Association football (Soccer) Books

Book SynopsisSheffield Wednesday Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Owls. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the former player who was wrongly presumed dead for 95 years? How about the time the lads were drawn away from home in the Cup on ten consecutive occasions? Or the ex-Owl whose playing career wound up in Greenland and the Falkland Islands? Do you know which Wednesday winger drove to matches in an ice-cream van? The result of the 'secret' match played under the new Hillsborough floodlights? Or the depth of the floodwater on the pitch in 2007? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Wednesday fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisBlackpool FC Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Seasiders. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the goalie who sported glasses and a blue-and-white bandana? How about the fans in masks and fancy dress, known as the Atomic Boys? Or the first ever live televised League match, watched by 2.3 million viewers? Do you know which Premier League-era favourite was sent off on his debut? Which 1970s disco divas sung the official club song? Or who became the first player to play for Blackpool in all four divisions? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Seasiders fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Scottish international football including contemporary and historic images of legends, key events, and matches. With individual diary entries for every day of the year, the book is full of heroes and villains, and tells the tales of the matches, characters, tournaments, and managers that have helped shape the story of Scottish international football. From the world's first international match against England in 1872 to Home Championship victories to World Cup heartaches and the tale of the Tartan Army, all the major football stories are covered.Scotland On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the nation's footballing past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable dark blue-and-white history - with an entry for every day of the year. From that Partick afternoon in 1872 when Scotland drew with England in the first ever football international, right through to the SPL era, the Tartan Army have witnessed a host of successes in the British Championship, plus famous victories, heart-rending near misses and valiant defeats in World Cup and European Championships matches - as well as a few less defiant losses at Hampden. Timeless greats such as Denis Law, Jimmy McGrory and Ally McCoist, Joe Baxter, Kenny Dalglish and Dave Mackay all loom larger than life alongside the lesser-known heroes, one-cap wonders and managers who have helped shape the story of Scottish football.

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Book SynopsisCoventry City On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Sky Blues diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation on Monday 13th August 1883 through to the Premier League era, the City faithful have witnessed promotions and relegations, hard-fought derby matches, breathtaking Cup runs and triumphs - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Clarrie Bourton, Steve Ogrizovic and George Curtis, Tommy Hutchison, Gary McSheffrey and Dion Dublin all loom larger than life. Revisit 29th November 1961, the beginning of the club's revolution under Jimmy Hill. 3rd October 1970, when Willie Carr's backflick and Ernie Hunt's 'donkey kick' made history. Or Wednesday 13th May 1987, when the Sky Blues' Cup Final squad sang 'Go For It City!' live on Blue Peter.

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Book SynopsisCoventry City Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Sky Blues. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the substitute who scored on his debut after just 26 seconds? How about the FA Youth Cup winners who were signed by Kenny Dalglish? Or the media pundit who scored in six successive top-flight matches? Do you know what Des Bremner and Gilles de Bilde have in common with Steve Ogrizovic? Which was the last side to win a League game at Highfield Road? And who was the only Irishman who didn't know where Dublin was? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Coventry City fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisA selection of writing from one of the most admired, experienced and respected sports writers in the business today. A must-have for all football fans.

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Book SynopsisAs one of the most successful and controversial managers in world-wide footaball, Scolari's biography covers his career, methods and infamous pitch side rages.

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Book SynopsisA celebration of worls football culture from around the world by Alistair Berg, who has spent over 20 years capturing the beautiful game worldwide. Includes a special section on Africa and the build up to the 2010 World Cup.

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Book SynopsisAn insightful analysis of the life of a modern footballer by Louis Saha, star of Everton and France, written without the aid of a ghostwriter.

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Book SynopsisCharlton Athletic On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Addicks diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation in 1905 through to the Premier League era, the red-and-white faithful have witnessed record-breaking dramas unfold: the greatest ever recovery in a league match; the first rise from the old Division Three to the old Division One, eventually finishing runners-up; the first ever substitute used; the first retention of a top-tier spot via the playoffs - plus an all-time Wembley classic. Timeless greats such as Derek Hales, Scott Parker, Jimmy Seed, Clive Mendonca, Sam Bartram and Eddie Firmani all loom larger than life in a history capped by a groundbreaking groundshare exile, and a glorious return to The Valley.

