Autobiography: sport Books
Pitch Publishing Ltd To Cap it All: The Autobiography of John Rudge
Book SynopsisTo Cap It All is the enthralling life story of legendary Port Vale manager John Rudge, providing special behind-the-scenes insight into the ups and downs of six decades of professional football, from the depths of the Division Four re-election zone to the Premier League and Europe. Rudge managed the Valiants for a record 19 years, developing players like Robbie Earle, Mark Bright and Ian Taylor. As Vale slayed giants such as Spurs, Southampton and Everton, Rudge became a style icon famous for his flat cap. He moved to city rivals Stoke in 1999 to become director of football and oversaw the club's revival to reach the Premier League and their first ever FA Cup final. But it wasn't all plain sailing. John describes his volatile relationship with Vale chairman Bill Bell and speaks out about Stoke's Icelandic owners and manager Johan Boskamp, who had Rudge put on garden leave. This hilarious memoir also reveals why a second-hand Lada changed John's life, how he once signed a drag artist and why he ended up in Denis Law's bed!
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd King of the Journeymen: The Peter Buckley Story
Book SynopsisKing of the Journeymen is the gripping autobiography of Peter Buckley, a pro boxer who fought 300 times and was a 'stepping stone' for world champions such as Naseem Hamed and Duke McKenzie. As a boy, Buckley shone as an amateur boxer, but outside the ring he was heading for trouble. He was suspended numerous times from school and sent to prison at age 15 for assault and robbery. Whilst inside, his father died. His life felt hopeless and seemed to be going nowhere. But after his release he turned to professional boxing and things started to improve. Labelled a journeyman, he fought often and lost often, whilst earning more money than he'd thought possible. Buckley never refused a fight, often accepting bouts at a few hours' notice or after a night out. King of the Journeymen is an inspirational tale of a man tenaciously fighting for a better life. Although he lost more fights than he won, Buckley persevered with his career and attained widespread respect from boxers and fans alike.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Disappearing World: Our 18 First Class Cricket
Book SynopsisAward-winning cricket writer Scyld Berry brings us a heartfelt celebration of what county cricket has been for more than a hundred years - an integral part of English life. Drawing on 60 years' experience of watching county cricket, the author provides an in-depth profile of each of the 18 first-class counties, delving into the past to explore how the game took off, in no small part thanks to the legendary W.G. Grace. With change and possible existential threat looming in the shape of The Hundred franchise, and the proliferation of T20 tournaments around the world, the England and Wales Cricket Board is looking to cut the County Championship to just ten games per season. There's never been a more pertinent time to unpick the workings of this centuries-old institution and examine why its survival is so important.Trade Review"Eighteen essays, all a joy to read, and no two the same in approach." -- Martin Chandler * CricketWeb.net *"A joyous eulogy… [Author] Scyld Berry is the best critical friend the game has known." * The Cricketer's Best Books of 2023 *"A quality production indeed... and a fascinating book, [with] excellent photographs and pleasantly produced... Presented with care and attention to detail consistent with this publisher's high standards." -- Rajesh Kumar * Cricket Statistician *
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Gordon Milne: Shankly, My Dad and Me
Book SynopsisShankly, My Dad and Me is the fascinating story of Gordon Milne, one of Bill Shankly’s first and most important Anfield signings, who played a key part in transforming Liverpool into a footballing dynasty. Moulded by his footballing father, Gordon was a successful player, manager and administrator at home and abroad. He played with, for, worked alongside and managed some of football’s most legendary names: Finney, Moore, Mortensen, Greaves and Lineker to name a few. Capped 14 times by Sir Alf Ramsey, he narrowly missed out on selection for the World Cup-winning squad in 1966. But this book is not about games, goals or medals; for Gordon, facts and figures remain secondary. Instead, this enthralling account spans six decades of an incredible journey through the game and his encounters along the way. From Preston to Newcastle via Liverpool, Blackpool, Wigan, Coventry, Leicester, Turkey and Japan, Gordon recounts his tale with honesty, humility and humour – while remaining eternally grateful for a bout of glandular fever! With forewords by Mark Lawrenson and Gary Lineker.Trade Review"A fascinating read." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"An extraordinary life in football. A nostalgic and evocative journey." -- Christopher Wood * Red All Over The Land *
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Unhappy Hero: A Revealing Insight into the
Book SynopsisThe Unhappy Hero delves into the emotionally turbulent life of Denmark and Luton Town hero Lars Elstrup.Elstrup captivated Europe by scoring the pivotal goal for Denmark against France in the 1992 European Championship, and became a hero at Luton as he helped rescue them from relegation. But despite his footballing success, he endured an ongoing struggle with paralysing performance anxiety and depression. He left top-level football in 1993, seeking a fresh start and embarking on a spiritual path. He joined the cult of The Heart of the Sun, but found he could not escape his demons.This is an intimate portrait of one of football's most scandalous figures, exploring the psychological pressure and performance culture prevalent in the clubs he played for, including Feyenoord and Luton. The book shines a light on mental health in sport and the immense pressures faced by athletes, to spark a broader conversation around mental well-being in society and the need for discussion and support.Trade Review"Lars's ups and downs with football AND ups and downs with depression are sympathetically described as well as his unusual involvement with the so-called Heart Of The Sun cult… Lars Elstrup is quoted in the book as saying, 'A football match is a team effort'. Just as this book is, taking two to write it, and well." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd From Red to Read: The Story of Fergie's First
Book SynopsisFrom Red to Read: The Story of Fergie's First Fledgling at Manchester United is the compelling tale of former professional footballer Dr Alan Tonge and his journey from Manchester United to PhD graduate. Alan became Sir Alex Ferguson's first acquisition when he signed for the Red Devils as a schoolboy in January 1987. He turned professional with his boyhood club but suffered the heartbreak of being released when he was 19. A move to Exeter City provided the opportunity to play first-team football under World Cup-winner Alan Ball before a serious back injury ended Tonge’s football career at the age of just 22. After feeling completely lost and enduring mental-health battles, Tonge rebuilt his life by reinvesting in his education. He achieved numerous academic qualifications, culminating in a PhD, alongside a successful career as a university lecturer. From Red to Read is the inspirational story of a man who found an alternative route to success and happiness after his dreams of a football career were cut short.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd David Sharpe, Enigma on Track: Wild Child to
