Association football (Soccer) Books

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Book SynopsisCyrille Regis migrated from the French Caribbean to a racially divided West London in the 1960s, developed as a semi-professional footballer and subsequently moved to a top-flight Football League club, but still faced racial hatred. This book describes the battles Cyrille faced as a child and teenager before he turned professional.

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Book SynopsisFootball and television have been intertwined in culture for more than half a century and Brian Barwick has played a massive role in the continuing liaison between them. This book tells the story of how football on television became a national obsession.Trade Review"... the long history of football on the box... told in detail by Brian Barwick" (Sport magazine) "... celebrating the characters who have regularly brought the beautiful game into our living room for the past 50 years" (Choice magazine)"Table of ContentsRadio with Pictures; Match of the Day; 1966 and All That; The Big Match; FA Cup Special; Hillsborough and Heysel; World Cup Fever; Talentspotting; Sky TV; Champions League Nights; Money, Money, Money; Global Reach; Press the Red Button; Apps and the Future.

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Book SynopsisThe Twentieth Anniversary Edition As a young boy, growing up in the Home Counties and watching his parents' marriage fall apart, Nick Hornby had little sense of home. Then his dad took him to Highbury. Arsenal's football ground would become the source of many of the strongest feelings he'd ever have: joy, humiliation, heartbreak, frustration and hope. In this now-classic book, he vividly depicts his troubled relationship with his father,, his time as a teacher, and his first loves (after football), all through the prism of the game, as he insightfully and brilliantly explores obsession, and the way it can shape a life.

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Book SynopsisThe absorbing, often revealing, and entertaining autobiography of a football icon.

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Book SynopsisFrom the earliest days of Singers FC, to the glory-filled promotion years under Jimmy Hill, from cup calamities to winning at Wembley, and from the thirty four unbroken years of top-flight football to recent relegations, all Coventry City topics are covered here.

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Book SynopsisYes, you’ve a shirt or two, you even know the first verse of ‘On The Ball City’, but do you really know the history of the club? A book for any and all supporters of that mighty team in yellow and green, it’s the perfect companion for those long journeys to away games or nights down at the local.

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Book SynopsisClub photographer Shane Healey's detailed and colourful photographic account of the campaign which saw Forest Green Rovers claim their place in the Football League for the first time brings to life a stunning landmark season in the 128-year history of the Little Club on the Hill. With more than 200 images capturing match action and activity behind the scenes, We Are FGR is the perfect recount of an epic season at The New Lawn.

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Book SynopsisA history of Coventry City Football Club.

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Book SynopsisThis is the lavishly illustrated record of the remarkable 2002/03 campaign that saw Portsmouth take Division One by storm under the inspired leadership of Harry Redknapp and Jim Smith. Containing fan-styled match reports and statistics from every game, this is an essential purchase for any Pompey fan to relive their team''s return to the top flight.

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Book SynopsisThe Sheffield United a book on the Blades like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legends. Sheffield United FC enjoy a notable history. Names such as Ernest Needham, Jimmy Hagan and Alan Woodward have worn the famous red and white stripes hundreds of times. As has the mercurial Tony Currie plus the infamous William Fatty' Foulke - a huge keeper who walked off the field at a whim and once dumped a forward on his head in a muddy penalty area. The Sheffield United Miscellany charts these events and many more in an intriguing format. Well known events are covered as are some priceless trivia gems - who can claim to have known the club was founded on the site of one of snooker's most hallowed venues and hosted the obscure winter sport of bandy? Also featured are a wide range of statistics, quotes and biographies from the club's 110-year history, making it a must for any Blade. Can you really afford not to own a copy?

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Book SynopsisThis is the ultimate quiz book on Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. An ideal gift for Owls fans of all ages, this is your chance to interact with the club’s long and eventful history, from its formation and early successes to more recent glory and cult heroes.

