Ball sports / ball games Books

Book SynopsisA League of Our Own is the first book to tell the remarkable story of the establishment and 30-year history of the League of Wales, which was rebranded as the Welsh Premier League in 2010 and the Cymru Premier in 2019. The League of Wales kicked-off its inaugural season in 1992 in a state of triumph and trepidation. Establishing the league was a huge step forward for Welsh club football, but with the country’s 11 biggest clubs - including the ‘Irate Eight’ - refusing to take part, it was also a time of court cases, friction and distrust between the governing body and many of its member clubs. Meticulously researched and written by freelance football journalist Mark Langshaw, The Cymru Premier Story contains over 90 illustrations, final league tables for every season and appendices that detail the league’s most successful clubs, top scorers, average attendances, and European representatives. It also features over 20 exclusive interviews with many of the key characters who played significant roles in the formation and development of the competition.Table of ContentsForeword 1 How the Land Lay 2 A League of Our Own 3 When The Crows Soared 4 Back-To-Back Bangor 5 The Professionals 6 The Company Men 7 A New Era Dawns 8 Rise and Fall 9 Dancing in The Streets 10 A Town Painted Red 11 The Dream Team 12 The Super 12 13 The Best of Bangor 14 The (New) Saints March On 15 Dragons Reborn 16 Shattered Dreams 17 The Rise of The Nomads 18 The State of Play Epilogue Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisGraeme Croser is an award winning sports writer with close to 25 years of experience in the regional and national press covering domestic, European and international action. The Napier University journalism graduate served with the Edinburgh Evening News before spending 19 years with the Scottish Mail on Sunday. A past winner of the Jim Rodger Memorial Award, recognising the work of Scotland's best young sports writers, he serves on the committee of the Scottish Football Writers' Association.

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Book SynopsisWritten by two people with experience of working for and being close to the club for many years,Arsenal: On the Edgeis a most comprehensive analysis of a major force in domestic and European football.

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Book SynopsisLizzie Morris is ready for the first day of the rest of her life - she''s starting as a trainee teacher at Cranswell Primary and she''s hopeful that she''ll make the squad for the final of her team''s football tournament. Finally, Lizzie seems to be putting her tragic past behind her and she is sure that her parents would be proud.Coming face to face with Noah Hatton, however, was not part of the plan. He is still as athletic and handsome as she remembered and seeing him drags up painful memories. Horrifyingly, the Head Teacher then asks the pair of them to organise the school''s Sports Day and thrown together, their chemistry and competitive relationship reignites. Will the unwelcome distraction of Noah derail Lizzie''s teacher training and will she survive this blast from the past?

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Book SynopsisUnited Heroes is a children's book looking at the contributionsof 30 legends who helped to make Manchester United theworld's most famous football club.Illustrated by renowned Manchester artist Stanley Chow, and accompanied by stunning photography.

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Book SynopsisWho are the fifteen best rugby players ever to have represented the Lions? Was Willie John McBride better than Martin Johnson? Was Barry John better than Johnny Wilkinson? Was anyone better than Gareth Edwards? As incisive and decisive as he was on the pitch, Jonathan Davies has the answer to all these questions and more.

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Book SynopsisA highly illustrated and fully revised guide to the key components of rugby union. Now in its fifth edition, Rugby Skills, Tactics and Rules has earned a reputation as the best book for learning the fundamental skills of rugby union. It provides an attractive, easy-to-read and straightforward discussion of the key components of the game, from player positions and tactics to different kinds of set plays, passes and moves. This great-looking book cuts through the jargon and tells coaches and players what they really need to know. Key features include: - Color photos of top players from around the world- Sections on the tactics and strategies needed to win the game, including the basic skills of running, passing and tackling- Specially created diagrams to explain critical aspects of moves and tactics- Drill variations- A user-friendly glossaryThis is essential reading for anyone looking to get the most from their game.Table of ContentsThe Joy of Rugby 1 Rugby is a Team Sport 2 Basic Skills: Running 3 Basic Skills: Passing 4 Basic Skills: Catching 5 Basic Skills: Tackling 6 Basic Skills: Attitude 7 Specialized Skills 8 Set Play: The Scrum 9 Set Play: The Line Out 10 Set Play: Starts, Restarts & Endings 11 Phase Play: Tackle, Ruck & Maul 12 Defence 13 Attack 14 Options 15 Coaching 16 Tactics 17 The Laws Glossary Index Links and resources

