Autobiography: sport Books
Little, Brown & Company Never Settle: Sports, Family, and the American
Book SynopsisYou know Marty right? The guy during College GameDay hanging off the back of a pickup truck while zooming around the Clemson athletic facilities. The guy who visits Nick Saban's lake house and somehow gets Coach to jump in the lake. The guy who sits down with Dale Jr. at Daytona to talk through tears about his miraculous return to racing. The guy who interviews Tiger Woods, Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning and Jimmie Johnson -- the guy who gets paid to live the fantasy of every sports fan in America.Never Settle is the funny but oh, it's true story of how Marty got here, and a revealing look at his journey. Never Settle includes all the best stories and behind-the-scenes moments from Marty's wild life, covering topics including: college football, racing, fathers and sons, how sports can bring us together, and how it all goes back to growing up on a farm and playing high school ball in Pearisburg, Virginia.
£11.89
Triumph Books The Nigerian Nightmare: My Power, My Pain
Book SynopsisAn essential and improbable football story that crosses continents, cultures, and sports Christian Okoye never dreamed of playing football. He passed hours playing soccer each day in Enugu, Nigeria, until he outgrew the sport—physically. His focus shifted to track and field, honing an elite talent for discus throw that brought him to Azuza Pacific University in California. Only when those Olympic dreams were inexplicably dashed did he pick up a football for the first time at age 23. By 1987, Okoye was one of the NFL's most beguiling draft prospects, a 260-pound running back who was the picture of raw, unstoppable athleticism. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the second round, and the "Nigerian Nightmare" was born. In this timely autobiography, Okoye unfolds his life story from the heart, detailing a childhood upended by civil war, his unconventional path to football, and his glory years with the Chiefs. He also candidly discusses the darker facets of his American dream: an existence filled with chronic pain and and memory loss which forces Okoye to grapple honestly with the biggest question: If he had to do it all over again, would he play football?
£21.56
Scratching Shed Publishing Ltd Never The Easy Option: The Gareth Ellis Story
Book SynopsisAlways prepared to work the hardest to achieve his goals, four times he faced life-changing decisions; to leave Wakefield who gave him his chance, depart from Leeds when part of the club’s ‘golden generation’, turn his back on the NRL when at Wests Tigers despite being the club’s player of the year on three consecutive occasions, and to choose Hull on his return to Super League. On each occasion, as he reveals in candid detail, he never took the easy option, the story of his glorious career, including the brave decision to come out of retirement in 2019. Unashamedly open and honest, he defines the nebulous concept of what is ‘culture’ at a club, reflects on his sacrifices to become one of the most revered, how the international game – where he won 38 caps – must be improved, and that his sole aim in over 480 career appearances was to be the kind of player others wanted beside them. This is a rare insight into what it takes to be a professional sportsman.
£13.99
Hardie Grant Books Joel Selwood: All In
Book SynopsisIn his long-awaited, official autobiography, All In, Joel Selwood reveals the grit, determination, and personal sacrifice behind his AFL success at the Geelong Football Club. Joel Selwood's remarkable leadership is well-known across AFL football. Announcing his retirement at the end of the 2022 season, Selwood will not only go down in history as an icon of the game – a record breaker – but also as a selfless leader who supported his team through one of the club’s most successful periods in its history. After Selwood was made captain of the team in 2012, Geelong made the finals in all but one season, playing in seven preliminary finals and two Grand Finals – culminating in Geelong's tenth premiership in 2022. Easier said than done. Now, for the first time, Selwood tells his story in his own words. All In relives the highs of Selwood’s proudest career moments, but also the lows battling the physical and personal challenges in his life, from his infamous knee injury and long recovery to the impact of COVID-19 on the AFL 2020 and 2021 seasons. For the first time, Selwood also describes the bravery, disappointment and celebration entering the IVF merry-go-round with his wife, Brit, to finally have their son, Joey Victor Selwood. A Geelong supporter who grew up to play his entire professional career with the Cats, Joel Selwood is a true AFL legend of our times. Trade Review ‘The thing that continually struck me about Joel was his ability to care for others and prioritise others. When you take everything into consideration, he’s the best player I’ve ever seen and the best representative of the Geelong footy club that you could possibly imagine.’—Geelong coach Chris Scott, at Joel Selwood’s retirement press conference, October 2022
£22.95
Ebury Publishing It Shouldn’t Happen to a Manager
Book SynopsisAfter 40 years in football management, there’s not a lot I haven’t seen. There’ve been big highs, but a fair share of lows too. When I have to make difficult decisions, I make a point of avoiding newspapers, phone-ins, Twitter – all of it. But there’s always a load of armchair-pundits waiting to start on me. Being a manager has never been easy, but between the fans and the media it often feels impossible to get it right.In It Shouldn’t Happen to a Manager, I talk about how different the job is now from what it was like when I used to play. For one, managers used to drive up and down motorways all day to scout for players – now there’s so much analysis and global scouting. It’s a different thing, completely. In this book, I share everything I’ve learnt from a lifetime of both wins and losses, and wisdom from greats like Cloughie and Ferguson. I’ll tell you about what actually happens in the dressing room, including when Clough smashed the door off its hinges; the bust-ups at full-time, like when I kicked a tray of sandwiches on Don Hutchinson’s head; and the times when I had to swap an arm round a player’s shoulder for a boot up the arse. It’s my guide to being a manager, the Harry way.
£999.99
Ebury Publishing The Descent
Book Synopsis'I have success, money, women. I've been lionised by the public and the media. The world is at my feet. I've spread my wings and here I am, soaring above everything and everyone. But in reality, the descent has already begun.' Thomas Dekker was set to become one of pro cycling’s superstars. But before long, he found himself sucked in by the lure of hedonistic highs and troubled by the intense pressure to perform. In The Descent, Dekker tells his story of hotel room blood bags, shady rendezvous with drug dealers and late-night partying at the Tour de France. This is Dekker’s journey from youthful idealism to a sordid path of excess and doping that lays bare cycling’s darkest secrets like never before.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary autobiography… Dekker luridly details how he embraced the dark side * i Newspaper *
£13.49
Bonnier Books Ltd Doddie's Diary: The Highs, the Lows and the
Book SynopsisIn 2016, Doddie Weir's life - as much-loved sporting hero and Borders farmer - switched direction with the same speed and power this indefatigable No. 5 once displayed on the rugby pitch. Reeling from his own MND diagnosis, Doddie became a standard-bearer for all those valiantly seeking to halt Motor Neuron Disease in its tracks. It's a platform Doddie has unhesitatingly used to the max. 'I never set out to take the lead,' he says. 'It just happened - like MND itself. But we are making a fight of it.' And so he continues to live life at full tilt: as a tireless fundraiser for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and as a family man with a debilitating, unpredictable and incurable disease. During these unprecedented times, Doddie has received an OBE, celebrated his 50th birthday, helped pledge close to £10 million for MND research and his fellow sufferers - all amid a whirl of golfing challenges, charity cycle rides, book festivals and awards ceremonies . . . Now DODDIE'S DIARY lifts the lid on the highs, the lows, the laughter and the tears of the last few years. Each day shows an astonishing, inspirational man who simply refuses to give in as he brings his down-to-earth positivity and legendary sense of humour to the battle against MND. Just as on the pitch, it's a battle he's determined to win.
