Association football (Soccer) Books

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Book SynopsisBlue was the Colour is a witty, wise and charming assessment of modern football by Chelsea FC fan Andy Hamilton, one of the country’s leading comedy writers and stand-ups, and a novelist to boot.Andy grew up in the streets surrounding Stamford Bridge and fell in love with Chelsea and football as a six-year-old taken to his first match by his older brother. That love endured as an obsession until the modern game’s money and machinations took over and left him questioning its, and his, priorities. Taking as a starting point his first game against Newcastle United and comparing it with a match now between two teams owned by an American – via a Russian – and a Saudi Arabian government arm, the inimitable Hamilton relates how he came to question his passion for his club and football itself. Blue was the Colour will have fans and readers laughing out loud and nodding in agreement.Trade Review"It's brilliant." -- Adrian Chiles * BBC Radio 5 Live *"Loved the book and just about every single sentiment within." -- Pat Nevin * former Chelsea player *"Andy Hamilton's recollections and grasp of the vagaries of supporting Chelsea (or any club) and the game over the last six decades are poignant, evocative, sharply assessed and often hilarious." -- Jon Morris * Backpass magazine *"As you'd expect from someone of his writing talents, Hamilton's reflections here are witty, thought provoking yet balanced - filled with joy and at times sadness, as well as disappointment and regret - a bit like watching your team really." * footballbookreviews.com *

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Book SynopsisOnly the Real Thing is the story of how Aston Villa adapted and thrived in the changing world of early 1990s English football. The book dissects the cup-winning campaigns of 1994 and 1996 with a deep dive into the matches, players and management teams, while telling a wider story of the transitionary shift towards modern football.

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Book SynopsisCup Finals weaves together tales of past and present heroes and villains, glory and tragedy, outrage and joy, thrills and scapegoats, plus David and Goliath' battles. Whether it's the World Cup or the Scottish Junior Cup, a final is a special spectacle that creates legends. But in today's corporate world, whose cup is it?

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Book SynopsisTiny Keeper is the extraordinary story of Steve Death, once the shortest goalkeeper in the Football League. He was good enough to keep Peter Shilton out of the England Schoolboys side, yet spent his career in Divisions Three and Four and became a lower-league legend. His league record of 12 consecutive clean sheets still stands.

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Book SynopsisForgotten Football Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland is a nostalgic journey through the histories of clubs that left an indelible mark on the sport, yet no longer exist.Philip O''Rourke delves into the narratives of 50 defunct teams from around England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, uncovering their origins, achievements and the circumstances that led to their extinction. Along the way, we learn about their key players and managers and any controversies surrounding them.Inside you'll discover: Interviews with fans and journalists that help bring the story of each club to life How George Best ended up playing for a League of Ireland side The History of Wanderers FC and how they won the first FA Cup How the first ever Welsh Cup finalist, Druids FC, became a forgotten club The story of Renton FC, the Scottish club who were once world champions but are now just a memory How one English club, Corinthians, influenced some of the world's top sides despite staying at amateur level for so long How Drumcondra AFC took on Europe, but now just play in the local football league This engrossing book is a heartfelt tribute to the teams that once brought joy to their supporters, but now survive only in memory or archival record.

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Book SynopsisA Fistful of Doldrums is the engaging and richly researched story of a turbulent period in the intense world of Sunderland AFC and North East football. Set amid a fascinating late-1970s backdrop, the story features first-hand accounts and authentic dialogue. This book will appeal to anyone interested in this fascinating era.

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Book SynopsisThe quintessential book for Newcastle United fans everywhere, Sky Sports presenter Pete Graves tells the inside story of the Magpies today, using exclusive interviews with Eddie Howe and other club legends.Welcome to Newcastle United, the most exciting football club in the world right now.Since joining the team in 2021, Eddie Howe has been determined to transform Newcastle United from a perennial underachiever into one of the biggest teams in not just the Premier League, but Europe as well. With the players, fans and decision-makers finally all working together, and with the pain of the past behind them, the Magpies are ready for a new era to begin...Telling the story of Newcastle through some of its most competitive moments, including Kevin Keegan and Bobby Robson's stewardships, as well as touching on some of its trickier times, television presenter and diehard fan Pete Graves recaps the team's history and goes inside the club to show what is so exciting about this team today.Featuring interviews with key figures past and present, including Eddie Howe himself, Graves builds a picture of what's happening with Newcastle, both on and off the pitch, as they climb the league and set their sights on silverware.With extensive research and unparalleled access, Here to Compete is the incredible story of a team reborn and the man who is on course to build an empire.

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Book SynopsisLiverpool FC On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's glorious past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of Reds history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the acrimonious Victorian foundation of the club to the 21st century's heady European and FA Cup victories, the Anfield faithful have witnessed the First Division triumphs of the '20s and '40s turn into an avalanche of silverware in the '60s, '70s and '80s - and they have also witnessed tragedies. Pivotal days in history which saw the airing of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', the completion of multifarious Doubles and Trebles and the shock retirement of Bill Shankly all form a backdrop against which Liverpool greats - Kevin Keegan, Ian Rush and Billy Liddell, Steven Gerrard, Tommy Smith and Kenny Dalglish - loom larger than life.

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Book SynopsisFootball fans love nothing more than to read about their favourite teams. Although this books is aimed at young teenagers they will delight all ages with their mixture of funny and enlightening stories and will give hours of pleasure discovering quirky facts about your favourite team. Each title is also augmented with a selection of sketches by the young sketch artist Becky Welton that depict some of the stories within.

