Biography: sport Books

Book SynopsisA moving and lyrical memoir about life, love and loss, from a true giant of Gaelic games.In a frenetic seven-year spell at the outset of his senior managerial career, Mickey Harte led Tyrone to four Ulster Championships and three All-Irelands. It was a run that shifted football's balance of power, changed the way the game would be played for over a generation, and cemented his reputation as one of the most transformative figures in GAA history.Then, in January 2011, the visitation of a shocking tragedy changed everything: Mickey's daughter Michaela was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius, and the Harte family, grief-stricken, awoke to find themselves at the centre of an international news story.Devotion, the product of a collaboration between Mickey and author Brendan Coffey, is many things. The story of a family's decade-long struggle to come to terms with an almost unimaginable loss. A meditation on the ways in which faith, community, and sport can sustain us in our most difficuTrade Review‘This is no ordinary memoir. Contained in the 312 pages is every conceivable emotion.It is wonderfully lyrical, nostalgic, funny, dark, tragic, deeply emotional, honest and hopeful’ – Irish News

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Book SynopsisDon Whillans has an iconic significance for generations of climbers. His epoch-making first ascent of Annapurna''s South Face, achieved with Dougal Haston in 1970, remains one of the most impressive climbs ever made - but behind this and all his other formidable achievements lies a tough, recalcitrant reality: the character of the man himself.Whillans carried within himself a sense of personal invincibility, forceful, direct and uncompromising. It gave him sporting superstar status - the flawed heroism of a Best, a McEnroe, an Ali. In his own circle, his image was the working-class hero on the rock-face, laconic and bellicose, ready to go to war with the elements or with any human who crossed his path on a bad day.Trade ReviewA packed and entertaining book . . . Exhaustively researched and beautifully written -- M. John Harrison * The Guardian *Wonderfully crafted . . . One of the most gifted chroniclers of mountaineering . . . Perrin records it all with a subtle sympathy, laying bare British mountaineering's most mythologized figure * The Independent *An extraordinarily rich and unsentimental vision . . . The genius of this exceptional biography is that it articulates both sides of Whillans' character . . . It is by turns funny and tragic . . . This is a fine book. It was worth the wait * Climb *Compelling, beautifully written . . . There could not have been a better writer qualified to tell it -- Ed Douglas * Climber *A kind of modern tragedy . . . Yet for all his failings, Whillans remains a legend * Observer *