£999.99
Bonnier Books Ltd Murdo Murdo
Book SynopsisSome players epitomise the ethos of a football club and, for Celtic FC, Murdo MacLeod is one of those players. Still loved by the fans for the way he gave his heart and soul out on the pitch, he won every domestic honour and will forever be remembered for the decisive goal that helped Celtic win the league title in 1979 against bitter rivals Rangers and sparked a deafening roar of the familiar chant of MURDO! MURDO! around the stadium.Murdo's career also took him to Germany to star for Borussia Dortmund where he won both the German Cup and Super Cup in 1989, before returning to home soil to captain Hibernian FC. He also made 20 appearances for Scotland and played in the 1990 World Cup Finals.The highlight of Murdo's coaching career came as Assistant Coach at Celtic under Wim Jansen when, in the 1997-98 season, they won the league and League Cup double, and stopped arch-rivals Rangers' bid to win ten league titles in a row for the first time. It was Wim an
£999.99
John Blake Publishing Ltd Hutchy: Miracle Man
Book SynopsisAfter modifications to the gear levers and rear brakes on his race machines, he went out and won the 2013 Macau Grand Prix.Two years later saw an even more staggering return to form, when he secured three wins, a second and a third place at the 2015 Isle of Man TT, also winning the Joey Dunlop TT Championship Trophy for that year.
£8.54
Octopus Publishing Group The Way to Win
Book Synopsis***'Essential reading for anyone wanting to achieve their dreams. Liv is an inspiration.'- Grant Cardone, New York Times bestselling author'Liv's extraordinary ability and passion is admirable. A winning read.'- Gary LinekerIn The Way To Win, Freestyle Football World Champion and TikTok sensation Liv Cooke opens up about her journey to becoming the best freestyler in the world. Drawing from experience Liv shares an easy-to-follow 10-step guide to achieving your dream - from correctly setting out your goals and forming good habits to handling nerves and maintaining success.With a positive attitude and holistic approach to productivity, Liv explores how you can find inspiration in your life... and of course, provides an insight into how she achieved incredible success at such a young age.The Way To Win is the ultimate guide to reaching the top of any industry and becoming your best self.
£13.49
Bonnier Books Ltd The Winning Formula: Leadership, Strategy and
Book Synopsis*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*Why is F1 the perfect example for leadership, motivation and strategy?And what can we learn from it?How does a pit crew change four wheels in 1.9 seconds?And what does that mean for a company like Blackberry?What is Ron Dennis' secret to good time management?And how can that help TV producers?In The Winning Formula, driver, commentator and entrepreneur David Coulthard opens the doors to the secretive world of F1 and reveals in simple, entertaining and utterly compelling terms how he has been able to master this mind-boggling variety of disciplines by applying the skills honed from his years at the top of the world's most demanding motorsport. By recounting his own stories, and combining them with first-hand experience of stellar individuals such as Lewis Hamilton, Ron Dennis, Sir Frank Williams, Christian Horner and Sebastian Vettel, Coulthard provides a fascinating fly-on-the-wall insight into F1 but at the same time offers an invaluable guide to the business of sport and the sport of business.
£999.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Power of Belief: Bethany Shriever's Rise to
Book SynopsisWhen UK Sport removed funding for women's BMX, Bethany Shriever's dream of Olympic glory seemed shattered. Throw in the impact of a broken leg sustained in childhood, plus an untimely arm injury weeks before the final Olympic qualification event, and few would have thought the 22-year-old would be on the plane to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, let alone the podium. And with the uncertainty caused by a global pandemic, the external pressures on Beth were intense and pervasive. However, the BMX racer from Essex is made of stern stuff and, perhaps just as importantly, so are the team around her. From her deeply involved family, to her dedicated coaching team, to her friends within the BMX community, Beth's story recognises the team behind an athlete. This compelling tale of triumph over adversity reveals how the power of belief overcame the obstacles that threatened to derail Bethany's dreams of becoming the best ever female BMX racer.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd An Unusual Celebrity
Book SynopsisAn Unusual Celebrity: The Many Cricketing Lives of Bill Bowes is the inspiring story of one of English cricket''s most popular personalities, who dedicated his life to the game from the 1920s to the 1980s.An often devastating bowler for Yorkshire in the 1930s, Bowes was a crucial part of one of the greatest ever county teams. He bowled Bradman first ball during the famous ''Bodyline'' series but was tainted for some by his regular use of the ''bumper''.Tall, unathletic, modest and playing in glasses, Bowes did not fit the mould of the typical opening bowler. Captured in North Africa in 1942, he spent three years in prisoner-of-war camps, and helped others through the ordeal. On release, he played for two more seasons before serving as a respected and forthright journalist for 25 years.A man of many talents, as part of the Yorkshire coaching staff, he nurtured Fred Trueman and Brian Close, but he was also a broadcaster and popular public speaker, wh
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Red on Revolution: Be Ready for Anything
Book SynopsisMike Chadwick – secret coach to the elite – reveals his revolutionary approach to success.Do you have a challenge that demands physical or mental strength? Are you struggling to sustain the commitment needed to achieve your goals? Do you know what it takes for you, personally, to succeed at the highest level? Coach Mike – a trainer of champions, a leader of leaders, the coach with the ear of the elite – is ready to help.In The Red On Revolution, ex-paratrooper Coach Mike exposes countless fitness-industry myths and coaches you, personally, to succeed. Join Mike and a powerful line-up of guests – including Ant Middleton (SBS, explorer, entrepreneur), Simon Jeffries (mental resilience coach, Special Forces), the Stoltman Brothers (World’s Strongest Man), Charlotte Spence (Crossfit champion and Army’s Strongest Woman), Scott Meenagh (Paralympian and ex-paratrooper) and Tom Aspinall (UFC heavyweight) – on a quest for a better you.Only one question remains: are you in?
