Under the lights and in the dark Untold stories of women's soccer

Gwendolyn Oxenham

Book - 2017

"Under the Lights and in the Dark takes us inside the world of women's soccer, following players across the globe, from Portland Thorns star Allie Long, who trains in an underground men's league in New York City; to English national Fara Williams, who hid her homelessness from her teammates while playing for the English national team. Oxenham takes us to Voronezh, Russia, where players battle more than just snowy pitches in pursuing their dream of playing pro, and to a refugee camp in Denmark, where Nadia Nadim, now a Danish international star, honed her skills after her family fled from the Taliban."--Jacket flap.

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Subjects
Genres
Biographies
Published
London : Icon 2017.
Language
English
Main Author
Gwendolyn Oxenham (author)
Physical Description
xi, 272 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 23 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-267).
ISBN
9781785781537
  • Introduction
  • La Gringa
  • Welcome to Russia
  • A Home on the Pitch
  • A French Football Fairy Tale
  • The Football Refugee
  • Play Away the Gay
  • Alinco, the Super Falcon
  • Magic, Hope, and Brazil's Number 10
  • The Comeback Moms
  • The Indomitable Lioness
  • Beyond the Field
  • Rose City 'til I Die
  • Notes
  • Acknowledgments
  • Image Credits
Review by Library Journal Review

Fans of women's soccer face a twin challenge in the United States: the game itself is still aspiring to major league status, and women's sports are generally overshadowed by men's. There is a real sense, though, that momentum is building here and around the world for women's soccer, enthusiastically confirmed in this collection of biographical profiles by journalist Oxenham (Finding the Game). Among the voices highlighted are a gay goalkeeper in Tennessee, an African player struggling with culture shock, and an Afghani refugee-all of whom are devoted to the game they love. Oxenham's own experiences as a college and overseas professional give her special insight into the players' passion, despite their low pay and uncertain work conditions. The collection ends with a chapter about the Portland, OR, Thorns, a National Women's Soccer League team with an engaged fan base worthy of any major league team. VERDICT An eye-opening, cohesive collection of fascinating stories that will help bring women's soccer to the next level. Appropriate for high school students, public libraries, and all readers interested in the future of the sport.-Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.