Bamboo Goalposts

Rowan Simons has lived, and played football, in China for more than 20 years, and here is his hilarious and insightful account of what it's like to live, work, and play there. Rowan is passionate about getting China to embrace the social and health benefits of amateur football, which isn't easy in a country where it's illegal for more than 11 people to congregate for the purposes of a recreational sporting activity. Rowan built a pitch and clubhouse and now runs ClubFootball, whose growing message has given him genuine hope that his message just might be getting through. This is a clear, affectionate, and at times desperate look at what contemporary China is like when viewed through Western eyes.

Rowan Simons is an adviser to Chinese media organizations.