Association football (Soccer) Books

Book SynopsisA brilliant, funny and insightful analysis of Paul Gascoigne's crazy up and downs during his three years at Lazio a period which shows his entire career in microcosm.4th July, 1990.Turin, ItalyEngland are on the brink of reaching their first World Cup final in 24 years. Twenty-three-year old Paul Gascoigne has been one of the breakout stars of the tournament. His athleticism, speed of thought and incredible natural gifts have given England fans renewed faith in their perennially underachieving national side.Then in the 99th minute of a tense semi-final against Germany, Gascoigne lunges into a mistimed tackle. The ref awards him his second yellow card of the tournament, meaning that if England were to win, he would miss the final. Gascoigne turns away, tries to hold it together, but can't. Floods of tears run down his face. We understand. We feel his pain and anguish. The legend of Gazza is born.Two years later, after an injury-stricken season at Spurs, he arrives at Lazio for a then r

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Book SynopsisPaddy Agnew has been Rome correspondent for the Irish Times since 1986. Since 1991, he has been a match commentator on Italian football for state broadcaster RAI whilst over the last 20 years he has covered Italian football for ESPN TV, BBC World Service radio, Reuters, World Soccer magazine and many other news organisations. He lives near Rome with his wife Dympna and teenage daughter Róisín.Trade ReviewExcellent ... A superb background guide * Independent *Superb * Sunday Telegraph *Splendid ... Occasionally makes for pretty disturbing reading ... An enlightened and compelling study * FourFourTwo *entertaining and immensely readable * The Guardian *a fascinating journey to the heart of Italian soccer * Choice *

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Book SynopsisPaul Lake was Manchester born, a City fan from birth. His footballing talent was spotted at a young age and, in 1983, he signed coveted schoolboy forms for City. Only a short time later he was handed the team captaincy.An international career soon beckoned and, after turning out for the England under-21 and B teams, he received a call-up to the England training camp for Italia ''90. Earmarked as an England captain in the making, Paul became a target for top clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool, but he always stayed loyal to his beloved club, deeming Maine Road the spiritual home at which his destiny lay.But then, in September 1990, disaster struck. Paul ruptured his cruciate ligament; sustaining the worst possible injury that a footballer can suffer. And so began his nightmare.Neglected, ignored and misunderstood by his club after a succession of failed operations, Paul''s career began to fall apart. Watching from the sidelines as similaTrade ReviewHis tale is one of incredible neglect, which makes for fascinating reading on a sporting, but mostly human level. * The Sports Diaries *Best football autobiography ever? Unquestionably * Metro *It's the best book I've read for a long time....Beautifully, powerfully written, it is particularly raw and unsparing... -- Oliver Holt * The Mirror *...an astounding football autobiography. * The Guardian *I'd be frightened to put a price on his head these days ... Paul was as good a young player as I've ever worked with. * Howard Kendall *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEARHow did one man go from Nazi Youth indoctrination to English footballing icon?Bert Trautmann is a football legend. He is famed as the Manchester City goalkeeper who broke his neck in the 1956 FA Cup final and played on. But his early life was no less extraordinary. He grew up in Nazi Germany, where first he was indoctrinated by the Hitler Youth, before fighting in World War Two in France and on the Eastern Front. In 1945 he was captured and sent to a British POW camp where, for the first time, he understood that there could be a better way of life. He embraced England as his new home and before long became an English football hero. This is his story. ''A gripping story of an unlikely redemption through football'' Sunday Times ''He was the best goalkeeper I ever played against. We always said, don''t look into the goal when you''re trying to score agaTrade ReviewA truly remarkable story, uncovered with immense skill by Catrine Clay * Miranda Seymour, Telegraph *An extraordinary story * Mail on Sunday *Britain's best-loved German ... it's a remarkable story * Daily Mail *[A] brilliant new biography * Observer *Utterly compelling * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisYou''ve seen him become a Liverpool legend, watched as he and Jude Bellingham lead England through the world cup - now get to know the real Jordan Henderson, both on off the pitch . . .''A brilliantly told story with a uniquely vivid sense of what it is like on the pitch in matches of extreme importance . . . The perfect book for all football fans'' DAILY MAIL ''SPORTS BOOKS OF THE YEAR''__________Captain. Father. Leader. Fearless ambassador. World-class midfielder.J As a top-flight footballer, Jordan Henderson knows success.From taking the reins from Steven Gerrard as Liverpool captain,to lifting the Champions League trophy and winning the Premier League,his years as a leader have been more eventful than entire careers.But there''s more to the story than what we see on the pitch.In this unflinching autobiography, Jordan takes us from his footballingroots in Sunderland to the heat of the dressing rooTrade ReviewA brilliantly told story with a uniquely vivid sense of what it is like on the pitch in matches of extreme importance . . . The perfect book for all football fans, not just Liverpool supporters * Daily Mail, 'SPORTS BOOKS OF THE YEAR' *