Book SynopsisEnigmatic international athlete David Sharpe tells the gripping and often amusing story of his life on and off the track.Born into humble beginnings in Jarrow in north-east England, David rose to become World Junior and European Indoor champion and World Cup winner at 800 metres. His best time of 1:43.98 was number one in the UK in 1992. He trained with Steve Cram and was coached by the legendary Jimmy Hedley.David was known for his trademark late finishes but also for his erratic lifestyle. In this tell-all book he delves into topics as diverse as motorbiking, skiing, celebrity boxing, travelling overseas, birdwatching, scrapes with authority, suspected drug use, athlete payments, cancer, bereavement and suicide. He also provides insight into his training and relationship with Jimmy, and talks with regret about controversial incidents.David's story is as entertaining as his running once was.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd We Were Really There
Book SynopsisWe Were Really There is the story of how Manchester City was saved from oblivion - told by the man who oversaw the rescue operation.Twenty-five years before City''s historic Treble, they were a national joke, relegated to English football''s third division. The only trophies the Citizens were likely to win, said chairman Francis Lee, were ''cups for cock-ups''.Enter David Bernstein. When he succeeded Lee as chairman in March 1998, City had just been relegated from the Premier League and were about to be relegated again. During their season in the third tier, City fans sang choruses of ''We''re not really here!'' in mocking disbelief at how far their club had fallen.Without Bernstein''s work in five critical years as chairman, it is impossible to see how City would have been an attractive proposition to the investors from Abu Dhabi, whose takeover in 2008 paved the way for the Pep Guardiola era and unprecedented success.This is the tale of
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Top Man
Book SynopsisTop Man is the fascinating, inspirational and informative autobiography of popular former footballer and radio journalist Geoff Twentyman.Brought up in the footballing heartlands on Merseyside, Geoff junior is the son of former Liverpool player and later legendary scout Geoff senior. Released from his beloved Reds as a teenager, Geoff plied his trade in non-league football before a chance to become professional came at Preston North End. A cultured central defender, he was signed by Bobby Gould and quickly gained legendary status with Rovers fans due to his total commitment; he was made club captain and as skipper he led the Gas' through one of their most successful periods.As a player he always gave time to the media for interviews, and when Geoff hung up his boots, he picked up the microphone. He became a staple on the sports desk at BBC Radio Bristol, fronting the station's sports shows. With a reputation for a no-nonsense approach with players and
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Land of Hope and Glory
Book SynopsisLand of Hope and Glory is the Windrush-generation story of Maurice Hope, a Caribbean immigrant whose fascinating journey took him from abject poverty to boxing world champion and receiving an MBE from the Queen.The former WBC light-middleweight titlist was born in rural Antigua in 1951. Surprisingly, he was an extremely sensitive child who cried for the flimsiest reasons. When he arrived in east London, aged nine, his elder brother Lex was waiting to introduce him to the noble art at the famous Repton Boxing Club. Reluctant but too scared to defy Lex, Maurice agreed. It led to a glittering career, first as an Olympian then as a world champion pro. Maurice then coached the Antigua boxing team for years. Invites to Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister followed, before a trip to Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE for services to the sport.Hope''s story is punctuated by spectacular highs and crushing lows, but amid it all his warmth, humour and resi
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd No Place for a Girl
Book SynopsisNo Place for a Girl is the little-known but hugely inspirational story of pioneering woman jockey Karen Wiltshire and her fight for acceptance in the male-dominated world of 1970s horseracing.There was a time when female professional jockeys were not welcome in British horseracing. But then one dauntless rider confronted the misogyny, prejudice and bullying she encountered both in the stables where she worked and on the racecourse, refused to accept that this environment was no place for a girl' and ultimately won her personal battle.This book tells the moving, humorous, controversial and on occasions outright shocking story of four tumultuous years in Karen's life, when she rode roughshod over prevailing attitudes and became the first woman to reach a significant staging post in the fight for equality, when she rode against some of the sport's most illustrious names. Her obsession brought the reward she craved. She became the first female pro
£21.25
Troubador Publishing Miss Truman to Serve
Book SynopsisMiss Truman to Serve Christine Truman, now Dr Christine Truman Janes MBE, was born in 194 and brought up in Woodford Green Essex. Her first ambition was to be as good at tennis as her older siblings, hoping to join their mixed doubles. It never happened. Instead she achieved some of her dreams, including a ranking of No.2 in the world, aged 18, in 1959. She won the Grand Slam title in Paris at 18, the youngest Brit since the war. She holds the record at 16 of being the youngest British semi finalist at Wimbledon since Lottie Dod in 1887. 135 years ago! Also US finalist 1959 and Wimbledon finalist 1961. ‘If tennis was easy, why aren’t all the people walking up and down Oxford Street playing at Wimbledon?’ Billie Jean King ‘Work lasts longer than you do…’ Mother ‘Talent will out.’ Father ‘Champions know they will win!’ ‘Play the ball, not opponents!’ Coach Norman Kitovitz ‘It’s the tennis girl, dear!’ Clementine to Winston Churchill, 1959
£17.00
Troubador Publishing Miss Truman to Serve
Book SynopsisMiss Truman to Serve Christine Truman, now Dr Christine Truman Janes MBE, was born in 194 and brought up in Woodford Green Essex. Her first ambition was to be as good at tennis as her older siblings, hoping to join their mixed doubles. It never happened. Instead she achieved some of her dreams, including a ranking of No.2 in the world, aged 18, in 1959. She won the Grand Slam title in Paris at 18, the youngest Brit since the war. She holds the record at 16 of being the youngest British semi finalist at Wimbledon since Lottie Dod in 1887. 135 years ago! Also US finalist 1959 and Wimbledon finalist 1961. ‘If tennis was easy, why aren’t all the people walking up and down Oxford Street playing at Wimbledon?’ Billie Jean King ‘Work lasts longer than you do…’ Mother ‘Talent will out.’ Father ‘Champions know they will win!’ ‘Play the ball, not opponents!’ Coach Norman Kitovitz ‘It’s the tennis girl, dear!’ Clementine to Winston Churchill, 1959
£9.50
Gill Whatever It Takes
Book SynopsisRichie Hogan is one of the all-time greats of hurling, winner of seven All-Ireland senior hurling medals and multiple individual awards. His epic career brought him both immense joy and incredible heartache.This success did not come about by accident: Richie's complete focus on hurling success meant every decision he made revolved around hurling, from education to career to lifestyle choices. He grew up with Kilkenny hurling in his blood and from a very young age worked towards goals rather than dreams. Hyper-focused and determined, there wasn't a day in his life where he didn't think about what he needed to do to get to the highest level of the sport he loved and what he needed to do to stay up there.Now, in Whatever it Takes, Richie tells the story of his dazzling career, from his obsession with maintaining high standards in the Kilkenny team, to the stand-out moments on the pitch and the challenges he encountered along the way that threatened to derail everything. This frank and forthright account takes us inside one of the greatest hurling teams of all time as never before.