£13.49
Troubador Publishing Don't Rub 'Em, Count 'Em
Book SynopsisAn anecdotal memoir of being born and growing up in Tottenham. These are stories and tales written by a working-class boy who was brought up by working-class parents half a mile from Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane Ground. Parents who might be considered poor but were extremely loving and of high moral standards. By the author’s own admission, and with all due respect to his teachers, his education was not the best it might have been. It really just passed him by, mostly due to his obsession with his dream of being a professional footballer. A dream he did not quite achieve, albeit with the consolation that he became a scout, later in life, for his beloved Tottenham Hotspur. A biography full of the stories the author remembers from over sixty-five years of playing and being involved with the game. And with his other great love of music. The banter of the club houses and the pubs after the game. The ups and downs of being an ardent fan of Tottenham Hotspur supporting them through ‘thick’n thin, good and bad’. The author hopes to show what a great life it can be being involved with the ‘grass roots’ of football.
£999.99
Cornerstone Our Fight
Book SynopsisFrom Sunday Times bestselling author, British Sports Book of the Year Award winner, and trailblazing athlete Ronda Rousey, an unfiltered and entertaining chronicle of her last decade, tackling not only UFC and WWE but also parenthood, overcoming adversity, and finding meaning in life's journey.You defined the division. You basically created the concept of women fighting in the UFCThank you for writing this book, it's incredibly honest.' Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO podcast Rousey has rewritten her story arc, and along the way learned that self-reliance and independence is real freedom.' Guardian''Gripping and, at its best, offers a raw personal history of concussion.'' Donald McRae, Guardian From the moment she burst onto the MMA scene, Ronda Rousey was unbeatable. She repeatedly strung together back-to-back flawless victories, racking up a collection of records and forever changing the face of sports as the UFC's first female champion. A superstar in her sport, she transcended athletics, appearing in blockbuster films and becoming a role model for women everywhere. Then, on November 15, 2015, it all came crashing down.In OUR FIGHT, Rousey explores the greatest challenge of her life and, ultimately, how she rebuilt her career into something better in the aftermath. She recounts how she replaced her pursuit of perfection with the pursuit of happiness and found a blessing in disguise amongst the wreckage. Following Rousey's relatable journey, OUR FIGHT is a courageous narrative of career changes, marriage, motherhood, and facing your fears.
£10.44
Pitch Publishing Ltd Out of the Darkness
Book SynopsisOut of the Darkness reveals a grittier side of football. Former Leicester and Sunderland winger Matt Piper retired aged 24, after 16 knee operations, and his life soon spiralled out of control. His daily existence became dependent on alcohol and Valium, culminating in an ugly rock bottom. But after the darkness came light.
£17.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Escape Artist: Life from the Saddle
Book SynopsisMatt Seaton’s critically acclaimed memoir about his obsession for cycling and how that obsession was tamed. For a time there were four bikes in Matt Seaton’s life. His evenings were spent 'doing the miles' on the roads out of south London and into the hills of the North Downs and Kent Weald. Weekends were taken up with track meets, time trials and road races – rides that took him from cold village halls at dawn and onto the empty bypasses of southern England. With its rituals, its code of honour and its comradeship, cycling became a passion that bordered on possession. It was at once a world apart, private to its initiates and, through the races he rode in Belgium, Mallorca and Ireland, a passport to an international fraternity. But then marriage, children and his wife's illness forced a reckoning with real life and, ultimately, a reappraisal of why cycling had become so compelling in the first place. Today, those bikes are scattered, sold, or gathering dust in an attic. Wry, frank and elegiac, ‘The Escape Artist’ is a celebration of an amateur sport and the simple beauty of cycling. It is also a story about the passage from youth to adulthood, about what it means to give up something fiercely loved in return for a kind of wisdom.Trade Review'As poignant an elegy as I have ever read. I finished the last chapters of this book just before I went to sleep, and in the morning, with a swoop of grief in my guts, it was the first thing I thought of.'Toby Clements, Daily Telegraph ‘Thoroughly tragic and almost brilliant. The Escape Artist is an achingly sad account of what Seaton now refers to as 'my former life.'Robert MacFarlane, Observer 'A heart-stopping examination of how, why and for what we push ourselves to the edge. I never thought I'd cry about bikes and cycling. It is one of those rare books you could give to absolutely anyone – and one you'll want to keep by you and read again and again.'Julie Myerson ‘This book is, above all, about passion and loss. It's about the passion of life at the very edge of athletic and mechanical achievement that is eventually lost to love of a wife and children, which in turn gives way to the loss of the wise and mother herself. I read and relished this book.'Jon Snow, Guardian
£8.54
Transworld Publishers Ltd Ronan O'Gara: Unguarded
Ronan O'Gara has been at the heart of Munster and Irish rugby for the past fifteen years. Now, as he comes to the end of a glittering playing career, it is time for him to reflect on those many successes and occasional failures with the straight-talking attitude that has become his trademark. Never one to shy away from the truth, the result is Ronan O'Gara: Unguarded.Packed full of anecdotes and analysis of the teammates O'Gara has been proud to share the shirt with, and of the coaches he has played under - often in controversial circumstances - this is the definitive record of an era when Munster rose to triumph in Europe, and Ireland to win the Grand Slam, before crashing down to earth again. It is simply the must-have rugby book of the year.