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Book SynopsisCovering all the basics of the game, rules and tactics, as well as giving history of the sport and how it has evolved to the present day, this guide provides tips on football betting and supporting, essential coverage on the World Cup, and stats on current teams, players and managers both at home and abroad.Trade Review'...Murray has compiled a guide to the game so simple and effective that any dummy can understand it.' (Four Four Two, May 2010). '...offers those who are yet to climb on board the bandwagon a leg up.' (ESPN.com).Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Kicking Off 7 Chapter 1: Welcome to Planet Football 9 Chapter 2: The Ball Starts Rolling: A Potted History of Football 19 Chapter 3: Getting Your Boots On: The Gear You Need 31 Part II: Playing the Game 45 Chapter 4: Laying Down the Laws 47 Chapter 5: Players, Positions and Tactics 67 Chapter 6: Honing Your Skills 91 Chapter 7: Keeping Fit for Football 115 Chapter 8: Coaching, Managing and Leadership 129 Chapter 9: Getting the Game On 141 Part III: Exploring the World of Football 153 Chapter 10: The World Cup 155 Chapter 11: Surveying the International Scene 169 Chapter 12: The Club Scene 187 Chapter 13: Focusing on Famous Clubs 213 Chapter 14: Women’s Football 239 Part IV: The Fans’ Enclosure: Following the Game 255 Chapter 15: Going to the Match 257 Chapter 16: Compulsive Viewing: Football on Screen 271 Chapter 17: Read All About It! 287 Chapter 18: Other Football-based Pastimes 305 Part V: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 19: Ten Great Players 321 Chapter 20: The Ten Greatest Teams of All Time 331 Chapter 21: Ten Great Matches 339 Part VI: Appendixes 347 Appendix A: Roll of Honour 349 Appendix B: Glossary 361 Index 369

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of football icon Jimmy GreavesJames Peter ''Jimmy'' Greaves was one of the greatest footballers to have graced the English game, a goalscorer of legendary prowess. His gripping and characteristically humorous autobiography journeys from Jimmy''s childhood in the East End, via his early career at Chelsea and his short and troubled stay at A.C. Milan, to his emergence as one of the great stars of sixties football while at Spurs and an outstanding England forward. Jimmy''s record as a striker is extraordinary - he was the leading goalscorer in the First Division (now Premier League) for six seasons and during his playing career was never out of the top five. There are darker aspects too: the bitter disappointment of failing to make the World Cup-winning team of 1966, and the battle against the alcoholism that followed his retirement from the game.This book is both Jimmy''s story and the story of football in the golden era oTrade ReviewAs a goalscorer and human being, Jimmy Greaves has few equals * DAILY TELEGRAPH *This top-notch autobiography ... moving, uplifting ... An inspiring story of a hero who earned his right to a second chance * SUNDAY TIMES *[Greaves] could fill a library with his stories * INDEPENDENT *both candid and poignant * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *

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Book SynopsisTom Finney personifies a vanished golden era of football, playing his entire career under the maximum wage and never wavering in his loyalty to Preston North End. A true gentleman of the game, who is still justifiably idolised more than 40 years since he retired from football, Finney recalls the highs and lows of his marvellous career with a warmth and affection that will appeal to all who read his story. But Finney''s life has been about much more than football, and he writes movingly about his current role as full-time carer to his beloved wife, Elsie.Trade ReviewThe long-delayed, definitive autobiography of the most honourable man who has ever played sport for England at anything * Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail *His humility shines through this warm, nostalgic book ... This book represents a huge thank-you to whichever deity gave him such a rare talent * Chris Maume, Independent *

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Book SynopsisFrank McLintock was a leading player of his generation and is acclaimed as one of Arsenal''s greatest captains. After transferring from Leicester, in 1970 he led Arsenal to a famous victory in the Fairs Cup and followed this up with even greater glory a year later, winning an historic league and FA Cup double. He left Arsenal in 1973 after being controversially dropped, and enjoyed four successful years at QPR. He retired from playing in 1977, to make an ill-conceived and hasty move into management. Following this difficult period he entered the often shady world of agents, and faced perhaps his worst moment in the game, becoming involved in the infamous bung scandal over Teddy Sherringham''s transfer from Forest to Spurs. His is a captivating football story spanning 45 years during which he achieved fabulous success and faced shattering lows, all told with enthusiasm, humour, honesty and intense passion.

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Book Synopsis''For me, he is England''s greatest ever player'' Gary Lineker''Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world'' Manchester United FCSir Bobby Charlton was Manchester United through and through. He was a member of the original Busby Babes and devoted his career to the club, playing in 754 games over 17 years. During that period he won everything the game had to offer, played alongside some of the greats such as Best and Law, suffered devastating defeats and was involved in one of the greatest football tragedies of all time. Here is his story of those United years in his own words. With his beloved Reds he tasted FA Cup victory in the emotional final of 1963, won three first division championships and in 1968 he reached the pinnacle of club success, winning the European Cup. Inevitably, such highs are balanced with no less dramatic lows, such as the 1957 European CuTrade Review'For anyone who loves football, this book cannot be ignored' * Leo McKinstry, The Times *'beautifully crafted' * Daily Mail *'enthralling' * Scotsman *'It is the greatest story of British sport' * Sunday Express *'With many autobiographies you wonder what the point was. Not this one. Not only is Bobby Charlton a figure whose life story should be told, but he has done so in a book of at times agonising honesty' * FourFourTwo *'It's a fantastic book. I couldn't put it down. It has everything I would want a player of mine to know and feel about the game. Bobby Charlton is a great man and he has told a great story' * Sir Alex Ferguson *

