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Get It On: How the 70s Rocked Football

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A decade after the abolition of the maximum wage, a new generation of footballers and managers became ‘personalities’ in the brash new era of colour television. Set against a backdrop of 3 day weeks, strikes, political unrest, freezing winters and glam rock, Get It On tells the fascinating inside story of how commercialism, innovation, racism and hooliganism rocked the national game in the '70s, and explores the ongoing conflict between non - conformist free thinkers (on and off the pitch) and football’s traditionalists. It charts the emergence of Brian Clough, Bob Paisley and Kevin Keegan, and the fall of George Best, Alf Ramsey and Bill Shankly.

Jon Spurling has been interviewing footballers for 25 years, including off the cuff talents like George Best, Rodney Marsh, Alan Hudson and Stan Bowles, European Cup winning captains John McGovern and Emlyn Hughes, FA Cup heroes Jim Montgomery, Ronnie Radford and Roger Osborne, pioneering black footballers Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson and Dutch imports Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen. Together with the recollections of impresarios and entrepreneurs like photographer Terry O’Neill, TV mogul Jimmy Hill and Admiral’s Bert Patrick, who helped create the distinctive ‘70s vibe, Spurling has pooled hours of interviews and meticulously constructed an intimate and unvarnished story of the most ground-breaking decade in English football history.

371 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

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Jon Spurling

16 books6 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for JAMES SMITHER.
32 reviews
October 21, 2022
This was a very enjoyable read. I love the way it jumps around the country and the decade, covering different clubs, personalities and seminal matches and goals that defined the 1970s whilst interspersed with enjoyable detours into the aesthetics of the time - kits, haircuts, terrace culture, TV coverage, refereeing, the musical soundtrack and, most evocatively, the turbulent socio-political backdrop of the decade. Not just Best, Shankly and Clough in other words - but general strikes, power cuts and racial discord as well.
Minor quibbles? There are a few errors and typographical issues in my Kindle version, including what I believe to be several anachronistic references to "Hartlepools" in the breathless coverage of some of the key FA Cup giant-killing upsets for which this period is often remembered. And as an Arsenal fan, I am mystified why the decade's only double-winning team is so under-covered in this account of the decade - perhaps Spurling trying too hard to avoid accusations of favouritism towards what I believe is his club?
Nevertheless, highly recommended to football fans who enjoy the history of the beautiful game and want to get a sense of what it was really like before all-seater stadia, super-agents and mega-wages, Sky cameras, VAR and social media saturation coverage.
Profile Image for Milo Dring.
29 reviews
November 3, 2025
Grandma keeps trying to offload books onto me which she thinks I’ll like. I don’t have high hopes for this but will continue to try and please her because she is a very sweet woman.

It’s a blessing that Ipswich received a positive write-up, otherwise I would have given up immediately. Watching football is dull (unless featuring ITFC, Arsenal ladies, or either England team in the knockout stages), but reading about it is worse. I hope to not have to do it ever again.

You may be surprised therefore that I opted for such a high score. This was because I was in a good mood at the time and the book happened to finish on a high.

Blue army !
448 reviews
June 21, 2022
I was a season ticket holder at Arsenal from the early sixties so witnessed this era first hand,including the match pictured on the front cover.I was rather disappointed in this book.The first half seemed to focus mainly on Ramsey,Clough,Revie and Shankley, whose biographies I have already read.
The second half dealt with the exploits of Leeds,the dirtiest most unpleasant team,I ever witnessed, Liverpool etc.To me nothing is more boring than reading about matches played by other teams.
Incidentally the author does not mention the allegations of bribery made about Revie.
There are errors,which unfortunately a previous reader had marked in ink.
So for me rather underwhelming.
Profile Image for Ian Plenderleith.
Author 9 books13 followers
March 29, 2022
This review first appeared on the website of Soccer America:

When Manchester City's wayward winger Rodney Marsh came to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the mid-1970s, he famously denounced English soccer as "a grey game, played on gray days by gray people." Like all generalizations, the quote contains a kernel of truth, but doesn't stand up to a whole lot of analysis. Although Marsh's quote appears in Jon Spurling's book to illustrate the clash in England between the old post-war disciplinarian style of coaching and the new generation of free-thinking, long-haired mavericks, the majority of the 370 pages show that the characters, clubs and competitions of the 1970s were many things, and that most of them were anything but gray.