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Book SynopsisWinner of The Times British Sports Book Award 2014. A fascinating insight into the enclosed world of football scouts in the UKA teenaged boy plays football in a suburban park. His name is Raheem Sterling. The call is made: Get down here quick. This is something special.Another boy is 8, going on 28. His name is Jack Wilshere. The referee, an Arsenal scout, spirits him away from Luton Town.A young goalkeeper struggles on loan at Cheltenham Town in League Two. His name is Jack Butland. Within months he will be playing for England.Welcome to football's hidden tribe. Scouts are everywhere yet nowhere, faceless and nameless, despite making the informed decisions worth millions. Award-winning sportswriter Michael Calvin opens up their hidden world, examining their disconnected lifestyles, petty betrayals and unconsidered professionalism of men who spend long, lonely hours on the road.Trade ReviewMichael Calvin charts the evolution of the sports’ scouts from chaotic beginnings to Moneyball-inspired analysis, and is enough to make you pay close attention when you next pass a kids’ kickabout in the park * Shortlist *‘Calvin’s book is excellent, a highly readable insight into the slog and grind of assessing talent.’ * Tottenham On My Mind *One of the ‘50 Best Sports Books Ever WrittenIn The Nowhere Men, Mike Calvin somehow manages to make the job of football scout sound like the most romantic existence imaginable. It also sounds bleak and deeply lonely. It is a fascinating insight into an often misunderstood and under-represented part of the sport, revealing the hours, dedication and struggles of men who love football and don’t know what they’d do without it. * Daily Telegraph *A magnificent book, full of extraordinary characters and beautifully told -- Rob Bagchi * Guardian *There’s a strong contender for the William Hill Sports Book Prize in Michael Calvin’s The Nowhere Men, a book revealing the hidden lives of football scouts. * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisSimon Lister is a cricket writer and senior BBC news producer. His first book, Supercat the authorised biography of Clive Lloyd was short-listed for the British Sports Book of the Year award. It was, said the Guardian, beautifully written'. He has been a contributor to the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and has covered the county game for the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years, his magazine column, Eyewitness, appeared in The Wisden Cricketer and its successor The Cricketer.Trade ReviewI doubt there will be a better book written about this period in West Indies cricket history -- Clive LloydOutstanding... Lister's book works magnificently not just because he tells a great story with unfussy clarity and journalistic rigour but because - like the best sports books - it is not content to stick to sport. -- Richard Whitehead * The Times *A perceptive and comprehensive account that more than cricket knows -- Gideon HaighCalm and fair, but with pace and bounce, the story of the most feared team cricket has ever seen -- Matthew EngelAs near definitive as you could want...expert and knowledgeable -- Danny Kelly * Observer *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDHe was the first black heavyweight champion in history (1908-15) and the most celebrated - and most reviled - African American of his age. In Unforgivable Blackness, prize-winning biographer Geoffrey C. Ward brings to vivid life the real Jack Johnson, a figure far more complex than the newspaper headlines could ever convey.Johnson battled his way from obscurity to the top of the heavyweight ranks and in 1908 won the greatest prize in American sports - one that had always been the preserve of white boxers. At a time when whites ran everything in America, he took orders from no one and resolved to live as if colour did not exist. Because of this, the federal government set out to destroy him and he was forced to endure a year of prison and seven years of exile. As Ward shows, Johnson was seen as a perpetual threat to white and African Americans alike - profligate, arrogant, amoral, a dark menace and a dangeTrade ReviewA significant achievement... An utterly convincing and frequently heartrending portrait -- Joyce Carol Oates * New York Review of Books *A formidable accomplishment...Ward has successfully brought this deep and colourful personality, this insufficiently understood and altogether amazing man, back to life -- David Margolick * New York Times Book Review *A portrait of a fascinating figure, whose oversized personality fills every page. -- Bruce Schoenfeld * Washington Post *Ward is a distinguished and diligent historian, and he has mined original sources to tremendous effect. The detail is dazzling... It deserves an audience far beyond fans of the ring game -- Andrew Baker * Daily Telegraph *'a delicious detail on almost every page... Research this powerful gives Unforgivable Blackness a richness that rewards contemplative reading', -- Jon Hotten * Scotland on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Paper Lion It began as a fun filled stunt and came to a deeply hellish, nearly humiliating end. George Plimpton had the chance to answer every baseball fan's question: could I strike out a major league star? Out of My League chronicles what happened next as his inspired idea to get on the mound and pitch a few innings to the All-Stars of the American and National Leagues got seriously out of hand. The original foray into participatory journalism that started it all, Out of my League announced George Plimpton as a giant of sports journalism, able to penetrate deep into the very spirit of sport, with his characteristic wit, charm and grace.Trade ReviewBeautifully observed and incredibly conceived, this account of a self-imposed ordeal has the chilling quality of a true nightmare. It is the dark side of the moon of Walter Mitty -- Ernest HemingwayA baseball book such as no one else ever wrote, and one of the best ever * New York Herald Tribune *With his gentle, ironic tone, and unwillingness to take himself too seriously, along with Roger Angell, John Updike and Norman Mailer he made writing about sports something that mattered * Guardian *What drives these books, and has made them so popular, is Plimpton’s continuous bond-making with the reader and the comedy inherent in his predicament. He is the Everyman, earnests and frail, wandering in a world of supermen, beset by fears of catastrophic violence and public humiliation, yet gamely facing it all in order to survive and tell the tale… A prodigious linguistic ability is on display throughout, with a defining image often appended at the end of a sentence like a surprise dessert. -- Timothy O'Grady * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisThe rise and fall of one of America’s first Black sports celebritiesTrade Review“Deeply and impressively researched. . . . Ms. Mooney pieces together a narrative with an arc so tight and clean that it’s a wonder it actually happened. . . . It reads, in other words, like a novel, and that is because the author brought not just rigor, but craft.”—Max Watman, Wall Street Journal“Isaac Murphy is a concise, yet highly informative, detailed rendering of the world of thoroughbred horses and jockeys, the Black struggle during the Nadir, and the impact of an extraordinary Black athlete.”—Gerald L. Early, author of A Level Playing Field: African American Athletes and the Republic of Sports“An eloquent, deeply insightful portrait of an extraordinary athlete at a time when this nation hovered between rising above old racial wrongs and plunging back into a racist abyss. Isaac Murphy’s brilliant career and heartbreaking decline embody this era’s great potential and its tragic end. Required reading for anyone who wants to understand the forces shaping sports, race, and national character in the nineteenth century and beyond.”—Pamela Grundy, co-author of Shattering the Glass: The Remarkable History of Women’s Basketball“Mooney deftly contextualizes one of the most significant figures in horseracing history. Anyone interested in how American sports and society reflect and affect each other should read this book.”—James C. Nicholson, author of Racing for America: The Horserace of the Century and the Redemption of a Sport

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Book SynopsisKen Griffey Jr., son of former pro ballplayer Ken Griffey Sr., has baseball in his blood. From his early years hanging out at Yankee Stadium with his father through his high school days as a baseball star, Ken Jr. was destined to bring greatness to whatever team he played for. He fulfilled his destiny by helping shape his former team, the Seattle Mariners, into division champs. In 2000, Griffey took his legendary skills and famous smile to the Cincinnati Reds to try to win a World Series with his hometown team.

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Book SynopsisAt the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and made history as the first Muslim-American woman to medal. She now shares her unforgettable tale of perseverance and faith.Raised in a working-class community in New Jersey with five siblings, Ibtihaj sought out sports as a means to fund college -- and fencing was one of the only sports in which she could participate fully clothed. She was fast, hardworking, and devoted to her faith. But in a sport most popular with privileged young white people, Ibtihaj often felt out of place. Rivals and teammates (as well as coaches and officials) pointed out her differences, insisting she would never succeed. Yet Ibtihaj powered on, rising above bigotry and other struggles on the path to her dream. Her inspiring journey from a young outsider to a national hero is a relatable, memorable, and uniquely American tale of hard work, determination, and self-reliance.This editi