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Book SynopsisWhen the Leeds United players celebrated winning the championship in April 1992, they had no idea how momentous the occasion was. Manchester United, losers at Liverpool that Sunday afternoon, had now gone 25 years without winning the league. Howard Wilkinson''s side, promoted just two seasons ago, could bring back the glory days to Leeds. But Wilkinson would prove to be the last English manager to win the league. In 1992, football changed beyond all recognition.The Last Champions explores the roots of that success and the amazing cast of characters who came together to fashion the triumph. As in his acclaimed book The Fallen, Dave Simpson''s quest to catch up with the protagonists of the era, from the visionary Sergeant Wilko, top scorer Lee Chapman and unsung heroes like Mike Whitlow and Carl Shutt (not forgetting Eric Cantona), sees him unearth some extraordinary untold stories.And he finds that The Last Champions were also the last ordinary people toTrade ReviewIn just three and a half seasons, following almost a decade in the wilderness, Wilkinson transformed a relegation-threatened second-level side into League winners. The sheer size of the achievement has finally been given the recognition it deserves in The Last Champions. To put it into context, imagine Southampton winning the Premier League title in 2013-14. That is what Wilkinson and his players achieved and it is what makes this story so special and worthy of Simpson's insightful homage. -- Simon Creasey * When Saturday Comes *I really enjoyed the book... it's a great read -- Lee "Chappy" Chapman, Leeds United centre forward, League Championship winner, 1991-92Unbearably poignant. Simpson neatly captures football's key appeal, the way it can restore the simple certainties of childhood. These men are now postmen, pensioners, disabled, successful, travel agents and the seemingly lost. But they talk with equal wonder about their greatest season * The Last Word *A welcome reclamation of Wilkinson's success... breaks the mould in exploring team-building. As Simpson so wistfully explains, we shall probably never see their like again... Clearly written by a fan. -- Juliet Jacques * New Statesman *Excellent book * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between mental health and elite sport has found itself under more intense scrutiny in recent years. This has occurred as a result of the increasing number of elite athletes who have chosen to talk about the mental health challenges that they have faced during their careers. It is also reflective of an emerging body of academic work that seeks to make sense of the interplay that exists between mental health and elite sport. Mental Health and Sport: Supporting Elite Athletes is offered as a further contribution to that body of work; one that is designed to benefit practitioners who are already working with elite athletes, and those who aspire to do so. It does so by providing a foundational understanding of mental health, by introducing some of the challenges that elite athletes can face during their careers, and by making some practical recommendations that can be used to help support the mental health of elite athletes. Split into six substantive chapters tha

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the meanings, significances, and impacts of the complex identities that soccer fans, especially those of men's soccer, represent worldwide. The chapters in this volume construct and reconstruct fandom in terms of diverse fan affiliations from local to global level, and from national to transnational spaces.Soccer or (association) football is a game where fans come alive with one goal. It is soccerâs fanbase that has made it the most popular mass spectator sport in the world. Since the sportâs growth and its codification in the late nineteenth century, soccer and its followers became markers of varied identities. This volume is an attempt to understand the soccer fanâs tryst with such identities, mostly at the level of professional menâs football in different parts of the world. Fans create, represent, break, recreate, transcend, complicate and confuse diverse identities in their attachments with and loyalties to particular clubs, nations, continents, spaces, communities, races, ethnicities, and players. These identities are given shape through the display and observance of diverse forms of fandom and fan subcultures. Against this wider backdrop, the book brings out the commonalities, conflicts and tensions within these fan identities.Why Fans Matter? Fans and Identities in the Soccer World will be a fascinating read for anybody with an interest in sport and its intersection with disciplines such as sociology, political science, history, media studies, or cultural studies.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Soccer & Society.

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Book Synopsis‘Gus Poyet declared it to be the toughest league in England. Neil Warnock went further, believing it to be the tightest division in Europe. Norwich boss Daniel Farke went further still: “The Championship, without any doubt, is the toughest league in the world.”’   On the final day of the 2019/20 season, only four clubs in the Championship, England’s second tier of soccer, had nothing to play for, everyone else was fighting for promotion or survival. It’s stats like this that give the league its well-deserved reputation as the most exciting league in football. Anything can happen, and often does.   In The Hard Yards, Nige Tassell tells the Championship’s stories, uncovers its hidden gems and takes the reader on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the 2020/21 season. Following three clubs in particular – newly promoted Wycombe Wanderers, newly relegated Bournemouth and stalwarts Sheffield Trade Review'There's a brilliant story on every page. Remarkable insight.' -- Adrian Chiles

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Book SynopsisFirst book to cover the story of our national game on the English Home Front during the First World War, filling an important gap in histories of football, wartime sport and civilian life.

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Book SynopsisEverything you ever needed to know about the Wolves.

