Sacred Grounds: A Journey Through Peoples Football In India by Sandeep Menon [Paperback]

Sacred Grounds is a celebration of India's rich and diverse grassroots football culture. Rather than focusing on famous clubs or professional leagues, the book explores the local tournaments, community traditions, and unsung heroes that have kept football alive across the country.

The book journeys through various footballing regions of India—from Kolkata's famous Khep matches and Kerala's competitive 7s football to Meghalaya's Basti tournaments, as well as the football cultures of Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Goa, and the coastal town of Thoothoor in Tamil Nadu.

Through stories, folklore, and history, Sacred Grounds shows how football is deeply intertwined with local identities, communities, and social life. It serves both as a sports chronicle and a cultural history of India, preserving forgotten stories and highlighting the people who have sustained the game's spirit at the grassroots level.