Book Review: ‘Sacred Grounds’ by Sandeep Menon

Book Title: Sacred Grounds
Author: Sandeep Menon
Publisher: Penguin Play
Number of Pages: 384
ISBN: 0143465309
Date Published: Nov. 28, 2025
Price: INR 349 / $23.56

Book Review

“Sacred Grounds” by Sandeep Menon kicks off like a love letter to India’s hidden football heartlands, diving into the raw, dusty pitches where the real game lives beyond stadium spotlights. Menon treks from Goa’s beachside brawls to Manipur’s mountain mauler leagues, unearthing tales of local legends who dribble through monsoons and myths alike. You kinda feel the sweat and cheers, like eavesdropping on uncles swapping war stories over chai—this ain’t glossy ESPN stuff, it’s the people’s pulse.

From Goa’s salty beach brawls, where barefoot players chase rag-wrapped balls under swaying coconut palms in a chaotic nod to fishing village roots and colonial kickabouts, to Manipur’s hill leagues fusing warrior grit with monsoon-soaked survival on rugged pitches that echo ancient combats, Sandeep Menon uncovers football’s wild regional souls. Kerala’s keepers invoke village spirits for divine saves, turning goals into mystical triumphs, while Mizoram’s all-women squads shatter gender barriers, blending rebellion, romance, and unbreakable cultural threads. These vivid snapshots in “Sacred Grounds” reveal the sport as India’s beating grassroots heart, far from fancy stadiums.

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What hooks you deepest are those folklore twists: a Kerala keeper channelling village spirits, or Mizoram’s all-women squad defying odds in a man’s world. Menon nails the cultural glue—football as religion, rebellion, even romance—without preaching, blending history with hilarious asides on bootleg balls and bribe-dodging refs. It’s like a road trip scrapbook, equal parts heart-tug and eye-opener on how the sport stitches India’s wild diversity.

Sure, it zips too fast through some spots, leaving you craving deeper dives into fading clubs or climate’s pitch-wrecking toll. No big stats overload or pro league gripes, which keeps it pure but might frustrate footie nerds hunting data. Still, this gem wakes you up to grassroots glory—grab it if India’s soul, one goal at a time, sparks your wanderlust.

Also Read: Book Review: ‘Rollercoaster of Hope’ by Dhimant Bakshi and Mayuresh Kore

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