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Book Synopsis''It''s been the basis of my work since 1971. It''s the internet between covers'' John Motson''The definitive chronicle of changing times for so many who love the sport'' Ian Herbert, Daily Mail''The Yearbook stands for authority and integrity'' Martin Tyler''The first reference book you should turn to'' Daily TelegraphThe Utilita Football Yearbook 2021-2022 is the market-leading book of football statistics, featuring everything you need to know about domestic and international football.Since its first appearance in 1970, The Football Yearbook has heralded the start of each new season and served as the sport''s book of record, faithfully chronicling decades of both tradition and evolution.Now in its 52nd year of publication, the Yearbook celebrates that legacy and undertakes to do what it always does - to meticulously record the season just gone and look forward to the seas

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Book SynopsisWhether you''re a football fan, a tennis aficionado, a keen golfer or a basketball nut you''ll love this top collection of facts?the must-have miscellany for any sports fan.Whether you''re a football fan, a tennis aficionado, a keen golfer or a basketball nut you''ll love this top collection of facts?the must-have miscellany for any sports fan. Featuring obscure, unbelievable, intriguing, and engaging facts about some of the world?s most popular ball sports, discover fascinating nuggets of information on the sports, the balls, the players, the history, and plenty more. All the major ball sports are covered and you can find out why the number of dimples on a golf ball can make you a better player, what the fastest recorded serve is in a tennis match, and who is the world?s highest-earning ball player. All this makes this miscellany a must-have for any sports fan.

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Book SynopsisTHE PERFECT GIFT for those obsessed with the World Cup.__________________________________''If Ben were only happy when his favourite team did well, he would not be happy very often.Instead Ben is happy whenever a team he hates does badly.There are lots and lots of those.''__________________________________''BBC Radio 5 Live has cut away from coverage of the worst mainland terrorist atrocity in decades because there is an important update from the curling.Otherwise, regular listeners will complain.''__________________________________This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongsid

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Book SynopsisRonnie is snooker's most written and talked about player, and its greatest showman. His supreme talent and style have made him the People's Champion and, as one commentator put it, 'the question is not how much does Ronnie O'Sullivan need snooker, but how much does snooker need Ronnie O'Sullivan?' A honest and candid account of his extraordinary life, Ronnie tells of the infant who was introduced to legendary snooker clubs at an impossibly early age; of the boy who frightened off the bookies aged just 12; of the teenager whose life was decimated when his father and mentor was sent to prison for life; and of the man dubbed the 'genius' of the modern game who regularly threatened to quit the sport to pursue other interests at the grand old age of 28.'A fine autobiography ... compelling' - Independent'O'Sullivan is as frank about his spell in the Priory clinic as he is about his father's murder conviction. His accounts of snooker tournaments and sketches of the sport's personalities will fascinate fans, but even snooker haters will be rooting for Ronnie in the game of life' - OK!

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Book SynopsisGet ready for the World Cup with National Geographic Kids!Fancy footwork, terrific teams, spectacular stadiums! It's time to learn everything about football.Packed with facts and photos, it's ideal for kids who want to learn about the game, brush up on techniques and skills and anyone who is simply mad about football! colourful photography and illustration hundreds of interesting facts top training tips and lots more!

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Book SynopsisAs we mark the 140th anniversary of the founding of the GAA, this book is a celebration of the greatest treasure in its long and illustrious history: its people. In a fast-changing world, the GAA has given us a fixed point in our lives and Gaelic games have given us so many truly extraordinary people.Each of their unique stories in some way offers a revealing snapshot of the GAA, as we salute the great and the good of Gaelic football, ladies' football, camogie and hurling - along with some less obvious and surprising choices - featuring John B. Keane, Rena Buckley, Brian Cody, Eamonn Cregan, Brian D'Arcy, Mickey Harte, the 2 Johnnies, Shane Lowry, Paul Mescal, John O'Donohue, Martin O'Neill, Hannah Tyrell and many more.And with fascinating revelations like Séamus Mallon's personal memory of the Good Friday Agreement, the superstar who kneeled before Jimmy Magee, John O'Mahony's late evening and Ger Loughnane's big regret, this is the perfect way to celebrate the extraordinary people of the GAA.