At its best, Spurling writes in his introduction, the English game in the 1970s was "uplifting, unifying, inventive and touchingly innocent," but it could also be "brutal, bullying, thuggish and ugly." He doesn't aim to harp on about "the good old days," but stresses that clubs and stadiums in the top flight were at that time "planted firmly in local communities." It was also the era when agents started to look after players' interests, replica shirts with new designs were marketed for the first time (by the innovating Leicester-based company Admiral), foreign players began to grace and brighten England's game, and certain personalities realized that the more controversial they were in their opinions, the more they'd be paid to express them. Many clubs were casting an eye to the United States for new trends in commercialism, which was how Leeds United allowed a character called Paul Trevillion, who'd worked in the USA for sports agent Mark McCormack, to re-brand the club as Super Leeds.

I'll get to the point about "Get It On." Most of the time, reading a soccer book is a chore akin to wading through a bowl of cold, salted porridge. Sometimes, though, you pick up a book that hits the same spot as a slice of lemon sponge cake on a Sunday afternoon. Each bite, or chapter, is better than the last, and you keep yearning for another slice. It may be because I grew up in England during the 1970s that "Get It On" touched my sweet tooth – the earliest happy memories are the best, after all. Or it may just be that the excellent research, the steady pacing, and the unhinged nature of soccer in this transformative decade have been molded by the perfect writer into an absorbing, irresistible book.

English soccer in the 70s was indeed blighted by negative coaching, foul play, fields of dirty glue, deep-seated racism, and chronic fan violence, and these were all reasons why a lot of players like Marsh found the North American Soccer League such a bright and refreshing change. Spurling covers all these narratives. Yet for every accusation that Don Revie's Leeds United only won so many trophies thanks to its cynical approach, there's a game like the 7-0 dismantling of Southampton to show that they could play another team off the park. When we talk about the seemingly unplayable state of Derby County's Baseball Ground mudbath, we also need to know that Coach Brian Clough ordered the groundsman to prepare it that way, because he knew that only his players were fit and skillful enough to cope with the sticky surface.

An early chapter deals with non-league Hereford United's game against first division Newcastle United in a 1972 FA Cup third round replay. Read the chapter, then watch the highlights on YouTube and feel the goosebumps. The same applies to the European games played by provincial clubs like Derby, Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest, nowadays all marginalized in English soccer thanks to the financial gulf caused by the great Champions League stitch-up.

Liverpool was the dominant club of the era, but they were rarely runaway champions. The variety of teams that either won the title (Everton, Arsenal, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham Forest) or came very close (Queen's Park Rangers, Ipswich, Wolves, even Manchester City ...) reflects how the art of coaching at this time was to assemble a roster that would gel, but without breaking the budget (not unlike MLS). Sadly, we'll never know if Pep Guardiola is capable of taking a provincial club from the butt end of the second tier to become European champions in two years, as Brian Clough did with Forest (or if Guardiola could deftly juggle draft picks and allocation money to take FC Cincinnati to MLS Cup ...).

Spurling's interviews benefit from the historical perspective that allows its actors a mainly frank and considered review of the past. His work on the book spanned the last two decades, meaning that several of the players and coaches quoted have passed away, so we are privy to exclusives from beyond the grave. It's also shocking to realize just how many of your childhood heroes are now deceased, making the videos of them skipping across the grass-starved fields all the more poignant. And despite all the tactical manuals that have burdened bookshelves in recent times, the game itself has not changed as much as we like to think. Pass, move, dribble, tackle, shoot. Only now, there's less mud, booze and cigarettes around to slow you down as you press the life out of the opposition.
Profile Image for Joe O'Donnell.
278 reviews5 followers
March 18, 2024
“Get It On” is a thoroughly enthralling tour through the lost world of English Football in the 1970s, a time of two-footed tackles, mudflat playing pitches, Admiral-branded sportswear, and wildly charismatic club managers. Jon Spurling guides us through an age when provincial clubs like Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town could conquer the heights of European football, when the game was dominated by swaggering maverick figures such as Brian Clough, Malcolm Allison, and Stan Bowles, and where a nascent commercialism could be seen creeping into English football.