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Book SynopsisThousands of fiendish questions, on both the Premiership and international football, to tax even the most avid fan

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Book SynopsisOverpaid players. Sunday lunchtime kick-offs. Absurd ticket prices. Non-black boots. Football's menu of ills is long. Where has the joy gone? Why do we bother? Saturday, 3pm offers a glorious antidote. It is here to remind you that football can still sing to your heart. Warm, heartfelt and witty, here are fifty short essays of prose poetry dedicated to what is good in the game. These are not wallowing nostalgia; they are things that remain sweet and right: seeing a ground from the train, brackets on vidiprinters, ball hitting bar, Jimmy Armfield's voice, listening to the results in a traffic jam, football towns and autograph-hunters. This is fan culture at its finest, words to transport you somewhere else and identify with, words to hide away in a pub and luxuriate in. Saturday, 3pm is a book of love letters to football and a clarion call, helping us find the romance in the game all over again.Trade ReviewEach is a precision-tooled delight… even apparently obvious subjects are described with such lyricism that the everyday is routinely transformed into the sublime… here is a book that contains nothing but pure, unadulterated joy * When Saturday Comes magazine *Delightfully written…countless little gems of recognition and satisfaction, many of them very funny… a lovely little thing * The Daily Telegraph *Lovingly crafted prose-poetry…a wonderful antidote to the money-sodden excesses of the modern game * Late Tackle magazine *I love this book, I had enormous fun reading it…a great book -- Matt Williams * Simon Mayo Drivetime show, BBC Radio 2 *Really nicely written. A brilliant book. Romantic, very recognisable things. -- James Brown * TalkSport *The author has compiled some wonderful things about our national game…I love this book. Wonderful. A delightful book. * BBC Manchester *A loveletter to nice things about football…fifty perfect little essays. A beautiful book. * BBC Tees *A wonderful book. * Off the Ball, BBC Scotland *I commend this book. Two pages are worth ten cliché-ridden football books. It evokes the nodal points of football memory. -- Archie McPherson * BBC Scotland *Full of eternal delight. I loved it to pieces. Hymns that evoke the essence of the game. A fantastic book. * The Anfield Wrap *If you've ever wondered why people love football, the answers lie within...a damn good read. -- Val McDermidA warm, smiling celebration of football’s quirks, and of ours. Never mind how good a writer Daniel Gray is: what an eye he’s got. You’ll never watch a game again without liking some daft little moment and wishing you could share it with him. -- Michael Grant * The Times *A sonnet to football, whimsical and deeply rewarding. -- Stuart Roy Clarke * Homes of Football *A real midget gem of a book that fits perfectly into a jacket pocket for reading on the way to the match, or indeed during it if you're an England fan. -- Harry Pearson * author The Far Corner *Gray beautifully articulates the pleasure offered by such pursuits as jeering passes that go out of play, listening to the results in the car, and spying a ground from the train window...his prose is exquisite...a physically slim but spiritually hefty treat. * Pitch & Page Books of the Year 2016 *Table of ContentsPreface: Or, finding some things to love 1 Seeing a ground from the train 2 Watching an away end erupt 3 Getting the fixture list 4 Club shops 5 Saturday, 3pm 6 Spotting a fellow supporter elsewhere 7 Listening to the results in a car 8 Ball hitting bar 9 Pre-match routines 10 The first day of the season 11 Slide tackles in mud 12 Watching youth games in the park 13 Carrying on regardless 14 Belonging 15 Fat players 16 Jeering Passes that go out of play 17 Catering vans 18 Going with Dad 19 Jimmy Armfield's voice 20 Headers 21 Floodlights 22 Talking to an old man about football 23 Visiting a ground for the first time 24 Physiotherapist 'races' 25 Local lads 'coming through' 26 Sunday score pages 27 Shirts on a line 28 Defensive walls and drop-balls 29 Club eccentrics 30 Losing 31 Watching in bad weather 32 My daughter listening at the window 33 Singing 34 Brackets in scorelines 35 Standing on a terrace 36 When the ball goes in the crowd 37 Knowing where you are 38 Footballese 39 Time-wasting 40 Being at a junction station on matchday 41 Collectors 42 Football towns 43 Striking up a football conversation on a social occasion 44 Solid fixtures 45 Club nicknames 46 The 'hectic Christmas schedules' 47 Outfield players in goal 48 Seeing a team bus 49 Watching people get player autographs 50 The last day of the season Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2022 The life and times of Don Revie one of the most complex and controversial men ever to grace the game of football. Whenever the