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Book SynopsisThe inspiring and critically acclaimed all-American story of faith, family, hard work, and perseverance by Olympic fencer, activist, New York Times bestselling author, and Time 100 Most Influential People honoree Ibtihaj Muhammad At the 2016 Olympic Games, Ibtihaj Muhammad smashed barriers as the first American to compete wearing hijab, and she made history as the first Muslim American woman to win a medal. But before she was an Olympian, activist, and entrepreneur, Ibtihaj was a young outsider trying to find her place. Growing up in suburban New Jersey, Ibtihaj was often the only African American Muslim student in her class. When she discovered and fell in love with fencing, a sport most popular with affluent young white people, she stood out even more. Rivals and teammates often pointed out Ibtihaj''s differences, telling her she would never succeed. Yet she powered on, rising above bigotry and other obstacles on the path to pursue her dream.<

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Book SynopsisThe #1 sports series for kids takes readers on the court and behind the scenes with beloved NBA icon Kobe Bryant in this inspiring biography.As the son of Joe Jellybean Bryant, a former NBA player and star of various European teams, Kobe spent his childhood watching professional basketball. From the moment he could pick up a ball, he was learning to dribble and shoot. His basketball education was unique -- a combination of lessons on basic fundamentals, one-on-one games against his dad, and observation and analysis of the world''s best players.At age eighteen, Kobe was given the chance to prove his skills when he was drafted into the NBA. Fresh out of high school, Kobe showed that he had the talent and heart to make it in the pros -- and the rest is history. This biography gives readers a courtside seat to the achievements of one of basketball''s greatest legends as it traces Kobe''s life from childhood to his five NBA championship

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Book SynopsisOn 6 February 1958, British European Airways flight 609 crashed in a blizzard on its third attempt to take off from an icy runaway in Munich. On board were the Manchester United football team as well as a number of journalists and other passengers. News of the disaster sent shockwaves around the world. For people who lived in Manchester at the time and for football fans throughout Britain it was one of those moments when everybody remembers exactly where they were and how they heard the terrible news. Manchester United, nicknamed the Busby Babes after their manager, Matt Busby, who had created the world-beating side, were the leading team of the day. Seven of their players were killed instantly in the crash. Three weeks later Duncan Edwards, one of the most promising players ever to come out of England, lost his battle for life. Two other players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry, were so severely injured that they were never able to play again.Manchester''s FTrade ReviewNot only the best book on Munich, but one of the very best books on the United. I presumed there was nothing new to say on the crash, but David Hall proved me completely wrong. It's a totally refreshing account, and Hall captures brilliantly the atmosphere of Manchester in those winter days of 1958. -- Michael CrickAlmost everything we've ever read about Munich has been from the point of view of the victims and the survivors - so David Hall's book is a welcome and fascinating record of what it was like to be an 11-year-old Mancunian whose team had its heart ripped out on a foreign airfield. It is the mass of telling detail which makes this book so interesting... intimate and personal. -- Chris Maume * The Independent *Where David Hall's deeply humbling book differs, is that he offers a supporter's perspective of one of the most intimate tragedies of post-war Britain, one which united an entire nation, irrespective of one's club loyalties, in grief. [A] heart-rending tribute to a side that had become great ambassadors for club and country - both on and off the pitch. -- Tom Richmond * Yorkshire Post *Fitting tribute to a sport's tragic loss * Coventry Telegraph *Excellent -- Steve Simpson * Blackpool Gazette *

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Book SynopsisGenerations are familiar with the haunting black and white television footage of Donald Campbell somersaulting to his death in his famous Bluebird boat on Coniston Water in January, 1967. It has become an iconic image of the decade. His towering achievements, and the drama of his passing, are thus part of the national psyche. But what of the man himself? The son of the legendary Sir Malcolm Campbell who was famous for being the ultimate record-breaker of the inter-war years - he broke the land speed record nine times and the water speed record four times with his Bluebird cars and boats - Donald Campbell was born to speed. He was outgoing and flamboyant, yet carefully orchestrated the image he presented to the world. Some saw him as a playboy adventurer; others, such as the radio producer on the twenty-first anniversary of his death, as a reckless daredevil with a death wish. He was known to take solace in extra-marital dalliances, and was obsessed with spiritualism.Trade Review'Well-researched, well-balanced, yet highly compelling...beautifully moving and full of suspense' * DAILY EXPRESS *'The first biography to be written with the co-operation of Campbell's family' * OBSERVER *'Goes a long way to answering the questions many of those familiar with Campbell's exploits never contemplated...Wonderfully vivid' * THE TIMES *Table of ContentsGenerations are familiar with the haunting black and white television footage of Donald Campbell somersaulting to his death in his famous Bluebird boat on Coniston Water in January, 1967. It has become an iconic image of the decade. His towering achievements, and the drama of his passing, are thus part of the national psyche. But what of the man himself? The son of the legendary Sir Malcolm Campbell who was famous for being the ultimate record-breaker of the inter-war years - he broke the land speed record nine times and the water speed record four times with his Bluebird cars and boats - Donald Campbell was born to speed. He was outgoing and flamboyant, yet carefully orchestrated the image he presented to the world. Some saw him as a playboy adventurer; others, such as the radio producer on the twenty-first anniversary of his death, as a reckless daredevil with a death wish. He was known to take solace in extra-marital dalliances, and was obsessed with spiritualism. And in his final years, battered by a 360-mph accident while attempting the land record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, and his prolonged and anti-climactic subsequent effort on the treacherous Lake Eyre in Australia, Campbell appeared a haggard and often frightened man. He had become trapped on his record-breaker's treadmill as he continually sought to prove himself to his illustrious father, in whose long shadow he felt forever trapped. Donald Campbell: The Man Behind The Mask paints a fascinating portrait of an intense, complex, superstitious yet abnormally brave man who was driven not only by the desire to prove that he was worthy of the mantle of his father, but also by his fervent and unswerving desire to keep Britain at the forefront of international speed endeavour. This book generates a unique insight into how his desperate fear of failure finally lured him into taking one risk too many.

