The Book of Football Obituaries celebrates the lives of a cavalcade of remarkable characters, men who have loomed large in the collective consciousness of countless football fans, week by week, season by season. Collected together in this life-affirming commemoration of achievement are 446 individuals who have touched, entertained, outraged or inspired us; footballers who have maybe even earned that special love we reserve for our sporting heroes. The passing of some of these great players provoked something close to national mourning - household names such as Sir Stanley Matthews, George Best, Brian Clough, Sir Bobby Robson - while others have died far too young, the likes of David Rocastle, Justin Fashanu, Gary Ablett and Gary Speed. And how refreshing that there is final democracy in death, with many an unsung hero appearing in what is effectively a who's who of British football, full of vivid atmosphere and evocative historical detail.