Around the World in 80 Clubs: A Journey Through the Weird, Wacky and Wonderful World of Football

by Paul Watson

'Well researched, emotive and hugely entertaining' Guillem Balague
'Wonderful. Perfect for anyone who loves football but has forgotten why' Joey D'Urso
'This book is a joy to read' Max Rushden
'A treasure trove of new and untouched stories' Suzy Wrack

Have you ever heard of the football club founded by ex-KGB officers, the 21-time champions of Moldova?

How about the Vatican Cup? Contested by eight clubs made up of Vatican members, who've been suspended on several occasions due to fierce rivalries.

Maybe you're more familiar with the Spanish team that actually resides in North Africa?

Whether you're a football hipster or five-a-side novice, join renowned football writer Paul Watson for a hilariously intrepid guide through the weird, wacky and wonderful world of football. Around the World in 80 Clubs takes the reader on a global tour of the beautiful game, from the squirrel-costume wearing fans of Andorra's UE Santa Coloma to the Buddhist monk ultras of Bhutan's Thimpu City, via Greenland's one-week season, through to priestly punch-ups in the Vatican City. This compendium is packed with footballing stories you have never heard of but will never forget.

A book for the football lover, there will be no Manchester United, no Juventus, no Boca Juniors here. Instead, Around the World in 80 Clubs is filled with unique stories that have never been told before, shedding a humorous and thrilling light on cultures and communities formed - and sustained - through football.

Genres: Sports, Audiobook, Football

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Other authors publishing under this name are:

Paul Watson
Paul Watson, Nature Preservationist
Paul Watson
Paul Watson
Paul Watson
Paul Watson
Paul Watson, Guitar Courses
Paul Watson, Erotic Pictures
Paul Watson, Software
Paul Watson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Reviews

[David]

Well researched book which is both funny and informative. Could not believe what club owners, managers, players and fans actually get up to, either to win games or travel to far of pacific islands to support their teams. From drug lords players to Vatican priests, football is truly global

[Theediscerning]

A highly, highly dangerous book. If you're at all like me you're susceptible to rabbit holes online, from Island Games (this lump of barely-inhabited rock against that lump of barely-inhabited rock, where the high jump record is more than their height above sea level, etc etc) to the most bonkers football arrangements, then this is for you – but also very risky. I'd only been reading it for five minutes at most when I was looking up the strips of Nuuk's other teams, to see if any were worth aspiring to own (they're not).

Here is a gallimaufry of oddities – the local derby for Estonian islands, played out as a five-a-side on a deck of the ferry between the two; the team of prison inmates who are not allowed to play away, and so have to lose every "away" game they manage to host 5-0 and minus three points; and a lot more in all the other chapters – I demanded I ration any quotes to just the first one, so as not to spoil the rest of this.

Much of this might be down to geography – Ceuta being in the Spanish second tier, despite being in Africa, some of it is down to the caprices of those in charge – Kazakhstan being in Europe for footie purposes only, but a lot of it is down to fun quirks of the world that my head for trivia is all in favour of. Definitely worth thinking of for any footie fan, whether that's yourself or your better half, this is joyfully readable, and even when covering something you know fairly well leaves a fond smile on the face. Surely a cup-winning performance.


PS Ignore goodreads saying this is out in Feb '27 - I got it from the local library in July '26.

[Michael Cox]

Paul Watson’s Around the World in 80 Clubs is an absolute gem — a book that reminds you why football matters far beyond the pitch. It’s funny, warm, self‑aware, and full of the kind of humanity that sneaks up on you. Watson has a gift for finding the soul of a place through its football club, whether it’s a powerhouse, a pub‑team‑in‑spirit, or something gloriously chaotic in between.

What makes this book shine is the way Watson blends travel writing, football culture, and underdog storytelling into something genuinely uplifting. Every chapter feels like dropping into a new world with a guide who’s curious, compassionate, and just the right amount of daft. You meet unforgettable characters, see football through wildly different lenses, and come away feeling like the sport is a global language spoken with infinite dialects.