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Book SynopsisImmaculately written, inspiring, sad and elegiac.' Daily TelegraphWith a new introduction by David PeaceDuncan Edwards played his first game for Manchester United at the age of fifteen and Walter Winterbottom, then England manager, called him ''the spirit of British football''. On 15-a-week, Edwards was the most prized of the Busby Babes. Then in February 1958 came Munich.Half a decade later George Best represented United reborn. ''Georgie'' of the boutiques and dolly birds; ''El Beatle'' of the European Cup in ''68 and European Player of the Year; in the opinion of Pele, the most naturally talented footballer that ever lived. Retired at 27 and reduced to the role of Chelsea barfly and tabloid perennial; George, where did it all go wrong?

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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 SynopsisA revealing and complete biography of doomed hero George Mallory, which includes previously unpublished letters and family papersTrade ReviewA finely wrought and meticulously detailed biography of Mallory ... It is at once compelling and evocative * Joe Simpson, author of TOUCHING THE VOID *` A superb biography' Daily TelegraphA rich portrait of a man who defies facile categorisation ... The new biography is spot-on [about the climbing] * Stephen Venables, Daily Telegraph *The Gillmans have produced a respectful and thoroughly researched account of Mallory's life * Observer *This exemplary biography of Mallory, which draws upon much new material, puts the man in all his many perspectives... Strikingly well balanced * Jan Morris, Spectator *It is a masterful achievement - impeccably researched, beautifully written and a delight to read. Without question the Gillmans have written a definitive biography of an utterly fascinating man * Jon Krakauer *A poignant story, handsomely told * Yorkshire Post *The most compelling read over 12 months ... Go out and buy it * Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail *Mountaineering biography at its best ... A fascinating life, an interior journey coupled with exterior adventure, and well told, too * Chris Smith, Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisJohan Cruyff is one of the greatest footballers. Here, he talks about how he learnt his trade, going on to play football for Barcelona and Ajax. He also talks about the philosophy behind 'total football', the driving force behind the great Dutch side of the seventies, and a style of football many teams attempt to emulate.

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable untold biography of the first British woman to swim the Channel

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Book SynopsisThis is the remarkable story of Barry Sheene, the cheeky cockney boy who grew up to become a sporting legend. He won the British motorcycling 125cc championship aged just twenty and twice became World Champion in the 500cc class, despite two life-threatening crashes. In an era when sport and its personalities rarely made it off the back pages, Barry Sheene crossed the bridge between sport and celebrity in a style that only George Best had achieved previously.Barry is an intimate and revealing account told by three people who knew him better than most. Steve Parrish, fellow bike racer and now BBC commentator, Nick Harris, who wrote and broadcast on all Barry''s major successes, and Barry''s widow, Stephanie. Frank and fascinating, Barry is an exclusive look into the extraordinary life of a charming and complex man.Trade ReviewA short life but a fantastic one, and his mates Steve Parrish - no mean biker himself - and Nick Harris have put the legend's life together in a book that runs the gamut of emotions and makes you wonder if you're putting enough into your own life * DAILY Sport *

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Book SynopsisEric Liddell is famous for being the man who would not compromise his religious principles and refused to compete in the Olympics on a Sunday - despite the fact that he was the red hot favourite for the gold. Instead he entered a different event that was not being competed on the Sabbath... and won a gold anyway. One of Scotland''s finest athletes, Liddell was feted throughout the United Kingdom. At the height of his fame, however, he slipped quietly out of the limelight to become a missionary in China, where he later came to an unpleasant end in a Japanese internment camp.

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Book SynopsisStephen F. Kelly has written more than 20 books including a number on Liverpool Football Club. These include: You'll Never Walk Alone: The Official History of Liverpool FC, Liverpool In Europe, The Kop (updated and reprinted half a dozen times), The Boot Room Boys and biographies of Bill Shankly (reprinted seven times), Kenny Dalglish (updated three times), Graeme Souness and Gerard Houllier.Trade ReviewFootball is not just a matter of life and death: it's much more important than that -- Bill Shankly

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Book SynopsisAndy Murray is one of Britain''s best loved athletes. On the 7th July 2013 he became the first British man to lift the Wimbledon trophy for 77 years. His new book, Andy Murray: Seventy-Seven, will take us on a personal journey through his career. Focusing on the last two dramatic years, he will share with us his thoughts on the pivotal moments of his playing career and allow us a glimpse into his world - his intense training regime, his close-knit team and his mental and physical battle to get to the very top. This very personal book will be a stunning celebration of Andy''s career so far.