£24.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Losing My Spurs
Book SynopsisWhat is it like to get so close to your dream that you can almost touch it, only to have it torn cruelly away? Anthony Potts knows the answer. He sacrificed everything in an all-consuming pursuit of his dream to become a professional footballer for Spurs, alongside the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker. Was it worth it? You be the judge.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Limping Physio
Book SynopsisPhysiotherapist John Sheridan has seen it all since entering professional football in 1979 with Luton Town. In 1986, he moved to Tottenham where he nursed Gazza back to fitness after his 1991 horror injury. Despite playing an integral part in Gazza's rehabilitation, John has stayed silent about what happened in this traumatic period - until now.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Bright Lights and Dark Corners
Book SynopsisShocking and revealing autobiography of 100-fight journeyman boxer Johnny Greaves. Set in a world of violence, bravado and bravery, this immersive and powerful story feels like a Guy Ritchie movie!Written with award-winning documentary filmmaker and former Sky Sports features reporter Adam Darke. Have gumshield, will travel' was Johnny's motto as he picked himself up off pub floors, police cells and strangers' beds at the drop of a hat to appear on the undercard of huge fights involving the likes of Amir Khan and David Haye. Read and you'll discover: Exclusive stories about the world of professional boxing, and the role of journeymen in particular, from a gnarled 100-fight veteran who took on such leading lights as Anthony Crolla, Lee Selby and Gavin Rees How Johnny fought future British and world champions with little training, often impeded by the effects of alcohol and drugs, stuffing down a Tesco meal deal, necking a can of lager and smoking a few fags as he prepared for battle in front of an audience of thousands A harrowing dive into the world of depression and mental health, with disturbing and upsetting insights into the mind of a professional athlete trying to cope with the trauma of childhood and emotional scarring Visceral and chilling tales of domestic violence and childhood neglect, plus how those experiences shaped the thinking and behaviour of Johnny, how it instructed the choices he made in life, and led to a loss of identity and self-esteem Untold stories and insight about the world of unlicensed boxing, made famous by the likes of Lenny McLean and Roy Pretty Boy' Shaw, where Johnny learnt how to fight rough This outrageous yet poignant portrayal of a man on the edge, searching for validation in the most brutal business in the world, will make you gasp, laugh and cry in equal measure.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Not Just a Pretty Face
Book SynopsisGripping autobiography of former Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick, one of football's nice guys, who fought a hidden battle with depression and anxiety due to appalling abuse from the media and fans.Foreword by football legend Dion Dublin, Luke's hero who became his team-mate.As a member of the Manchester United first team, Luke found himself lining up alongside Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Roy Keane as United marched to their third successive Premier League title. But instead of enjoying what should have been the happiest of times, he shut himself away from the outside world.Read and you will discover: A first-hand insight into Sir Alex Ferguson's unique method of signing promising youngsters and the way he dealt with the more established stars How unbeknown to his Manchester United team-mates, friends and family, Luke was battling depression and anxiety, brought on by the personal abuse he was receiving from the national media and football fans up and down the country Luke's time as an England under-21 international His early life growing up in a sleepy Cambridgeshire village although he had ambitions of becoming a professional footballer, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would play for the biggest club in the world Details of his time at Royal Antwerp, Reading, Burnley, West Ham United, Stoke City, Norwich City, MK Dons and Cambridge United, and how he became one of only a handful of players to score in each of the top five divisions in English football Having played more than 500 games across seven different divisions during his 15-year playing career, Luke's tale covers all aspects of life as a professional footballer. Brutally honest and often hilarious, his story isn't one of gloom it's a tale of resilience and inspiration.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Brushes with a Stroke
Book SynopsisBrushes with a Stroke is the inspirational account of how the human spirit need not be crushed by the debilitating effects of a stroke. Veteran sportswriter and stroke victim Neil Harman tells seven vivid sporting stories: tales of doubt, fear and ultimately of fierce determination in the face of a frightening condition.
£13.49
Atlantic Books Late Cuts: Musings on cricket
Book SynopsisWhat follows, which explores some of the charms, the quirks and the peculiar allure of cricket from a variety of perspectives, is not intended as a memorial for long-lost sepia days. The game is still alive. Whether it turns out to be therapy for me or entertainment for you remains to be seen. To achieve both would be a bonus.From Somerset stalwart to acclaimed writer and broadcaster, Vic Marks has lived a life steeped in cricket. In Late Cuts he takes us beyond the boundary rope, sharing the parts of the game fans don't get to see, from the food served at lunchtime (then - sweaty ham; now - quinoa, cranberry and feta salad) to the politics of the dressing room.Whether revisiting his playing days to reveal the secrets of bowling a killer spell and what it feels like to be heckled by a riled-up crowd, or ruminating on the current state of the game (don't mention The Hundred!), this amusing and insightful collection will delight all cricket lovers.Trade ReviewIn amongst his artfully delivered stock balls, enough deliveries grip to keep the pages turning. It's the literary equivalent of an afternoon in the sun at a county outground, and who doesn't enjoy that? -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *Distinctively Marksist: thoughtful and wry, gentle and wise * The Cricketer *Table of Contents1: Selection 2: Captains 3: Partnerships 4: The Spell 5: Declarations 6: Crowds 7: Failure 8: Food 9: Twelfth Man 10: Press Conferences 11: The Library 12: Somerset
£9.49
Atlantic Books The Break: FEATURED ON THE NETFLIX SERIES TOUR DE
Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS CYCLING BOOK OF THE YEAR*The gripping and revealing autobiography of one of Britain's most successful international cyclists of the modern era'Getting in a break was my one chance of winning. The hard part was working out, again and again, how to make that chance count'Sharp, resourceful and a permanent outsider; for nearly 20 years Steve Cummings determinedly blazed his own winning trail in international cycling. A maverick who defied the dominant teams, to record a sequence of gloriously improbable victories, he has lived and raced with legends of the sport - Cavendish, Wiggins, Froome, Thomas and others - about whom he has strong views and untold stories.This autobiography of one of Britain's most successful international riders of the modern era takes the reader from Steve's earliest days as a junior, pounding across the flatlands of the Wirral, through his love-hate relationships with the British Cycling track cycling squad, to his series of top-level breakaway victories in the Tour de France, Tour of Britain and Vuelta a España and - rather than standout physical talent - how developing his own strategies and training techniques enabled him to succeed against the odds.The Break will be the first full-length account of the life and times of, in the words of ProCycling magazine, a 'universally popular and respected rider in the cycling world'.Trade ReviewIf you wanted me to pinpoint the main reason why Steve succeeded, it's the way he sees bike racing, his willingness to try something new, to do something differently ... There are so many guys out there who are strong, but Steve didn't just have the legs, he had the brains and the head for it all as well and that was his big advantage. * Geraint Thomas *Table of Contentsi: Foreword: Geraint Thomas ii: Preface: The Landmark That Wasn't 1: Doughnuts 2: Dilemmas 3: Contrasts 4: 2008-09: Road or Track? 5: Man on a Mission 6: The Wrong Kind of Limits: Team Sky 2010-11 7: No Stress Man 8: Roller Coaster 9: A Human Time Bomb 10: Mandela Day 11: Why I Couldn't Train with Mark Cavendish 12: The Right Direction 13: A Race Against Time 14: Back to My Roots 15: Bottles, Britain and a New Beginning iii: Nine Lessons iv: Palmarés v: Acknowledgements vi: Index
£10.44
Atlantic Books The Wood Life: WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK
Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR**FOREWORD BY BEN STOKES*Hallo - I'm Mark Wood. As an England and Durham cricketer who was born, raised and refined in Ashington, Northumberland, my life has been quite unique. Over the course of my career so far, I've won an Ashes and a World Cup in an international career that at the time of writing is going on seven years and counting. Being a fast bowler like myself is up there with the toughest of all sporting pursuits, like being Tyson Fury's punchbag or working behind the bar during the darts at Ally Pally.Being a cricketer? There's nothing like it. And doing it for England? Well, I'm lucky to call it a profession. There's been a lot of hard work along the way. Plenty of sacrifices and pain to accompany the good times that make them all worthwhile.I've been everywhere, from Barbados to Brisbane, Chester-le-Street to Chennai, waiting rooms to operating tables. I've played in some of the most exotic locations in the world and eaten margherita pizzas in every single one of them. To be honest, it's amazing I've waited this long to bring out my own self-help book.Trade ReviewA self-help manual laced with simple humour, homespun wisdom and an insight into the England cricket machine. -- Richard Hobson * The Cricketer *Table of Contentsi: Foreword by Ben Stokes ii: Introduction 1: How to Celebrate 2: How to Kill Time 3: How to Be Fast 4: How to Love 5: How to Travel 6: How to Stay Healthy 7: How to Keep Level 8: How to Be True to Yourself 9: Q & A x: Epilogue: Mark Wood, A Second Opinion by Miles Jupp
£10.44
John Blake Publishing Ltd Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill
Book SynopsisHe arrived to rally the troops, the main man in the Inter City Firm and his greeting passed into football fan history. 'Afternoon, gentlemen, the name's Bill Gardner.' That introduction alone was often enough to provoke sheer terror in his opponents. He is a genuine legend to anyone who's ever stood proud on a football terrace. No serious book on the culture would be complete without at least one mention of him. And now at last, he's telling his own, long-awaited story. For the first time, Gardner himself reveals what made him the top man, including his innermost thoughts and his memories of the classic years for football fans. And many familiar faces have queued up to add their comments in this book which shows just what it is that makes Bill Gardner unique among the toughest and the greatest of them all.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Can't Swim; Can't Ride; Can't Run: My Triathlon
Book SynopsisA 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run make up the Ironman triathlon. It's not for the faint-hearted. What possesses an overweight, thirty-something librarian who can't swim, doesn't own a bike and has two dodgy knees to take on the hardest one-day endurance race in the world? Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run is the story of Andy Holgate's inspirational, epic and life-changing journey to become an Ironman. Lubricant, alligators, rubber suits, blisters, pirates, extreme weather, Elvis, tragedy, romance, flesh-eating amoebas, crashes, hospital visits and perhaps the most unusual stag weekend in history all play a part in this amusing and moving tale of one normal bloke's quest to arrive at his wedding intact. Oh yeah, that's right, Andy is due to get married seven days after the biggest physical challenge of his life. Will he make it down the aisle in one piece?Trade Review"A great book! Andrew Holgate claims he 'Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run', but he can certainly write. His book is filled with terrific lessons on living life to its fullest. I would argue that he can swim, can ride and can run very well indeed!" --Dean Karnazes, New York Times best-selling author and ultra-marathon legend; "What really comes to the fore in Andy's book is that no matter what level of triathlon you are involved in, the motivations, discipline, rewards and love of the sport are universal. Andy's book dispels many of the reservations that can initially prevent people from taking up any form of physical activity and shows us how sport can not only be a positive step towards physical well-being but also can be rewarding for the mind and soul." --Catriona Morrison, Multiple Ironman Champion; "I thoroughly enjoyed it. The ability of sport to change people's lives, like Andy's story, is not something I've considered. It was a real eye-opener. Trying to be as fit and as fast as you can all the time it is very easy to get wrapped up in your own little world so it was nice to be given a wider sense of the sport and be reminded of the real reason and power of sport; to inspire enjoyment in activity. Thanks for a great read." --Alistair Brownlee, ITU World Triathlon Champion; "Anyone new to tri, considering the leap to ironman or just after a mental boost should check out this autobiographical account of one overweight librarian's first forays into multisport. In an inspirational story Andy recounts how he was enticed to take part in Cockerham's annual triathlon, and bitten by the endurance bug. If you want to roll your eyes and chuckle conspiratorially at another newbie's mistakes and triumphs, tuck in." --220 Triathlon Magazine; "Best for Inspiration! If he can do it... Holgate's ironman journey is an uplifting insight into the power of taking on a challenge. He tells his story with an irreverent sense of humour and packs the book with useful information. If you're thinking of doing an ironman this book is just the thing to convince you that you are up for the challenge." --Triathletes World Magazine; "Loved reading Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run. He is able to make you laugh as he turns his depressing situation around to a wonderful, fulfilling life. This is not just a story for triathletes, it's a great book for anyone struggling with life and looking for some sunlight." --MissTriathlon.com; "A great read which shows that it's more about the taking part and enjoyment of any sport. Having little knowledge of ironman I became interested immediately when reading Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run! It shows the efforts from a 'grass roots level'. I enjoyed the journey of how Andy accomplished his goal and how he enjoyed himself in doing so, finding time for laughs; and as you will read, he never takes himself too seriously." --Huw Bennett, Ospreys & Wales; "This book shows the reality that triathlon is accessible to anyone. This story would make a great television show as well as being a great book." --The Simon Gowen Triathlon Show; "Andy Holgate's honest and real-life writings set this book above the rest. A heart-warming and inspiring story of one man's personal challenge - try reading this book without wanting to put on a wetsuit. I have Andy to blame for having to get up early and go out training on these cold winter mornings." --The Fitness Blogger; "Andy Holgate is the Bill Bryson of the Triathlon World. Quite simply, I LOVED this book." --TriCrowd.com; "A really fascinating story." --Talk Radio Europe; "An inspiration to us all." --Lancaster Guardian; "An inspirational story." --North West Evening Mail
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd Gooch - The Autobiography
Book Synopsis'The greatest Gaelic footballer of all time.' Pat SpillaneWhen Colm Cooper retired from inter-county football in 2017, he left behind a remarkable legacy. The holder of five All-Ireland medals and eight All-Stars, he was Kerry’s stand-out forward for fifteen years. From a family steeped in Gaelic football, and a core member of the Dr Crokes team, Colm was still in his teens when he first played for Kerry at senior level. Overcoming struggles with injury and personal tragedy, Cooper became one of the GAA’s most recognizable and best-loved figures at a time of tumultuous change in the game. But the man known nationally as ‘Gooch’ is also an intensely private figure who has never courted publicity and his personal story remains largely untold. Now Gooch – The Autobiography unlocks a previously unopened door, tracing a compelling path through the life beyond the headlines. This is the story of an ordinary man who became an extraordinary footballer.Trade Review‘An absolute must-read . . . a fascinating insight into his personal journey . . . honest, unassuming and understated’ * Irish Independent *‘One of the game’s greats . . . as razor sharp on the pages of his autobiography as he ever was in the opposition’s half’ * Irish Examiner *
£10.79
Aureus Publishing Supermac
Book Synopsis
£9.99
Gateway Publishing Ltd,Channel Islands Passing the Torch: Mary Peters Sportswomen who Inspire
Passing the Torch is a series of interviews with established sportswomen across a variety of disciplines, whether in their prime or post competition, and gives a lively insight into their initial motivation, the highs and lows of competing, the physical and mental benefits of exercise and the camaraderie of female sport. Initiated by Lady Mary Peters, who has inspired a generation of athletes, to help to ensure her passion for sport is passed down to young people for many years to come. Foreword by HRH The Princess Royal
£11.69
BackPage Press Limited My Life, My Football
Book SynopsisBallon d'Or winner. Champions League winner. Serie A winner. Captain of Ukraine at their first-ever World Cup. Andriy Shevchenko conquered the football world. His career featured some of the sport's greatest characters - from Valerij Lobanovsky, who shaped his early years at Dynamo Kyiv, to Carlo Ancelotti, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka as part of a world-class Milan team. But Shevchenko's story transcends football. Growing up 150km from the Chernobyl disaster, witnessing the decline of the Soviet Union and its descent into lawlessness, the struggles of his beloved Ukraine to gain independence in 1991 - and then the agony of the Russian invasion of his homeland in 2022. This is a football and human story like no other.Trade Review"Highly recommended. Very entertaining, very interesting." - Gary Lineker "Shevchenko's book covers far more than football and is well worth a read." - Michael Cox, The Athletic
£11.69
Vision Sports Publishing Ltd Steve Perryman
Book SynopsisA must-read autobiography by the legendary Spurs player and manager.