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Book SynopsisAs we mark the 140th anniversary of the founding of the GAA, this book is a celebration of the greatest treasure in its long and illustrious history: its people. In a fast-changing world, the GAA has given us a fixed point in our lives and Gaelic games have given us so many truly extraordinary people. Each of their unique stories in some way offers a revealing snapshot of the GAA, as we salute the great and the good of Gaelic football, ladies' football, camogie and hurling - along with some less obvious and surprising choices - featuring John B. Keane, Rena Buckley, Brian Cody, Eamonn Cregan, Brian D'Arcy, Mickey Harte, the 2 Johnnies, Shane Lowry, Paul Mescal, John O'Donohue, Martin O'Neill, Hannah Tyrell and many more. And with fascinating revelations like Séamus Mallon's personal memory of the Good Friday Agreement, the superstar who kneeled before Jimmy Magee, John O'Mahony's late evening and Ger Loughnane's big regret, this is the perfect way to celebrate the extraordinary people of the GAA.

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Book SynopsisInternational rugby correspondent Eddie Butler tackles that most elusive of questions for Welsh rugby fans - just who are the best fifteen players ever to have played for the national team? First published in 2011.

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Book SynopsisIn its early days in Victorian England croquet was a game for the wealthy but competition from other sports - most notably tennis - the onset of two world wars, and a century of social change forced the game to adapt. Modern croquet is an intricate game of strategy, played socially within clubs and competitively at national and international level. The object of the game - to guide two balls round a circuit of loops - has changed little over the years but tactically, croquet has become much more complex, elaborate and fascinating.

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Book SynopsisAs a rookie head coach leading a franchise that, though on a steady climb upwards, had largely been dismissed by the sports media, NBA fans had low expectations for Nick Nurse and his Raptors. But what those naysayers didn''t realise was that Nurse had spent the past thirty years proving himself at every level of the game, from youth programs and college ball, to the NBA G League and Britain''s struggling pro circuit. While few coaches have taken such a circuitous path to pro basketball''s promise land, the journey-- which began at Keumper Catholic high school in Carroll, Iowa -- forged a coach who proved to be as unshakeable as he is personable.On the road, he is now known to bring his guitar and keyboard for late-night jazz and blues sessions. In the locker room, he''s steadfast and even-keeled regardless of the score. On the court, he pulls out old school, underrated plays with astounding success. A rookie in name but a veteran in attitude, Nurse is seemingly above the ch

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Book SynopsisWinner of the William Hill Sports Book of the YearTrade ReviewYou won't read a better inside story of cricket and the men who play it for a living. Vigorous, funny and full of insight from a gifted observer. It was a book waiting to be written and Simon Hughes has done it. * Michael Parkinson *Terrific. * Harold Pinter *A devastating account of English cricket and its shortcomings... The book describes the shocking lack of ambition, dedication, coaching and leadership in English cricket. * Mike Brearley, Observer *A brilliant commentary on the life of a county cricketer. * Mike Selvey, Guardian *You will never read a better book about the bizarre circus known as county cricket ... a very funny, often outrageous book. * Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail *Hughes may never have scaled the heights as a cricketer, but he has become a wonderful writer on the sport ... gaspingly candid ... One thing is clear from this book - he had a really good time. So will anyone sensible enough to read it. * Marcus Berkmann, Daily Telegraph *Sharp and funny ... his book sails neatly between self-glorification and self-pity and lays bare the real truth of the athlete: a dark life of angst and self-doubt lit by sudden piercing shafts of transcendent adequacy. * Simon Barnes, The Times *May be the first cricketer's autobiography ever to tell it like it is, from dressing-room to bedroom ... Hughes is rivetingly unguarded. * Tim de Lisle, Wisden Cricket Monthly *As life-lived-through-sport, it is pure Hornby ... The book that cricket needed. * Simon Wilde, The Times *