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Book SynopsisA Mighty Girl's Best Book of the Year!Inspire kids to be their best selves and get involved in social change with this stunning anthology about thirty-five amazing women in sports around the world and throughout history. Do you play sports? Maybe you dream about scoring a goal on the soccer field or hitting a home run in baseball. Perhaps you're thinking about trying a new sport, but you're still not sure.In We Got Game! you'll meet thirty-five female athletes who played hard, broke records, and inspired girls around the world. Some of these athletes have retired. Others are still competing. But they have one thing in common: they all got game! You'll read about the first woman horse jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby, the number one tennis player in the world, a surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack, and a snow boarder who landed a death-defying jump, along with many others. These female athletes prove

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Book SynopsisColin Evans, former cricket writer for the Manchester Evening News, looks back at Farokh Engineer's career, recalling many magical moments with Lancashire and India though the 1960s and 1970s.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE MCC / CRICKET SOCIETY BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD  George Hirst, Schofield Haigh and Wilfred Rhodes were known as The Triumvirate. Inseparable pals off the field and a devastating combination on it, the trio helped turn Yorkshire into the greatest county cricket team of the early 20th century.  George Herbert Hirst was one of the most popular sportsmen of his era, his brilliance with bat and ball matched by the warmth of his personality. Schof was the greatest wet wicket bowler of his time, his flow of cheery wisecracks masking insecurities about his form and fitness. Wilfred was quiet and watchful, his analytical brain marking him out as the Sherlock Holmes of the summer game. Together they left a legacy of great deeds, good humour and decency: gentle men from a gentler time.   Trade Review'A masterpiece of observation and comic timing' * Wisden Cricket Monthly *'In this wistful paean, Pearson...knits all these achievements together with lovely turns of phrase and colourful descriptions' * The Times *'An engrossing study' * The Cricketer *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the life of Tendi Sherpa - a Nepalese mountain guide who has climbed the highest peaks on the planet.

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Book SynopsisFay Taylour (1904-1983) remains the most successful female motorsports champion. She defeated the foremost male motorcycle speedway stars of the 1920s and 1930s. A household name in Britain and her native Ireland, she won further fame on the track in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Her successes against men led to a ban on women competing against them in the UK, but Fay Taylour carried on, racing around the world. She also built a new career in long distance car racing and carved a name for herself in the new sport of midget car racing.All of this came to a halt with the outbreak of the Second World War, which, controversially, saw Fay Taylour join Oswald Mosley's fascist movement and become part of an underground pro-Hitler campaign in London. She was imprisoned for three years by the British authorities. After the war, she was one of the very few pre-war women motorsports champions to return to the track. She re-established her career with highly successful tours in Europe,

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Book Synopsis''BRILLIANT'' - Daily Mail''Is there any expectation? I''m a qualifier, so there''s no pressure on me!''In 2021, Emma Raducanu shocked and charmed the tennis world as she raced to the US Open title with a smile on her face. But how did a little-known 18-year-old from Kent become the first ever qualifier to win a Major?Now Mike Dickson, who as Tennis Correspondent of the Daily Mail was one of the few journalists present in New York to see her lift the trophy, reveals what it took to become Britain''s first woman Grand Slam champion since Virginia Wade in 1977. Drawing on interviews with key figures in Raducanu''s development, he has written a fascinating account of a remarkable journey. From her early days falling in love with the game as a young girl in Bromley and the years of hard work and dedication that followed, he traces the ups and downs of a junior career that took her to the furthest reaches of

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Book Synopsis''A brilliant book . . . brilliantly written. You really do need to read it'' Adrian Chiles''Mixing the sacred and the profane, high culture and low culture, the sublime and the ridiculous, Deep Pockets is the book this game of unfathomable difficulty and infinite mystery well deserves'' Critic The game of snooker has a remarkable history. From humble origins, it blossomed spectacularly in the 1980s into the nation''s most popular sport. Top players became celebrities. The papers were stuffed with snooker scandals. It even conquered the pop charts.In the twenty-first century, the game is still big news. Along with millions of British fans, a vast audience continues to grow across every corner of the world, from Europe to the Middle East to China. The global thirst for snooker has never been greater.But - strangely perhaps - snooker''s deeper meanings have rarely been explored. It is a game that celebrates subtlety a

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SIR ALEX FERGUSON is one of the most admired and respected managers in the history of the beautiful game. Sir Alex Ferguson: Fifty Defining Fixtures presents a completely new perspective on the longest-serving manager of Manchester United. Covering his complete career as a player and a manager, this book highlights the games that projected the boy from the Glasgow district of Govan to the worldwide phenomenon that was Manchester United. From his Scottish Football League debut with the amateurs of Queens Park at Stranraer to his final game as manager of Manchester United at West Bromwich Albion, this fascinating book recaptures the many highs, and also a few lows, of a memorable and trophy-strewn career. It is the Sir Alex Ferguson story with a difference: fifty fixtures that defined the career of an ordinary footballer, who went on to become the most successful British manager ever.

