Passovotchka: Moscow Dynamo in Britain, 1945

by David Downing

In November 1945, a party from Moscow Dynamo FC travelled to Britain to play four matches against top British teams. They departed 33 days later, leaving a trail of controversy in their unbeaten wake. Nothing went smoothly on this tour, and throughout, the Russians were involved in disputes with the FA, the British clubs, the match referees, and the press. With the Cold War not yet begun, Russia was still Britain's ally and everyone claimed to want to keep politics out of sport. But the Soviet authorities were clearly anxious that Dynamo's performance should reflect well on the State; and there were many in the British press eager to make political capital out of the controversy surrounding the tour. The book contains a blow-by-blow account of the tour itself; a history of the Moscow Dynamo club, and a discussion of the state of British football at the end of the war, including those aspects of the gameâ style of play, training methods, the issue of professionalismâ which the Dynamo tour brought into question.

Genres: Football, Nonfiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

David Downing is the author of a political thriller, two alternative histories and a number of books on military and political history and other subjects as diverse as Neil Young and Russian Football.

Reviews

[Revista Panenka]

El Dinamo de Moscú, el equipo de Josef Stalin, realizó en noviembre de 1945 una gira por Inglaterra para jugar contra cuatro equipos durante 33 días. La II Guerra Mundial había acabado, ingleses y soviéticos aún eran aliados, pero empezaba a mascarse en el ambiente el mal rollo de la Guerra Fría. ¿Y qué es la Passovotchka? Aquí no hacemos spoilers.

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[Hugh Willan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book - through football Downing provides a fascinating insight into pre-Cold War Britain and its relationship to the Soviet Union. The book is so well researched that the reports of each of the games is genuinely exciting, transporting the reader back in time to 1945 Stamford Bridge, White Hart Lane etc.

[Wilhelmus Verpalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent book. Frustratingly I cannot find any information at all on the player Evgeny Archangelskiy. Help!?

[Josh C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read on pre-Cold War sports diplomacy, but one big error in the last chapter would be obvious to any historically knowledgeable hockey fan. That mistake shows both research flaws and a political shade, enough to make me wonder what else I'm missing because I don't know soccer tactics well enough.

[Gary K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched . Bit boring though