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Book SynopsisFrom 1958-75 Billy McNeill was at the heart of everything Celtic did. An uncompromising but fair centre half, he captained the club for twelve hugely successful years. Later in his life he returned for two more periods as Celtic manager, winning the undying support of the club''s legion of fans for his complete commitment to the cause. In this remarkable autobiography, he recalls the glory days of the Lisbon Lions alongside Bobby Lennox and Jimmy Johnstone; playing for Scotland with Billy Bremner and Denis Law; coming to England as a manager; and reveals just how good a babysitter Kenny Dalglish was. Told with great humour and intelligence, this is a fascinating story from one of Scotland''s greatest heroes.Trade ReviewUnique story, unique man. * The Scotsman *Much has been written about the Lisbon Lions' captain, but this tome wins in its description of McNeill's complex relationship with Jock Stein and his pain at being sacked by Celtic in 1991. * Scotland On Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe nation has commented on and devoured Paul Gascoigne for years. But until now no one has ever known what it is really like to be Gazza. Here Gascoigne, in the company of his therapist, confronts his demons and takes the reader into the recesses of his mind. The triggers that plunged Gascoigne into dark despair are revealed together with the critical moments that influenced his alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, gambling, eating disorders and compulsive behaviour. This is more than the story of one man. It applies to people who face turmoil every day. Through self-assessment forms and expert advice, any reader who sees a mirror of themselves will be offered help and a way forward.

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Book SynopsisAre you sitting comfortably? Then Jeff will begin ... The universally-loved, award-winning host of Sky Sports'' Soccer Saturday and Channel 4''s Countdown, and author of the bestselling Jelleyman''s Thrown a Wobbly, returns with a Jackanory-style, football-flavoured narrative which gathers together the funniest, weirdest, most tragic, most heart-warming, under-the-radar stories of the football season. The book is stuffed to the gunnels with behind-the-scenes revelations, opinions and personal anecdotes from Jeff, and has a strong leaning towards the absurdities of both the highest levels and the grass-roots of the game. From the Macclesfield goalkeeper booked for using a golf tee to take his goal kicks, to the unintelligible ranting and raving of South American dictator chairmen. Let Jeff be your trusted guide through the madness of the football season, and let Jeffanory supply you with a veritable treasure trove of great anecdotes to take to the pubTrade Review'Football fans will love this book' * Darlington & Stockton Times *'It will give you a football fix to keep you going' * Southern Daily Echo *'Stelling weaves in his well-fomed opinions on the game' * East Lothian News *

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Book SynopsisThis is a stimulating and deeply insightful football narrative by Rafa Benitez which focuses on the legendary manager''s dramatic six Champions League campaigns with Liverpool. Rafa expertly navigates fans through intriguing European adventures that embrace the triumph and despair of two Champions League finals, three semi-finals and five quarter-finals in what was a golden era for the Anfield club - an era that supporters felt gave them their pride back after years in the wilderness. What sets this book apart is the unique ways in which Rafa allows fans into his high-pressured world, the fascinating glimpses he offers of a top manager''s thought processes and decision making during the cut and thrust of a high-octane European campaign.

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Book SynopsisIn the vein of Hotel Babylon and Confessions of a GP, The Secret Player will fascinate footballs fans with its wealth of insider knowledge and willingness to talk, albeit anonymously, about the inner workings of the game. Based on the hugely popular ''The Player'' columns in FourFourTwo magazine, the book gives a warts-and-all insight into the daily life of professional footballers. Month by month, it chronicles the oscillating rhythms of the season, from the trudge of pre-season to the ''squeaky-bum time'' of promotion and relegation. The player himself has played at all levels of English football - from Premier League to a season of non-League - and represented England.Trade Reviewthoroughly enjoyable - Evening Standarda fascinating presentation of the modern-day football world - Northern Echolifts the lid on the dynamics of the dressing room and the temptations of "living the dream" - Daily Echo

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Book SynopsisA rip-roaring, life-enhancing, hilarious memoir from a football cult hero; very much in the same vein as recent bestsellers from Paul Merson and Jeff Stelling.Trade ReviewIn an increasingly toxic and humourless football world, an hour in Bullard's company is great therapy. Apropos of nothing, he reveals he bought his house without realising it has no mobile phone reception. He discusses his passion for fishing. He orders tea and gets brought coffee. He burns his fingers on the toast. Funny things happen in the orbit of Planet Jimmy. At one point an elderly man tentatively approaches, presumably in search of a photo or autograph. "Would you mind talking a little more quietly, please?" he asks Bullard. "You're really annoying my wife." - The Observer