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Book Synopsis'Very funny on almost every page, wonderfully self-deprecating and very sharp on the ludicrous behaviour of the modern player' - Sunday Times'The funniest man in British sport' - Metro**A Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year****Shortlisted for the National Book Awards****Longlisted for the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year**You become a footballer because you love football. And then you are a footballer, and you're suddenly in the strangest, most baffling world of all. A world where one team-mate comes to training in a bright red suit with matching top-hat, cane and glasses, without any actual glass in them, and another has so many sports cars they forget they have left a Porsche at the train station. Even when their surname is incorporated in the registration plate.So walk with me into the dressing-room, to find out which players refuse to touch a football before a game, to discover why a load of millionaires never have any shower-gel, and to hear what Cristiano Ronaldo says when he looks at himself in the mirror.We will go into post-match interviews, make fools of ourselves on social media and try to ensure that we never again pay £250 for a haircut that should have cost a tenner. We'll be coached and cajoled by Harry Redknapp, upset Rafa Benitez and be soothed by the sound of an accordion played by Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant Tord Grip. There will be some very bad music and some very bad decisions.I am Peter Crouch. This is How To Be A Footballer. Shall we?Trade ReviewHowever overpaid and preening you might assume Premier League footballers to be, think again. They're worse, according to this amusing insider's account * Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year *Who knew that a footballer could be funny? ... What you realise, as you laugh out loud, is that football has been taken too seriously by too many people for too long... Most other football books wither by comparison * Daily Mail Sports Book of the Year *As someone who's been there, done it and got the ill-fitting T-shirt, Crouch is well placed to shed light on the bizarre world of the modern player in a funny, down-to-earth way... He made his name on the pitch ... but with this book, Crouch proves he is a good sport off it, too. -- Jade Craddock * Sun *On his way to being a national treasure... most enjoyable * Daily Telegraph *The funniest man in British sport * Metro *

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Book SynopsisStanding Free is the funny, emotional, at times downright bizarre but always enthralling autobiography of 1980s and 90s Aberdeen FC hero Theo ten Caat. Theo's time at Aberdeen was certainly eventful. All is revealed in this no-punches-pulled chronicle of his career, both in Scotland and Holland, told in Theo's own words.

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Book SynopsisStunningly illustrated by David Squires (as featured in the Guardian), The Illustrated History of Football is a wry look at the highs and lows of the beautiful game. Laugh-out- loud and occasionally moving, it's the perfect gift for anyone who loves football.'Squires is the master of the football comic strip and this collection is recommended reading for enlightened football fans everywhere' -- Late Tackle'No one captures the absurdities and ugliness of football better than him ... hilarious' -- Coach Magazine'[Illustrated History of Football] is the funniest football tome since Viz's Billy the Fish Football Yearbook, published 26 years earlier' -- Esquire'Simply brilliant - my favourite football book' -- ***** Reader review'Completely amazing cartoons with beautiful insight as to the how, why, when & wow' -- ***** Reader review'Simply wonderful' -- ***** Reader review'One of the funniest books I've read in a very long time. A must for anyone who loves football' -- ***** Reader review*********************************************************************************************Football and comics. Once a hearty Saturday combination to match cartoons and cereal, in recent years they've drifted apart. Thankfully for us, illustrator Squires is here to change all that.In The Illustrated History of Football, his first book, Squires relives some of football's most glorious moments and meets its greatest figures. In a sport full of handsome paycheques and corporate sponsors, he also casts a critical eye over corrupt backroom workings and helps pierce football's overblown balloon.Funny, good-looking and preternaturally astute, this book is everything Sepp Blatter wishes he could be.More than the archetypal loo book, this is a satirical look at the highs and lows of football and the perfect gift for all fans...Trade ReviewA ruddy good artist * The Telegraph *Squires exhibits his personal knowledge of the game in a way that is thoughtful and, as with all comic satirists, really very funny . . . On the face of it this may look like a perfect lavatory book for dad for Christmas. But it is a lot more than that and well worth the read. * Daily Express *David is unparalleled in his ability to highlight how ridiculous modern football can often be with his unique brand of caustic satire. -- Mike Hytner * The Guardian *You will really want to buy it * Football365 *Squires is the master of the football comic strip and this collection is recommended reading for enlightened football fans everywhere. * Late Tackle *Brilliant * The Set Pieces *If you’re not familiar with the work of David Squires, then you really have been deprived up to now * The Final Third *No one captures the absurdities and ugliness of football better than him … hilarious * Coach Magazine *A bloody funny read * Adam Peacock, Fox Sports *Squires’ opening lines sets the tone for a lively, tongue-in-cheek history of the beautiful game, accompanied by some excellent illustrations. * Dorset Echo *This is an absolute landmark of football literature – worthy of the same status as Football Grounds of Europe , Inverting the Pyramid and All Played Out . This is not least because of the mind boggling amount of work involved – all the more prodigious given that Squires is a regular provider of comic strips for The Guardian . . . this is a genuinely funny book * The Two Unfortunates *[Illustrated History of Football] is the funniest football tome since Viz's Billy the Fish Football Yearbook, published 26 years earlier. * Esquire *

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Book SynopsisGermany did not have professional players or a national league until the 1960s, yet it became one of the most successful football nations in the world. Tor! (Goal!) traces the extraordinary story of Germany’s club and international football, from the days when it was regarded as a dangerously foreign pastime, through the horrors of the Nazi years to postwar triumphs and the crisis of the new century. Tor! challenges the myth that German football is ‘predictable’ or ‘efficient’ and brings to life the fascinating array of characters who shaped it: the betrayed pioneer Walther Bensemann; the enigmatic genius Sepp Herberger; the all-conquering Franz Beckenbauer; the modern misfit Lothar Matthäus. And even the radio commentator Herbert Zimmermann, whose ecstatic cries of ‘Tor!’ greeted the winning goal in the 1954 World Cup final and helped change a whole nation’s view of itself. Fully revised and updated ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Tor! is the definitive history of German football.

