Association football (Soccer) Books

Book SynopsisIt was the look and the attitude that defined the UK in the 1980s. It was 'a culture unto its own' that brought with it an unforgettable style that was as important as the team. It was about confrontation and being involved, a good fight and being part of the mob. This was the Casual movement - a new breed of football fan, bringing with them a new way to terrorise the terraces. Scotland led the way, and of them all, Aberdeen football club's Aberdeen Soccer Casuals (the ASC) became the most notorious, most feared and most copied mob in the country. Told from a unique perspective at the heart of the action, this is their explosive and exhilarating story. Forthright, honest and passionate, this is the only account you'll ever need to read about the most formidable fans in Scotland. It's time to meet the Aberdeen Soccer Casuals.

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Book SynopsisA schoolboy prodigy, it was always clear that McCoist was destined for top flight football. At just 16 he signed his first professional contract with St Johnstone, shooting to prominence in the 1980/81 season, scoring 22 league goals and playing a starrring role for the Scottish youth team. He was soon hot property. After two years of mixed fortunes at Sunderland, McCoist returned to Scotland and signed for his boyhood heroes Glasgow Rangers. Over the next fifteen years, he established himslef as arguably the greatest goal-scorer ever to play for the club. He not only gave heart and soul for Rangers but was also capped 61 times for Scotland. An authoritative and affectionate portrait of this much-loved sportsman, Ally McCoist - Portrait of a Hero charts the highs and lows of a fascinating career, culminating in McCoist reaching legendary status. It also looks at the events that helped to shape his life - overcoming homesickness when first playing for an English club, the effects his parents' seperation had on him and how he coped when his young son had to undergo several life-saving operations. Having hung up his books, Ally's vibrant personality made him a natural for the television screen. Now, however, he has come full circle and returned 'home' to be assistant manager at his beloved Rangers. This wonderful book is a must-read for any football fan or indeed for anyone captivated by this larger-than-life character.

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Book SynopsisThe Dundee Utility stands apart from other football firms. Its members are drawn not from the supporters of one team, but from two - Dundee United and Dundee FC - all of whom share the same passion: their city. The two bands of fans stand united, except on derby day, of course! In this compelling book, authors Kenny McCall and John Robb present the complete inside story of the Utility from their unique positions, each supporting Dundee United and Dundee respectively.

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Book SynopsisOver the years, the mobs of Preston North End have fronted up to infamous football firms such as the Chelsea Headhunters, the Birmingham City Zulus and the Leeds Service Crew, to name just a few. Although the Preston lads were often lacking in big numbers, they were always prepared to stand their ground and have a go, knowing that it was quality, not quantity that would count when standing toe to toe with their rivals. In this brutally honest book, staunch PNE fan Bill Routledge recalls the days when the dawn of Saturdays signalled a rush of adrenalin and a wave of anticipation; a time for the lads to put aside the worries of the working week and experience the buzz of mayhem on the terraces. He describes a time when music and fashion were vital to the identity of the firms, as well as examining the history of violence at Preston North End, the roots of the different factions and how they got their names. Together with other faces from the PNE firms, he details hair-raising tales of violent clashes with other mobs, as well as the fans' misdemeanours on foreign soil. This fascinating insight into life on the frontline is as shocking as it is exciting - but it's not short of laughs either. It is a truthful account of the highs and lows of being a devoted, passionate football fan waiting for glory.

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Book SynopsisNorth of Kirkcaldy, lucky are those - from Levenmouth through the East Neuk to the Tay - who can count East Fife as their Club. It is, by some standards, a very young team, founded some 20 years after Raith Rovers, and a good 30 years after senior football had begun to take off. The first Scotland International was played in 1872, and the first Scottish Cup final took place in 1874, yet East Fife didn’t kick their first football until 1903. The other teams got off to a good start, but East Fife caught up. They played in Methil at Bayview, from where in 1927 the team reached the Scottish Cup Final and, in 1938, won the trophy, all while in the Second Division. After the Second World War came three great League Cup triumphs in 1947/48, 1949/50 and 1953/54, before teams like Celtic and Hearts had even appeared in a final. In 1998, the club moved to a new ground, much closer to the sea, and sometimes called New Bayview. The story of these achievements includes tales of players – famous and less well-known – and of managers, supporters, referees, chairmen, directors and club officials. There are over 100 photographs of players, teams, strips, and crowds. Plus a full Index of names, clubs, grounds, competitions, newspapers, sponsors and spiders. In the words of the author: `Every East Fife supporter would love to see the great days come back. It does not look, at the moment, all that likely, it has to be said, but then who am I to say that?’