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe official, definitive, and unique celebration of a century of achievement in U.S. soccer. With one of the fastest-growing domestic leagues in the world and national teams asserting their presence on an international stage—and the U.S. womens’ team taking the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic games—American soccer is at a peak. Opening its archives for the first time, the U.S. Soccer Federation takes us on a visual journey, from the introduction of the beautiful game a century ago in the amateur leagues of towns in the industrial northeast to soccer’s dominance as the fastest-growing sport across America today. This book is illustrated with remarkable and rarely seen mementos, from vintage portraits of the first national teams in the 1920s to game programs, ticket stubs, jerseys, and exciting pictures of today’s and past stars in action. With contributions from stars spanning generations of American soccer, including firsthand testimonies from coachTrade ReviewABC-TV/Good Morning America -- Josh Elliot's pick for Favorite Coffee Table Book of 2013“Ultimate Soccer Lovers Gift. A joy to read. Five star rating. Probably the best gift for someone who is passionate about the beautiful game. America’s love affair with the beautiful game is well chronicled in this amazing too-good-to-put-down coffee table book…gloriously documents with amazing photography and stories our path to today and is a MUST HAVE for soccer lovers around the world…this book has something for everyone and can be loved by all. 100 Years of Soccer in America is an amazing resource for any soccer fan, as well as an important addition to American sports history…this remarkable volume contains contributions and first-hand testimonials from some of the biggest names in the sport reflecting on the most memorable moments, and unforgettable goals, and chronicling the U.S.’s greatest achievements.” ~SoccerNation"U.S. Soccer opened its archives to offer an in-depth look at the history of the sport with 100 Years of Soccer in America , the official, definitive, and unique celebration of a century of achievement in U.S. Soccer." ~ChicagoNow“This book is a definitive pictorial history of the last century in American men’s and women’s soccer. You will find a tremendous array of historical and current-day images that brilliantly document the long journey of American soccer.” ~worldfootballcommentaries.com

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Book SynopsisThe perfect gift for all those whose lives revolve around The Beautiful Game ...The man works all week in the factory. The dog waits at home. On the weekend, they both watch THE MATCH on television together. Results aren't good so the dog decides to do something about it ...With a knowing, dry humour perfect for fans of Wallace & Gromit, and a simple domestic setting, THE MATCH is the ideal gift for all football fans. Because if you aren't watching football, then reading about it is the next best thing!

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Book SynopsisTeko 'the General' Modise is one of the best footballers South Africa has ever produced. But life wasn't always kind. This book tells it all, from poverty to fame, from love to divorce. It is the story of a fatherless father trying to make sense of parenthood and a man who never had money trying to make sense of an abundance of wealth.

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Book SynopsisIt is not easy. Having a dream, having talent and being faced with a world that wants you to have neither - it is not easy. This is not an easy story. This is a book about difficult odds, about cruelty, about broken families and addiction. This is also a story about hope.

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Book SynopsisAn all-encompassing, chronological guide to football''s World Cup, one of the world''s few truly international events, in good time for the June 2014 kick-off in Rio de Janeiro. From its beginnings in 1930 to the modern all-singing, all-dancing self-styled greatest show on Earth', every tournament is covered with features on major stars and great games, as well as stories about some less celebrated names and quirky stats and intriguing essays. Holt''s focus is very much on what takes place on the field, rather than how football is a mirror for economic corruption, or how a nation''s style of play represents a profound statement about its people, or how a passion for football can lift underpaid, socially marginalised people out of poverty. From the best World Cups, in 1958 and 1970, to the worst, in 1962 and 2010, he looks behind the facts and the technical observations to the stories: the mysterious sins of omission; critical injuries to key players; and coaching U-t