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Book Synopsis**A REVISED AND SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATED EDITION OF ROB TANNER'S 5000-1- NOW COVERING THE FIVE YEARS SINCE LEICESTER CITY'S INCREDIBLE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE WIN.**On 2 May 2016, English football was spectacularly altered as 5000-1 longshots Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions. Their victory broke a long-standing monopoly at the top of the table, and propelled the club into the Champions League for the first time.In The Leicester City Story: Five Years On, acclaimed Athletic Leicester City correspondent Rob Tanner relives City's title win, their summer of celebration and the highs and lows of the next five years that led to their first FA Cup win in 2021.Detailing the dramatic changes in the club's management since 2016, and reflecting on the great legacy of the club's much-loved owner, Khun Vichai, Tanner tells the inside story of a remarkable team still on the rise.

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Book Synopsis‘The definitive work on Diego Maradona’ The 42 'One of football’s greatest stories ... this is the best football book in ages' Goal 'A modern footballing classic' FHM _________________________ Anyone doubting that Diego Maradona was more than just a football player had only to witness the outpourings after his death on November 25th 2020. During his tempestuous life and career, he played for top clubs in South America and Europe, notably Napoli where he became an adored hero and adopted son, and grew to be a legend in his homeland of Argentina after leading them to victory in the 1986 World Cup. Having gained access to his inner circle, Jimmy Burns traces Maradona’s life from the slums of Buenos Aires, where he was born, through his great years of triumph, to the United States from where, in 1994, he was ignobly expelled after undergoing a positive drugs test. He also tells of his failed attempt to bring further glory to Argentina as coach in the 2010 World Cup, and ultimately, his tragic decline and recent death. Widely regarded as the best and most revealing account of the highs, lows, genius and flaws of arguably the greatest footballer of all time, this biography inspired Asif Kapadia’s award-winning 2019 film Diego Maradona. _________________________ 'Excellent and well-researched' Sunday Times ‘I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona one day’ Asif Kapadia, director of Diego MaradonaTrade ReviewIf [those interviewed in this book] are my friends, I prefer to have enemies -- Diego MaradonaBurns’ forensic skills are to the fore in this deft, perceptive study of politics, corruption, exploitation and the occasional dash of genuine sporting genius * Time Out *An excellent book … The seamy backstairs politics of international soccer have never been more tellingly exposed * Financial Times *The Hand of God is illuminating and atmospheric as it cuts through the web of myth, mystery and full-blooded hypocrisy * Irish Times *Maradona’s life is one of grotesque farce ... Gazza’s career compared with this looks like Emmerdale sat next to the Borgias * Peter Davies, author of All Played Out *A compelling cocktail of celebration and cheating * Daily Mail *Excellent and well-researched * Sunday Times *Jaw-on-the-floor fascinating. A modern footballing classic * FHM *I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona -- Asif Kapadia, director of the award-winning film Diego MaradonaLove or hate the man, his is one of football’s greatest stories and so this is the best football book in ages * Goal *The definitive work on Diego Maradona * The 42 *A violent mix of sporting brilliance and personal disgrace * Daily Mirror *Shows that Maradona has got a lot of soul -- Noal Gallagher, Oasis

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Book Synopsis An epic tale of tragedy and resilience in a far, far-away land... An amazing book to read. There is no other sports story like it.' Leigh Montville, author and former writer for The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated.The definitive account of one of the saddest chapters in sports history: the 1993 plane crash that killed Zambia''s national soccer team, and the inspiring story of the nation's remarkable comeback. The book details the tragedy, its aftermath and the incredible resilience and determination of a nation to rebuild and honour the memories of its fallen heroes, including: How Zambia was on the cusp of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in the US before the tragedy How rebuilt Zambia defeated Morocco in its first game ten weeks after the crash, before storming into the final of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations 11 months later In-depth research and interviews with key figures on Zambia's rise as an African footballing power before the horrific plane crash that claimed the lives of most of its top players of that generation Insightful interviews with sources that spent time with the team in its final hours and minutes including the one person to board the doomed plane with the players and disembark before take-off How, before it crashed, the DHC-5D Buffalo military plane carrying Zambia's national team had been parked for four months at an air force base with AOG' status (i.e. with a serious technical fault) The lack of accountability: more than 30 years on, no official report on the crash has been released by Zambia according to former Zambian president Rupiah Banda, none was written or exists Meticulously researched, gripping and emotive, this book is a must-read for football and sports fans everywhere.

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Book SynopsisThe game isn't what it seems from the outside. The game isn't quite what I was expecting. The game doesn't always work like the people on television think it does. The game is better, worse and stranger than you can imagine, and that is coming from someone who saw it all with their own eyes.'Ever wondered what really goes on inside a Premier League dressing room, what it's like to train under Roy Hodgson, Roberto Mancini and Fabio Capello and what happens when you kick a sandwich at one of them?When it comes to football, former Manchester City and England star Micah Richards has seen it all and laughed about most of it. In The Game, Micah shares his funniest and frankest stories from on and off the pitch, be it arriving at his first England training session with two left boots, attempting to supervise the infamous Mario Balotelli or winding up Roy Keane on Super Sunday. From how he spent his first Premier League paycheque and how he prepared financially and mentally for the day theTrade Review“[A]n immensely readable book that takes us deep inside the strange and often unhinged hidden life of a Premier League footballer” Donald McRae, The Guardian

