Ball sports / ball games Books

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Book SynopsisThe Back Page is a fascinating look at the world of sports journalism through the eyes of Steve Millar, who spent 50 years covering some of the greatest events in football, golf and tennis. From his early days as a local reporter to an awe-inspiring life on national newspapers, Steve takes us on an incredible journey through the major sporting events of his day, with exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, fun, frolics, rows and bans along the way. He details his personal relationship with some of football's biggest icons - Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Kenny Dalglish among them - including the times he was banned from Manchester United after heated rows with Sir Alex. Steve reveals what it was like to get to know legends like Bob Paisley and Brian Clough, and to rub shoulders with the greatest stars of the fabulous footballing 90s, like Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and David Beckham. The Back Page is a compelling insider's account of half a century of scintillating sport, bringing you special insight and unheard stories galore.

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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 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 Synopsis*WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR**FOREWORD BY BEN STOKES*Hallo - I'm Mark Wood. As an England and Durham cricketer who was born, raised and refined in Ashington, Northumberland, my life has been quite unique. Over the course of my career so far, I've won an Ashes and a World Cup in an international career that at the time of writing is going on seven years and counting. Being a fast bowler like myself is up there with the toughest of all sporting pursuits, like being Tyson Fury's punchbag or working behind the bar during the darts at Ally Pally.Being a cricketer? There's nothing like it. And doing it for England? Well, I'm lucky to call it a profession. There's been a lot of hard work along the way. Plenty of sacrifices and pain to accompany the good times that make them all worthwhile.I've been everywhere, from Barbados to Brisbane, Chester-le-Street to Chennai, waiting rooms to operating tables. I've played in some of the most exotic locations in the world and eaten margherita pizzas in every single one of them. To be honest, it's amazing I've waited this long to bring out my own self-help book.Trade ReviewA self-help manual laced with simple humour, homespun wisdom and an insight into the England cricket machine. -- Richard Hobson * The Cricketer *Table of Contentsi: Foreword by Ben Stokes ii: Introduction 1: How to Celebrate 2: How to Kill Time 3: How to Be Fast 4: How to Love 5: How to Travel 6: How to Stay Healthy 7: How to Keep Level 8: How to Be True to Yourself 9: Q & A x: Epilogue: Mark Wood, A Second Opinion by Miles Jupp

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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 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 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 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 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 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 SynopsisThis is the story of Manchester City's return to the top of English football as well as their journey to their first ever Champions League final as Pep Guardiola's team battle to secure their place in history. Throughout this historic season of breath-taking football, they were followed by their equivalent from the world of sports writing: a team of elite talents, assembled by The Athletic to leave all competition trailing in their wake. The result is an alchemical blend of inside access and expert analysis; great ideas and beautiful writing. City's triumph is relived in real time, in 360 degrees. Articles include profiles of each of City's title winners by their former youth team coaches; on-the-road features from the hometowns of some of their international superstars, brilliant tactics board breakdowns of key moments in the season; and exclusive interviews with players, coaches and backroom staff.

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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 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 SynopsisExploring the role of coaches and parents, this book emphasizes the importance of team identity and a team mindset and presents the necessary foot skills and tactics to help young soccer players both perform better and have more fun. As youth soccer becomes increasingly popular, coaches often gloss over individual improvement in order to win, relying on rigid systems and a few elite players to carry a team. This impairs player development and kills the joy of the game—so how can adults make competitive soccer better for kids? Addressing that very problem, this book outlines basic patterns of play that young players can use to advance the ball and illustrates innovative techniques that will help improve any team. Moreover, this book advocates a soccer culture free from the fear of failure; instead, players, coaches, and parents are encouraged to foster confidence, passion, creativity, and the desire to try and keep trying.

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