greatest managers the game has ever produced are mentioned, names like Busby, Shankly, Paisley and Ferguson trip off the tongue. Despite dominating the game in the late 1960s and ''70s there is one name missing: Don Revie, the former Leeds United and England manager. Revie was one of the most complex and controversial men ever to grace the game of football. As a player, he was crowned Footballer of the Year and credited with creating the modern centre-forward. As a manager, he took a Leeds United side languishing in the lower half of the second division and turned them into not only league champions, but one of the most dominant sides in the country. As England manager, Revie lost the magic touch and became increasingly indecisive. After three years in thTrade ReviewA no-holds-barred insight that convinces the reader that Don Revie stands amongst the giants of English football -- Lord MannExcellent book… an honest and balanced assessment of Don Revie’s career -- Johnny Giles, legendary Leeds United midfielderA superb read which explains in detail the extraordinary life and times of one of English football's most successful and controversial figures… -- Alex Montgomery, former Chairman of the Football Writers' Association and chief football writerAn essential read for any football fan to chart the rise and fall of an enigmatic England manager -- Ryan Sabey * The Sun *From hero to zero to post-humous redemption – Evans tells a tale of great human strengths and weaknesses that will resonate well beyond the world of football -- Guto Harri, strategic comms adviser and broadcasterThis meticulously researched and expertly crafted exploration of the genius and human generosity of Don Revie lifts the veil of controversy from the legacy of one of football’s greatest managers. -- Jeff Powell, the Daily Mail’s multi-award winning sportswriterGripping... -- Michael Dobbs * The Spectator *Table of ContentsForeword by Leeds United legend John Giles Prologue PART ONE 1 Beginnings 2 Leicester City (1944 – 49) 3 Hull City (1949 – 51) 4 Manchester City (1951 – 56) 5 Sunderland (1956 – 58) PART TWO 6 Leeds United (1958 – 61) 7 Leeds United (1961 – 63) 8 Leeds United (1963 – 64) 9 Leeds United (1964 – 65) 10 Leeds United (1965 – 66) 11 Leeds United (1966 – 67) 12 Leeds United (1967 – 68) 13 Leeds United (1968 – 69) 14 Leeds United (1969 – 70) 15 Leeds United (1970 – 71) 16 Leeds United (1971 – 72) 17 Leeds United (1972 – 73) 18 Leeds United (1973 – 74) 19 Leeds United (1974) PART THREE 20 England (1974 – 75) 21 England (1975 – 77) PART FOUR 22 In the Desert (1977 – 83) 23 Back Home (1984 – 1989) Epilogue – No Time For Redemption Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2022''Anyone wanting an example of never being beaten should look at the incredible Francis Benali.'' Alan Shearer''Honest, revealing story of a strong man who pushed his body to its limits and beyond on and off the pitch. Incredible read.'' Henry Winter, The Times''The iron man with a will of steel and a heart of gold. Truly fran-tastic!'' - Jeff Stelling, Soccer Saturday-------Francis Benali is a Southampton Football Club legend and a celebrated charity endurance athlete, and he''s ready to tell his story.Francis ''Franny'' Benali played football for 20 years for Southampton FC in nearly 400 games, almost his entire career. His utter dedication to the club caused him to be a hero to Saints fans around the world.Written with the acclaimed Daily Mail sportswriter Matt Barlow, this book detailsTrade ReviewAnyone wanting an example of never being beaten should look at the incredible Francis Benali. -- Alan ShearerHonest, revealing story of a strong man who pushed his body to its limits and beyond on and off the pitch. Incredible read. -- Henry Winter * The Times *Franny’s refusal to ever accept defeat made him a top-flight footballer and a top-flight fundraiser. The iron man with a will of steel and a heart of gold. Truly fran-tastic! -- Jeff Stelling, Soccer Saturday presenterProbably the most selfless man I’ve ever met, you need to read his story * Matt Le Tissier *Franny was one of the last proper football sportsmen, he gave everything, always -- Chris Packham, Wildlife TV presenter & conservationist – and Saints supporterTough, passionate and dedicated, Franny is a Premier League legend. These tales from his playing career and his endurance challenges make for an incredible read. * Dermot Gallagher, Former Premier League Manager *Franny has always been an inspiration... from squeezing every last drop of ability to become a fans’ favourite – to raising so much money for charity. All done with class and dignity. * Ed Chamberlin, sports presenter *Table of ContentsForeword by Matthew Le Tissier Preface: To the Limit 1. Born a Saint 2. Breaking In 3. Red Mist 4. Changing Game 5. Survival Mode 6. Cult Hero 7. Was That It? 8. After Football 9. A New Buzz 10. Challenge One 2014 11. Challenge Two 2016 12. Challenge Three 2019 13. One in a Million Index