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Book SynopsisGary Imlach started out writing for national newspapers at the age of 18. He has worked for the BBC, ITN, CNN & Channel 4, and currently presents ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and American Football. He is also the producer of several documentaries, and in 2000 was nominated for a BAFTA as Editor-in-Chief of the BBC's Paralympics coverage in Sydney. This is his first book.Trade ReviewThe most emotionally charged and moving sports book I think I've ever read - Harry Ritchie, Daily Mail -- Daily Mail * Harry Ritchie *One of the most deserving William Hill winners in the award's history ... The book of the year -- Christopher Maume * Independent *A remarkable book... Imlach is a gifted writer, pungently aware, admirably combative, knowledgeable and compassionate -- Brian Glanville * Sunday Times *My Father and Other Working-Class Heroes immediately joins the Football Classic Club - whose members are bonded by using football as a backdrop for something entirely different... A beautiful personal history -- Rick Broadbent * Times *If I could have my memories of Stewart Imlach surgically extracted, I would wrap them carefully, put them in a box, and send them to his son. Unlike me, Gary Imlach never saw his father play football... But that has not prevented the son from producing one of the best sports books of recent years. A book to treasure -- Richard Williams * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWINNER of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2015In the last two decades football in Britain has made the transition from a peripheral dying sport to the very centre of our popular culture, from an economic basket-case to a booming entertainment industry. What does it mean when football becomes so central to our private and political lives? Has it enriched us or impoverished us?In this sparkling book David Goldblatt argues that no social phenomenon tracks the momentous economic, social and political changes of the post-Thatcherite era in a more illuminating manner than football, and no cultural practice sheds more light on the aspirations and attitudes of our long boom and now calamitous bust. A must-read for the thinking football fan, The Game of Our Lives will appeal to readers of Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby and Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson. It will also be relished by readers of British social history such as Austerity Britain by David Kynaston. ''Brilliantly incisive. Goldblatt is not merely the best football historian writing today, he is possibly the best there has ever been. Goldblatt''s book could hardly be more impressive'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewBrilliantly incisive. Goldblatt is not merely the best football historian writing today, he is possibly the best there has ever been. Goldblatt's book could hardly be more impressive -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *Offers an enlightening, enriching experience. It is based on a formidable range of sources, personal observation and a pleasingly sardonic turn of phrase. Not all football writers know their stuff, let alone the socio-economic context, but Goldblatt does. Altogether this is an exceptional book -- David Kynaston * Guardian *Not just the best soccer book in many years but an exemplary account of the changing character of British society in the post-Thatcher era -- David Runciman * Wall Street Journal *David Goldblatt examines [English football] peerlessly ... A superb history of a sport and of a nation * Evening Standard *Goldblatt is a trusted guide ... Rich with statistics, this is an admirably balanced account of the beautiful game * Daily Mail *Prodigious research and a fluent writing style ... this is a fine book which should have an appeal much beyond the game -- Mihir Bose * Independent *An encyclopaedic portrait of English football stripped of all the non-stop hype. The beautiful game is, after all, a dirty business * Financial Times (Life & Arts) *An intensely readable socioeconomic study of English football in the age of globalisation * New Statesman *A book that informs and inspires, a truly great piece of writing * Philosophy Football *The best pub talker of a book for years * Sunday Sport *Goldblatt has a gift for exploring the way the game holds a mirror up to our lives ... His deconstruction of the modern game could hardly be bettered * Observer *[A] bold analysis of Britain's economic and social change refracted through football * The Times *A salient overview of the past quarter-century * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisNo player has been more synonymous with the glory years of Manchester United Football Club over the past two decades than right-back Gary Neville.Trade ReviewRich in detail and insight... fascinating stuff -- Sam Wallace * Independent *Nevastating -- Steven Howard * The Sun *The English generally like their professional footballers to be either thick or humble, preferably both. Gary Neville is neither and has taken plenty of flak about daring to have opinions. If he was Dutch or Italian, rather than from Bury, he'd be considered an intellectual and his views sought on world affairs * When Saturday Comes *Refreshing honesty... Although he's generally disliked by non-United fans and even derided as one of the least talented in a remarkable generation, you have to admire his staying power. His memoir presents a rounded footballer aware of the importance of work and the dedication needed to stay at the pinnacle of the game -- Rob Greig * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisThe prize-winning RAISED A WARRIOR is Susie Petruccelli's honest, human and cathartic story of how she, as player and mother, rediscovered herself and the love of a game that almost broke her. Alongside, she examines the growth of the women's game and the issues still confronting the sport as it fights for the equalities it deserves.Trade Review"Susie's inspirational story, full of hard truths, shows the strength we have within when we harness the power of sport to seek equality and live authentic lives." BILLIE JEAN KING. "Susie's powerful and inspiring story is a worthy winner of the Vikki Orvice Prize and a true testament to what it means to be a woman in football." JANE PURDON, CEO WOMEN IN FOOTBALL.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Leeds United in the 1970s when the club reached its peak under Manager Don Revie as arguably the best team in Europe although dogged by controversy, before its decline under a sequence of managers following Revie.

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Book SynopsisHarry and Jamie Redknapp's affectionate homage to football's most influential and intriguing characters.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most loved - and loving - father-and-son duos in the land, Harry and Jamie Redknapp are football royalty. Football runs through their veins. Both have enjoyed stellar careers on the pitch, in managerial dug-outs and in our television studios. But how did it all start, and what drove them on to be the football fanatics that they so passionately are today?A Family Obsession is the fascinating result of Harry and Jamie sitting round the kitchen table, where they discuss, debate, select and celebrate all aspects of the game that have inspired them. Who are the men who impacted their careers and fired that all-consuming passion for football? This is a deep dive into the matches, the players, the managers and the changes that have spanned their two generations. With amusing anecdotes, Harry and Jamie reveal the individuals who have set their pulses racing, opened their minds, enriched their football lives and stimulated their respective love affairs with the sport. From childhood idols to role models in young adulthood, from beloved team-mates to bitter rivals, from genius managers to the game's great mavericks - from Pele and Maradona to Bobby Moore and Lionel Messi via Steven Gerrad and Pep Guardiola - all are brought to life by two of the country's most knowledgeable, animated and beloved football obsessives.