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Book SynopsisThat Will Be England Gone is a tour d'horizon of cricket in England from April to September.Trade ReviewAbsolutely and completely loved this book by Michael Henderson - love letter, memoir, lament, polemic. Read, in place of cricket * Marina Hyde *Michael Henderson is one of the most knowledgeable writers there is about the summer game. In this vibrant chronicle of the 2019 cricket season, he travels around England taking the temperature of the sport he loves. The result is pure gold . . . The book is also a love poem to an England fast disappearing . . . For those who fear the worst for the sport they love, this is like cool, clear water for a man dying of thirst. It's barnstorming, coruscating stuff, and as fine a book about the game as you'll read for years -- Michael Simkins * Mail on Sunday *Philip Larkin's line "that will be England gone" is the premise of this fascinating book which is about music, literature, poetry and films as well as cricket. Henderson is that rare bird, a reporter with a fine grasp of time and place, but also a stylist of enviable quality and perception * Michael Parkinson *Admirers of Neville Cardus and A. E. Housman will warm to Michael Henderson's elegy for an ideal England. A rich roast dinner of cricket, music, topography, nostalgia and anecdote, washed down with prose as smooth and satisfying as a pint of Otter Ale * Sebastian Faulks *Charming . . . a threnody for a vanished and possibly mythical England -- Sebastian Faulks * Sunday Times *Lyrical . . . [Henderson's] pen is filled with the romantic spirit of the great Neville Cardus . . . Thisbook is an extended love letter, a beautifully written one, to a world that he is desperate to keep alive forothers to discover and share. Not just his love of cricket, either, but of poetry and classical music and finecinema . . . A book that started out as an elegy for a changing game seems more poignant now -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *To those who love both cricket and the context in which it is played, the book is rather wonderful, and moving -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph *It is about cricket but also about much more: landscape, place, poetry, music, national mythology . . . This is the book's authentic register, and it is haunted by loss -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *Englishness itself, as much as cricket, is the main theme of Michael Henderson's genre-melding That Will Be England Gone . . . extremely readable . . . often amusing . . . That Will be England Gone is part memoir, part sports book, part essay . . . Given that this may be a summer without leather and willow, and that coughing has become taboo, Henderson's book provides a much-needed literary-cricketing alternative: a beautiful clearing of the throat -- Daniel Rey * Spectator *In a work that now seems improbably prescient, that same sense of gazing at a disappearing world has been articulated with great skill and, most of all, great affection by Michael Henderson . . . The book - a paean to the sub-culture of county cricket, its supporters, its players, its observers, its writers, its pubs and its arenas - was completed before the coronavirus crisis struck but its premise seems more pertinent thanever -- Oliver Holt * Mail on Sunday *A travelogue and a love letter to the festival and spa towns of England and in particular to the places where county cricket is played . . . Henderson writes beautifully about Cheltenham and Chesterfield and Trent Bridge in Nottingham, his favourite Test ground. You do not need to love cricket to feel the point -- Philip Collins * The Times *One of my favourite writers about cricket -- Martin Samuel * Daily Mail *Beautifully written piece of work . . . wonderful book - not just a sports book, which is why it is so good - is to be reminded, or even educated, of what it means to be English and of England's history * Yorkshire Post *All good sports books are about more than just sport, and this anti-modern elegy to an old rural England takes in countless bypaths from Vienna to Ken Dodd . . . Erudite and occasionally beautiful * Financial Times *Erudite . . . genuinely beautiful * Wisden Cricket Monthly *It would perhaps be a mistake to regard this as purely a cricket book. Each excursion to a cricket ground is preceded and accompanied by extensive digressions elsewhere. But the digressions are not wandering from the point, but carefully crafted scene-setting as Henderson provides the social, artistic and historical context for the cricket he witnesses. Rather than purely a cricket book, this is an elegy for a vanishing world with cricket as its framework -- Richard Lawrence * The Journal of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians *Wonderful elegy to a game that, way more than any other, defines our shared identity . . . a timely reminderof what is missing from our lives in cricket's absence -- Jim White * The Oldie *Henderson has a gift for the telling phrase and illuminating anecdote -- Peter Wilby * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis'Is there anything in sport to compare with the sustained excitement of a cricket match, especially a Test match, in which the advantage continually fluctuates one way and then the other, and when the match enters its last few minutes, all four results are still possible?'After entertaining countless radio listeners around the world for decades, who better to convey the breathless drama of a Test match cliffhanger than Henry Blofeld? Now, in Ten to Win . . . and the Last Man In, he has personally selected thirty matches featuring unforgettable finishes and brought them vividly to life again in his own inimitable way.Ranging from the match-winning bowling of F.R. Spofforth against W.G. Grace's England in 1882, via the first tied Test between Benaud's Australia and Worrell's West Indies in 1960, to the never-say-die batting of Ben Stokes in 2019, he picks out the key events and performances of each memorable match and describes them as only he can.Alongside the big-hitting heroics of Jessop in 1902 and Botham in 1981, he revisits less celebrated matches such as South Africa's hard-fought first Test win in 1906, as well as a crucial innings from Denis Compton in 1948 and a match-saving performance by a young Alan Knott in Guyana in 1968 - one of the most exciting matches he has ever witnessed first-hand.Filled with colourful detail and informed by insight gained from a lifetime immersed in the sport he loves, Henry Blofeld's latest book will leave the reader in no doubt - as he himself puts it - about 'what an absurdly irresistible game cricket can be'.Trade ReviewThis will be a hot item for the cricket lover this Christmas and deservedly so * Cricket Web *

