The News of the World football annual – which began as 16 pages in 1887 – has a new sponsor and new publisher. Nationwide, the England team sponsors, are backing it and we will publish the title instead of HarperCollins.

As usual the book is packed full of information vital for the football fan; from team line-ups to international results; from international appearances and goalscorers to the sort of trivia to keep a pub quiz in questions for half a century.

The book contains everything anyone needs to know about the game – league and non-league – in Britain, Ireland and throughout Europe; plus all the highlights from the Euro 2008 finals. The publication of the annual – now in its 122nd edition and known as the pocket encyclopedia of soccer – is a major event in the football calendar.

Included are: results from the 2007/2008 season (including domestic and European cup competitions and international matches involving British teams); full fixture lists for the 2008/2009 season; all major European and world football awards; a day-by-day diary highlighting the season’s biggest stories; players and their appearances for each and every league club.

Stuart Barnes is in his ninth year as compiler and editor.

The photograph on the cover shows David Beckham receiving a special golden cap to celebrate his breaking the century mark of appearances for England. His international career is detailed inside.