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Book SynopsisFranz Beckenbauer – known as ‘the Kaiser’ – was Germany's greatest-ever footballer and one of the game's biggest icons of all time, a World Cup winner as player and manager. But what is often described as a blessed life was in fact a rollercoaster ride with stunning highs and bitter lows. He rose to fame at the 1966 World Cup in England, where after West Germany’s final defeat the British press marvelled at the grace of a ‘beaten but proud Prussian officer’. Yet there was nothing Prussian about the Bavarian boy who flouted authority, disregarded rules and viewed the traditional German work ethic with the disdain of someone to whom everything comes naturally. After a glittering early career at Bayern Munich – captaining them to three European Cup victories and pioneering the playmaking libero role in central defence – Beckenbauer made a controversial move to thTrade Review‘Authoritative and affectionate, yet never blinded to its subject’s flaws… More than just another footballer biography: it is a rich and scrupulously researched case study of the complexities of national mythmaking and the caprice of celebrity’ * Times Literary Supplement *'The best and most focused book about the greatest German player, faults and all. A diamond-quality read' * Soccer America Confidential *

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Book Synopsis'Captures the bold, engaging spirit of one of Britain’s best-loved sporting heroes' Sunday Times'A fascinating read and sure to be the definitive account of his life' Mark KnopflerSHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS WRITING BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDEven in the midst of a global pandemic, the death of Stirling Moss on 12 April 2020 at the age of 90 made headlines, almost 60 years after he retired from Formula One. In The Boy, Richard Williams assesses what made him such an iconic figure.Told in 60 brief chapters, Williams builds a fascinating and revealing portrait of a driver who was a hero to millions. As the long years of war began to recede, sport in Britain was getting moving again and there was a need for heroes. Denis Compton and Stanley Matthews were in their pomp, playing to packed houses. But Stirling Moss was a fresh face, just 17 years old when he

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Book SynopsisCantona the legend. Cantona the enigma. Cantona the King. Eric Cantona was at Manchester United for just five years, yet his legacy and influence endure. Over that period, he became the first foreigner to be voted best player by sports journalists, was crowned player of the century by the team’s supporters, and voted the most emblematic player in the Premier League during its opening decade. The Frenchman fascinated both fans of the game and those who knew nothing about football – a hugely popular player who showed mercurial talent on the pitch, but one who remains almost unknown away from it. Claude Boli met Cantona at the very beginning of his playing career in France, when he was a teammate to Boli’s brothers. They shared an apartment, passions for music, literature, art and, of course, football. In 1992 Cantona moved to Manchester, where Boli was studying at the university. They spent virt

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Book SynopsisWhen Cyrille Regis became one of the first black players to be selected for the full England team, he was sent a package in the mail. Inside it was a silver bullet and a note that read: You'll get one of these through your knees if you step on our Wembley turf.' In the 1978/79 football season Regis'' club West Bromwich Albion, an unglamorous and little publicised club from the West Midlands, became the first British football team to field three black players: Cyrille Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson. They did so against the backdrop of the most divisive and poisonous racial tension in the UK's history a time when the National Front movement was at its most virulent. This book will tell the story of a defining and groundbreaking chapter in the history of British football and the country as a whole. The story is one about sport but also as much one about social change.

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Book SynopsisDr Tony Ryan Award finalist, 2019''A wonderfully insightful, detailed and emotional biography of the legendary trainer''s later years'' Racing Post''[Cecil''s] is a remarkable story and it has now been told with compassion, love, honesty and wonderful insight by Tony Rushmer'' David Walsh, Sunday TimesWith a foreword by John GosdenWhen Henry Cecil sent out just 12 winners in 2005 it seemed as if the 10-time champion racehorse trainer''s career was in terminal decline. The masterly touch that he''d shown through the glory-days of the two previous decades appeared to have deserted him after a series of painful professional and personal blows, including the death of his twin brother David. When Cecil was diagnosed with cancer in June 2006, it would have been enough to break many a man. But behind the scenes, the master of Warren Place in Newmarket was determined not to be labelled - in his words - a ''hasTrade ReviewThe Triumph of Henry Cecil is a wonderfully insightful, detailed and emotional biography of the legendary trainer's later years . . . Rushmer does a superb job of highlighting just how the heroic trainer was able to make the impossible possible -- Andrew Wilsher * Racing Post *Henry Cecil was a great trainer of racehorses but that is not the reason he will be remembered. He was also a singular human being, with the emphasis on human. Close to his lowest ebb, he was diagnosed with cancer. It was up to him how he reacted to that. What happened over the following seven years is the stuff of heroism, one's man battle with terrifying adversity and a triumph greater than anything achieved during the halcyon years of his career. His is a remarkable story and it has now been told with compassion and love and honesty and wonderful insight by Tony Rushmer. The story of Cecil's last years and his training of Frankel, the greatest racehorse we've seen, needed to be properly told. Now, it has been -- David Walsh * Sunday Times *The complications of a trainer's life are vividly depicted in The Triumph of Henry Cecil, a biography of the ten times champion trainer's latter years, especially his handling of the superstar Frankel, by stable insider Tony Rushmer. You won't find a better chronicle of the ins and outs of the training life -- Robin Oakley * Spectator *A new book full of insights into Cecil and his final years -- Chris Cook * Guardian *An emotive biography -- Tom Richmond * Yorkshire Post *Brilliant insightful biography of a racing great -- Chris Mann * BBC Radio Cambridgeshire *Rushmer has succeeded in shining a light on a seven-year period when Cecil, in Kipling's words, met with triumph and disaster, treating those two imposters just the same. Frankel's career is well documented, but Rushmer has deftly detailed the symbiotic relationship between Cecil and the horse which was to define his life . . . For all those enthralled by the legend that is Sir Henry Cecil, Rushmer's book represents a new chapter in a story which will be forever woven into a racing tapestry as lush as the turf on the Heath which the man made his own -- Alison Hayes * Newmarket Journal *You won't find a better chronicle of the ins and outs of the training life . . . an endearing picture of the master trainer * Spectator *The book is a racing story and a must read for all racing fans and followers. But it will resonate on a wider level . . . Rushmer's book is well written, brilliantly researched and very easy (particularly if you love your racing) to read and devour -- Terry Redhead * Let’s Talk *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of Leicester City''s astonishing rise from relegation certainties to Premier League title winners: the greatest achievement in the modern football era.King Power Stadium, countdown to kick off. Out on the pitch a lone brass player sounds the haunting Post Horn Gallop, for 80 years the home players'' entrance tune. Spines tingle. Air is gulped into opposition lungs. Game time, time to begin the chase. Burning fox eyes peer down from between the decks of one of the stands. On the stadium''s outside wall a royal blue LCD display says #Fearless.Welcome to Leicester City. They were always a club with a difference but in 2015-16 they created a story that in modern football stands unique. Who could believe it: from relegation certainties to champions of England? It was when, on behalf of every small club, dreams were hunted at the King Power, a season where the impossible became merely quarry.5,000-1 shots when the campaign started, Lei

