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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Writing about Victorian sports has been a most enjoyable experience. Victo- rian that I am, I could rationalize my pleasure in terms of the historical impor- tance of the topic. Certainly adding to the enjoyment has been the tremendous assistance I have received from so many people. I am especially indebted to Sally Mitchell, the editor of the Victorian Life and Times series. Sally’s wise guidance, insightful suggestions, warm encouragement, and amazing patience sustained me throughout the project. The staffs of many libraries also helped me greatly in my research. I am particularly grateful to the staffs at the Wid- ener and Houghton Libraries at Harvard University, the Rare Book Room of the Boston Public Library, the Athenaeum Library in Boston, the Trinity Uni- versity Library, the Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas, the University of Texas Perry-Castaneda ˜ Library, and the interlibrary loan office of the San Antonio Public Library. I could not have written this book without the assistance that Donene Williams gave me in getting access to many of the Victorian periodicals and newspapers, for which I am most appreciative. As I worked through the com- plexities of Victorian sports, Michael Anderson was a great help and inspira- tion, especially with his knowledge of and passion for English football. Michael taught me not only to understand, but also to enjoy the game that Americans call soccer, a pleasure augmented by Jackson Anderson’s patient attempts to teach me to play the game. I thank them both, and also Abigail Williams and Carter Williams for their humor and understanding when I would talk what must have seemed incessantly about the delights of Victorian sports. I am grateful to Kathryn Anderson and Donald Williams, for the logis- tical support they gave me as I worked on this book. Most of all, I thank Cliff, my partner in writing this book, and in life.