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Ten years in the making, this A-Z of credulity-twanging facts and stories includes definitive explanations of everyday phrases such as "keep your shape" and "low center of gravity", a complete guide to becoming a terrace wit, how Alex Stepney broke his jaw by shouting, why the old-fashioned British center-half is like a red squirrel, and hundreds of other fantastic tales from what Pele once memorably dubbed "My bloody job." This collection addresses key hitherto ignored aspects of this game, for example the relationship with country music and its long tradition of football-related songs. Johnny Cash dubbed himself "The Man in Black" in homage to his idol, referee Arthur Ellis, and "I Walk the Line" is arguably the greatest song ever written about the life of an assistant referee.