£21.25
Evro Publishing For Flux Sake: Beer, fags and opposite-lock
Book SynopsisContrary to popular belief, ‘Fluxie’ did not enter the world on full opposite-lock, nor did he have a cigarette in one hand and a pint in the other. Destined to race, he never got the biggest breaks but he did become one of motorsport’s most colourful and best-loved characters, someone who has always lived life to the full. His autobiography tells it how it was, covering not only the highs — including five championship titles — but also the many setbacks. Along the way we laugh with him about much of it, particularly the pranks, but also learn about some dark times that he has never previously divulged. This is a very different kind of racing driver’s memoir. Key content • Early days: growing up on a farm, first kart aged 6, muddling through in the classroom, lots of laughs — but also sexual abuse from a schoolmaster and an early racing mentor. • The spark ignites: starting to race in 1970 with a Formula 6 kart, then onwards to Formula Vee; brushing shoulders with Formula 1 working for the Token and Graham Hill teams. • Grabbing the chances: a Formula Vee title in 1975 leads to Formula 3 and Formula Atlantic, but still with various jobs to make ends meet, including as mechanic to motorcycle racing legend Giacomo Agostini for his four-wheel efforts. • Diversifying into sports cars: successful adventures in Sports 2000 and Thundersports, winning championships in both, plus Thundersaloons. • A true all-rounder: going into the British Touring Car Championship from 1988 in a wide range of tin-tops; racing a Jaguar XJR-15 in the big-money 1991 series held at Grand Prix races, including Monaco. • Championship double in 1996: the ‘golden year’ in the TVR Tuscan Challenge and the British GT Championship, the latter with a McLaren F1 GTR. • So much else: racing on into recent times, notching up nearly 50 years on track; testing competition cars for Motorsport News; driver tuition and track-day demonstrations
£21.25
Nine Elms Books My Life on the Line: Everything you didn't know
Book SynopsisThey come out of the football stadium tunnel first, but all eyes are on the well-paid athletes behind them. No one pays the referee or the referee's assistants any attention - until they make a mistake. Then all hell breaks loose. They can't explain - or defend themselves against the crowd's abuse. Gavin Muge threads an entertaining personal football memoir together with his own attempts to scale the peak of the professional game as a match official. His football life has led to encounters with a cast of stars from Gary Lineker to Paul Gascoigne, Arsene Wenger and Roy Keane. He officiated at the infamous Riot of Upton Park in 2009 and has witnessed many examples of the darker side of the game. Gavin has also shared the excitement and the pain of the average football supporter and now has the experience to try to make sense of it all in My Life on the Line. See if you agree with him! And pit your knowledge against Gavin's with the book's Chapter Challenges and his Quiz.Table of ContentsIntroduction PART 1 A FOOTBALL SELF-PORTRAIT. Chapter 1: Hatters' Tea Party Me, Eric Morecambe and a Lifelong Commitment to Luton Town FC Chapter 2: Playing Peak Me, Gary Lineker and the Player of the Year Award Chapter 3: Pitch Battles Me, Millwall and the Way it was Then Chapter 4: Maturity Me, Gazza and Marriage PART 2 SIDELINE OR FRONT LINE? Chapter 5: Earning My Stripes Rungs on the Ladder Chapter 6: Match Day 'Arsene Wenger's having a party/Bring your vodka and your Charlie' Chapter 7: "Look at the Bizzies" The Riot of Upton Park, Part 1 Chapter 8: "If we leave, we won't be coming back" The Riot of Upton Park, Part 2 PART 3 WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE? Chapter 9: No Time to be Star Struck Me, Roy Keane, Paulo Di Canio & a Bollocking from Mark Noble Chapter 10: The Long and Winding Road Nearly There Chapter 11: The Best Party Reflections on a Career PART 4 THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO LIFE AS A FOOTBALL OFFICIAL. Chapter 12: 1863 and All That The Laws of the Game and how we got them Chapter 13: So You Want to be a Referee's Assistant A Few Insights Chapter 14: We Need to Talk About VAR Cure-All or Confusion? PART 5 THE WIDER VIEW. Chapter 15: Match Officials in World Cup History The Hand of God, etc Chapter 16: Where are We Now and Where Are we Going? A Brighter Future with some changes to the Game Chapter 17: Match Fixing & the Power of Money Stuff Happens PART 6 EXTRA TIME. Chapter 18: Gavin's Football Quiz Answers at the Back Chapter 19: Fun Stuff Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes Chapter 20: Poetry in Motion That Goal APPENDIX. Being a Match Official - The Details Links to YouTube Clips Bibliography Acknowledgements Author profiles
£9.49
Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Tony Jacklin: My Ryder Cup Journey
Book Synopsis
£9.99
Sandstone Press Ltd Downhill From Here: Running From John O'Groats to
Book SynopsisApproaching his middle forties, Gavin Boyter wondered what his life was all about. A Scot living in London, single and with no kids, he was living for the job and the dwindling hope of a career in film. He had been a club runner all his life, pretty good but not at the front all that often. He was what he called an ordinary runner and he came to wonder just what an ordinary runner might be capable of. How about John O'Groats to Land's End, the longest linear run in Britain, and how about making a film of it? And how about writing a book? As usual, Gavin was neither the first nor the quickest but Downhill from Here is his real triumph, written in such an engaging and witty voice the reader accompanies him every step of the way.Trade Review‘We live on the best island in the world and what better way to explore it than on foot. Downhill from Here is an epic adventure on our epic island. Makes me want to run it all over again.’ * author of Cycling the Earth *‘An entertaining read on the de-stressing benefits of running a JOGLE, navigation mishaps and all.’ * author of It's A Hill, Get Over It *‘Real triumph, written with wit and personal depth.’ * Sunday Mail *
£9.49
Fernhurst Books Limited Sailing Around Britain - A Weekend Sailor's
Book SynopsisKim Sturgess was a weekend sailor: he enjoyed club racing and several brief sailing holidays, but had never attempted a substantial expedition. Reaching the age of fifty focused the mind and he decided to sail around Britain. While many cruising sailors would not contemplate a 1900 nautical mile voyage, he broke the voyage into a series of day sails, making it an achievable ambition for him, largely single-handed, and for many other weekend sailors who might dream of sailing around their home island. This book tells the quirky traveller's narrative of the voyage and visits to forty-eight towns. Evoking the spirit of both Jerome K. Jerome with his Three Men in a Boat and Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World, Kim shares his thoughts and struggles, recounting how easy it is for anyone to become an adventurer here at home. But don't expect to always agree with him - he has been described as "the Jeremy Clarkson of yachting"!Trade Review"If the thought of tough coastal night passages puts you off sailing round Britain, try Kim Sturgess's tactic of breaking the voyage down into '50 day sails and one night passage' as he did... It's interesting for anyone thinking of making the voyage." (Yachting Monthly) "His narrative grips the reader as we share the heart-in-the-mouth experience... He tells his story with a vivid immediacy: we are there with him. We share the dangers he faces during the miserable summer of 2007, his philosophical observations along the way and his sadness at recurring evidence of national decline in the places he visits." (Cruising Association) “Sail the glorious and challenging coast of Britain with Kim Sturgess in his salty tale…. His leisurely approach to adventure takes in towns and villages along the way and brings to life the great variety of culture and cuisine on our small island… It’s wonderful, warm and well worth a read.” (Sailing Today) An unusual travel guide by an unusual companion.” (Yachting Life)Table of ContentsPreface; PART ONE: SWAPPING THE LONDON UNDERGROUND FOR THE BRITISH SEAS: Cruise Philosophy, My Sailing Experience, Hobo the Yacht, Safety for a Sailor; PART TWO: GREENWICH TO GREENWICH AROUND THE BRITISH ISLES: East: Greenwich to Inverness, North: Inverness to Bangor NI, West: Bangor NI to Newlyn, South: Newlyn to Greenwich; Epilogue; Glossary; Appendix.