It’s also quietly profound. Beneath the humour and misadventures is a real celebration of community — the kind built in terraces, dusty pitches, makeshift stands, and clubhouses held together by hope and cable ties.

If you love football, travel, or stories about people who care deeply about something that doesn’t always make sense, this book is a must‑read. Five stars, easily.

[Greville Waterman]

In less skilled hands this book could simply have been a long and turgid list of the weird, wonderful and bonkers world of football. Instead Paul Watson has brought all his stories to life through his gift for words, light touch and thorough research.

There are so many tales featured of clubs large and small, players, owners and fans alike and their idiosyncrasies and nearly all of them were totally new to me and I lapped them up

We read here of the drug lord playing openly for his local club, the hard fought matches played in The Vatican City between teams whose players are all employees of the papal see and sometimes manners are forgotten in the heat of battle.

I’d have liked to have read of the former Doncaster Rovers owner, John Ryan who managed to inveigle a last minute’s substitute appearance in a National League match but this book is wonderfully entertaining and should be dipped into at will

[Giuliano]

5 stars, and exactly zero surprises there. As a fan of Paul Watson's work - especially his adventures in Micronesia and Mongolia as well as his superb reporting on the quirkier football stories on "The Sweeper" podcast, I had high expectations. And I was not disappointed. The book covers a wide number of clubs, every continent (including Antarctica!) and features remarkable yet lesser known stories about football around the world. From Vatican City ups to vegan football clubs, from the Tibetan Women's National Team to the Vanuatu "B" side which knocked out the countries first team, there is a story for everyone in this book.
Highly recommended!

[Toby Bates]

Great book, really interesting stories from clubs you may never have heard of , really got a feel for the clubs . Really well written with bits of humour sprinkled in in places , some touching stories from clubs/nations that have had struggles also. Would highly recommend if you’re a football fan or indeed just a good fun read . Side note, go buy up pohnpei as well , also written by Paul Watson .

[Charlie Pomroy]

This is without doubt one of the most unique and funny books I've read in a long time and is a must have for any football fan with a thirst for the unknown.

This collection of weird and whacky tales with have you both laughing and wanting more.

Paul is a truly amazing writer and has a real passion for all things uncharted and the stories of under dogs and that comes through in the writing.

You'll be buying a ticket to a remote football destination before you've finished.

Amazing

[Matt Harrison]

A really fun read! A whistle stop tour around the whole globe, stopping off at world football's less conventional football clubs. Paul's writing is full of passion and humour, and in a football world that can certainly take itself too serious at times, this is a perfect foil.

[David Blankenship]

Interesting little book of random and odd facts about world football teams and players. Might have been better with longer stories and perhaps a few others left on the editor's desk, but still a fun read.

[Kate McLaughlin]

The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is that I wish some of it had been longer and more in depth. It felt like the stories were there but there wasn’t time to go further into them. A lovely little listen and a great reminder of why football is “the world’s game” in the run up to the World Cup.

[Eli Cizewski-Robinson]

A fun romp through the wild and wonderful world of football. I always enjoy hearing stories from outside the top European leagues and this book is full of them.

[Joel Atkin]

Very enjoyable and funny stories in this, showing the variety of the beautiful game

[Tom Tiepermann]

Very snackable and fun little book, blazed through it in a few hours.

[Will Ferrier]

Fun small book, loved all the niche clubs. Even the A Liga got a mention we are MASSIVE

[Will Isaacs]

Picked this up from The Sweeper Pod. Fun little book, good to put down and pick me up whenever, lots of interest anecdotes throughout.

[Jack]

Weird, wacky, wonderful - a fun little book highlighting just how bonkers football can be.

Shoutout to Coffs Harbour!

[Wilson]

What a blast. Shoutout to The Sweeper podcast!

[sickbobby]

An entertaining blend of research and personal anecdotes from Paul Watson’s actual visits to these clubs. Those familiar with Watson’s work will know there is no better person to present this lovingly curated list of these small and quirky football clubs and teams. A refreshing perspective and break from the unfortunately overwhelming and ugly state that is modern football.