Y Lolfa always has great sporting titles, but where they shine the most is with Welsh football. Phil Stead’s Red Dragons and Jamie Thomas’ When Dragons Dare to Dream are recent releases that were absolutely brilliant.
Nick Burnell’s Trailing Clouds of Glory: Welsh Football’s Forgotten Heroes of 1976 is equally good and focuses on the 1970s and Wales’ quarter-final finish at Euro ’76. There’s plenty of context about the 50s and 60s so you hear about the run-up to this famous and controversial moment in Welsh football history.
Burnell is brilliant when it comes to research and interviews as the book covers just about everything. Match reports, detailed profiles on players and coaches, and a “Where They Are Now?” section all prove to be delightful. A great collection of photos midway through the book just adds to the experience. It is an easy and engaging read for football fans.
It is very purposeful as it finally gives the 1976 squad the attention and recognition they deserve. To truly understand the success of Wales in 1958 and 2016, you need to hear the stories of Leighton Phillips, Terry Yorath, and John Toshack. You can’t appreciate the work of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Ashley Williams without looking back at the accomplishments of Mike Smith. The vibrant FAW of today owes a lot to the work of those that came before, especially individuals who moved the game forward in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Trailing Clouds of Glory is an instant classic and one of the better titles you can enjoy this year. It’s truly a defining text on the Welsh game, one that readers won’t want to miss.