£11.39
Sandstone Press Ltd There's Always the Hills
Book SynopsisFrom his home in the Cairngorms of Scotland, in There’s Always the Hills Cameron McNeish reflects on a life dedicated to the outdoors. A prolific author, McNeish has led treks in the Himalayas and Syria, edited The Great Outdoors magazine, establishing it as Britain’s premier walking publication, created new long-distance walks and made television series, contributed a monthly column to Scots Magazine, campaigned for Scottish independence and raised a family with his wife, Gina. In this long-awaited autobiography, he candidly recalls the ups and downs of a full life, much of it in the public eye, much of it until now unseen.Trade Review‘There’s Always the Hills flows like a friendly conversation, shared over three or four single malts, and develops into an engaging tale...’ * The Great Outdoors Magazine *‘A gifted storyteller, he peels back the layers of his life and offers a personal and emotional look behind the scenes of his success. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys our great outdoors and the wealth of tales that can be told about it - it's both one man's story and a candid, absorbing account for those with an interest in Scotland's awe-inspiring wildlife.’ * Rachel Scorgie, The Courier *‘There’s Always the Hills is a sure-fire hit. The author’s eye for minor details and honest accounts of his experiences, bring his anecdotes to life.’ * Scottish Field *‘Cameron McNeish's autobiography is everything we hoped it would be, and a "must buy" for anyone who's ever felt the pull of Scotland's mountains. ’ * Undiscovered Scotland *‘Cameron is a born raconteur and his book flows easily, being both informative and full of interest.’ * Helen Todd, Walk Magazine *‘There's Always the Hills is an inspiring story of a life well lived. Or, at least, the first installment.’ * Roger Cox, Scotland on Sunday *‘A vivid travelogue through the breathtaking vistas, towering peaks and rugged islands of Scotland and a tribute to the warmth and hospitality of the Scots people... McNeish's encyclopaedic knowledge of the lochs and glens, Highlands and islands, the bealachs and coires and the myriad myths and legends that reside therein is unrivalled.’ * BBC Countryfile Magazine *
£9.49
Scribe Publications Godspeed: a memoir
Book Synopsis‘I swim for every chance to get wasted — after every meet, every weekend, every travel trip. This is what I look forward to and what I tell no one: the burn of it down my throat, to my soul curled up in my lungs, the sharpest pain all over it — it seizes and stretches, becoming alive again, and is the only thing that makes sense.’ At fifteen, Casey Legler is already one of the fastest swimmers in the world. She is also an alcoholic, isolated from her family, and incapable of forming lasting connections with those around her. Driven to compete at the highest levels, sent far away from home to train with the best coaches and teams, she finds herself increasingly alone and alienated, living a life of cheap hotels and chlorine-worn skin, anonymous sexual encounters and escalating drug use. Even at what should be a moment of triumph — competing at age nineteen in the 1996 Olympics — she is an outsider looking in, procuring drugs for Olympians she hardly knows, and losing her race after setting a new world record in the qualifying heats. After submitting to years of numbing training in France and the United States, Casey can see no way out of the sinister loneliness that has swelled and festered inside her. Yet wondrously, when it is almost too late, she discovers a small light within herself, and senses a point of calm within the whirlwind of her life. In searing, evocative, visceral prose, Casey gives language to loneliness in this startling story of survival, defiance, and of the embers that still burn when everything else in us goes dark.Trade Review‘Raw and poetic … The book is lean and ferocious — not unlike Ms. Legler’s attributes as a competitive swimmer — and offers an unflinching account of the “dogged devotion to routine and repetition” required of Olympians.’ -- Alex Hawgood * The New York Times *‘Reading Godspeed is an experience as invigorating, beautiful and punishing as standing under a waterfall. Legler is an unflinching chronicler of light and darkness, loneliness and embodiment, and the deep enchantments of sensation.’ -- Helen Macdonald, author of H Is For Hawk‘So graphically well does it capture the pain and trauma of growing up deeply unhappy and isolated … an extraordinary memoir.’ -- Stephen Sackur * BBC ‘HARDtalk’ *‘Godspeed is a memoir for our times — an urgent, hypnotising account of growing up and growing into one’s skin under extreme circumstances. As brutal and original a telling as I can remember — of loneliness, of coping until the centre cannot hold. There is darkness here but in Casey Legler’s deft hands it serves the light. A cut-to-the-bone blues song in chapter form, these pages are touched, as she is, with lightning.’ -- Michael Stipe‘Legler’s literary gift is self-evident from her startlingly frank memoir … The language is defiantly her own: fluid, sensual, visceral.’ -- Oliver Brown * The Telegraph *‘[A memoir] with so much power and transparency.’ -- Julia Vitale * Vanity Fair *‘Exceptionally talented, reckless, separated from a true sense of herself, Legler could so easily have not survived her early life. The tension here is in how close she comes — by choice, or by default, in settings both elegant and ruined — and is still able to restore herself, her soul, and renew language itself to tell of it. Many of us would be well served by reading the last sentence of this memoir every day.’ -- Amy Hempel‘[Legler] intricately describes every nuance of the competitive experience alongside her personal self-discovery … A coming-of-age drama captured through poetic prose and convincing honesty.’ * Kirkus *‘This is a heart-wrenching, coming-of-age memoir by a talented athlete who is street-smart, lonely, and painfully broken … A poetically written account by a resilient rebel who skillfully captures what it is like to feel the world through her skin.’ -- Brenda Barrera * Booklist *‘It had a profound effect on me, I loved it very much, it’s really unique.’ -- Stewart Who? * ‘Out In South London’ Resonance FM *‘[T]he book does offer a bold and innovative glimpse into a fascinating mind and the surreal life of a prodigy athlete … Legler is a writer of obvious talent. There are images and turns of phrase that are truly lovely, and that remind us of her keen observational powers … Legler’s story and poetics can be powerful.’ -- Emma Rault * Lambda Literary *‘A tale of an unusual and distressing girlhood marred by drug addiction, self-loathing, sexual abuse, rebellion, and intense loneliness amid sporting success. It is short and unorthodoxly prose-like, and it punches hard and dark.’ -- Rachel Olding * Sydney Morning Herald *‘[A]n intense memoir ... Legler succinctly captures her descent into alcohol and drug addiction ... The raw effect of the prose lingers ... This is a raw story of teenage addiction, and it’s beautifully told.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘An extraordinary story.' -- Seán Moncrieff * ‘The Moncrieff Show’ Newstalk *‘Tone and voice are engaging, thickly smeared in a … 'warts and all' approach that strikes a freshness in its sporadic depravity.’ -- Shane Butler * Irish Examiner *