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Book SynopsisAlex McKinven's passion for football has been life-long - first as a player and then as a manager - and that passion shines through in this book, the first comprehensive history of the game in Campbeltown, which documents the evolution of local football from the late 19th century to the present day. The local narrative is adeptly interwoven with national and international developments in the game. The local teams are all here - Academicals, Hearts, Glenside, Kintyre, Pupils, United, and dozens more - along with a huge cast of players, including the greatest exponents of the game Campbeltown ever produced, Neil McBain and Peter Pursell, both capped for Scotland, Peter's brother Bob, Jamie Brown and John Durnin, and a string of others who played professionally both in England and in Scotland. And an Italian internationalist, Giovanni Moscardini, earns a chapter to himself, thanks to two seasons as a Pupils player in the mid-1920s.Outstanding matches in the history of the local game - cup-ties and league clashes, some attracting spectators in their thousands - have been reconstructed from newspaper reports to present a series of vivid, tension-filled commentaries redolent of vanished loyalties. This book, which is enhanced by a fascinating collection of photographs spanning more than a century, will entertain and inform not only fans of 'the beautiful game' in Alex's native Kintyre, but also worldwide.

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Book SynopsisFootball has evolved on a massive scale. Transfer fees have reached the hundreds of millions and if the growth remains unchecked the sport will reach imponderable heights. The global pandemic of 2020 provided a stark illustration of the game’s sense of priority. Mounting death rates failed to stifle the rapidly convened debates about the practicalities of getting football back up and running. Yet for all the game’s burgeoning development and inflated sense of importance, we will never lose our love of those foibles and eccentricities which remind us of football’s tendency to regress into its rawest format. This book is about the crazy goings-on in the history of Ayr United and, to a lesser degree, Ayr FC and Parkhouse. What happens when the goalkeeper doesn’t turn up? What can be done when the ball bursts? Why did an opposition player don a disguise? It is tantamount to a reality check. Football’s unpredictability extends to far more than unexpected results. It has the capacity to create scenarios that could not even be dreamt of. Boxers versus Jockeys at Somerset Park – let that one sink in!

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Book SynopsisJohn 'Budgie' Burridge is a true journeyman pro and a hero to football fans up and down the country. In a unique career spanning 30 years, Budgie played 771 league games for 29 teams and became the oldest player ever to appear in the Premier League. Highly respected as a goalkepper, but denounced by many as an 'oddball', Budgie was famous for the madcap antics. And the Burridge story was far from over when he finally retired in 1997, at the age of 47. He lapsed into depression and spent months in the Priory Clinic as he struggled badly to cope with the void in his life. He then became player-manager at non-league Blyth Spartans - only to be convicted for dealing in counterfeit leisurewear. Together with his wife of more than 30 years, Budgie moved to Oman to take up a coaching post with the national team. He sustained serious injuries when he was knocked down by a car in 1999, but is back in rude health and is now a TV pundit and newspaper columnist. Burridge is still fascinating and funny to this day, and this tell-all autobiography reveals the truth behind his astonishing football career.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Philip Abrams Memorial Book Prize 2001 'No one likes us, we dont care' is the anthem of the most notorious fans in British football. But little is known about the actual people who generated and continue to maintain this most infamous of working-class subcultures. In addition to the voices of the fans themselves, this book provides a rich and original account of the historical background, social sources, expressive culture and ritual practices of Millwallism, a far more complex, meaningful and anthropologically compelling phenomenon than the media stereotypes suggest. The author argues that Millwall functions in the popular consciousness as a powerful symbol: specific understandings of football hooliganism, working-class masculinity, and violent neo-fascism are triggered by its use in the media and in everyday social interaction. There are, it follows, few social groups as heavily mythologized as Millwall fans. Further, the generation and maintenance of this myth has significance far beyond the club itself, and is rooted in the meanings attached to working-class identities and modernity, masculinity and the body. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in Millwall, the issues of football hooliganism or working-class masculinity, sociology, anthropology, or sports studies.Trade Review'An immediate classic.'Culture, Sport and Society 'Garry Robson does his subject proud and in coining the term 'Millwallism' has surely achieved a sociological first.'Philosophy Football'A fine piece of sociological work ... which anyone interested in this field of so-called 'football studies' should read immediately.'Sociology'A fine piece of work.'Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute'With the partial exception of the work of Anthony King, it is, in my opinion, the single most penetrating, insightful, and original contribution to the understanding of soccar hoologanism in the United Kingdom to have been produced since the 1980s.'Cognitions, Emotions, and Identities'There aren't too many sociological books that make their way into the Christmas stocking. In this, and many other respects, Garry Robson's study of Millwall football culture is exceptional.'Les Back, Reader in Sociology, Goldsmiths College, London