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Book Synopsis'A powerful and moving book - it's quite a battle he has faced' Nick Robinson, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme'It really is an interesting read' Dan Walker, BBC Breakfast*INCLUDES A FOREWORD BY SIR ALEX FERGUSON*__________'I'm not sure whether life prepared me for football, or football prepared me for life.'Misconceptions have stalked Andy Cole like a hatchet-man defender determined to cut him down to size. Now, in his candid and inspirational autobiography, Cole finally puts his side of the story.In the world of modern-day football, Andy Cole's reserved demeanour, combined with belief in his own ability, was often interpreted as an attitude problem that overshadowed his natural aptitude for goalscoring. Throughout his glittering career, he scored 187 Premier League goals, won 5 Premier League titles and 1 Champions League trophy.Now, two decades on from United's historic Treble, he not only gives the inside track on Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke and other members of that illustrious side, but also opens up about his fractious relationship with Teddy Sheringham and reveals the prejudices and preconceptions he had to contend with in his twenty years in the game.Compelling in its honesty and frankness, Fast Forward is the thought-provoking story of one man's determination to succeed and survive against all the odds.

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Book Synopsis'TERRIFIC' - Daily Mail'ONE OF THE UNDISPUTED GREATS' - Sun'ENGAGING, HONEST AND UNSENTIMENTAL . . . RIVETING' - David Walsh, The Sunday Times'Why me? How could a boy from a Copenhagen tower block say I want to be a champion with Manchester United and Denmark and make it happen?'Peter Schmeichel is a giant of football, who won more Premier League titles (five) than any player in his position and captained Manchester United in the incomparable, last-gasp Treble-clinching win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final. 'I don't believe a better goalkeeper played the game,' Sir Alex Ferguson said. One: My Autobiography is Schmeichel's story.In it, he takes us inside the remarkable, winning environment of a club that transformed football during the 1990s, and on to the pitch on that crazy, breathless night in Barcelona in 1999. From Ferguson's unique gifts to Eric Cantona's unique personality, he delivers a close-up and insightful portrait of United's golden era.However, One: My Autobiography goes way beyond the pitch.Schmeichel has an incredible family story to tell, starting with his father, Antoni, a brilliant Polish jazz musician who battled demons and for years kept a momentous secret from those around him. And he explores what he has been able to pass on to his own son, Kasper - himself a Premier League-winning goalkeeper and number one in the Danish national side.Peter's life after football, seldom straightforward, is described with astonishing candour. One: My Autobiography is about football, origins, journeys and legacy.Trade ReviewIt's comforting to know that one of the football heroes of my formative years is every bit the role model that I always thought him to be * On Magazine *One . . . is way beyond the glorified sporting diaries that crowd the shelves at this time of year . . . splendidly rendered * Irish Independent *Peter Schmeichel charts his exceptionally successful goalkeeping career alongside the remarkable story of his family * Irish Times’ Best Sport books of the year *The best autobiographies are always the ones written when the passing of time allows events to be considered and evaluated in proper perspective . . . Genuine candour runs through the story . . . A quite riveting story * Backpass Magazine *This is much more than the usual footballer's life story . . . It's warm, frank and conversational in tone . . . Terrific * Daily Mail, 2021's best books for sports fans *The story of one of the undisputed greats * Sun, Best Books for Christmas *A rollercoaster ride through the life of the Danish and Manchester United goalkeeper * Evening Standard, Memoirs of the Year *Engaging, honest and unsentimental . . . riveting * David Walsh, The Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis*OUT NOW*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Neville at his authentic best. [He] is the closest thing to a spokesman there is for English football.' Sunday Times 'Brilliant.' Mail on Sunday'Gary Neville usually talks a lot of sense, and writes it too . . . Neville's words are timely.' Henry Winter, The Times'The People's Game is [Gary's] call to mend football, harmed by the greed and selfishness of bigger clubs and associations.' Radio Times __________The beautiful game is under threat. The greed and selfishness of the biggest clubs is harming the sport, with smaller clubs struggling for financial survival and supporters being left behind.It's time to fix football. __________Football is the people's game. A sport accessible to everyone and enjoyed by millions around the world.But football is broken. Beneath the glamourous sheen of the Premier League, it's a game that's rusting and rotten. The growing influence and wealth of the biggest teams is harming the game, leaving fans out of pocket and smaller clubs clinging to survival. The European Super League, which looked to eradicate competition in favour of guaranteed profits, was just the beginning. This isn't what football is about. Something's got to change. Enough is enough. Gary Neville has had a front-row seat in football for over 30 years, witnessing the sport at every level - as a player, a coach, a pundit and an owner. Most of all, he's a fan. Shocked by the state of the game, Gary looks to find out how we got into this mess, who's responsible, and what we can do about it. The People's Game is Gary's vision for a brighter future. Drawing on interviews with those at the epicentre of the sport's biggest issues - from the role of ownership to the lack of funding in the football league, the rise in racism, ownership models and the future of the women's game - he explains how football has sleepwalked into this mess and offers a new path forward. With stories from his own playing career, as well as insight into some of the biggest footballing decisions in recent history, this is a total look at the game today. This is a passionate, personal and critical account of how football lost its soul, and what we can do to get it back. __________

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Book Synopsis'Meijer's portrait is definitive'iNews'Ten Hag may just be the man to bring the glory days back'Daily StarWho is Erik ten Hag? Calm and cool-headed, he ignores critics, follows his own methods and relentlessly pursues perfection on the pitch. His uncanny ability to analyse and solve problems - the 'process' as Ten Hag calls it - has unfailingly led to breakthrough. There is no magic. There is only intelligence at work, personal devotion to players and near-obsessive attention to detail.At Ajax, Ten Hag brooked no dissent and moulded his team into a smoothly operating unit of attack. His team enjoyed an astonishing run, winning three league cups in a row and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a quarter of a century. Along the way, they produced some of the brightest and most entertaining football seen in Europe for years.Maarten Meijer's definitive biography follows Erik ten Hag, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside to his domestic triumphs and European victories. Meijer's book is the ultimate guide to the man with the momentous task of ending a decade of disappointment at Manchester United, and beginning a new era of great and winning football.Trade ReviewMeijer's portrait is definitive * iNews *Erik ten Hag has the Midas touch * Daily Telegraph *Ten Hag's United are unstoppable * The Times *Ten Hag may just be the man to bring the glory days back * Daily Star *Part father figure and part tactical genius, Ten Hag is a perfect fit for United -- The Times

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisIN SOCCER parlance Hull City FC have constantly been classified as â??sleeping giantsâ?? because they have invariably flattered to deceive and failed to fulfil their potential. Every so often they have emerged from their slumber to go through highly-successful periods when they have proved to their solid fan base that they do have the makings of a big-city club. But more frequently they have also had their comatose spells when they have unerringly failed to live up to expectations and have frustrated their faithful followers. This is the story of Hull before all of the Premiership glory and Cup Final appearance which followed and shows where the club came from.