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Book SynopsisFootball used to be better in the past - and here's the proof. Got, Not Got focuses on British football's apparent lost Utopia of the '60s, '70s and '80s - the fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mudbaths and cloggers, of miniature, carpet-level games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. It evokes the feel and smell of football past, its rituals and relics. But there's more to the agreeably grumpy authors' vision than a hilarious, heartstring-tugging celebration of everything we miss in modern football. Here are hundreds of beautiful images of a lost football culture, pin-sharp observations and memories shared by generations of fans - in all, an ideal blueprint to help restore the game to its former glories! This Aladdin's cave of memorabilia brings back the magic of league ladders and dogs on the pitch, sock tags and the magic sponge - and was runner-up in the BSBA Book of the Year Awards 2012.Trade ReviewShortlisted for the Best Football Book at the 2012 British Sports Book Awards; "The best book about football written in the last 20 years." - Bill Borrows, Esquire; "A veritable Dundee cake of a book." - Danny Kelly, talkSPORT; "Recalling a more innocent time before Sky Sports and millionaire players, Got, Not Got is a long soak in a warm, nostalgic bath of football nostalgia: an A-Z of memorabilia, ephemera and ill-advised haircuts." - In Demand, Mail on Sunday Live magazine; "This memorabilia fest is a delightful reminder of what's gone from the game: 'magic sponges', Subbuteo and, er, magazines for shinpads. Such innocent times, eh?" - FourFourTwo; "The real magic is the collection and display of the illustrative material of stickers, badges, programme covers, Subbuteo figures and other ephemera. It is astonishingly thorough, well-presented, inspired and indeed had me going, 'yes, got, got, not got, forgot, never seen'." - When Saturday Comes; "The book's great fun. It's an essential if you grew up watching football in the 60s, 70s or 80s." - Paul Hawksbee, TalkSPORT; "Obviously, everybody over the age of 40 is going to absolutely love this. There's something for every fan of every club." - Andy Jacobs, TalkSPORT; "It is a work of genius, I cannot state this too highly. The most brilliant book I've opened in a long, long time." - Monica Winfield, BBC Radio Leicester; "A cracking book which whisks you back to a different footballing era." - Brian Reade, Mirror Football columnist; "I've had this for a month but haven't got round to reviewing it because it keeps disappearing. It's the sign of a good book that people repeatedly pick it up and walk away with it. A hardback collection of vintage football memorabilia that you need in your life... It's like finding your old football stickers." - James Brown, SabotageTimes.com; "No. 339: The book Got, Not Got." - 500 Reasons To Love Football blog; "I can guarantee that virtually anybody who flicks open this magnificent book will immediately want to have it. Whatever you have loved about our game, it will almost certainly be buried within this lavish trove of treasure." - Winger: The Review of British Football; "The perfect stocking filler for Christmas." - Mike Lawrence, BBC Radio London; "It's a beauty. An absolute must-have for all you nostalgia junkies out there. Wonderful articles and evocative images and above all lots of fun, Got, Not Got has it all. Treat yourself or your football-mad relatives to one of the best football books around." - Footysphere.com; "It's a real table thumper with some weight to it, great pictures and some terrific writing. Bathe in a sea of nostalgia and rail against the fact that these things aren't there anymore." - Nick Godwin, BBC Radio London; "It's an absolute beauty." - Adrian Goldberg, BBC Radio WM.; "A fantastic book, there's just so much in it. You really should get it." - Steve Anglesey, Mirror Football podcast; "It focuses on the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and anyone who had anything to do with English football during this period will instantly relate to just about every page. I'm sure that you will both laugh and cry as the memories come flooding back." - Nigel Mercer, Football Card Webspace; "The best dose of retro football nostalgia ever. I can't put it down!" - footballcardsuk.com; "It is far more enjoyable to think about football in times past, and it is a seam that is tapped so richly by authors Derek Hammond and Gary Silke, who have written a wonderful A to Z of lost football culture, treasure and pleasures." - The Blackpool Gazette; "These two authors fully deserve to be recognised as the leading writers and historians of British football nostalgia for the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s." - RetroUnited.com; "A book exploring the lost culture of the game when pitches were mudbaths, managers wore sheepskin coats and players were too embarrassed to dive - a bygone age that seems a far cry from the profit-driven game today played in the main by overpaid primadonnas." - Paul Suart, Birmingham Evening Mail; "Got, Not Got is wonderful. I'm feeling quite emotional leafing through it!" - Nick Alatti, The Bridge 102.5FM in the Black Country