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Book SynopsisRespected collector of United memorabilia, and editor of Manchester United Review Collectors Club for more than twenty years, Iain McCartney looks at some of the most iconic and interesting pieces of Manchester United history.

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE ‘The greatest story in English sport told beautifully by one of its greatest writers’ Gary Lineker 'A spellbinding piece of work' Oliver Holt; 'Absolute tour de force' Henry WinterAward-winning writer Paul Hayward delivers a compelling and unmissable account of the story of the England men's football team, published as they prepare for the World Cup in Qatar.  On 30 November 1872, England took on Scotland at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, a match that is regarded as the first international fixture. More than 5,000 fans watched the two sides play out a 0-0 draw. It was the first of more than a thousand games played by the side, and the beginning of a national love affair that unites the country in a way that few other events can match. In Hayward's brilliant new biography of the team, based on interviews with doze

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2022 Sports Book Awards''brave ... visceral ... a brilliant, brilliant read ... I would recommend this book to everyone.'' Nihal Arthanayake, BBC Radio 5 Live''so honest ... everybody should read Hooked to understand what anybody in this situation has been through.'' Susanna Reid, Good Morning Britain''a fantastic book ... a remarkable read.'' Richard Madeley, Good Morning Britain''Brave, poignant and very moving. This book will change lives.'' Jamie Redknapp''A courageous, emotional and vitally important book.'' Jeff StellingPaul Merson''s wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction for three decades.For twenty-one years Paul Merson played professional football. He won two First Division titles with Arsenal and was one of the finest players of his generation. But for thirty years Paul Merson has also been an addict. Alcohol, drugs, gambling: a desperately unenviable cocktail of addictions and depression which has plagued his entire adult life and driven him to the verge of suicide. ''I''ve come to realise that I''m powerless over alcohol ... I''m an alcoholic. My drinking and gambling have left a lot of wreckage.'' Until recently the drinking and gambling were still raging. ''I wanted to kill myself. I couldn''t go on anymore. I just couldn''t see a way out.'' Then something clicked. ''One day, I was walking home from the pub late on a Sunday evening, and I thought to myself: I''ve had enough of feeling like this, every day of my life. I rang up Alcoholics Anonymous the next day, and since then I haven''t had a drink.''Hooked is Merson''s wonderfully moving and brutally honest memoir of battling addiction, searingly charting his journey over three decades. It is absolutely unflinching in detailing his emotional and psychological troughs and in raking over the painful embers of an adult life blighted by such debilitating issues. Hooked will kick-start a crucial national conversation about addiction, depression and the damage they wreak. ''Addiction is the loneliest of places. You''re a slave to insecurity and ego. But it has to be you that wants things to change. Never be afraid to talk: the more you talk about the addictions the more it takes the power out of them. You''re never alone.''Trade ReviewBrave, poignant and very moving. This book will change lives. -- Jamie RedknappA courageous, emotional and vitally important book. -- Jeff StellingEven when baring his soul, Paul Merson is entertainingly fluent in the language of football. The Merse's new book, Hooked, is frank, sometimes funny, often horrifying. * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR, SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2018The full story of the man who brought unprecedented and since unmatched success to Liverpool FC. Bob Paisley was the quiet man in the flat cap who swept all domestic and European opposition aside and produced arguably the greatest club team that Britain has ever known. The man whose Liverpool team won trophies at a rate-per-season that dwarfs Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements at Manchester United and who remains the only Briton to lead a team to three European Cups. From Wembley to Rome, Manchester to Madrid, Paisley's team was the one no one could touch. Working in a city which was on its knees, in deep post-industrial decline, still tainted by the 1981 Toxteth riots and in a state of open warfare with Margaret Thatcher, he delivered a golden era never re-attained since which made the city of Liverpool synonymous with success and won them supporteTrade ReviewAn evocative, intimate portrait -- Rory Smith * New York Times *Quiet Genius is like its subject, a winner and surely a candidate already for the best football books of the year, whether you are of a Liverpool FC persuasion or not. * Blackpool Gazette *Terrific * Scotland on Sunday *Herbert has written perhaps the best Paisley biography, emphasising how hard work, an uncanny eye for a player and a belief that football is, at its heart, a simple game, worked wonders. * Bristol Post *This brilliant new book chronicles how Bob Paisley the player reinvented himself as Bob the builder, Bob the physio, and ultimately Bob the all-conquering manager * LFC Magazine *This biography puts Paisley on the map once again and brings him into the discussion of being one of the world’s best football managers ever. Herbert deserves loads of credit for this as no other author could deliver a text as great as this. Kudos to Bloomsbury for yet another great football title and perhaps the top title of 2017 * International Soccer Network *A cut above many formulaic sports books. * Daily Telegraph *A beautifully constructed tribute to the virtues of the quiet approach, and all the more stirring for arriving in an age of constant noise. * The Times (Saturday review) *The depth of research is outstanding with the input of former players and coaches providing authoritative insights into a great man. * Daily Express *Herbert will leave you with no doubt regarding Paisley’s exalted position in football’s pantheon. * Coach *Herbert’s biography of Bob Paisley, the great Liverpool manager, is also a vivid - and often unflattering – portrait of Seventies football. * The TImes Saturday Review *An eloquent portrait of the introvert who became Liverpool’s greatest manager of all time. * Daily Express *Herbert reveals the paradoxes of the most unassuming boss to find footballing immortality and bring Anfield unparalleled glory. * Sunday Mirror *Ian Herbert’s book is a beautifully constructed tribute to the virtues of the quiet approach, and all the more stirring for arriving in an age of constant noise. * The Times *Table of ContentsPrologue 1 On Bank 2 Isn't That So, Bob? 3 Not Me 4 Hello, Boss 5 Room with No Windows 6 We Need to Talk about Kevin 7 Munching Gladback 8 Transfer Committee 9 Red Tree Challenge 10 Frank's Lonely Spirit 11 Hetton Spirit 12 Trouble 13 End of the Road 14 Afterwards Epilogue Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book Synopsis'I loved every page, and ended up admiring David Kynaston, our greatest social historian, even more than I already did' Nick Hornby Brimming with wisdom and humour, David Kynaston’s diaries written over one football season offer up his most personal take on social history to date. David Kynaston was seven and a half years old when he attended his first Aldershot match in the early months of 1959. So began a deep attachment to the game and a lifelong loyalty to an obscure, small-town football club. Though as he sits down to write his diaries almost sixty years on, he reflects that life might have been simpler if his father had never taken him to that first match at the Rec… Shots in the Dark is the diary David Kynaston kept in the football season of 2016/17, detailing the ups and downs of the ‘Shots’ in the year that saw a divisive referendum in the UK and the impending ascension of Donald Trump. Here Kynaston presents a social history of modern Britain with a difference – all through the prism of the beautiful game. A testament to the ways in which fandom gives solidity and security to our lives, particularly in these bewildering and rapidly changing times, Shots in the Dark gets to the heart of what it means to be a devoted follower of a sports team. This is a diary of the macro and the micro, as questions of loyalty, of identity, of liberalism and of nationalism all rub uncomfortably up against each other during nine charged months. ____________________ 'A master socioeconomic craftsman' Guardian '[A] delightful book … This is a book about football but, like all the best books, it is about a thousand other things as well … This thrilling, intimate, sometimes poignant, often wonderfully funny book shows the workings in real time of a deeply civilised, humane and tolerant mind in an age when those virtues are in short supply. Here is a man with whom you would want to go to a match, and even share a beer afterwards. David Kynaston is one of the good guys, and this is one of the very good books' Daily Mail 'A charming diary ... He’s the sort of fan I want to sit next to: partisan yet civil, eyes on the match but aware there are bigger things to worry about' Financial TimesTrade Review[A] delightful book … This is a book about football but, like all the best books, it is about a thousand other things as well … This thrilling, intimate, sometimes poignant, often wonderfully funny book shows the workings in real time of a deeply civilised, humane and tolerant mind in an age when those virtues are in short supply. Here is a man with whom you would want to go to a match, and even share a beer afterwards. David Kynaston is one of the good guys, and this is one of the very good books -- Roger Alton * Daily Mail *Kynaston strikes a distinctive voice that is in turns warm and sharp and heavy-hearted and dismayed … The pages are filled with entries like this: easily absorbed and entertaining but deceptively thought-provoking … This fascinating book of opinion and reflection offers a wistful snapshot of the rewards of staying the course with the team -- Keith Duggan * Irish Times *A charming diary ... He’s the sort of fan I want to sit next to: partisan yet civil, eyes on the match but aware there are bigger things to worry about -- Murad Ahmed * Financial Times *David Kynaston is one of the great chroniclers of our modern story * Sunday Times *A master socioeconomic craftsman * Guardian *A historian of peerless sensitivity and curiosity about the lives of individuals * Financial Times *A surprising book about life as a fan of a non-league club – surprising in that it finds room for HG Wells’ argument with Henry James and the calamitous state of liberal democracy, as well as the 2016/17 National League playoffs. I loved every page, and ended up admiring David Kynaston, our greatest social historian, even more than I already did -- Nick Hornby