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd Man and Ball: My Autobiography
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS'When I came into the Ulster team,' Stephen Ferris says with typical candour, 'we were crap'. It was, however, preferable to his day job of paving driveways, and that day in 2005 saw the start of an incredible journey for Ferris, Ulster and Ireland rugby. A Celtic League title in his very first senior season with Ulster. A Grand Slam in 2009, followed by a sensational Lions breakthrough. A starring role in Ireland's greatest World Cup win, over Australia in 2011, when Ferris famously picked up Will Genia and carried him ten yards. And leading Ulster from nowhere to the Heineken Cup final.Stephen Ferris had an incredible rugby career, tragically ended by ankle injuries so severe they will never properly heal. He is an inspiration to the population of Ulster, an emblem of the sport that serves as such a positive expression of its culture and identity, and earned the respect and admiration of fans across Ireland for his strength, pace, skill and courage. Fearless, funny and full of an incredible array of stories from behind the scenes of Ulster, Ireland and the Lions, this is the must-have rugby book of the year.Trade ReviewWritten in a colloquial style that reassures you this is Ferris's story in his own words, this is a cracking read... compelling. * Rugby World, Book of the Month *
£12.88
St David's Press Darren Campbell: Track Record
Book SynopsisOlympic gold medallist Darren Campbell is one of Britain's most successful and popular athletes, yet the real story behind his success has not been made public, until now. Track Record, his long-awaited autobiography, reveals how a boy from painfully humble beginnings in Moss Side, Manchester, and who suffered bullying at school, was inspired by Carl Lewis at the 1984 Olympics to harness his athletic ability and break out of a cycle of misbehaviour and petty crime to enjoy huge success in sport, business and as a broadcaster. Despite his early promise as a young sprinter Darren explains how, totally disillusioned with the use of performance-enhancing drugs in athletics, he turned to football where he played at a semi-professional level for Cwmbran Town, Weymouth FC and was offered a contract at Plymouth Argyle. His realisation, however, that he could either continue to be a decent lower league footballer, or return to the track and become a world class sprinter, saw him link-up with coach Linford Christie and achieve great success, winning a host of gold, silver and bronze medals at major championships, including silver in the 200m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and gold in the 4 x 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics Spurred into finally telling his story after suffering a life-threatening condition in 2018, Track Record is the heart-warming and inspirational life-story of a talented, principled and determined man who overcame economic poverty and racial prejudice to triumph on the athletic tracks of the world.Trade Review‘Darren has provided more than just a highly readable account of his life and athletics career, he also gives a fascinating insight into him as a person, and has shared with us all how the many events in his celebrated life were shaped by a background that has created resilience and integrity, both on the track and off it.’ Denise Lewis OBE; ‘I first met Darren when he was 14 years old and he had the ability to charm everyone he met and make them believe that he would be good at whatever he set his mind to. Over the years, I realised that there was a deep thinker behind that smile and the only person who could stop him achieving his goals was himself. At a time when Ron Roddan and I coached Darren, we were working with a hugely talented group of athletes who pushed, supported and motivated each other into achieving their goals and some of my proudest moments in athletics have been helping Darren achieve his dreams. He is family and always will be.’ Linford Christie OBE; ‘Olympic gold and silver medals are but part of the story. Few of us can relate to the elation generated by the unforgettable sprint relay glory of Athens in 2004, just as the murder of a friend brings a darkness too scary for most of us to comprehend. Some have been tempted to describe a dropped baton in a relay race as a tragedy. Darren Campbell knows better.’ Mike Costello, BBC Radio 5LiveTable of ContentsPreface by Mike Costello Foreword by Denise Lewis Acknowledgements Prologue: Running in the Wrong Direction 1. Moss Side 2. Sale Racecourse 3. Newport 4. Wilderness 5. Atlanta 6. Budapest 7. Sydney 8. Manchester 9. Athens 10. Retirement 11. Coach Epilogue: The Toughest Race of My Life Record of Achievement
£13.99
St David's Press Steve Fenwick: Dragons and Lions
Book Synopsis'I, Steven Paul Fenwick, have a revelation to make that may surprise many readers. My first international representative rugby union honours were playing for England. There I was, in the line-up up for the English national anthem, in full regalia and the red rose on my chest representing England. I know this may come as a shock and it still feels as odd now as it did all those years ago, but bear with me, don't judge me quite yet!' An icon of Welsh rugby and one of the stars of the great Wales team of the 1970s, Steve Fenwick won three Triple Crowns, two Grand Slams and played in all four Tests of the 1977 Lions tour to New Zealand. He is also one of the very few members of that illustrious team to not have told his story, until now. Witty and engaging with a very dry sense of humour, Steve Fenwick's autobiography tells the story of the schoolboy from Nantgarw who became one of the most celebrated players in the rugby world, and his hilarious anecdotes and recollections of a glittering career during a golden age of Welsh rugby will delight and enthral readers in Wales and beyond.Trade Review'A player I would go to war with.' JPR Williams; 'On and off the field there was no fiercer or more determined competitor.' Brynmor Williams; 'It was that marvellous quick pass from Fenwick that gave Phil Bennett that superb try.' Bill McLaren; 'One of the outstanding centres of the 1970s.' Willie John McBride; 'Steve was an exceptionally talented centre and a tremendous goal-kicker. If I had to pick a team, Steve would be an automatic choice in my rugby union and rugby league teams.' Tom David; 'One of the most unselfish players I ever played with, who possessed a golden match-winning talent for creating a last-minute try or taking long-range goal-kicks which inevitably split the posts.' Gareth Davies; 'Steve was a fine rugby footballer in both codes, a reliable kicker and solid in defence.' Jim MillsTable of ContentsForeword by Brynmor Williams Prologue 1. Wearing the Red Rose 2. Schoolboy 3. Taff's Well RFC 4. Working and Playing 5. Beddau 6. Bridgend 1974-77 7. Bridgend 1978-81 8. Start of international career 9. Wales 1976-77 10. 1978 Grand Slam and 'the Dive' 11. Playing for Wales 1979-81 12. Playing for the Lions 13. Invitational Rugby Tours 14. Crossing the Great Divide 15. My return to rugby 16. No more rugby - what now? Epilogue
£13.99
St David's Press Offloading
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.14
Evro Publishing Stirling Moss: My Racing Life
Book SynopsisIn this very personal book, Stirling Moss guides the reader through his motor racing life with a fascinating, insightful and often amusing commentary to an unrivalled collection of over 300 photographs, many of which will be unfamiliar to even his most ardent fans. He takes us from his childhood to the height of his fame as 'Mr Motor Racing' and then to the sudden end of his career with that crash at Goodwood in 1962. Along the way we dwell on his finest moments as well as the setbacks, and delight in the sheer variety of machinery - almost 100 different cars - in which he competed during his rollercoaster racing life. This is a book that all motor racing enthusiasts will treasure. Starting in 1948, he made his name in little 500cc Coopers, moving towards stardom in HWM, ERA and Cooper F2 cars, then his own F1 Maserati 250F. The 1955 Mercedes season and its twin highlights a winning the Mille Miglia and the British Grand Prix. His longing to win in British cars was rewarded with two fine F1 seasons at Vanwall (1957a 58), with whom he came very close to winning the F1 World Championship, and sports car successes with Aston Martin.- Rear-engined Cooper and Lotus F1 cars with Rob Walker (1958a 62), including two celebrated Monaco GP wins.- Two-seater variety: the amazing range of sports cars he drove included Jaguars (XK120, C-type and D-type), Maseratis (150S to 450S), Ferraris (250 GT SWB and Testa Rossa) and Porsches (550 Spyder to RS61), plus Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica, Osca, Healey 100S, Cooper 'Bobtail' and more. Ever busy and versatile: rallying with Sunbeams, trialling a Harford special, Bonneville record-breaking with MG EX181, saloon car racing in a humble Standard Ten a and even a kart race. Published to mark the 60th anniversary of Moss' famous win in the 1955 Mille Miglia road race in a Mercedes 300SLR.Foreword by 2014 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton."