£13.49
Merlin Unwin Books Fishing from the Rock of the Bay: The Making of
Book SynopsisA funny, entertaining insight into the views of a dedicated angler who has fished wherever in the world his work took him, from England to Sudan. Full of fishing anecdotes, tips and thought-provoking ideas.
£17.00
Reach plc Under The Hairdryer: Fergie Untold Tales
Book SynopsisSir Alex Ferguson is arguably Britain's greatest ever football manager. In the year that he celebrates his 80th birthday, this new book from experienced journalist and author John Richardson will offer an original insight into what makes the Scot tick, his unique way of operating and how his genius changed the footballing landscape.
£17.00
Reach plc My Rock and Roll Football Story
Book SynopsisMariner is Plymouth Argyle legend, an FA Cup and UEFA Cup winner with Ipswich Town, a scorer for England at the World Cup and a former Arsenal and Portsmouth striker. A true front man in every sense - talented, brave and fearless - but his toughest fight was yet to come when he was diagnosed with brain cancer in October 2020. This is his story.
£17.09
Reach plc Arsenal and After - My Story
Book SynopsisA compelling, relevant and dramatic life story from the front line of the modern game. Paul Davis's story takes us on a journey through almost 50 years at the very top in football: a leading player's take on an extraordinary and memorable period in Arsenal's history, during which the club and football changed radically and forever around him. Davis won titles and cups with Arsenal but, to do so, had to battle against career-threatening injuries and to handle the frustrations and injustices of the worst kinds of club and dressing room politics. His subsequent experiences as a coach and as a coach-developer have been just as challenging, just as emotionally charged, and just as significant. It's a life story worth the telling, that's for sure. Arsenal And After - An Education offers more than just a fascinating football story. Paul's mum, Ruby, arrived in England from Jamaica in the late 1950s, as part of the Windrush generation. She brought up Paul and his sister, Sandra, on her own, on a council estate in Stockwell, South London. Much of the Davis family history was - and still is - a mystery to Paul, who never knew or knew anything about his father. He was already a senior player at Arsenal before he discovered he had siblings: the three children Ruby had left behind in Kingston when she'd struck out for a new life in England, thirty years before. As a teenager, Davis was often the only black player wearing Arsenal colours. As often as not, he'd be the only black player on the pitch. With that came challenges: racism in football and beyond in the early 1980s was undiluted and unapologetic. The fight for recognition - for opportunity and for change - has been part of the Davis story ever since. His own emotional experiences are the lens through which he now looks back on everything he's achieved as a player, as a coach and as an educator.
£999.99
Reach plc Rene Meulensteen: United, Sir Alex & Me: My Life
Book SynopsisManchester United enjoyed their greatest generation under Sir Alex Ferguson. The rulebook on domestic domination was rewritten as the club became the most successful in British football history. For the first time, one of Ferguson's closest aides lifts the lid on the inner workings at Carrington, as Rene Meulensteen, one of the game's greatest minds, shares all the stories and secrets that contributed and illuminated the most glittering managerial era in football history. Meulensteen's story begins in a provincial region of Holland; a student of the game, Rene explains how he fought through red tape and bureaucracy to establish himself as a coach with principles he firmly believed in, and how those visionary methods saw him land a remarkable position at the world's biggest club, overseeing the technical development of their most precious department - the youth system. Meulensteen talks about working with stars like Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, before he was called to work with the first team on a more permanent basis. There, he enjoyed notable contributions, transforming Cristiano Ronaldo into a goal monster and featuring heavily in the move that brought Robin van Persie to Old Trafford. From being Ferguson's right-hand man to going out on his own, Meulensteen explains his philosophy in an inspiring and accessible way. Moreover, this autobiography is a compelling and addictive love-letter to the fabric of everything Manchester United stands for. The exploration and explanation of United's style of play will thrill supporters and stun analysts, as one of the sport's greatest minds finally shares his fascinating journey in football.
£17.09
Reach plc Tony Gale - That's Entertainment: My
Book SynopsisIn a footballing career spanning 21 years, Tony Gale played over 720 games on almost every league pitch across the four divisions. He is one of only 16 players in the UK to have played over 300 games for two teams and one of a handful to be part of a Premier League winning side. As a pundit he's commentated on over 3,000 live games for the likes of Sky and Capital Gold, covering virtually every major football competition in his inimitable light hearted manner. Gale made his first team debut at Fulham Football Club at the ripe age of 16, before being made captain at 18. Playing alongside a golden era of greats, the anecdotes which Gale recounts while playing alongside George Best, Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh are a nostalgic masterclass. Moving to West Ham for the next decade, the Pimlico born defender was part of the iconic 'Boys of 86' squad, which broke 17 records that year, 16 of which are still unbeaten. Exiting at his lowest point from West Ham in 1994, with two weeks to go before the new season, Gale was in effect homeless and jobless in footballing terms. That however all changed when he landed a place at Blackburn Rovers. Sir Kenny Dalglish recalled the decision to include 35-year-old Gale into the squad of 94/95. "His experience was a big help and the positive impact he made in the dressing room was excellent. He made his contribution to us winning the league, same as everybody on that team." Void of any media training, Gale's move into radio and television commentary in the late 90's was as natural as kicking a ball. In the words of Chris Kamara, "The one thing that stayed with Galey is that dressing room humour, which you all miss when you stop playing football. The one liners, the windups. Galey brought them from the dressing room and into real life."