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Book SynopsisBehind the Curtain of the Beautiful Game is a collection of short stories and interviews that take you on a journey through the game we love. Enjoy stories from iconic players, managers, and referees, each sharing unique insights from their time in the game as well as executives, pundits, writers broadcasters taking you beyond the pitch. Written by debut author Callum McFadden and featuring never-before-told stories from the likes of Martin O'Neill, Ron Atkinson, Les Ferdinand, Jeff Stelling, Martin Tyler, Norman Whiteside and others, Behind the Curtain of the Beautiful Game is a reminder of why we love football. All profits from this book will be donated to mental health charity 'Man On Inverclyde'.Trade Review"An outstanding insight into mad world of football." - Willie Morgan

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERThe Trophies … The Tuesday Club … The Prawn Crackers … Marc Overmars may have given him the nickname, but the Romford Pele is a legend in his own right. Over 16 action-packed years, from a trainee scrubbing the boots of the first XI, to a record-breaking 333 Premier League appearances, Ray Parlour’s never-say-die performances, curly locks and mischievous sense of humour have gone down in Arsenal history.Battling tirelessly on the pitch, often in the shadows of his star-name teammates, Parlour won three premier league titles and four FA Cup trophies with the Gunners. But he was also the heart and soul of the dressing room, the training ground and the after work drink. From nights out with Tony Adams, to teaching Thierry Henry cockney rhyming slang, from playing golf with Dennis Bergkamp to trading Inspector Clouseau jokes with Arsène Wenger, this wonderfully funny and candid autobiography looks back on a golden age of the beautiful game, reliving the banter, the stories and the success.Ray Parlour is an Arsenal legend. During his 16-year career he won 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups and the UEFA Cup. One of the most underrated players of his generation, he was also part of Arsenal’s famous Invincible team of 2003/4, which went the entire Premier League season unbeaten. He is now a regular pundit for TalkSport and Sky Sports. He enjoys a short back and sides.Trade ReviewBrilliant, hilarious . . . Bound to have you in stitches * Sun *A riot of anecdotes and escapades * Sunday Times *Hilarious * Soccer AM *Nobody ever wore the Arsenal shirt with more pride than Ray Parlour * Piers Morgan *Parlour emerges as somebody who is open and generous, always up for a laugh, rarely thinking of the consequences * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisThey think it’s all over…it is now, with this comprehensive guide to football shirts through the years. From the obscure to the ubiquitous, The Football Shirts Book is packed with over 150 original and super rare shirts from the greatest game on earth. Covering everything from the iconic to the unusual, even the most hard-core fans will find out something new about the kit of their favourite team.Including full-colour photography, as well as interviews with football shirt design teams, musicians, and fashion designers, this guide offers a full exploration of the brands, design, and sponsorship history behind the world’s best-loved football shirts. It is a must-have for those crazy about football shirts, as well as those whose interest is piqued by history, design, and pop-culture.