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Book SynopsisMaking the Ball Roll is the ultimate, complete guide to coaching youth soccer.This focused and easy-to-understand book details training practices and tactics, and goes on to show you how to help young players achieve peak performance through tactical preparation, communication, psychology, and age-specific considerations.Each chapter covers, in detail, a separate aspect of coaching to give you, the football coach, a broad understanding of youth soccer development. Each topic is brought to life by the stories of real coaches working with real players.Never before has such a comprehensive guide to coaching soccer been found in the one place. If you are a new coach, or just trying to improve your work with players - and looking to invest in your future - this is a must-read book!- Analyse how football coaching has dramatically grown and changed over the last decade, and help prepare your players for the modern game- Understand the age-related development of players: technically, tactically and physically- Gain an insight into new research around psychology in soccer and the growing effects of social considerations like communication, teamwork, leadership, and rapport- Consider age-appropriate methods, sessions, and curriculum planning, used by top coaching programmes- Learn the methods of top coaches like Mourinho, Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson and Wenger and apply them to your work with youth players- Study the methods of top development academies like Barcelona, Liverpool and Atlético Mineiro; and national associations like Germany''s DFB, Holland''s KNVB, the English FA, and US Soccer

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, player development has been a hot topic in the soccer world. With more pressure on coaches to win than ever before, the modern game seems to be less about actual players and more about tactical systems. In many places, the majority of training sessions are structured so that each player receives the same training as his or her teammates, even though they are asked to perform different functions. As a result, players do not receive specific feedback and lack the ability to produce functional skills in the heat of a game.Aimed at football coaches of all levels, and players of all ages and abilities, The Modern Soccer Coach: Position-Specific Training seeks to identify, develop, and enhance the skills and functions of the modern soccer player whatever their position and role on the pitch.This book offers unique insight into how to develop an elite program that can both improve players and win games. Filled with practical no-nonsense explanations, focused player drills, and more than 40 illustrated soccer templates, this book will help you - the modern coach - to create a coaching environment that will take your players to the next level.Understand how the concept of player development needs to change as players progress in the game.Examine how learning styles have changed and how coaches must adapt accordingly.Enhance your players' performance levels with innovative exercises and ways to share feedback and critical information.Includes chapters and exercises for developing Center Backs, Full Backs, Holding Midfielders, Attacking Midfielders, Wide Attackers, and Center Forwards.Learn how certain coaches can move their players from 'interested' to 'committed'.Develop ways to maximize the talent levels of your players.

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Book SynopsisFollowing the hugely popular Volume 1 book, Volume 2 gives you a rare insight into Pep Guardiola's Training Sessions and another chance to learn from one of the best coaches in the history of football.The 85 Practices included in this book are: Warm-ups Speed & Agility Exercises Technical Circuits Passing Rondos 'Juego de Posición' (Positional Games) Possession Games Attacking Positional Patterns of Play Small to Large Sided Games Taken directly from Pep's training sessions at Manchester City, Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona.This is your chance to practice and apply Pep Guardiola’s training sessions to develop your players' speed, agility, technique and positional play – a unique opportunity to improve your team's performance using practices from the highest level.PEP GUARDIOLA PRACTICE TOPICS INCLUDED Training Session Warm-up Exercises (3 Man City) Manchester City Pre-Match Warm-up Speed and Agility Exercises Without a Ball (2 Man City, 1 Bayern) Speed and Agility Exercises With a Ball (7 Barcelona) Technical Circuits (8 Man City, 10 Bayern) Manchester City Passing Practices (6 Man City) Bayern Munich Passing Practices (7 Bayern) FC Barcelona Passing Practices (12 Barcelona) Rondos (5 Man City, 1 Barcelona) 'Juego de Posición' (Positional Games) and Possession Games (5 Man City, 4 Bayern, 4 Barcelona) Attacking Positional Patterns of Play (4 Man City) Small to Large Sided Games (2 Man City, 1 Bayern, 2 Barcelona) PEP GUARDIOLA PRACTICE EXAMPLES Combined Actions: Switch Play, Cross and Finish in a Speed & Agility Practice High Intensity Speed, Power and Agility Training Circuit with 3 v 2 Duel 3 v 1 + Quick Passing Combination with Aerial Pass in Behind and Finish 3 v 1 Ground and Aerial Triangle Rondos 'Juego de Posición' 8 v 8 (+3) Possession and Transition Game

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