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Book SynopsisFifteen Fulham legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Cottagers fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the white shirt...John Mitchell and Les Strong recall 1975 FA Cup heroics, recounting stories of overturning Birmingham City in the semi-final before facing West Ham at Wembley as Second Division underdogs; George Cohen waxes lyrical about an eight-goal semi-final against Manchester United in 1958. Rodney McAree opts for the goal at Carlisle in 1997 that started Fulham's climb from the basement to the Premier League - while Simon Davies nominates the Europa League Final. Craven Cottage greats Steve Earle, Ray Lewington and Danny Murphy also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for Fulham.

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Book SynopsisFourteen Derby County legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Rams fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the white shirt...Steve Powell recalls playing against Liverpool at the Baseball Ground when he was just 16, in a match that virtually sealed Derby's first league championship; Jim Bullions recounts heroic stories of Wembley in 1946, when the Rams beat Charlton to lift the FA Cup. Michael Johnson waxes lyrical on beating Forest in a six-goal thriller - while Darren Moore nominates the win over West Brom in the 2007 Championship play-off final. County greats Johnny Morris, Dave Mackay and Marco Gabbiadini also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for the Rams.

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Book SynopsisA dozen Wolverhampton Wanderers legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Wolves fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the old gold shirt...Bert Williams and Sammy Smyth recall 1949 FA Cup glory, recounting stories of the spirited semi against Manchester United, topped off by Wembley victory over Leicester; Bill Slater opts for the international friendly against Honved that saw Wolves crowned unofficial 'Champions of the World' in 1956. John Richards waxes lyrical about his Wolves debut at the Hawthorns, while Derek Parkin selects the 1980 League Cup Final against Forest. Molineux legends Roy Swinbourne, Ron Flowers and Steve Bull also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for the Wolves.

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Book SynopsisSixteen Stoke City legends tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Potters fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the red-and-white stripes...Terry Conroy recounts scoring in the 1972 League Cup Final, and Mark Stein remembers another Wembley win in the 1992 Autoglass Trophy. Denis Smith recalls when Stoke took on the best that Europe had to offer, and came so close to defeating mighty Ajax, while Peter Fox takes the unusual step of selecting a game in which he only played for half an hour - the 4-4 draw with Luton in 1982. Victoria Ground legends Dennis Herod, Tony Allen and Mark Chamberlain also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for the Potters.

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Book SynopsisThis book is the complete guide to all of the games played by Hearts in European competitions since the club become only the third Scottish team to enter the European Cup. With contributions from several prominent Hearts players and celebrity fans, including Ken Stott and Scott Wilson, From Athens to Zagreb will evoke forgotten memories amongst fans of all ages.Trade ReviewA must-read for Hearts fans, Athens to Zagreb is the definitive guide to all matches played by the team in European competitions since 1958. SCOTTISH REVIEW OF BOOKS This record of the team’s glorious history is told from the point of view of some of the people who were closely involved, and of course the fans themselves. SCOTTISH REVIEW OF BOOKSBuckle captures some extraordinary tales in a book guaranteed to stir the sepia-tinted memory banks of anyone who has ever travelled with Hearts. EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

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Book SynopsisReturn to The Lost World of Football through this Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to the magical atmosphere of a more innocent era of football. If you were one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from England's World Cup win to the dawn of the Premiership, you'll be relieved to hear that the cool kits and tabletop games, the mud, mavericks and Melchester Rovers are back and here to stay. Flankers with triangular sideboards, petrol freebies and gluey sticker albums will soon once again be flickering past your senses like your long-lost videos of the Sunday soccer highlights. But there's more to The Lost World of Football than a giant Kays catalogue of unforgettable football culture, clutter and wistful yearning. Here are countless tried-and-tested methods to leave the 21st century behind and revisit your own football Golden Age!