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Book SynopsisLiverpool FC: Minute by Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Reds' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From the Reds' early successes to the glory years of domestic and European dominance, the book covers everything from the Bill Shankly era to the heavy-metal swashbuckling football of Jurgen Klopp's thrilling side. Revisit Liverpool's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's glorious past. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Anfield and around the world, Liverpool FC: Minute by Minute is packed with memorable moments. From Keegan to Salah, from Neal to Robertson, from European and Champions League finals to bruising Merseyside derbies, battles with the Manchester giants and incredible goals - the book is filled with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle.

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Book SynopsisAlthough well-known as the birthplace of Charles Darwin and for its idyllic location on the River Severn, in footballing terms Shrewsbury was still a backwater in the late 1970s. But Town's promotion for the first time in their history to Football League Division Two in 1979 changed all that. The 'Spirit of 79' propelled them into the limelight with a famous FA Cup run and an unlikely Third Division title triumph. Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham would now be heading to Gay Meadow, and predictably Shrewsbury were the pundits' favourites for relegation. Come On You Blues is a vivid, first-hand account of Town's inaugural campaign in Division Two in 1979/80, as seen through the eyes of a 15-year-old fan and proud owner of a GBP12 junior season ticket. The book recalls the thrills and anguish of following a small team from Shropshire battling for survival in the second tier, and defying the odds by trouncing footballing giants, upstaging local rivals and scrubbing up well against exciting, up-and-coming sides.

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Book SynopsisLeeds United Minute By Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Whites' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From United's early years and successes to the days of domestic dominance in the late 1960s and early 70s, the book covers everything from the Don Revie and David O'Leary eras through to the days of Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa. Revisit United's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's proud history. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Elland Road and around the world, Leeds United Minute By Minute is packed with memorable moments. From Clarke to Lorimer and from Viduka to Becchio - all the club legends are here, with thrilling memories from kick-off to the final whistle.

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Book SynopsisCELEBRATE THE MANAGER OF ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP FINALISTS!Is there anyone with a track record like Sarina Wiegman? Undefeated at any finals, she is the epitome of success, so shouldn't you... be more Sarina?Here are 80 scenarios in which Sarina would operate with flawless efficiency, such as:· Sarina would never wear a half-and-half scarf.· Sarina could design a VAR system that everyone was happy with.· Sarina could make cyclists and taxi drivers get along.· Sarina always believed it would take women to bring it home.Perfect for the footy fan in your life, Be More Sarina is the fun way to celebrate England's most successful football manager.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR, SPORTS BOOK AWARDS'Beautifully written and immaculately researched. Jonathan Wilson is the finest sports writer of his generation' Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk RoadsIn 1953, the Mighty Magyars beat England 6-3 at Wembley, a result that echoes through the history of football. A year earlier, this Hungarian team had won Olympic gold. A year later, they lost agonisingly in the final of a World Cup that they dominated. This is the beginning, middle and end of Hungarian football in the popular imagination.Only, how come the ideas from this team spread around the world? Why do Hungarian managers spring up in Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, across Europe and the Americas, bringing their secrets with them? And what are the incredible stories they have to tell, of escaping the Nazis and the Soviet communists?How did the history of modern football come to be born in the Budapest coffeehouses of the early twentieth century?Fifteen years in the making, this new book from bestselling football historian Jonathan Wilson is the missing piece of the jigsaw; the forgotten story in football's history, lost in war, in revolution, in death and tragedy.Trade ReviewOne hell of a story, with a teller to match * When Saturday Comes *Chaos, tragedy and doomed romance. A fascinating book -- Dominic Sandbrook * History Today *Beautifully written and immaculately researched, this brilliant and often moving book restores Hungary and Hungarian football to the heart of the story of modern game. The Names Heard Long Ago is not just a good football book; it's a wonderful history too of triumph and tragedy in Central Europe in the 20th century - set on a global stage. Jonathan Wilson is the finest sports writer of his generation. * Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads *Brilliant football historian Wilson has penned another fascinating book * Sunday Sport *

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Book SynopsisIn 2012, English football was rocked by the biggest match-fixing operation to hit these shores in recent times. An Asian syndicate had infiltrated the Conference South with players being offered vast sums of money to help rig games and net millions of pounds for the fixers. Loyal fans attending matches were oblivious to the fact that outcomes had been predetermined. The remarkable story of how this syndicate was able to take hold of the national sport is told to us by a man who not only played in many of these games, but went to jail for helping to fix them - Moses Swaibu. Fixed breaks new ground as Moses Swaibu becomes the first player ever to write openly about how he helped to fix games, revealing exactly what happens on the pitch when a match is being manipulated. He also exposes how the criminal gangs operate, how young professional players are targeted and groomed and the threats of violence that are used to keep them in check. Offering a fascinating insight into the ugly side of the beautiful game, it's a sporting autobiography like none ever written before.

