Under the Lights and in the Dark - by Gwendolyn Oxenham

About the Book

California-based writer Gwendolyn Oxenham presents an insider's look at women's soccer, following players across the world, like Allie Long and Amy Rodriguez, everywhere from Siberia to Portland.

Book Synopsis

Under the Lights and in the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer takes an unprecedented look inside the lives of professional football players around the world - from precarious positions in underfunded teams and leagues, to sold-out stadiums and bright lights. Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Gwendolyn Oxenham tells the stories of the phenoms, underdogs, and nobodies - players willing to follow the game wherever it takes them.

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.

Whether you're a newcomer to the sport or a die-hard fan, this is an inspiring book about stars' beginnings and adventures, struggles and hardship, and, above all, the time-honored romance of the game.

Review Quotes

"[A] big, stunning masterpiece"-- "Allison Lee, The Equalizer"

"A startlingly good book. Oxenham is a marvelous observer. These are moving, uplifting stories from around the world- what top soccer is like when there's no money or fame in it and you just do it for love."--Simon Kuper, author of Soccernomics

"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."--Library Journal

"Gwendolyn is the master at finding incredible soccer stories. These are stories that need to be heard- told in a way that leaves you begging for more. Thank you, Gwen, for shining a light on the natural, raw, real beauty of the beautiful game."--Julie Foudy, ESPN, USWNT captain

"One of the most compelling sports books I have ever read ... There are so many moments within the book I found myself mouth wide opened in shock as to how these incredible women were treated ... I highly recommend this book to people from all sports, particularly those at the decision making levels of governing bodies to remind them that at the end of their decisions is a very real, passionate and dedicated person."--Female Coaching Network

"Oxenham is one of my favorite soccer writers; she connects on a deeply human level with the people who are the soul of the global game. I love this book."--Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated

"The book, a blend of stand-up-and-cheer triumphs and bittersweet cautionary tales, is a revelation, and it is a must-read for anyone curious about not just women's soccer, but the beautiful game."--The Globe and Mail

"The book's true virtues are in its complexities and portrayals of the players whose lives are interesting both on and off the field ... Oxenham understands a good sports story must work as a mirror to reflect the world around it. And, like Friday Night Lights or Seabiscuit, Under the Lights and In the Dark does just that ... This work is truly a testament to women's soccer and women in sports. It is also a fun story for both sports fans and plain old readers alike."-- "Gretchen Lida, Washington Independent Review of Books"

"The twelve-year-old girl reading this as part of her English homework will be as engrossed as the 60-year-old who never dreamt that these things could happen to a female soccer player. That's a fantastic skill to have as a writer."--The Gorey Guardian

"If you care one iota about women's football, stop what you're doing, order this book right now - both to understand the true state of the game and to support Oxenham in her work. This is an essential read."--Men in Blazers podcast

About the Author

Gwendolyn Oxenham is the author of Finding the Game: Three Years, Twenty-five Countries and the Search for Pickup Soccer (St Martin's Press) and the director of Pelada, an award-winning documentary. She has written for The Atlantic, Sports Illustrated, and Slate, and has an MFA in creative writing. A Duke University soccer alum who played for Santos FC in Brazil, she currently lives in Dana Point, California.