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Book SynopsisFrom the thousands of matches ever played by Manchester City, stretching from the early days of the 20th century to the new millennium and Premier League triumph, here are 50 of City's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Manchester City Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in everything from the first game ever played at Maine Road in 1923 to the last in 2003, plus belters at the Etihad Stadium and Wembley classics. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Francis Lee and Billy Meredith, Bert Trautmann, Georgi Kinkladze and Ernie Brook - springs to life in a thrilling selection of last-day dramas, unforgettable derbies, relegation deciders, European nights and Cup crackers. In all, a journey through the highlights of City's history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

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Book SynopsisFanatical is the story of football's number one superfan. Since January 1968, Gary Edwards hasn't missed a single competitive Leeds United match anywhere in the world. He's devastated to have missed one friendly; although, rest assured, that was through no fault of his own. On his 46-year (and counting!) adventure, this uniquely passionate supporter has experienced dodgy mountainside coach nightmares, bumpy flights on cheap airlines, and aggro just about everywhere. From pink faces in Barnsley to disguises at Luton, from behind the Iron Curtain to an eerie Nou Camp, from FA hypocrisy to tragedy in Turkey, Fanatical is by turn funny, scary and inspirational in its display of extreme love for football and the mighty Whites. Enjoy this whistle-stop global tour to every club Gary has visited ever since Derby County all those years ago - by sea, by air and by Doombuggy, Gary's customised hearse!

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Book SynopsisFrom the thousands of matches ever played by Manchester United, stretching from their roots as Newton Heath to the present-day colossus that has racked up more league titles and FA Cups to their name than any other club, here are 50 of United's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Manchester United Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in everything from the dark days of Munich to the unmatched League/FA Cup/Champions League Treble. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Tommy Taylor, Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - springs to life in a thrilling selection of hard-fought derby matches, landmark European nights, and league and cup exploits. In all, a journey through the highlights of United history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

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Book SynopsisGot, Not Got: The Lost World of Norwich City is an Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to Carrow Road's fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mud and magic - as well as a Canaries-mad childhood of miniature tabletop games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. The book recalls a more innocent era of football, lingering longingly over relics from the good old days - Canaries stickers and petrol freebies, league ladders, big-match programmes and much more - revisiting lost football culture, treasures and pleasures that are 100 per cent Norwich City. If you're a lifelong Norwich fan, one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from the Ron Saunders era to the early days of the Premier League, then this is the book to recall the mavericks - Fashanu, Fox and Peters, Townsend, Goss and Culverhouse - and the marvels of the Lost World of Football.

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Book SynopsisGot, Not Got: The Lost World of Ipswich Town is an Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to Portman Road's fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mud and magic - as well as a Blues-mad childhood of miniature tabletop games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. The book recalls a more innocent era of football, lingering longingly over relics from the good old days - Tractor Boys stickers and petrol freebies, league ladders, big-match programmes and much more - revisiting lost football culture, treasures and pleasures that are 100 per cent Ipswich Town. If you're a lifelong Ipswich fan, one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from the arrival of Bobby Robson to the early days of the Premier League, then this is the book to recall the mavericks - Mariner, Muhren and Mills, Holland, Beattie and Butcher - and the marvels of the Lost World of Football.