£40.00
Evro Publishing Hobbo : Motor-Racer, Motor Mouth: The
Book SynopsisEnglishman David Hobbs – `Hobbo’ to his friends and fans – is one of motor racing’s most remarkable all-rounders. In a 41-year driving career he raced in almost every imaginable category: endurance sports racers, touring cars, Formula 1, Formula 5000, Indycars, IMSA, Trans-Am, Can-Am and even NASCAR – he has done the lot. And on top of that he has been a television commentator in America for nearly 40 years, bringing wit and wisdom to the screen, presently as part of NBC’s Formula 1 team. Now, at last, he has put down all his experiences in this highly readable memoir that will be welcomed by racing enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic. Early racing years: from his mum’s Morris Oxford in 1959 to Jaguars and a Lotus Elite – and coming to the notice of the racing world. Sports car speciality: Le Mans in 1963 with the Lola Mk6 GT followed by Lola T70 drives and finally the big break; two Ford GT40 seasons with John Wyer’s mighty Gulf-sponsored team bring a win at Monza in 1968 and third place at Le Mans in 1969 – and then a Porsche 917 Le Mans drive in 1970. Single-seaters: coming close to a Formula 1 breakthrough with Honda in 1968, but Formula 5000 in America is where success comes, as 1971 champion. Westward bound: the USA becomes his focus, with early highlights including fifth place in the 1974 Indianapolis 500 with a McLaren and leading the Daytona 500 NASCAR classic in 1976. Criss-crossing the Atlantic: returning to old haunts to take up opportunities, including racing Jaguar’s famously fragile XJ coupé in 1976 and many more Le Mans outings, topped with another third place in 1984 driving a Porsche 956. Another championship title: ever versatile, he becomes Trans-Am Champion in 1983 driving a Chevrolet Camaro and winning four races. Sports cars galore: racing all the way to 1990, in all sorts of machinery but majoring on those all-conquering Porsches of the period – 935s, 956s and 962s.
£40.00
Reach plc My Story: The Greatest Footballer That Never Was
Book SynopsisImagine being so good at football that your legs get insured for a million pounds – at the age of 11. In the 1990s, Sonny Pike had it all. A glittering future in the professional game beckoned. Dutch ‘Total Football’ giants Ajax swooped and flash soccer agent Eric Hall signed him up. Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Paul Smith queued up to sponsor him. He appeared on TV shows like Fantasy Football and Blue Peter, featured in Hello Magazine and even had his own rap song. Billed as English football’s ‘next Diego Maradona’, everyone loved the baby-faced young superstar. And then, through no fault of his own, it was all taken from him. Controversially banned from football, the spotlight faded. Agents turned their backs. Sponsors withdrew their deals. TV and the media moved on. Even his dad disappeared off the scene. Lost and desperate, Sonny searched for an answer, dabbling in crime, landing in court and even behind bars. The promise of fame and fortune had turned to nothing and there seemed no way back . . . Sonny Pike: The Greatest Footballer That Never Was is a remarkable tale of exploitation and reckless ambition, exposing the worst side of our game in an era when it was evolving in to the multi-million pound industry we know today. Sonny’s story is captivating, at times harrowing, but ultimately inspirational. As thousands of young footballers dream of football stardom, it is more relevant now than ever
£11.69
Atlantic Books Moeen
Book SynopsisShortlisted for The Telegraph's Sports Book Awards - Autobiography of the Year, 2019Longlisted for the Specsavers National Book AwardsOne of the Daily Mail's and the Observer's Books of the Year, 2018The match-winning superstar of the England cricket team finally shares his remarkable personal story in this eagerly-awaited autobiography.Moeen traces his journey from backyard cricket to the county game and his first-class debut as a teenager, through to his international debut at the relatively late age of 27 and the golden summer of 2017, when he was anointed Player of the Series against South Africa with thousands of England fans chanting his name.But cricket is just one part of Moeen's life. His upbringing in the tough Sparkhill neighbourhood of Birmingham and the awakening at eighteen that led him to become a devout Muslim have given him a social conscience unusual for an elite athlete but have also attracted controversy. Here, for the first time, Moeen tells his side of the story.Talented, tenacious and thoughtful, Moeen Ali is a true all-rounder.
£10.44
Mirror Books Jaco Van Gass: Unequivocal - My Story
Book SynopsisJaco van Gass was 23 when he was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in Afghanistan in 2009. Losing his left arm to the blast, he sustained life-threatening injuries that stopped his heart twice; yet by a miracle - and the skill of the medics treating him - he survived. Against all the odds, Jaco has fought to build a post- injury life as an adventurer and professional athlete, a journey that has taken him from the slopes of the world's highest mountains to the North Pole, from the Carretera Austral to international cycling competitions in an Olympic velodrome. In his inspirational autobiography, Jaco tells his compelling and inspiring story, starting with his childhood in South Africa and ending on the podium in Tokyo. Shedding light on the potholes and pitfalls encountered along the way, he paints a vivid picture of the harshness of Basic Training, the cruel realities of war, the struggle to rebuild his life after losing a limb, the energy-sapping cold experienced at 6,000 metres above sea level, and the complexities of navigating the world of British Cycling. From the dust of the Afghan desert to the blinding whiteness of the North Pole, Jaco's story is one of horror and of great hope, of near-death escapes and of fierce resolve, and, above all, his unequivocal determination to succeed. Jaco has overcome extraordinary odds, not only in refusing to let injury define his life, but in going on to tackle challenges of which few people would even dream. Not just for adventure and military enthusiasts, Unequivocal is for any reader looking for an honest, inspiring voice that will encourage them to live life to the full.