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Book Synopsis'A genuine presence on the field, Owen refereed with the perfect balance of respect and authority' Keith Wood'Highly respected with vast experience and knowledge, Owen Doyle contributed hugely to the world of rugby refereeing, both on and off the field' Nigel Owens'Owen Doyle was a highly respected referee who officiated matches with passion, commitment, knowledge and, occasionally, some great humour' Will CarlingWith a foreword by Donal Lenihan.Owen Doyle is an Irish Times columnist and former Irish rugby Test match referee. Here in his frank, revealing and often humorous memoir, The Ref's Call, he gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the high-pressured world of international rugby.From the processes involved in becoming a referee, to officiating in the Five Nations, touring Internationals and a World Cup, Doyle takes us through the most memorable matches of his career and how, following his retirement, he became instrumental in coaching the most successful generation of referees in the IRFU's history.Covering over forty years of rugby, and written in his own inimitable style, Doyle looks at the challenges facing modern rugby, particularly the issues of concussion and dementia, to give a fascinating insight into the great game, told from a unique perspective.Trade ReviewA genuine presence on the field, Owen refereed with the perfect balance of respect and authority * Keith Wood *Highly respected with vast experience and knowledge, Owen Doyle contributed hugely to the world of rugby refereeing, both on and off the field * Nigel Owens *Owen Doyle was a hugely respected referee who officiated matches with passion, commitment, knowledge and, occasionally, some great humour * Will Carling *Covering some 40 years of a game he obviously loves, this engaging book is full of anecdotes, observations and tales from school * Irish Times *

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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

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Book Synopsis*SHORTLISTED for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2023**A TIMES AND DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR**A WATERSTONES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2023**FOREWORD BY SIR CLIVE WOODWARD*'There is a real sense of mission in his voice - and vitriol for those who held back the sport for so long' The Observer The definitive account of sport's concussion crisis, how its 'dirty secret' was finally made public and what rugby union must now do to save itself.'Peters' work is in the greatest tradition of British journalism: fearless, unstoppable and committed to righting a profound wrong.' DAN SNOW'Sam Peters has fought a truly magnificent campaign on concussion in rugby . . . sport will be safer because of it.' STEPHEN JONESBy recounting the untold story of the most influential sports campaign in British newspaper history, which turned concussion in professional rugby from a niche issue into front and back page news, Concussed poses the questions all sports lovers need answering as evidence grows linking sports-related concussions to premature deaths and dementia.Expanding his research from rugby to football, NFL and other contact sports, Sam Peters brings an unparalleled breadth of experience, depth of knowledge and journalistic rigour to a subject he has written about and campaigned over for a decade.Now sport's 'dirty secret' is out in the open, Peters asks: how can rugby and other sports save themselves from the vested interests which threaten their very existence?Trade ReviewConcussed is a call to action, which shows Peters's unwavering passion for the safety of the players in a sport he loves so much. The tension between Peters and professional rugby's top organisations is palpable; there is a real sense of mission in his voice - and vitriol for those who held back the sport for so long. * Observer *'Sam's work is comparable to David Walsh exposing Lance Armstrong. It should go down along with Walsh and the work of someone like Marie Colvin as one of the great pieces of investigative journalism.' * Stephen Jones, Sunday Times rugby correspondent *'Peters is driven, balanced, incredibly bright and appropriately relentless.' -- David Flatman'Sam achieved more in a year than most journalists achieve in their lifetimes. There's no doubt his work saved lives.' -- Alison Kervin'Rugby will never be the same again knowing what we now know. In a time when others obfuscated and trod water, Peters asked the difficult questions and told the terrible stories. Sport needs voices like Sam's.' -- Alan Dymock, editor of Rugby WorldTable of ContentsI: Introduction 1: A love affair begins 2: Growth, growth, growth 3: Someone's going to have to die 4: Bloodgate, statistics and damned lies 5: Nothing to see here 6: Death of a schoolboy 7: The campaign begins 8: Pulling the pin 9: Even the doctors are laughing 10: Head games 11: A tale of two valleys 12: 'Not a rugby man' 13: Justice for Jeff 14: Going rogue 15: The bomb goes off 16: If in doubt, sit them out ii: Appendix iii: Acknowledgements iv: Index