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Book SynopsisIrresistible anecdotes, irrepressible characters, mindblowing stats and facts. Here's all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about Leicester City, coupled with a day-by-day diary of magical and memorable moments from the Foxes' rollercoaster history. Heard the one about the 0-12 drubbing at Forest after the players had attended 'Leggy' Turner's wedding? How about the goal that keeper Peter Shilton didn't know he'd scored? Or the 1974 team's funky single 'This Is the Season for Us'? Turn back the clock to 30 May 1994 when the Foxes finally won at Wembley at their seventh attempt. Revisit 10 August 1968, when City smashed the British transfer record, paying Fulham GBP150,000 for Allan Clarke. Or 23 August 1972, when Frank Worthington scored on his debut at Old Trafford. A brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of blue-and-white history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisHow did George McCluskey become one of Celtic F.C.’s most memorable football players? What binds the fans and players and creates this strong sense of belonging? And what does the Irish diaspora have to do with Celtic F.C.? George McCluskey was one of the key strikers for the Hoops in the ‘70s and ‘80s, a successful time in the club’s history. He did not only score for his team, but changed the entire game in favour of Celtic more than once. In this account of his life story told by his close friend Aidan Donaldson, George McCluskey is praised as the embodiment of the Celtic spirit. His individual history is intertwined with the history and mentality of the club. However, George McCluskey did not only influence Celtic F.C. but also other clubs he played for and the people he has met during his life. This book takes you on a journey through the development of the club from its very beginning, as well as exploring the evolution of football in general. How did we get from football legends like George McCluskey to football celebrities like David Beckham? What did professional football look like back then, what constitutes it nowadays? This timely book will appeal not only to Celtic supporters, but to anyone interested in the development of professional football. His exuberant celebration depicted on the cover of the book remains iconic in the eyes of Celtic supporters today. His Cup winning goal led inadvertently to a riot and the banning of alcohol in Scottish football grounds. Trade Review.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements TimelinePersonal Introduction by George McCluskeyPreface by Joseph M Bradley Introduction Early life in Lanarkshire Chapter 1 The Irish Diaspora and Celtic Football Club Chapter 2 ‘The Apple Does Not Fall Far from the Tree’ Chapter 3 School Days, Bus Protests and Celtic Win the European Cup! Chapter 4 Moving on, Changing School and Keeping your Appendix Early playing days and signing for Celtic Chapter 5 Starting on the Road to Paradise Chapter 6 Scoring against Bellshill Academy and England as Well Chapter 7 Signing for Celtic Playing in the green and white hoops of Celtic Chapter 8 Moving through the Ranks Chapter 9 Making a Debut, Starring against Rangers, then Catching a Bus Home Chapter 10 ‘Whatever Happened to that Young Boy McCluskey?’ Chapter 11 ‘Ten Men Won the League Tralalalala!’ Chapter 12 Real Madrid, How Tommy Burns Nearly Got us Killed in Spain and ‘That Goal’ Chapter 13 Three Strikers and a Rotation System Chapter 14 Stepping up to the Mark and Winning the League for Celtic Moving from Celtic before returning home Chapter 15 Paradise Lost – and a Loss to Paradise Chapter 16 From Celtic to Leeds – into a Different World Chapter 17 A Return to Scotland and a Brutal ‘Tackle’ Chapter 18 Paradise Regained – via Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Clyde Postscript

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Book SynopsisThis is a book celebrating all that is great with the game of football, as seen through the eyes of clubs and fans rarely bothered by satellite television cameras and the riches of the elite game, a vibrant world of humour, warmth and friendship worth far more than all the wealth of the Premier League. Why do people head out on windswept Saturday afternoons and wet Wednesday evenings watch lower and non-league teams play when they could watch Premier League football from the comfort of their living rooms? Does an international match between two countries that technically don’t exist have any meaning? Why do some people go to so much trouble volunteering to support clubs which run on a shoestring budget and are lucky to get even a glimpse of the limelight? Over the course of a season, Mat Guy set out to explore the less glamorous side of the beautiful game, travelling the backwaters of football across the length and breadth of the country – and beyond. He watched Bangor as they were cheerfully thrashed by Reykjavik’s UMF Stjarnan, was absolutely won over by the women’s game, and found a new team to love in Accrington Stanley. From Glasgow to Northern Cyprus, Bhutan to the Faroe Islands, Mat discovered the same hope, sense of community, and love of the game that first led him to a life in the stands at Salisbury FC’s Victoria Park, where his own passion for football was formed.Trade ReviewThe amazing story is a must read for any walk of life not just football fans. You could say we have adopted each other in a short space of time, its a great portrait of Accrington Stanley Football club and hopefully when this publication hits the world our club can gain more support like Mat. - Nick Westwell, Chairman, Official Accrington Stanley Supporters ClubTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 9 1 Bangor City v UMF Stjarnan 13 2 Swindon Town v Southampton 20 3 HB Tórshavn v Skála 28 4 Wales Women v England Women 47 5 Cowes Sports v Yate Town 54 6 Accrington Stanley v Tranmere Rovers 61 7 Northampton Town v Accrington Stanley 71 8 Aldershot Town v Bristol Rovers 77 9 Manchester City Ladies v Arsenal Ladies 83 10 Partick Thistle v St Johnstone 89 11 Tibet v North Cyprus 96 12 Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge 121 13 England Women v Germany Women 128 14 Portsmouth v Accrington Stanley 134 15 Yeovil Town v Accrington Stanley 141 16 Lymington Town v Brockenhurst 146 17 Downton v Amesbury Town 152 18 Corinthian v Beckenham Town 158 19 Eastleigh v Torquay United 163 20 Plymouth Argyle v Bury 169 21 Sri Lanka v Bhutan 176 22 Accrington Stanley v York City 187 23 Lydd Town v Lewisham Borough 195 24 Accrington Stanley v Carlisle United 201 25 Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington Stanley 208 26 The End of the Road 214

