Total Football (magazine) explained

Total Football was a British sports magazine on football published by Future Publishing.^[1] It was launched in September 1995 as a “laddish” competitor to FourFourTwo, which had launched the previous year.^[2] Total Football and its then-rival Goal were inspired by the success of the “lad's magazine” Loaded.^[3]

Total Football closed in September 2001; the publisher cited "massive coverage" of football as the reason.^[4] Monthly sales were just under 25,000 at the time of the magazine’s closure, declining from over 80,000 at launch. Another competitor, the BBC's Match of the Day, also closed in 2001. Goal had already suspended publication in 1998 and was later merged into FourFourTwo.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Another magazine of the same name is published by Russian publisher Gameland. See News: Brand Coding a Company. Schafbuch. Thomas. 1 September 2007. The Moscow Times. 29 April 2012.
2. Book: Seddon, Peter. Football Talk: The Language & Folklore Of The World's Greatest Game. 1 August 2004. Robson. 1861056834. 240.
3. News: Leery, laddish and loud - won't the fans just love 'em?. White. Jim. 15 August 1995. The Independent. 29 April 2012.
4. News: Total Football bites the dust. 3 September 2001. MediaWeek. 29 April 2012.
5. News: It's all over for Total Football. Stevens. Mary. 7 September 2001. Press Gazette. 29 April 2012.
6. News: Final whistle for Total Football. Hodgson. Jessica. 31 August 2001. The Guardian. 29 April 2012.