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Book SynopsisThis is the untold story of the most successful British and Irish Lions tour in history. The 1974 party are the only Lions ever to emerge undefeated.

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Book SynopsisAn unrivalled insight into the sad mismanagement of rugby union in the 25 years since it turned professional, endangering its future at amateur level. The book recounts the history of the early decades as a professional sport, and suggests solutions to the injury crisis and financial apartheid operated by the major northern-hemisphere unions. 19 photographs.

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Book SynopsisWISDEN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 Winner of The Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2020 Heartaches Cricket Book of the Year ‘Fascinating . . . essential reading’ – Scyld Berry ‘A fascinating book, essential for anyone who wishes to understand cricket’s new age’ – Alex Massie, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack ‘An invaluable guide’ – Mike Atherton, The Times ‘excellent . . . both breezily engaging, and full of the format’s latest, best and nerdiest thinking’ – Gideon Haigh, The Australian ‘The century’s most original cricket book . . . An absorbing ride . . . some of their revelations come with the startling force of unexpected thunder on a still night’ – Suresh Menon, editor Wisden India Almanack Cricket 2.0 is the multi award-winning story of how an old, traditional game was revolutionised by a new format: Twenty20 cricket. The winner of the Wisden Almanack Book of the Year award, the Telegraph Sports Book Awards’ Cricket Book of the Year and selected as one of The Cricketer’s greatest cricket books of all time, Cricket 2.0 is an essential read both for Test and T20 cricket lovers alike, and all those interested in modern sport. Using exclusive interviews with over 80 leading players and coaches – including Jos Buttler, Ricky Ponting, Kieron Pollard, Eoin Morgan, Brendon McCullum and Rashid Khan – Tim Wigmore and Freddie Wilde chronicle this revolution with insight, forensic analysis and story-telling verve. In the process, they reveal how cricket has been transformed, both on and off the field. Told with vivid clarity and insight, this is the extraordinary and previously misunderstood story of Twenty20, how it is reshaping the sport – and what the future of cricket will look like. Readers will never watch a T20 game in quite the same way again. “For people that love cricket it’s really important to read it,” said Miles Jupp. “I found it extraordinary.” Trade Review'the first essential study of the T20 game, studded with analysis and big-name interviewees' * Wisden *'Wigmore and Wilde take us on an absorbing ride . . . well written, some of their revelations come with the startling force of unexpected thunder on a still night' -- Suresh Menon * The Hindu *'A lucid and thoughtful guide to the T20 phenomenon' * The New Statesman *'Cricket 2.0 is the definitive book for those looking to understand the T20 format – both on and off the pitch' -- Nasser Hussain'Cricket 2.0 takes about as long to read as the average T20 game, and might be time better spent than a good many of them, being both breezily engaging, and full of the format’s latest, best and nerdiest thinking' -- Gideon Haigh * The Australian *'A fascinating insight into how the newest format has impacted on the game at every level including Test cricket. Essential reading for T20 fans and traditional followers' -- Scyld Berry * The Telegraph *'An invaluable guide by two smart young writers to the story of T20 cricket, to the strategies that underpin it and to the players who have made the format' -- Mike Atherton * The Times *'T20 is here to stay and we should celebrate and cherish all the skills involved . . . it is only going to get bigger' -- Michael Vaughan * The Telegraph *'Tim and Freddie are the torchbearers of tomorrow, we must listen to them' -- Harsha Bhogle * CricBuzz *