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Book SynopsisFollowing his first book, Another Bloody Saturday: A Journey to the Heart and Soul of Football, Mat Guy continues his exploration of the ‘beautiful game’ in Minnows United; an ode to the unsung heroes of football matches taking place out of the limelight, all over the world. From little known teams within the UK, to teams representing countries that, to most of the world, don’t even exist, Mat Guy travels to remote parts of the globe to experience football not only on the fringes of the pitch, but on the fringes of the world. On his travels, he watches matches in Iceland, interviews members of the Tibetan Women’s Football team, explores the impact of football in war-torn Palestine and explores the unsung heroes in the football clubs present throughout the length of the UK. What he finds is countries transcending the game itself and instead building communities, lifelines and friendship with football at the centre.Trade Review.

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Book SynopsisStand By Your Reds, written by award-winning sports journalist Bryan Cooney, takes readers to locations where few have ventured – notably, the sacrosanct dressing room and those secretive corridors of power. This engaging narrative, built from a chronology of forensic interviews, ranges from the fifties to the present and tells the stories of an idiosyncratic team and an inveterate fan. Although it never neglects the triumphs, it refuses to ignore the turbulences. Cooney features: The incendiary reign of Eddie Turnbull, manager, martinet; Stuart Kennedy – the first player to front up Furious Fergie; Why Jim Bett was unable to forgive the directors; Steve Paterson makes an extraordinary drinking debut; Leigh Griffiths – why he was the one who got away; The loneliest, most intimidating sacking of Milne’s life; and McInnes reveals what makes him really see red. Stand Free. Stand By Your Reds. Enjoy.Trade ReviewWaspish, insightful and in turns affectionate and critical of his club Bryan Cooney's Stand By Your Reds is an unashamedly biased, informed and boisterous account of one fan's decades-long marriage to the Dons. – Michael Grant, The Times 'I was attracted to this book because, not only does it chart the history of the Dons through the words of those who have been close to the action since the 1950s - eg: an enlightening meeting with Bobby Wishart - it is set alongside the remarkable and often chaotic career of a journalist who reached the very top in his chosen discipline. Bryan Cooney's incisive and penetrating questions to a wide range of former players, as well as to the club's current chairman Stewart Milne and manager Derek McInnes, are honest and the producers of revelatory answers. Cooney may be a fan, but he is not one to fall for the sanitised version of events nor the answers the PR men would rather went into print. For all that, there is a clear love from the author for a team he has followed since childhood and his clear expertise as an interviewer offers us an intriguing and entertaining read. This is an important addition to the best books on Scottish football.' – Frank Gilfeather, Sky Sports