£17.00
Verite CM Ltd Zeros to Heroes
Book Synopsis
£13.77
Polaris Publishing Limited Winning the Fight: My Autobiography
Book Synopsis'Maggie has changed the way the game is played forever' - The Sunday Times Maggie Alphonsi is not only a national sporting icon, the face of international women’s rugby and star player of the England side that won the World Cup in 2014. She is also an inspirational and totemic figure who transcends sport. The compelling story of her life makes her achievements even more extraordinary. Hers is an against-all-the-odds tale, becoming the best player in the world despite having to battle against racism, sexism, and prejudice. It is a book forged from the raw emotion, passion, and testimony of an iconic player, who rose to the elite of world sport when the world was seemingly stacked against her. It is a moving and revealing story of a woman who was not prepared to be defined by anyone but herself and gives the reader a unique insight into how she met her goals.Trade Review'a moving and important book' -- Donald McRae * The Guardian *
£18.00
Fairfield Books Rosey
Book SynopsisFormed in 1875, Somerset County Cricket Club had a long history of winning nothing when Brian Rose took on the captaincy in 1978. Yet in his six years at the helm they won five trophies and came close to winning several more. With only two further successes since then, those gloriously entertaining summers of Rose’s men – Botham, Richards, Garner, Roebuck, Marks and Denning – remain unrivalled as the Golden Age of Somerset Cricket. Here in 'Rosey' Brian Rose tells the inside story of those years: from his apprenticeship under the extraordinary Brian Close to the sad and acrimonious break-up of the side. Reading his account of it all, it is not hard to understand how his quiet captaincy held together so many strong personalities. Both then and as Director of Cricket in the 2000s, he has been at the heart of so much of what is best about Somerset cricket.
£999.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Mid Life Less Ordinary
Book SynopsisThe inspirational and relatable real-life story of how financial officer Peter Wright transformed himself from being mildly active to an endurance event extraordinaire.Foreword from Rory Coleman, the UK's leading ultramarathon coach.Forty is the age when people tend to wind things down to a life a bit more ordinary. Not Peter. Having put his questionable athletic ability and mild asthma to one side, he catches the running bug and completes the London Marathon. Only, this isn't the end of the story. Instead, it provides the springboard for a passion for endurance challenges.Follow Peter as he: Crosses desert, tropical rainforest and Arctic tundra, to raise more than 100,000 for charity Completes the Marathon des Sables, the Jungle Ultra, the Western States 100, the Cape Wrath Ultra and many other gruelling challenges Runs a marathon while dragging a car Takes the ultimate test while nearing 50: rowing the Atlantic Ocean on a very small boat with his friend and fellow adventurer, Steve Hayes Inspiring, hilarious and jaw-dropping, this book shows what you can achieve if you put your mind to it, and why age and a lack of athletic ability is no barrier to pushing beyond your imagined limits.
£13.49
Little, Brown Book Group Turning Over the Pebbles
Book Synopsis''If you carry on like this, you''ll do nothing but play football and cricket all your life.''These were the exasperated words of Mike Brearley''s mother, as he once again trod mud into the family home after a long day playing outdoors. They were also an unwitting but half-accurate prediction, for Brearley would become one of the most successful sportsmen of his generation by playing cricket for Cambridge, Middlesex and then becoming one of England''s finest captains. But for Brearley, cricket wasn''t just a physical activity, it was also an intellectual game, offering the chance to bring closer together body and mind. When his cricketing career came to end - during his playing days he had had a hiatus as a philosophy lecturer - he eschewed sporting commentary for a career as a psychoanalyst.In Turning Over the Pebbles, which he calls a ''memoir of the mind'', Brearley reviews his life with its attendant emotions, tensions and moves. It is also a book oTrade ReviewSunday Times 'Book of the Week'A superb book - much more than a traditional memoir . . . this is a sharp, witty and unashamedly learned meditation on art and music, literature and the Classics, philosophy, psychoanalysis, childhood and old age, families and feelings, illness and the imminence of death . . . And of course cricket. It is unlike any book you will read this year . . . This book is an inspiration, showing us how to live our best lives * Sunday Times *A Masterclass . . . [A] stimulating memoir . . . It is hard to think of any other sportsman - or come to it, any other philosopher or analyst - who makes for such agreeable, such stimulating , such warm, company * Daily Telegraph *Absolutely riveting -- Amol Rajan * BBC Radio 4 Today *Unexpected rewards to the reader on every page -- Simon Barnes * The Cricketer *Whether discussing philosophy, psychoanalysis, literature or cricket . . . Brearley is compelling company * Guardian *Turning Over the Pebbles sparkles with erudition and culture . . . rewarding and eye-opening * TLS *An enthralling memoir from the cricketing great * i Newspaper *This sharp memoir glides across [Brearley's] interests, featuring musings on ageing, music and strategy in sport. It's the ideal accompaniment to the Ashes. * The Times *Peppered with reflections on music, literature, philosophy and exchanges with legendary thinkers, it is as much if not more a book on the mind and a manual on the essence of a good life - and a good death; it will make readers pause * Financial Times *Brearley's prose is abundantly stylish * Tablet *A thoughtful and intriguing book * Methodist Recorder *Exceptionally carefully thought-through and most intriguingly written . . . This is a truly lovely book * Oldie *A beautifully crafted journey into the mind of a genius - both cricketing and otherwise * City AM *
£16.50
Little, Brown Book Group Calling the Shots
Book Synopsis''A man I like to call my father - football royalty'' Ian Wright ''Without David Dein there wouldn''t have been a Premier League'' Greg Dyke ''Mr Dein will always be Mr Arsenal'' Thierry HenryThe long-awaited memoir from international football ambassador, former co-owner of Arsenal FC and legend of the game: David Dein.There''s no doubt that Dein has been one of the most significant and influential figures in British football for over three decades - operating at club and international level. He was a prime mover in the creation of the Premier League, hugely influential within the England set-up and, of course, was the mastermind - along with Arsène Wenger - in creating the glory days of Arsenal Football Club, leading the team for almost a quarter of a century. Connected to the most senior figures across the global game as a friend, rival, advisor, and collaborator, Dein has been central to major turning points in the game.Trade ReviewA man I like to call my father - football royalty * Ian Wright *Without David Dein there wouldn't have been a Premier League * Greg Dyke *Mr Dein will always be Mr Arsenal * Thierry Henry *If you want to know how to run a football club, ask David Dein * Baroness Karren Brady CBE *David is one of the most influential executives in world football. I was always in admiration of the work he did at Arsenal . . . success delivered with class. * Gareth Southgate *An Arsenal fan who became its owner, its saviour and later its martyr * Guardian *The book is a treasure trove of anecdotes * City AM *Absolutely loved it! So many great stories . . . and such a vivid reminder of just how vital David was to our great club and how much we've missed him. -- Piers Morgan
£16.50