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Book Synopsis'An intriguing study of the minds of some of rugby's greatest leaders' - Tom English, BBC Sport An Official Licensed Product of the British & Irish Lions A British & Irish Lions tour presents one of the greatest challenges in sport. Rugby is a game that rewards creative expression, toil, teamwork and a never-say-die attitude. It can be joyful, vibrant and beautiful. Equally, it can brutally expose human flaws and frailties – even more so in the hugely pressurised environment of a Lions tour. Every team, no matter how talented, will find itself in dark and difficult situations both on and off the field; the successful ones are those with a leadership group that can navigate these challenging moments. In Legacy of the Lions, former Lions captain Gavin Hastings draws on his own experiences in the famous red jersey and interviews other greats of the game – including, among many others, Sam Warburton, Warren Gatland, Paul O'Connell, Brian O'Driscoll, Martin Johnson, Finlay Calder and Sir Ian McGeechan, plus a selection of their illustrious opponents, such as Kieran Read, John Smit and John Eales – to explore how to forge a successful team in this most rarefied of environments, the difficulties they each encountered and what leadership lessons they learned. Inspiring, humorous and illuminating, Legacy of the Lions casts a unique light on leadership, team-building and elite performance and reveals a new perspective on touring with – and playing against – The British & Irish Lions in the modern era.Trade Review'An intriguing study of the minds of some of rugby’s greatest leaders' -- Tom English * BBC Sport *'the very definition of the inside story. Honest, insightful . . . outstanding' -- Hugh MacDonald * The Daily Mail *'full of fascinating insights' -- Alasdair Reid * The Times *'a compelling read' -- James Morgan * The Herald *

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Book Synopsis'Is there anything in sport to compare with the sustained excitement of a cricket match, especially a Test match, in which the advantage continually fluctuates one way and then the other, and when the match enters its last few minutes, all four results are still possible?'After entertaining countless radio listeners around the world for decades, who better to convey the breathless drama of a Test match cliffhanger than Henry Blofeld? Now, in Ten to Win . . . and the Last Man In, he has personally selected thirty matches featuring unforgettable finishes and brought them vividly to life again in his own inimitable way.Ranging from the match-winning bowling of F.R. Spofforth against W.G. Grace's England in 1882, via the first tied Test between Benaud's Australia and Worrell's West Indies in 1960, to the never-say-die batting of Ben Stokes in 2019, he picks out the key events and performances of each memorable match and describes them as only he can.Alongside the big-hitting heroics of Jessop in 1902 and Botham in 1981, he revisits less celebrated matches such as South Africa's hard-fought first Test win in 1906, as well as a crucial innings from Denis Compton in 1948 and a match-saving performance by a young Alan Knott in Guyana in 1968 - one of the most exciting matches he has ever witnessed first-hand.Filled with colourful detail and informed by insight gained from a lifetime immersed in the sport he loves, Henry Blofeld's latest book will leave the reader in no doubt - as he himself puts it - about 'what an absurdly irresistible game cricket can be'.Trade ReviewThis will be a hot item for the cricket lover this Christmas and deservedly so * Cricket Web *