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Book SynopsisAn estimated 100 million people worldwide are homeless. 1.6 billion live in sub-standard housing. But how can such a simple game like football tackle such a complex problem? Mel Young and Peter Barr tell the story of the million homeless people in 70 countries who have taken part in the Homeless World Cup since it was founded in 2003 and the positive impact it has on the players and everyone else involved, including spectators. From refugees to drug addicts, orphans and the poorest of the poor, to homeless people from the world's richest countries, we read about the moving human drama behind the event and find out how a ball can change the world. Home Game provides an insight into the birth of the Homeless World Cup and how it has become such a global phenomenon, by looking at more than just facts. It shows how the power of sport can help excluded people transform their own lives and how the event has transformed attitudes to homelessness.Trade ReviewWhen people have a bad deal in life and things haven't been going their way, one of the ways they can get self-esteem back is through sport. The Homeless World Cup does that, and it also puts on the agenda that homelessness is a global issue. We all love football and we all hate homelessness – it's a no brainer. – Irvine Welsh Novelist and Ambassador for the Homeless World Cup All over the world, we've got to end homelessness. Everyone should have a home. It's a right and not a privilege. People treat the homeless as if they're sub-human. In order to overcome this discrimination, we have to unite against homelessness as we did when we fought apartheid. – Archbishop Desmond Tutu, speaking at the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town (2006)

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Book SynopsisHow can parents help their child to fulfil their potential both on and off the pitch and get the most out of our national sport? Every parent wants what's best for their child. Unfortunately, with very few resources available, parents of youth football players have had to mainly rely on guesswork, until now! Did You Win, Did You Score...? has 150 chapters to help guide parents through every step of their child's football journey and personal development both on and off the pitch. This book helps parents to understand the impact they can have, both positively and negatively, along with providing practical advice for helping their child to fulfil their potential and learn valuable life skills. This book will help parents facilitate a positive experience for their child and avoid the many unintentionally damaging behaviours that can lead to problems. It guides parents to help their child build positive characteristics for life such as resilience, confidence and a growth mindset along with helping them to be the best player they can be. It is as much about life as it is about football. It will help parents to enable their child to get the most out of the game to not only be the best player they can be on the pitch but also the best person they can be off it. Perry passes on his extensive knowledge and experience of working in grassroots and professional football for over twenty years and at every level of the game from beginners to Champions League winners. It can be read from cover to cover or used as a reference book to be delved into time and again throughout a child's football journey.

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Book SynopsisNotes on a Season 2021/2022 - The Chase is an official club book that provides a fascinating look back at this unique campaign in the words of the Liverpool manager who made it all possible. This is the story of an unforgettable campaign in Jurgen Klopp's own words about another famous chapter in Anfield history.

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Book SynopsisSo the exciting publishing adventure on this leading team on the Italian soccer scene continues. From that magical evening at the San Siro celebrating the Centenary to that heart-racing game under the pouring rain in Parma that resulted in the awarding to Inter of the 16th scudetto. Then the arrival of Mourinho and the triumph in the UEFA Super Cup thanks to a penalty, to the exciting race that ended with the winning of the fourth consecutive scudetto, the 17th in the team’s history. All this and more besides is in the official volume 101 Inter, with an abundance of extraordinary photos accompanied by texts by writers who are all great Inter fans.

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Book SynopsisA wealth of research in recent decades has seen the economic approach to human behavior extended over many areas previously considered to belong to sociology, political science, law, and other fields. This book uses soccer to test economic theories and document novel human behavior.Trade Review"[E]njoyably accessible to nonspecialists, especially sports enthusiasts, who will learn a great deal about soccer, economics, and human behavior more generally."--Foreign Affairs "Beautiful Game Theory shows what it is like to think deeply about a sport and to test your ideas with data... [I]t is a book I recommend unconditionally to those economists with even a passing sport."--John Considine, Sportseconomics.orgTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 FIRST HALF 1.Pele Meets John von Neumann in the Penalty Area 9 2.Vernon Smith Meets Messi in the Laboratory 31 3.Lessons for Experimental Design 45 4.Mapping Minimax in the Brain (with Antonio Olivero, Sven Bestmann, Jose Florensa Vila, and Jose Apesteguia) 58 5.Psychological Pressure on the Field and Elsewhere 68 HALFTIME 6.Scoring at Halftime 89 SECOND HALF 7.Favoritism under Social Pressure 107 8.Making the Beautiful Game a Bit Less Beautiful (with Luis Garicano) 124 9.Fear Pitch 151 10.From Argentina without Emotions 164 11.Discrimination: From the Makana Football Association to Europe 174 Acknowledgments 193 References 195 Index 205

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