“Get It On” benefits from not approaching its subject matter through a dry recitation of results and league tables, and Spurling instead tackles 70s football through a number of prisms and topics (with chapters focusing on famous F.A. cup ‘giant killings’, the failings of the English national team, kit innovations, referees, and the advent of foreign players). Spurling writes wistfully about the world of English football during the 1970s without being blind to the horrors of the era – not least to the rampant terrace hooliganism and pervasive racism that scarred that period.

Jon Spurling pieced together “Get It On” over the course of over two decades of research and interviewing many of the protagonists of the period. Many of those interviewees have since then, sadly, passed away. This adds greater poignancy to the book, but also means that “Get It On” carries unique insight from the era that another football historian would find difficult to replicate. This is a wonderfully evocative trip down memory lane and, from start to finish, a joy to read.
Profile Image for Susan.
3,015 reviews570 followers
August 15, 2022
Although I started the Seventies as a young child, by the end of the decade I was in my mid-teens, and it was the period when I first fell in love with football. Television was different then and I tended to watch whatever my mother or brother watched, which was often things like 'Football Focus,' or 'Match of the Day.' I went to school next to the Boleyn Ground and recall West Ham players having to run the gauntlet of our school playground, mostly good naturedly, as they went in. So I was keen to read this, which takes the reader back to that period.

So, the Seventies? Flared trousers, kipper ties, mullets and wide lapels. In football terms, there were a lot of negatives, from hooliganism and pitch invasions, to racism and the National Front. However, it was also the period when football began to turn into the sport we know today, with panels and pundits, World Cup songs (who can still sing, 'Back Home'?!), the importance of the F.A. Cup and colourful football shirts became something that kids wanted to buy. Football became slowly commercialised, but still many footballers did not earn much. There were also characters and what a cast of characters lie within this book! Alf Ramsey, George Best, Brian Clough, Kevin Keegan, Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Emlyn Hughes, Tommy Docherty and others. It was a time of excess, of excitement and passion. An excellent, entertaining and informative read. I would definitely read more by this author.
Profile Image for Nigeyb.
1,473 reviews405 followers
December 1, 2024
Get It On: How the ’70s Rocked Football by Jon Spurling is a fantastic read especially if you were around during the era and remember these managers, players, games and clubs.

A plethora of interviews by the author informs the increasing media involvement in football, especially commercial television; the rise of “provincial” clubs such as Derby, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich; pioneering black footballers; evolution of football kits; racism and hooliganism; the arrival of foreign players; the rise and fall of the fall of George Best, Alf Ramsey and Don Revie; and so on. Every chapter contains fascinating details and Jon Spurling always manages to contextualise the football content.

4/5


Profile Image for Simon Jones.
105 reviews
December 29, 2024
The first football match which I remember watching on television was the 1973 FA Cup Final between Leeds and Sunderland (covered in the book). The first live game I attended was England v The Netherlands at Wembley in 1977 (also mentioned in the book), during which Johan Cruyff gave Don Revie's team the absolute runaround.
'Get It On' is a book written about this era but it's not a chronological history. Instead, each chapter describes a significant aspect of football from this decade: FA Cup shocks, hooliganism, Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, etc. I found it fascinating, and read it in three days; in fact, it's one of the best football books I've ever read (and I've read a lot). The interviews with the main characters of the era are what make it great. Many of the conversations were conducted a decade or two ago and many of the interviewees have since passed away.
I'm not sure if readers who don't remember the seventies would find the book so compelling but I absolutely loved it.
52 reviews
August 13, 2023
An absolute treasurer and a lovely trip down memory lane. ‘My era was really about 1976 onwards’ but I loved the earlier stuff. Characters like Malcolm Allison with his fat cigar that I’d forgotten about, and Jimmy Hill. Those pundits were a wonderful crowd. Despite all its problems around hooliganism I think football had a certain innocence which we’ve now lost around all the Saudi backed mega wealth. Sadly, it won’t be going back to these innocent days so we can just reminisce. Very well written, and interesting to set against the social/political times. Some fantastic one-liner quotes that made me laugh out loud … and will we ever see another manager like Brian Clough!. Would definitely recommend this book to any football fan who are now probably in their 60’s!
Profile Image for Rick Bach.
166 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2025
I love football journalism and this book did a cracking job of satisfying my curiosity about the most recent decade I'm too young to remember.