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Book SynopsisAddicted to Football: A Journey from Anfield to Almost Everywhere is the autobiography of former professional footballer Jon Newby. His career took him from a single Premier League appearance with Liverpool to playing for clubs all over the country in the top eight tiers of the football pyramid. There was also a spell in Scottish football and a venture into non-league management. As a young player, Jon achieved his dream as he walked out in front of a packed Kop at Anfield. But ultimately his name was better known by Bury, Morecambe and Colwyn Bay fans, rather than by Liverpool fans. His story gives a fascinating insight into the unpredictable world of the journeyman footballer, covering battles with injuries, managers and even his own mind. Jon's biggest battle, however, came when he was diagnosed with an incurable heart condition and the game he was addicted to put his life in serious danger.

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Book SynopsisFeeling Blue is a football fan's memoir like no other. Spanning more than 35 years and set across three continents, it is a true story that encompasses love, race and identity - all interweaved with the chaotic fall and rise of Manchester City. Dickie Denton was born into a 1960s Manchester home with many siblings, one of whom was adopted and of Asian parentage. As he grew up, Dickie faced the twin challenges of racist bullying and academic underachievement. Football was his refuge and Manchester City became his obsession - through boyhood, coming of age and adulthood. By middle age he had the trappings of a successful international business career but still craved the thing that he most desired and continued to elude him: success for Manchester City. His story dramatically climaxes in 2012, on a sultry May night in Singapore. Feeling Blue is not just for Man City fans, or even just football fans. It is a deeply personal story told with humour and honesty that will appeal to all and bring forth tears and laughter in equal measure.

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Book SynopsisAs a young footballer, Clare Shine appeared to have it all. She won her first international call-up at age 13, and by 15 was part of the Republic of Ireland Women's under-17 squad. But the pressure of being a star striker weighed heavily on her young shoulders. By age 19, she had played in a UEFA European Championship and a FIFA World Cup, scored the winner in a Cup Final, won her first senior international cap and become a full-time professional player. But she had also become addicted to alcohol, experimented with drugs, suffered panic attacks and attempted suicide for the first time. This is the story of someone trapped in a world where the weight of expectancy and the battle with personal demons was all washed away, albeit temporarily, whenever she put the ball in the back of the net. It is the story of a girl struggling to find her true identity, a journey in search of confidence and self-belief from someone who seemingly had it in abundance, and a remarkable tale of recovery and achieving new goals.

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Book SynopsisThe Jimmy Greaves We Knew celebrates the life and career of a national treasure through the memories of friends, family, team-mates, the media and fans. They recall a goalscoring great, a TV celebrity - most notably as one half of the legendary Saint and Greavsie - a newspaper columnist, comedian and raconteur who battled alcohol addiction. The modern game also pays tribute to this charismatic, friendly, down-to-earth, witty individual who built a reputation for hitting the back of the net playing for Chelsea, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and England. Greaves set a European record of 357 goals in 516 top-flight games and netted 44 in 57 full international appearances. Tragically, Greaves suffered a stroke in 2015 and died on 19 September 2021, when two of his former clubs, Spurs and Chelsea - plus 60,000 fans - gave him a minute's applause before they played each other at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The love and affection is as strong as ever.

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Book SynopsisIn the fourth book in the acclaimed Turf Wars series, veteran journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue chronicles the competitive history of football in Yorkshire.Sports-mad Yorkshire is proud to be the home of football, the birthplace of the world''s oldest independent club as long ago as 1857. So the turf wars began earlier than anywhere else, often with bad blood spilt when Sheffield FC took on neighbouring Hallam. Fierce rivalries that remain to this day emerged among two new Sheffield clubs, Wednesday and United, plus Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United and early FA Cup winners Barnsley; then in West Riding''s Bradford, Leeds and Huddersfield.After a national Football League was founded, the county had at least one team in the top division from 1892 for the next 90 years, capable of winning the English game''s biggest honours.This book charts the ever-changing fortunes of one of the great football regions, with a colourful cast of famous play

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Book SynopsisJeff Goulding''s Red Odyssey, an epic chronicle of Liverpool FC''s history, continues with more tales of drama and joy, heroes and villains, victors and vanquished.In 2020, Klopp''s Reds captured the club''s first league title in 30 years, completing a remarkable treble of domestic, European and world honours. Jurgen''s Last Stand: Red Odyssey IV is the story of what came next, reliving how Jürgen came agonisingly close to a clean sweep of all available honours in 2022 before carrying off a domestic cup double.Goulding treats us to a supporter''s-eye view of the drama in Paris, which is emotively contrasted with a glorious homecoming that enveloped the team and the city of Liverpool in a blanket of solidarity and celebration.Finally, as a tired Klopp battles to build Liverpool 2.0, supporters are rocked by his decision to step down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, before their passionate response propels him and the club through yet another hist

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Book SynopsisWinner Stays On journeys into the heart of English football using FA Cup fixtures to plan the route.This unique adventure takes us across the entire spectrum of the English game, from Tuffley Rovers to Burton Albion, Luton Town to Manchester City, revealing the people and places that make football tick. With original research and rich, thought-provoking prose, the book blends elements of travel writing with football culture and barstool sociology. It's also funny.A frank account of the state of modern football as well as a heartfelt celebration, the book uncovers where the game is going wrong. Amateur footballers are afforded the same curiosity as Premier League stars; faltering industrial towns are treated with the same respect as upmarket villages and prosperous, world-leading cities.Over 14 matches and 14 locations, Winner Stays On brings us a fascinating first-hand take on modern England and the sport its inhabitants turn to for escapism.Trade Review"[The book] takes the armchair reader on a journey across England by way of following teams, towns, and cities as balls are drawn out of the bag, round by round, for the FA Cup... R M Clark describes his emotions and experiences, the people he met and of course the main match action. An original idea made more interesting by all the pleasant, personal touches." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *

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