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Book Synopsis''Superbly insightful'' FourFourTwo''Hugely enjoyable.'' Henry Winter, Chief Football writer, The Times''A brilliant read.'' Jamie Carragher''About time we got some recognition! A great read.'' Mark Lawrenson''One of my favourite football writers and a keen observer of the game who never fails to entertain.'' Patrick BarclayComplex, overlooked and misunderstood, football''s centre-halves rarely take centre-stage. Leo Moynihan''s long overdue celebration of this much-maligned position explores the unique mindset and last-ditch, bone-crunching tackles of the traditionally bruising hard man, hell-bent on destroying glory.Football is often romanticised as ''The Beautiful Game''. If that''s true, then the game''s centre-half might be considered the unsightly pimple on the end of its otherwise perfectly formed nose. The stopper is the last line of defence, the bTrade ReviewA brilliant read. Moynihan’s book took me right back to my playing days! -- Jamie CarragherFootball’s centre-halves have always been fascinating and ever-changing characters within the game. Moynihan brings these players alive in this hugely enjoyable book. -- Henry Winter * The Times *About time we got some recognition! A great read. -- Mark Lawrenson * former Liverpool centre-half *An entertaining tour of the esoteric world of centre-backs -- Paul HaywardSuperbly insightful * FourFourTwo *Leo Moynihan is one of my favourite football writers and a keen observer of the game who never fails to entertain. -- Patrick Barclay * Evening Standard *I take my hat off to Moynihan for writing this book! -- Dion DublinHaving played with Bobby Moore, the greatest centre-half of all-time, I was fascinated to read Leo Moynihan’s book and I wasn’t disappointed. -- Harry Redknapp, former West Ham and Tottenham managerA brilliant book... a must for all lovers of the game. -- Terry ButcherI love Moynihan’s writing and his new book is a brilliant exploration of this always intriguing position. -- Jonny Owen, filmmaker and TalkSPORT presenterLeo Moynihan’s writing is always enjoyable and his exciting new book on the old enemy is highly recommended. -- Andrew ColeAn enjoyable read which includes interviews with many well-known centre-backs and plenty of entertaining anecdotes * Late Tackle *A beautifully written new appreciation of the centre-half -- Ian Herbert * Mail.co.uk *An enjoyable look at the art of great defending * Bristol Post *A rich topic and so sharply written... Bringing real insight to the page, Moynihan undoubtedly has an eye for taking a story we think we know and breathing new life into it * When Saturday Comes *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Bastard of a Job Chapter 1 - Fix Bayonets, Lads! Chapter 2 - Stoppers and Starters Chapter 3 - On Me 'ead, Son! Chapter 4 - The Great Marshals Chapter 6 - Vive La Différence… Chapter 7 - He’s Behind You! Chapter 8 - The Dark Arts Chapter 9 - 'That Type of Samba ...' Chapter 10 - 'No Friends on the Park, Son' Chapter 11 - Artisans in the Mud Chapter 12 - Deadly Duos Epilogue