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Book SynopsisI''ve Got Mail is the brand new book from Jeff Stelling, the Sunday Times bestselling author and host of Sky Sports'' iconic football show Soccer Saturday. Reproducing a selection of correspondence he has received down the years, Stelling tells some intriguing stories around his experiences in broadcasting and football. This charming book is by turns warm and funny, moving and poignant, and invariably underpinned by a deeply rooted love of football and people. It arrived while I was playing football. I remember my mum running towards me, dressed in pinny and slippers, waving a piece of flesh coloured paper, gripped in her hand, the print all in slightly faded block capitals. But the message from my new employer was clear and urgent.BERNARD GENT UNWELL. GO TO LEEDS IMMEDIATELY. COVER LEEDS UNITED V MIDDLESBROUGHIt was the first and last telegram I ever received. It was a message that probably changed the course of my life. It was thTrade ReviewAn entertaining read, especially for those who like to share their Saturday afternoons with Jeff and the gang * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisIf there is anything close to a universal game, it is association football, also known as soccer, football, fussball, fútbol, fitba, and futebol. The game has now moved from the physical to the digital - EA's football simulation series FIFA - with profound impacts on the multibillion sports and digital game industries, their cultures and players. Throughout its development history, EA's FIFA has managed to adapt to and adopt almost all video game industry trends, becoming an assemblage of game types and technologies that is in itself a multi-faceted probe of the medium's culture, history, and technology. EA Sports FIFA: Feeling the Game is the first scholarly book to address the importance of EA's FIFA. From looking at the cultures of fandom to analyzing the technical elements of the sports simulation, and covering the complicated relations that EA's FIFA has with gender, embodiment, and masculinity, this collection provides a comprehensive understandTrade ReviewIn this timely and much needed book, leading and emerging scholars provide new and necessary insights into a cultural phenomenon, that has always been more than just a game. By critically considering different aspects, and from perspectives, EA Sports FIFA: Feeling the Game provides a detailed and thought-provoking consideration of the impact this game series has had on the nature of video games, sport, and wider cultural life. * Garry Crawford, Professor of Sociology, University of Salford, UK *This is a book whose time has come. Through a careful multidisciplinary focus on the FIFA video game franchise, the authors take up issues that range from the aesthetic complexities of digital play to forms of fandom, as well paying important attention to inclusion and gender. This collection offers a wonderfully rich engagement with one of the most popular titles around and is a must read for both sports and game scholars alike. * T.L. Taylor, Professor of Comparative Media Studies, MIT, USA *This innovative and original collection of essays on the cultural significance of the videogame FIFA emphasises the blurring of our digital and material worlds. This book helps explain why, for millions of people around the world, the simulated experience of EA Sports FIFA series endures as a central aspect of diverse football and gaming cultures. For anyone interested in understanding the interplay between sport and videogames, and how this has transformed the mediatisation of sport more widely, this is an important collection. * Richard Haynes, Professor of Media Sport, University of Stirling, UK *A much-needed multidisciplinary contribution * American Journal of Play! *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Dedication List of Contributors Warm-Up: "Football is Life" John Markoff (Journalist, USA) Pre-Game Raiford Guins (Indiana University, Bloomington, USA), Henry Lowood (Stanford University, USA), and Carlin Wing (Scripps College, USA) I. Attack 1. Ritualized Exclusion, Limited Inclusion: Virtual Representations of Women’s Football Michael Pennington (Bath Spa University, UK) 2. Fine-Tuning Feel Carlin Wing (Scripps College, USA) 3. Avatar Bodies That Matter: The Work of "Realism" in Gendered Representation Mel Stanfill (University of Central Florida, USA) and Anastasia Salter (University of Central Florida, USA) II. Midfield 4. Microtransaction Politics in FIFA Ultimate Team: Game Fans, Twitch Streamers, and Electronic Arts Piotr Siuda (Kazimierz Wielki University, Poland) and Mark R. Johnson (University of Sydney, Australia) 5. “Where There is Smoke, There is Fire …": The FIFA Engine and Its Discontents” Henry Lowood (Stanford University, USA) 6. What the FUT? Abe Stein (Sports Innovation Lab, MIT, USA) III. Defense 7. Playing with Oneself: Six Notes on Fantasies and Frustrations of Famous Footballers Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal (University of Notre Dame, USA) 8. Under Control: The Experience of Progressive Play in the Management Simulations of EA’s FIFA Series Matt Bouchard (University of Toronto and University of Alberta, Canada) 9. “Let's Take a FIFA!": Football and the Free-time Practices of At-risk Youth Under Remand Emma Witkowski (RMIT University, Australia) and Rune K.L. Nielsen (IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark) 10. Playing To Win Christopher A. Paul (Seattle University, USA) 11. Playing Games with my Feelings or, Musing on Leeds United Football Club's FIFA 20 Decides! Raiford Guins (Indiana University, Bloomington, USA) Post-Game Analysis Mia Consalvo (Concordia University, Canada) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2021'A moving chronicle of a journey' - Mail on Sunday'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'Cole's soul-searching reflections on his own character and shortcomings make for a compelling read.' - Backpass*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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