This volume investigates the foundational development and century-long evolution of the English Football League, examining how a small group of visionary administrators transformed the sport into a national institution. Simon Inglis, a respected authority on sports architecture and history, utilizes extensive archival records and primary source interviews to document the league's growth from its 1888 inception through its centenary. The work provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the administrative, economic, and social forces that shaped professional football in England over one hundred years.

This text is regarded as a definitive historical record of the Football League's first century, valued for its meticulous research and archival depth. The subject matter points to a comprehensive, scholarly resource that serves as a primary reference for historians and enthusiasts of English football history.