ they were never content to just ‘fit in.’ Their pioneering approach to football is shown far more by the number of entries in the Firsts section of this book than just in the number of trophies won.
Coupled with the entertainment and imagination of a few key individuals along the way, the club has made the long journey from an armaments factory in South-East London to the entertaining of millions of football fans worldwide: a truly global brand.
You can buy this book on Amazon. Just search for the title or 'Mark Rasdall' in any Amazon store and the title will appear. You can download the digital version to a Kindle or Kindle app on PC, iPad, iPhone and other devices.
The print edition is also available from all good bookshops, worldwide.
ISBN: 9798864957691
The club we now know simply as ‘Arsenal’ grew out of a set of unpromising conditions – geographically, politically and financially – and has always had to fight to survive, as well as being prepared to take risks.
A backbone of steel has always run through the club – a determination not to be beaten on or off the pitch – in order to challenge the rules that others created.
The team that used to train on the stones and muddy craters of Plumstead Common has become known for its silky skills and stylish football as displayed on the lush pitch at the all-seater Emirates Stadium. However, there are many moments when the club could have lost its way altogether. Although Arsenal became known as the ‘establishment club’ they were never content to just ‘fit in.’ Their pioneering approach to football is shown far more by the number of entries in the Firsts section of this book than just in the number of trophies won.
Coupled with the entertainment and imagination of a few key individuals along the way, the club has made the long journey from an armaments factory in South-East London to the entertaining of millions of football fans worldwide: a truly global brand.
You can buy this book on Amazon. Just search for the title or 'Mark Rasdall' in any Amazon store and the title will appear. You can download the digital version to a Kindle or Kindle app on PC, iPad, iPhone and other devices.
The print edition is also available from all good bookshops, worldwide.
ISBN: 9798864957691
Football Timelines: Chelsea FC - Key events in the club's history
This book is not intended to be a comprehensive history of Chelsea FC from the training ground to the trophy cabinet. It is written as a story for the fans – a timeline of some of the characters, scenes and events that introduces key moments in the club’s history; from its foundation in England’s ‘Edwardian’ period through to the ‘modern era.’
The current generation of Chelsea fans could be forgiven for thinking that the club’s fortunes on the pitch only increased after the ‘Marriott Accord’ or since ‘new money’ arrived in 2003, but Chelsea Football Club had rich founders and benefactors right at the very beginning of its history story.
Despite the silver spoons provided by Chelsea’s property-developer founding brothers, ‘JT’ and ‘Gus’ Mears, the club never did play in the wealthy London borough that bears its name. For many years, Chelsea were considered something of a ‘music hall joke;’ under-achieving entertainers from the theatreland of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Chelsea’s story is much more one of great moments rather than momentous periods. There remain peaks and troughs in the modern era, although, undoubtedly, the combination of financial investment and astute tactical coaching would suggest that the club is currently living through what fans in the future might well look back upon and refer to as the ‘golden age.’
You can buy this book on Amazon. Just search for the title or 'Mark Rasdall' in any Amazon store and the title will appear. You can download the digital version to a Kindle or Kindle app on PC, iPad, iPhone and other devices.
The print edition is also available from all good bookshops, worldwide.
ISBN: 9798869569134
The current generation of Chelsea fans could be forgiven for thinking that the club’s fortunes on the pitch only increased after the ‘Marriott Accord’ or since ‘new money’ arrived in 2003, but Chelsea Football Club had rich founders and benefactors right at the very beginning of its history story.
Despite the silver spoons provided by Chelsea’s property-developer founding brothers, ‘JT’ and ‘Gus’ Mears, the club never did play in the wealthy London borough that bears its name. For many years, Chelsea were considered something of a ‘music hall joke;’ under-achieving entertainers from the theatreland of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Chelsea’s story is much more one of great moments rather than momentous periods. There remain peaks and troughs in the modern era, although, undoubtedly, the combination of financial investment and astute tactical coaching would suggest that the club is currently living through what fans in the future might well look back upon and refer to as the ‘golden age.’
You can buy this book on Amazon. Just search for the title or 'Mark Rasdall' in any Amazon store and the title will appear. You can download the digital version to a Kindle or Kindle app on PC, iPad, iPhone and other devices.
The print edition is also available from all good bookshops, worldwide.
ISBN: 9798869569134
First Football Histories
My First Football Histories series of books offered extended histories of football clubs Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC. These books are included in the Reference Collection at the National Football Museum in Manchester.
Sweets
I ran a sweet shop in Worcester with my wife, Michelle, encouraging visitors to share their memories and stories about sweets. Out of this experience came a short history of sweets in the UK, featuring key events in the development of the sector.
Sweet Dates in the UK
When were Crunchie Bars launched? What surely was ‘a mighty chew?’ What happened to Fry’s? Which sweets were used to stop mines detonating during the Second World War?
The answers to these and many other questions on the history of sweets can be found in Sweet Dates in the UK. With some key references to candies from overseas too, it is a simple timeline of sweets dates that could be both a guide and quick delve into some of the potted histories hitherto hidden behind the packets and jars on our shelves. Iconic advertising slogans have been included where applicable, and also various ‘National Days’ when certain sweets are celebrated publicly, especially in the USA.
It isn’t an original tale, nor a rigorous and comprehensive academic research piece into the history of all confectionery; rather, a curation of stories and events that will hopefully provide a useful first reference point for anyone interested in sweets beyond simply eating them!
You will find reviews of this book on Amazon. Just search for the title or 'Mark Rasdall' in any Amazon store and the title will appear. You can download the digital version to a Kindle or Kindle app on PC, iPad, iPhone and other devices.
The print edition is also available from all good bookshops, worldwide.
ISBN-13 : 979-8817823400
When were Crunchie Bars launched? What surely was ‘a mighty chew?’ What happened to Fry’s? Which sweets were used to stop mines detonating during the Second World War?
The answers to these and many other questions on the history of sweets can be found in Sweet Dates in the UK. With some key references to candies from overseas too, it is a simple timeline of sweets dates that could be both a guide and quick delve into some of the potted histories hitherto hidden behind the packets and jars on our shelves. Iconic advertising slogans have been included where applicable, and also various ‘National Days’ when certain sweets are celebrated publicly, especially in the USA.
It isn’t an original tale, nor a rigorous and comprehensive academic research piece into the history of all confectionery; rather, a curation of stories and events that will hopefully provide a useful first reference point for anyone interested in sweets beyond simply eating them!
You will find reviews of this book on Amazon. Just search for the title or 'Mark Rasdall' in any Amazon store and the title will appear. You can download the digital version to a Kindle or Kindle app on PC, iPad, iPhone and other devices.
The print edition is also available from all good bookshops, worldwide.
ISBN-13 : 979-8817823400