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Book SynopsisFormed in March 1892 by disaffected members of none other than Everton, two years later the club set the standard for future generations by storming to the Second Division title. Before World War One, Liverpool had twice been crowned champions of English football, a feat they repeated in consecutive seasons in the 1920s, then another in the 40''s and twice more in the 60''s under Shankley. Now Liverpool were on the brink of a staggering run of successes including 11 League championships up to 1990 â?? and so it went on: thrice European champions, five FA Cup Final victories to 1992 and two UEFA Cup Final wins. The Liverpool Collection covers all these great eras, with around 200 fascinating photographs of the players and the matches which will be a wonderful record of the greatest days in the history of this great club.

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Book SynopsisIt was a tragedy unparalleled in sporting history and still affecting the club today. Unlike Manchester United after Munich, the Torino club has never been able to recover from that awful moment. Fifty years after the tragedy of Superga, Alexandra Manna and Mike Gibbs revisited Turin to see an entire city pay homage to the memory of those who died. The experience made a profound impression upon them and they resolved to find out more. The result is this book."

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Book SynopsisThe Wanderers have a wonderful history, the story of their journey through football which their motto â??Supera Morasâ?? translated as â??to overcome all difficulties,â?? emphasises them in its entirety. A founder member of the football league they have been a major force in football and are known worldwide. There are many photographs to accompany this wonderful account of a great football club that rose from humble beginnings in a Lancashire mill town. The book is an historical information narrative in yearly format detailing all the successes they have achieved in all competitions and every player involved is shown in a detailed account, with additional information on the other teams involved. There is an extra chapter dedicated to Nat Lofthouse and charts his career, again with numerous pictures to accompany it.

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Book SynopsisJuly 1966. Wembley Stadium, England v. Mexico. Charlton enters the opposition half and lets fly. On a 12 inch black and white television, a seven-year-old boy sees his first ever goal and at the same time falls in love with the place where it was scored. April 1967. Brisbane Road E10, Leyton Orient v. Swindon Town. The lads first live game. A thrilling goalless draw and his life was mapped out - heâ??s fallen in love with the Orient. Two different passions and a desire begins to want to watch his team play at the legendary venue. May 29th 1999. Destination finally reached. This is the story of all that happened to the little club in the east end of London and a passionate follower of theirs in the thirty-two years in between. This is the tale of a long road to Wembley.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThere are many quality football coaches in the game at every level who feel that defending is more about mentality than tactics, that defending topics do not need to be part of every training session. With its more than 190 defending drills to train players, this book seeks to reestablish balance in tactical planning and in training design by examining every aspect of individual and team defending, making it easy for the coach to incorporate tackling, defending roles, pressing, defending set-pieces, and many more topics into team training. It is the complete guide to mastering defending in football. The 1990 World Cup in Italy was infamous for generating the lowest-ever goals per game average, and since then, tactical thought has focused heavily and consistently on flexible attacking designed to break down and defeat defending in depth. This book argues that the next tactical revolution belongs to the defending side of the ball, and it features complex, layered defending, blending postures and pressures designed to keep an attacking team off balance throughout the match.

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Book Synopsis'Probably the biggest story in football of the last decade ... Reads like a Cold War thriller.' - Best Football Books of 2019, FourFourTwo ***One anonymous football fan.18.6 million confidential documents. The explosive story of the shady underworld of modern football.In 2016, a whistle-blower known only as 'John' began leaking a treasure trove of top-secret files, revealing the clandestine dealings of clubs, players and agents at the highest levels of international football.From the eye-popping details of player transfers, to loopholes and opaque tax structures that ensure maximum earnings, this is a tale of rapacious greed and dodgy deals. It is also a gripping story of a fan who wanted to free football from corruption, but finds himself on the run.