£15.29
Juggernaut Publication Witness
Book Synopsis
£22.79
Vintage Publishing Storms of Silence
Book SynopsisIn Storms of Silence Joe Simpson recalls the severe snowstorm which put an end to an attempt with four others on Gangchempo and the infection which forced him to abandon the climb on Cho Oyu in tibet. During that expedition he has a disturbing encounter with a party of political refugees and a 4-year-old boy fleeing across the Tibetan border. He becomes obsessed with stories of Chinese brutality in the old world Tibet they overran by force 40 years ago. He also begins to question the ethic of playing rich men''s games in Third World countries, contributing little to the local people who endure a fearful struggle to survive. Oppression abroad makes him see mindless violence in his home town of Sheffield in a new light. The books ends with his first trip to the Andes in Peru since Touching the Void.Trade ReviewExcellent...Simpson is a born writer * The Times *'To mix a metaphor, Joe Simpson is a streetwise mountaineer...He takes you close to the nitty-gritty, the nuts and bolts of professional climbing in the 1990's. He is used to dealing with totalitarian policemen. He is passionate and moving on the subject of Tibet and the agonies inflicted on it by the cruel Chinese occupation...Above all, Simpson is a born writer' -- Paul Johnson * The Times *'The book's major theme is the nature of aggression. A skinhead in a Sheffield bar sets the reader up for the genocide that is modern Tibetan history...What makes Joe Simpson stand out is his belief that there is more to life than a crampon, and his dogged refusal to leave the highest mental peaks unclimbed' -- Sara Wheeler * Daily Telegraph *'THis immensely accessible book offers a unique re-interpretation of masculinity...In doing so, it offers a ray of hope to an increasingly bleak and vicious society' -- Martin Booth * Independent *
£10.99
HarperCollins Publishers Approach Without Caution The essential guide to
Book Synopsis
£15.00
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Adventures in Mind: A personal obsession with the
Book Synopsis'The last descent and I can't let myself think it's in the bag. Anything could happen, take it easy, take no risks. Just get to the finish and win.''The challenge and anticipation that pushes me to try harder. The obsessive urge to achieve. It's not all about winning. Why do I do it?'Growing up in Bristol, Heather Dawe was 17 when she started running. Having fallen in to the teenage trap of smoking and drinking she resolved to do something about it, not knowing then where it would take her.A climber since her youth, an obsession with wild places and the mountains was engrained in her DNA. Moving to Leeds to study, she began to compete in fell races and mountain marathons, joking in the pub one night that she could race at the highest level.Being hit by a car doing over 40mph while cycling would have ended many athletes' dreams, but Dawe's drive pushed her even harder. Hard enough to make her pub joke a reality, hard enough to win Elite Mountain Marathons, to win the Three Peaks Cyclo-cross race and to complete the Bob Graham Round. Pushing harder still, she entered the Tour Divide - racing the 2745-mile route of the Continental Divide in North America as she to sought to discover her physical - and emotional - limits.Dawe writes of what it takes to compete in adventure races; the training, the sacrifice, the mistakes that must be made in order to learn and develop. An intensely deep and personal book, Adventures in Mind explores what drives a woman - living with her partner and their child, working 9-5 - to push so hard and so far; into herself, and into the wild.Trade Review'Dawe’s prose is engaged, matter-of-fact and joyful, celebrating how a love of mountains can become a deep and engrained part of anyone’s everyday life.' Helen Mort, Climb Magazine'In this inspirational book, Heather Dawe describes how she went from being a rock climbing student at Leeds University to one of the UK’s leading endurance athletes, winning some of the toughest events in the country. Subtitled ‘a personal obsession with the mountains,’ the question Heather asks throughout the book is why – why does she need to constantly push herself to the edge, and what happens when you fail? It’s introspective and honest, going so far as to wonder if she forces herself to ride her bike.' – Rosie Fuller, Adventure Travel Magazine'Heather asks the eternal question "Why do we do it?" and, in search of the answer, takes us along a very personal journey from her beginnings in sport, through the highs and lows and ultimately to the place where she discovers where her limits might lie. A beautifully written and inspiring book that goes far beyond the physical aspects of endurance sports!' – Fell Runner (The magazine of the FRA)'Adventures in Mind is a very enjoyable book. It's inspiring, in a very immediate sense. Pick up a good book about epic feats of adventure in the Himalaya or at the Poles and no doubt you will feel inspired, but here we are reading about a normal woman living in a normal British town, with a job to hold down and the same day to day concerns and obligations as you or me. Her achievements, of course, are anything but normal; she demonstrates that anyone can achieve things they might consider well beyond their perceived abilities if they put the effort in.' – Tony O'Donnell, The Outdoor Times'Dawe's stubborn determination will make even the most casual athlete want to up their game, but it’s her passion for the outdoors that will resonate, reminding the soul within that nature can heal on many levels.' – Jennifer Olson, Women's Adventure Magazine'Heather’s debut book is a breath of fresh air. She doesn’t slot neatly into any pigeon holes – she’s as passionate about running as she is about cycling and climbing. She’s not a professional athlete - her day job is statistician and systems architect and she has recently become an artist as well as a mother. For me it stood out because – unlike so many of the high octane adventure sports books and films that I read and watch – it wasn’t another ego-driven account of ‘living the dream’. It’s more about dealing with everyday reality – confronting the doubts and fears that everyone has.' – Outdoorsmagic.comTable of ContentsForeword By Al Powell Prologue Finished Business Introduction The Start Point PART 1 Rise and Fall One Fitting In Two Mountain Marathon 1 Three Sea Cliffs Four Mountain Marathon 2 Five Car Crash PART 2 LEARNING Six Mountain Marathon 3 Seven Calderdale Eight Running Nine Mountain Marathon 4 Ten Morning Ride Eleven Mountain Marathon 5 Twelve Ventoux Thirteen Mountain Marathon 6 PART 3 Tour Divide Fourteen PerfectionFifteen Preparation Sixteen Tour Divide Seventeen Going Home Epilogue Chevin AcknowledgementsBibliography
£12.34
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Wild Country: The man who made Friends
Book SynopsisIn early 1978, an extraordinary new invention for rock climbers was featured on the BBC television science show Tomorrow's World. It was called the 'Friend', and it not only made the sport safer, it helped push the limits of the possible. The company that made them was called Wild Country, the brainchild of Mark Vallance. Within six months, Vallance was selling Friends in sixteen countries. Wild Country would go on to develop much of the gear that transformed climbing in the 1980s. Mark Vallance's influence on the outdoor world extends far beyond the company he founded. He owned and opened the influential retailer Outside in the Peak District and was part of the team that built The Foundry, Sheffield's premier climbing wall - the first modern climbing gym in Britain. He worked for the Peak District National Park and served on its board. He even found time to climb eight-thousand-metre peaks and the Nose on El Capitan. Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in his mid fifties and robbed of his plans for retirement, Vallance found a new sense of purpose as a reforming president of the British Mountaineering Council.In Wild Country, Vallance traces his story, from childhood influences like Robin Hodgkin and Sir Jack Longland, to two years in Antarctica, where he was base commander of the UK's largest and most southerly scientific station at Halley Bay, before his fateful meeting with Ray Jardine, the man who invented Friends, in Yosemite. Trenchant, provocative and challenging, Wild Country is a remarkable personal story and a fresh perspective on the role of the outdoors in British life and the development of climbing in its most revolutionary phase. Mark Vallance (1945–2018), the man who made Friends. Trade Review'[The book] chronicles not just the mountains [Mark] has climbed, but the part he played in bringing to market a little piece of sporting equipment that revolutionised mountaineering and saved countless lives.' – Sarah Freeman, Yorkshire Post ‘Widely-known as the man who made Friends, Mark Vallance’s influence is far wider than that, as his autobiography elucidates. Dick Turnbull summed up Mark’s achievements very well as the book launch at Outside on 2 June 2016, when he said to a packed audience, “your entire climbing career is entirely dependent upon Mark”.' – Keith Sharples, Climber magazine 'This is an outstanding book by an outstanding personality and it is a tragedy that it needs to end on such a sad note with failing vigour, decimated by a presently incurable disease, however he assures us that he is "still fighting gravity and always will".' – Dennis Gray, Footless Crow 'It is a good inspiring read which covers not just the life of a remarkable man, but gives a unique view of some of the developments in our world of climbing that these days we take for granted.' – David Medcalf, Footless Crow 'A thoroughly well written book which combines the personal adventures of the life of a climber with an interesting history of climbing gear and its manufacture in Britain over the last 50 years.' – Nick Carter, Alpha Mountaineering 'The book is an inspirational tale of a very determined man who has without doubt altered and enhanced the climbing world. Absolutely a ‘must-read’.' – Ian Sykes, Scottish Mountaineering Council JournalTable of ContentsPrologue: Diagnosis; 1 First Moves; 2 Lessons from Jack; 3 India; 4 New Schools; 5 Gash Hand; 6 America; 7 A Proper Job; 8 Making Friends; 9 Tomorrow's World; 10 You Don't Need a Hammer to Crack a Nut; 11 Super Nova; 12 Moving the Centre; 13 Three Big Mountains and a Smaller One; 14 Climbing the Walls; 15 Infinity on Trial; 16 Swansong; Acknowledgements.
£13.46
Penguin Books Ltd Obsessed The Autobiography
Book SynopsisTHE NO. 1 BESTSELLERIn his hotly anticipated autobiography, Johnny Sexton tells the story of his life and explores the sources of his unmatched will to win.''Sexton will go down as Ireland''s greatest ever player'' Gordon D''Arcy, Irish Times‘A revealing glimpse into the psyche of a serial winner’ Robert Kitson, Guardian___________________Four European Cups. Four Six Nations championships (including two Grand Slams). A series win in New Zealand. Two stints for Ireland at number 1 in the world. And the World Player of the Year award. No Irish rugby player has ever achieved more, or been a source of more inspiration to teammates and fans alike, than Johnny Sexton.Outspoken, on and off the field, Sexton offers an honest look at his childhood, his relationships with key teammates and coaches (including Brian O''Driscoll, Paul O''Connell, Ronan O''Gara, Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell), and his ideas about the game.But it is also a work of deep self-exploration, tracing the psychological arc of a player who almost always felt embattled, who struggled with self-doubt, and who was still learning new lessons about being a team-mate and a leader into his late thirties.Intense, witty, perceptive and frank, Obsessed is an autobiography worthy of its author and the essential chronicle of an extraordinary era in Irish rugby.___________________''Levels of wit and psychological insight that are all too rare in a sporting star’s autobiography’ The Telegraph''A fascinating portrait of a man always at war … Candid, frank and brilliantly written, this is a must for any rugby lover’ Daily Mail''A seriously compelling book’ Stephen Jones, Sunday Times''The best ever Irish player to play the game'' Andy Farrell‘An autobiography to be inhaled’ Irish Examiner‘Sexton is on that rarefied plane of athlete where even his mere presence can feel quietly decisive’ Jonathan Liew, Guardian‘An essential read for any keen follower of professional sport in Ireland’ Irish Independent‘One of the best sports biographies in any discipline in recent times’ RTÉ Guide‘A rich insight into one of Irish sport’s most complex, high-performing minds … up there with the all-time great rugby books.’ Irish Independent
£25.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Trails and Tribulations
Book Synopsis
£18.04
Bonnier Books Ltd The Winning Formula: Leadership, Strategy and
Book Synopsis*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*HOW DOES A PIT CREW CHANGE FOUR WHEELS IN 1.9 SECONDS?AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR A COMPANY LIKE BLACKBERRY?WHAT IS RON DENNIS' SECRET TO GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT?AND HOW CAN THAT HELP TV PRODUCERS?WHY IS F1 THE PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR LEADERSHIP, MOTIVATION AND STRATEGY?AND WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?In The Winning Formula, driver, commentator and entrepreneur David Coulthard opens the doors to the secretive world of F1 and reveals in simple, entertaining and utterly compelling terms how he has been able to master this mind-boggling variety of disciplines by applying the skills honed from his years at the top of the world's most demanding motorsport.By recounting his own stories, and combining them with first-hand experience of stellar individuals such as Lewis Hamilton, Ron Dennis, Sir Frank Williams, Christian Horner and Sebastian Vettel, Coulthard provides a fascinating fly-on-the-wall insight into F1 but at the same time offers an invaluable guide to the business of sport and the sport of business.
£10.44
Little, Brown & Company Relentless A Memoir
Book SynopsisFrom the world champion Patriots' charismatic wide receiver, a memoir about the journey to becoming a two-time Super Bowl winner.
£13.29
Simon & Schuster Ltd Walk On My Life in Red
Book Synopsis
£7.19
Random House Our Fight
Book SynopsisFrom Sunday Times bestselling author, British Sports Book of the Year Award winner, and trailblazing athlete Ronda Rousey, an unfiltered and entertaining chronicle of her last decade, tackling not only UFC and WWE but also parenthood, overcoming adversity, and finding meaning in life's journey.You defined the division. You basically created the concept of women fighting in the UFCThank you for writing this book, it's incredibly honest.' Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO podcast Rousey has rewritten her story arc, and along the way learned that self-reliance and independence is real freedom.' Guardian''Gripping and, at its best, offers a raw personal history of concussion.'' Donald McRae, Guardian From the moment she burst onto the MMA scene, Ronda Rousey was unbeatable. She repeatedly strung together back-to-back flawless victories, racking up a collection of records and forever changing the face of sports as the UFC's
£999.99
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Virgin on Insanity: Coming of Age on the World's
Book SynopsisOutwardly, 'Britain's most experienced teenage Alpinist' is a brave young mountaineer. But he's not experienced at all, at least not in the way he really wants to be. Behind his death-defying climbs there lurks a great deal of fear - fear of the opposite sex, fear of failure, fear of not being 'man enough'. He seeks manhood in the mountains, yet he believes he will only truly gain it by losing something. Harrowing escapades in Scotland, the Alps and Alaska are interspersed by excruciating sexual encounters and unsettling hitch-hiking rides. When the mountains fail him, he seeks meaning with a religious cult in Colorado. Eventually he succeeds in his quest, only to find that he's lost more than he bargained for. Virgin on Insanity by Steve Bell is a coming-of-age story of high adventure, youthful insecurity and immature love. The situations might be extreme, but the deeper issues will be familiar to many.