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Book SynopsisRangers 101 distils the history of the most successful football club in the world, Glasgow Rangers F.C. From their founding in 1872 and their first (drawn) League Championship, all the way through to the present day, Rangers' history is brought to life via people, matches and objects. This fascinating volume traces the nearly 150 years of this unsurpassed institution – sometimes irreverent but always faithful to the characters, controversies, disasters and achievements that have taken place to give the club such a rich tapestry of triumph. Whether an old fan or new this is a perfect partner for those who support the club, are interested in its history and who love to recall past and present glories.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisIncluded in the Financial Times best books of 2020 selection''For those who fear the worst for the sport they love, this is like cool, clear water for a man dying of thirst. It''s barnstorming, coruscating stuff, and as fine a book about the game as you''ll read for years'' Mail on Sunday''Charming . . . a threnody for a vanished and possibly mythical England'' Sebastian Faulks, Sunday Times''Lyrical . . . [Henderson''s] pen is filled with the romantic spirit of the great Neville Cardus . . . This book is an extended love letter, a beautifully written one, to a world that he is desperate to keep alive for others to discover and share. Not just his love of cricket, either, but of poetry and classical music and fine cinema'' The Times (best summer books)''To those who love both cricket and the context in which it is played, the book is rather wonderful, and moving'' DailyTrade ReviewAbsolutely and completely loved this book by Michael Henderson - love letter, memoir, lament, polemic. Read, in place of cricket * Marina Hyde *Michael Henderson is one of the most knowledgeable writers there is about the summer game. In this vibrant chronicle of the 2019 cricket season, he travels around England taking the temperature of the sport he loves. The result is pure gold . . . The book is also a love poem to an England fast disappearing . . . For those who fear the worst for the sport they love, this is like cool, clear water for a man dying of thirst. It's barnstorming, coruscating stuff, and as fine a book about the game as you'll read for years -- Michael Simkins * Mail on Sunday *Philip Larkin's line "that will be England gone" is the premise of this fascinating book which is about music, literature, poetry and films as well as cricket. Henderson is that rare bird, a reporter with a fine grasp of time and place, but also a stylist of enviable quality and perception * Michael Parkinson *Admirers of Neville Cardus and A. E. Housman will warm to Michael Henderson's elegy for an ideal England. A rich roast dinner of cricket, music, topography, nostalgia and anecdote, washed down with prose as smooth and satisfying as a pint of Otter Ale * Sebastian Faulks *Charming . . . a threnody for a vanished and possibly mythical England -- Sebastian Faulks * Sunday Times *Lyrical . . . [Henderson's] pen is filled with the romantic spirit of the great Neville Cardus . . . Thisbook is an extended love letter, a beautifully written one, to a world that he is desperate to keep alive forothers to discover and share. Not just his love of cricket, either, but of poetry and classical music and finecinema . . . A book that started out as an elegy for a changing game seems more poignant now -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *To those who love both cricket and the context in which it is played, the book is rather wonderful, and moving -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph *It is about cricket but also about much more: landscape, place, poetry, music, national mythology . . . This is the book's authentic register, and it is haunted by loss -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *Englishness itself, as much as cricket, is the main theme of Michael Henderson's genre-melding That Will Be England Gone . . . extremely readable . . . often amusing . . . That Will be England Gone is part memoir, part sports book, part essay . . . Given that this may be a summer without leather and willow, and that coughing has become taboo, Henderson's book provides a much-needed literary-cricketing alternative: a beautiful clearing of the throat -- Daniel Rey * Spectator *In a work that now seems improbably prescient, that same sense of gazing at a disappearing world has been articulated with great skill and, most of all, great affection by Michael Henderson . . . The book - a paean to the sub-culture of county cricket, its supporters, its players, its observers, its writers, its pubs and its arenas - was completed before the coronavirus crisis struck but its premise seems more pertinent thanever -- Oliver Holt * Mail on Sunday *A travelogue and a love letter to the festival and spa towns of England and in particular to the places where county cricket is played . . . Henderson writes beautifully about Cheltenham and Chesterfield and Trent Bridge in Nottingham, his favourite Test ground. You do not need to love cricket to feel the point -- Philip Collins * The Times *One of my favourite writers about cricket -- Martin Samuel * Daily Mail *Beautifully written piece of work . . . wonderful book - not just a sports book, which is why it is so good - is to be reminded, or even educated, of what it means to be English and of England's history * Yorkshire Post *All good sports books are about more than just sport, and this anti-modern elegy to an old rural England takes in countless bypaths from Vienna to Ken Dodd . . . Erudite and occasionally beautiful * Financial Times *Erudite . . . genuinely beautiful * Wisden Cricket Monthly *It would perhaps be a mistake to regard this as purely a cricket book. Each excursion to a cricket ground is preceded and accompanied by extensive digressions elsewhere. But the digressions are not wandering from the point, but carefully crafted scene-setting as Henderson provides the social, artistic and historical context for the cricket he witnesses. Rather than purely a cricket book, this is an elegy for a vanishing world with cricket as its framework -- Richard Lawrence * The Journal of the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians *Wonderful elegy to a game that, way more than any other, defines our shared identity . . . a timely reminderof what is missing from our lives in cricket's absence -- Jim White * The Oldie *Henderson has a gift for the telling phrase and illuminating anecdote -- Peter Wilby * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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