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Book Synopsis'For those of you missing your football fix, anything by Michael Calvin is worth a read – the hugely respected sports journalist writes eloquently about the modern game in page turner State of Play.'DAILY MIRROR_______________________________________________________LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDAward-winning author of The Nowhere Men, Living on the Volcano and No Hunger in Paradise returns with his magnum opus on the state of modern footballFirst he revealed the extraordinary lives of football scouts in The Nowhere Men.Next he unearthed the pressures on football managers in Living on the Volcano.Then he chronicled the hardships of young players striving to make it in No Hunger in Paradise.Now in State of Play, in what marks the pinnacle of a career investigating the human stories of football, award-winning writer Michael Calvin turns his eye to the biggest story of all - the game itself.From mental health to money, concussion to Champions league, fan-owners to oligarchs, women's football to world cups, Calvin gets under the skin of the beautiful game, and reveals why it is truly the game of our lives.Based on hundreds of hours of interviews with leading figures around the world, from Arsene Wenger to Steven Gerrard, Calvin reveals the winners, the losers, the politics, the pleasure, the hope, and the despair of the world's most popular sport.Trade ReviewOne of the issues Calvin explores in his most recent book State of Play is the need for more emotionally intelligent managers and coaches in football, as epitomised by England manager Gareth Southgate. * CNN Sport *As enthralling and insightful as any fans of Mike’s previous books would expect -- Matt Williams * Simon Mayo’s Books of the Year Podcast *A grandstand view of the beautiful game . . . Calvin draws on his own frontline reporting as well as interviews with leading football figures to present an exhaustive portrait of the modern game. * Radio Times *Thought-provoking and well-wrought. * The Sunday Times *Michael Calvin has done the game a massive service with this broad ranging, hard-hitting and exceptionally well researched book and he has also written it in a beautiful, lucid prose style. * Greville Waterman Review *

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Book SynopsisThe Man Who Made A Football ClubSir Matt Busby, who took Manchester United to unprecedented glory before seeing the club through profound tragedy, created the global entity that spreads from Old Trafford today.A player with Manchester City and Liverpool before the Second World War, Busby remained at the forefront of football through four decades and made an extraordinary contribution to the game in terms of both style and substance. In this definitive biography, Patrick Barclay looks back at Busby’s phenomenal life and career, including the rise of the Busby Babes in the 1950s, the Munich disaster that claimed 23 lives and the Wembley victory ten years on that made United the first English team to win the European Cup. Denis Law, Pat Crerand and such other members of that great side as Alex Stepney, David Sadler and John Aston are among the host of voices testifying to the qualities that set Sir Matt apart.This is the story of one of the greatest figures in football history, and of the making of a legacy that will last for ever.Trade ReviewMany new books with a sporting theme are tumbling onto the shelves but I doubt any will be superior to the illuminating and comprehensive biography of Sir Matt Busby by the irrepressible football sage Patrick Barclay The events and emotions are recounted with haunting eloquence by Barclay: a master of his craft. -- Jim Holden * Sunday Express *Patrick Barclay’s magnificent biography of Sir Matt Busby -- Alan Pattullo * Scotland on Sunday *‘Sir Matt Busby’s story has been told many times but, rarely with such perception and scholarly attention to detail’ ‘ a stunning biography ... destined to become a classic of its genre’ -- Patrick Collins‘An outstanding book’ -- Phil Shaw * Backpass *‘Superbly written … a book all football fans should read.’ -- Michael Crick

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Book SynopsisThe Beautiful Badge tells the fascinating story behind the UK's football club badges, from 1860s hand-embroidered symbols on home-knitted jerseys to today's multi-million pound brands. The book not only covers hammers, cannon and Liver birds but also reveals the link between Peterhead FC and Viz comic; which TV celebrity designed Aldershot Town FC's badge; and whose GBP10 doodle became the opposition's badge. Some clubs have sported ten or more different badges over the decades, ranging from their town's coat of arms to cartoon insects and initials. Promotion, moving to a new stadium or an owner with controversial views often results in a new badge. The book plots the influence of fashion, technology and fans, and investigates the tensions between clubs and supporters over changes to their beloved badge. Do you know why your club's badge looks the way it does? The Beautiful Badge is essential reading for football enthusiasts, historians, designers and anyone who enjoys putting their feet up in the boot room.

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Book SynopsisFifteen Barnsley footballing legends tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, pulling on the famous red shirt. Local lad Mick McCarthy recalls the moment he was selected for his first game representing his boyhood team, revealing how dearly he holds the club, the fans and one person in particular all these years later. Arjan de Zeeuw talks about how he was smuggled into a hotel when he was still an unknown, and was told he was signing for an English club. In the end he was delighted that his career in England started at Barnsley, going on to describe how it felt to do the unthinkable at Anfield during the club's only Premier League season. Oakwell legends including Marley Watkins, Lewin Nyatanga, Marc Richards, Paul Hayes, Brian Howard, Adie Moses, Darren Barnard and Stephen Foster also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives.

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Book SynopsisThe 1970s saw a change in the fortunes of the Scottish national side. After a gap of 16 years World Cup qualification was achieved for the finals in West Germany in 1974. Credited as the only undefeated side at the tournament, the sobering trip to Argentina four years later prompted more realistic future expectations. In a decade in which the SFA celebrated its centenary, the scandal of the Copenhagen Five and a breakdown in relations between the press and players were significant events - while, on the park, players of the calibre of Dalglish, Hartford, Jordan, Souness and McQueen replaced the old guard. Scotland in the 70s looks beyond the decade's 89 matches, examining the role of the managers - Brown, Docherty, Ormond, MacLeod, Stein - and the circumstances surrounding the many memorable games. Extensive newspaper and video archive research is complemented by the memories of star contributors including Bobby Brown, Archie MacPherson, Asa Hartford, Eddie Gray, Willie Morgan, Willie Johnston, Lou Macari, Bobby Clark, Jimmy Bone and John Blackley.

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