£18.00
John Blake Publishing Ltd Hammered
Book SynopsisMark Ward enjoyed all the trappings of success as one of the most popular and highly-rated right wingers in football. 'Wardy' proved an overnight sensation at Oldham and continued to be a star at West Han, Man City and Everton before inspiring Birmingham City to Wembley glory. But when his career on the pitch ended, his life swiftly unravelled. After failed business ventures and the collapse of his marriage to his childhood sweetheart he ended up unemployed - and desperate. Ward put his name to a rental agreement on a house near Liverpool that was used by others to stash drugs. When the police raided they found a drugs factory. He pleaded guilty to dealing and was sent to Liverpool's notorious Walton Prison. His life would never be the same. During the years he spent inside he has been able to reflect on an extraordianry playing career and an equally eventful life off the picth. He recounts in heart-wrenching detail his highs and lows and tells it like it is with honesty that epitomised his playing career.
£7.59
Headline Publishing Group The Way It Was
Book SynopsisStanley Matthews was the most popular footballer of his era, the man who epitomised a generation of legendary players: Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and many more. He was the first footballer ever to be knighted, the first European Footballer of the Year (at 41), and he played in the top division until he was 50 - and he will be forever remembered for his performance in the Matthews FA Cup final of 1953, when he inspired Blackpool to victory over Bolton. THE WAY IT WAS is a the fascinating memoir of a great footballer and the remarkable story of an extraordinary life, written in the last months of his life.Trade Review'...both a fascinating personal story and an evocation of a sporting world that has gone forever.' W MagazineThere is a heartfelt, elegiac quality [to] THE WAY IT WAS ... It is only a pity he is not here to see it published * Chris Maume, Independent *`A first summary of the life, on and off the pitch of England's greatest player' ExpressThe book is an appropriate and nearly always engrossing chronicle of an illustrious career, and good to have * Ian Hamilton, Sunday Telegraph *'his engrossing autobiography' Times 'impossible to imagine any of today's football stars ever producing a memoir half so interesting' Mail on SundayEspecially rewarding, though, are Stan's descriptions of his technical perfectionism * Brian Glanville, Sunday Times *A fascinating and amusing insight into the inner workings of football during its golden era * Saul David, Daily Telegraph *THE WAY IT WAS is a ticket to a different era, when the game wasn't saturated with money and men like Sir Stanley upheld sporting ideals * Mike Pattenden, Times *Brings vividly to life some of the greatest games of the time and features his perceptive analysis of the characters who illuminated the age * Independent *The story of one of the greatest footballers of all time ... is told in great detail and with an unexpected sense of humour. It is his vivid memory that makes THE WAY IT WAS such a good read * FourFourTwo *A gracefully crafted autobiography filled with entertaining anecdotes reflecting an age when the game was uncorrupted by greed and hooliganism * Birmingham Post *
£13.27
1st World Publishing Believe Journey from Jacksonville
£14.87
St. Martin's Griffin Crossing the Line
Book SynopsisA marvelous addition to the literature of inspirational sports stories. - Booklist (Starred Review)This remarkable and inspiring story shines. - Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)An inspiring memoir of defying the odds from Kareem Rosser, captain of the first all-black squad to win the National Interscholastic Polo championship. Crossing the Line will not just leave you with hope, but also ideas on how to make that hope transferable (New York Times bestselling author Wes Moore).Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Kareem thought he and his siblings would always be stuck in The Bottom, a community and neighborhood devastated by poverty and violence. Riding their bicycles through Philly's Fairmount Park, Kareem's brothers discover a barn full of horses. Noticing the brothers' fascination with her misfit animals, Lezlie Hiner, founder of The Work to Ride stables, offers them their escape: an after school job in exchange
£16.19
Pitch Publishing Ltd Eddie Hapgood Footballer: From Beyond the
Book SynopsisEddie Hapgood, Footballer is the extraordinary story of a young unknown from Bristol who became Arsenal and England captain and a national hero, in the dark days of the 1930s. His impact is so enduring that when the millennium dawned, the public voted him one of the greatest sportsmen of the century. That glorious legacy was painfully achieved. Hapgood considered football an art and played it joyously as part of a team, but he struggled when politics, class and money threatened to undermine him and corrupt football. By the late 1930s, the ugly shadows of fascism, Nazism and looming war were bearing down on the beautiful game. Hapgood found himself in a public fight for justice and respect, while behind the scenes he protected his family with dedication, love and humour. In this gripping memoir, his daughter Lynne Hapgood pulls together the various threads - success, celebrity, tragedy and vindication - to reveal the real Eddie Hapgood. She examines the nature of sporting greatness and its impact on fans and family.
£17.99
Penguin Putnam Inc Draft Animals
Book SynopsisThe story of one man's quest to realise his childhood dream, and what happened when he actually did it.
£15.19
Pitch Publishing Ltd Ride: BMX Glory, Against All the Odds, the John
Book SynopsisRide lays bare the harrowing beginnings and the tough life lessons learned by superstar John Buultjens on his rise to BMX Glory, Against All the Odds. Raised by his poor family on Glasgow's Drumchapel estate, he slept rough to escape his violent father's beatings. Placed in a children's home by his mother, he was then adopted by a bi-racial couple. After conquering his own racism, his life turned around, and the blockbuster movie E.T. inspired a love of BMX. Although spurred by bitterness, John's emigration to Australia saw him take his sporting enthusiasm to new levels, becoming one of BMX's biggest names. Then came the call from California to lead the most famous BMX brand of them all, Haro. As their global brand manager, he now backs and sponsors riders across the globe. Hollywood has since turned his unbelievable journey into a movie, set for release in November 2017. Here, John reveals inner secrets including family murders, hatred, sexual abuse - and how his white-knuckle ride has taken him to the top against all the odds.
£16.14
Penguin Putnam Inc Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I
Book Synopsis
£15.30