Lots of cracking stories about memorable characters like Jimmy Hill, Tommy Docherty, Stan Bowles, Malcolm Allison, George Best, and many others.

This is helped immensely by the huge amount of interviews that the author conducted.

It's worth pointing out that the author covers the difficult stuff as well and there are excellent chapters on racism (including an interview with Brendan Batson) and hooliganism.
Profile Image for Mark Morton.
65 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2025
A nice comfortable read that covers anything and everything about 70’s football including the rise of the superstar footballer, sponsorship, mass production of kits for the first time, hooliganism, the TV pundit and much more…..and yet another book where Brian Clough just stands out as an absolute one in a million.

Interesting to me as a 90s kid who is trying to learn more about this period of football. Not so interesting to my Dad who feels it doesn’t break any ground here.

I’d absolutely read an 80s version of this and recommend to anyone interested in this era of football.
Profile Image for George Hall.
23 reviews
September 13, 2025
Fantastic read. I’m nowhere near old enough to know much about 70s football other than Forest, a smattering of players or hooliganism but Get It On is a perfect guide. Spurling also explores things around football too - kits, commentary, racism, the changing lifestyles. Incredible amount of first hand sources too, excellent stuff. Wish the Second Division and a few ‘smaller’ teams were explored as well but it’s not a dealbreaker. Great read.
Profile Image for Leonard Entwistle.
135 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2022
Probably need to be a child of 60’s 70’s to really appreciate this book. Brought back so many memories spotted one typo Henry Newton didn’t play for England in 1970 World Cup but the great Keith did! If we’d have got past W Germany the best England team of my generation may have lost to Brazil in the final but not 4-1, as always so many ifs and buts!
Profile Image for Kevin Coaker.
86 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2024
Whistle stop tour through the 1970's. However it goes for the tried and tested tropes that most fans are extremely familiar with. So you get Clough, Sunderland 73, Ronnie Radford et al and all overlaid with said characters' after dinner speaker anecdotes. Nice nostalgia trip, but offers nothing new.
Profile Image for Scott Gardner.
777 reviews6 followers
August 4, 2023
Very interesting read from the bygone era of football

Works it's way through several of the major incidents , covers the stars of the era , and explains how football was changing from it's stuffy past and into what we now know today
18 reviews
January 8, 2024
Fantastic read. Brought make some great memories of the first decade I started to attend matches.
If you remember and recall football as it was ,from a bygone era where you could resonate, laugh and be entertained by footballers who were very much in tune with their public, this is a must read!
110 reviews
September 28, 2024
What a great book, gripping from start to finish. Born in 1963 the seventies were, for me, the decade of football and music. This book ticked all the boxes, so many great football memories brought back to life.
Profile Image for Mr John A Whalley.
10 reviews
April 13, 2022
An absolute joy from start to finish. Read it as soon as you can. I can't wait for his book on the 1980's now.
Profile Image for Ipswichblade.
1,140 reviews16 followers
April 26, 2022
Best read for me so far this year, Jon Spurling looks at seventies football but not always on the obvious parts, excellent read
Profile Image for Terry.
297 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2023
As a young football mad teenager of the 70's this book brought back so many football memories.
Profile Image for Graham Bowden.
99 reviews6 followers
June 22, 2023
A brilliant book for fans of 70's football & for those who want to read up about that great era.
Profile Image for David Macnamara.
116 reviews
February 15, 2025
A good read, well told. It covers a fascinating period in English football history and steers clear of being a simple case of listing off each seasons events.
3 reviews
October 8, 2025
Decent book overall and well written. As a Leeds fan, too much Clough and not enough Leeds for my tastes, your mileage may vary.
39 reviews
April 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this. Lots of characters, matches and memories from an era when, my ten year old self was obsessed with football. And loads more that I never knew or realised.

The book is not set out chronologically, but is organised into thematic chapters, making it easy to dip in and out of and lending itself to a more thorough analysis of a narrower range of themes. And it’s all the better for it.

I particularly enjoyed how the author links the football decade to the wider world. Although this one might not appeal to readers who don’t recall the seventies, if you’re more Tommy Doherty and Stanley Bowles than Pep Guardiola and Phil Foden then you have to read this book. It’s great!
Profile Image for Gary K.
176 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2023
Well researched and written . A golden era
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