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Book SynopsisArtfully combining sports journalism with social history and sharp pop culture references, The Mavericks explores 1970s football when a cult group of footballers delivered flair on the pitch and flamboyance off of it. Cocky, coiffured strikers meet David Bowie and Alvin Stardust; Gola boots exchange kicks with A Clockwork Orange and The Likely Lads; Admiral sock tags, platform heels and kipper ties mingle with cod wars, Harrods bombings and three-day weeks. In this, Steen recreates the early Seventies, the era when football joined the vanguard of English youth culture. This personal account revolves around seven Englishmen who followed in the trail blazed by football''s first tabloid star, George Best--Stan Bowles, Tony Currie, Charlie George, Alan Hudson, Rodney Marsh, Peter Osgood and Frank Worthington. Proud individuals amid an increasingly corporate environment, their invention and artistry were matched only by a disdain for authority and convTrade ReviewQuite splendid... just delicious – and brilliantly researched. * The Times *A lovely read, the kind in which you constantly annoy people by reading the funny bits out loud * Irish Post *A great book * Henry Winter *If you enjoyed The Damned United you will savour Rob Steen's The Mavericks, an evocative look at football when the game was enhanced by genuinely edgy entertainers rather than overpaid characterless robots. * Waterstones.com *The Mavericks is irresistible, artfully combining sports journalism with social history and sharp pop-culture references. * Impact *In an era of PR-bleaching and PC-niceties, The Mavericks is an oasis of flair, hair and devil-may-care attitude. Yet beneath Rob Steen also highlights with real poignancy the sometimes grim and earthy reality behind the curtain. This brilliant book remains essential reading for anyone who likes social history with a nice backheel. -- Rick Broadbent * The Times *An evocative work which is given its cutting edge by the author’s success in uncovering the idiosyncrasies that set the fancy dans apart from each other as their mutual non-conformism. * The Independent *Great to see The Mavericks back in print. Wonderful evocation of the early 70s, an era when players weren't afraid to express themselves - on the pitch or in the bar. -- Kevin Mitchell * The Guardian *One of the conundrums of football in the Seventies, now perceived as a golden age by a certain generation, is why did England fail to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 World Cup when a decade before they had been world champions? One of the main reasons is that managers Ramsey then Revie shunned a group of hugely gifted 'Rock and Roll' players - Marsh, Currie, Bowles, Osgood, George, Hudson and Worthington. Rob Steen's book brilliantly gets under the skin of the era both on and off the pitch when the game was more about passion than pound notes. -- Rob Shepherd * talkSPORT *An irreverent and unflinching look back at football in the Seventies * Choice Magazine *For that missing element in a decent football book, the confessional Rob Steen has this down to his customary fine writer's art with The Mavericks. -- Mark Perryman * Philosophy Football *Table of ContentsIntroduction (2020) Introduction (1994) edition 1 Sucking in the Seventies 2 Chairman Alf and the Godfather 3 Gunning for Trouble 4 Blue Was the Cover 5 I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea 6 Queen's Park Arrangers (i) The Jean Genie (ii) The Bookie's Favourites (iii) Dr Heckle and Mr Jive 7 It's Not All Never Afterword Acknowledgements Bibliography By the same author Index About the author

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of Alan Ball, England's youngest 1966 World Cup heroTrade ReviewDavid Tossell does a brilliant job of detailing not only the life and varied career of Ball himself, but also the whole footballing landscape across four decades. * When Saturday Comes *

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Book SynopsisFormula One is speed, glamour, danger - and eye-watering wealth. Driven: The Men Who Made Formula One tells how a small group of extraordinary men transformed Formula One from a niche sport played out on primitive tracks surrounded by hay bales and grass verges into a 1 billion circus performing in vast theatres of entertainment all over the world.Led by Bernie Ecclestone, the billionaire ringmaster, this clique started by scraping a living to go racing and ended up creating space-age cars, turning drivers from amateur gladiators into multimillion-pound superstars, like Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton, while the names of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams are now as familiar around the world as Manchester United or Real Madrid. For 20 years, Kevin Eason watched how these men operated like a sporting Mafia, protecting each other while squabbling over the vast wealth pouring into the sport. As motor racing correspondent for The Times and then with The SundaTrade ReviewThe book's many anecdotes make it fast-paced and difficult to put down. * Autosport *As a primer on how F1 got to the state it is in - and who got it there - you couldn't ask for much better. Driven tells you more about any of its subjects in a handful of pages then the last book I read on F1 managed in 300. * Racefans.net *

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Book Synopsis''Eye-opening and inspirational . . . An utterly fascinating and gloriously fiery read'' FELICITY CLOAKE''A barnstorming book'' GUARDIAN''Fascinating . . . full of inspirational tales'' OBSERVERSimone de Beauvoir borrowed her lover''s bike to cycle around Paris in the 1940s, instantly falling in love with the freedom it gave her (even when an accident caused her to lose a tooth). Alice Hawkins, a factory worker from Leicester, pedal-powered her fight for universal suffrage as the bicycle became a cornerstone of her work to recruit women to the cause. Zahra Naarin Hussano challenged religious and cultural taboos in Afghanistan to ride a bike and teach others to do the same. As a twenty-four-year-old Latvian immigrant living in Boston, in 1894 Annie ''Londonderry'' Kopchovsky became the first woman to cycle around the world. She took up the challenge, despite never having ridden a bike before, after two men bet a woman couldn''t do it. Many of thesTrade ReviewA male cyclist is just a bloke on a bike, but a woman appears political, independent, a bluestocking, egregiously sporty or suspiciously saucy . . . [a] likeable, informative and barnstorming book * GUARDIAN *Hannah Ross's fascinating history of women cycling their way to freedom is more a social history than a sporting one, full of inspirational tales of women getting on their bikes and transforming attitudes, gender structures and human rights . . . Revolutions is a rich story of empowerment, adventure and the sheer exhilaration of riding a bicycle * OBSERVER *A heart-soaring tribute to the trailblazers who seized upon a chance to break convention and pedal their way to newfound freedom. The myriad stories are awe-inspiring . . . REVOLUTIONS is a rallying cry * HERALD SCOTLAND *Eye-opening and inspirational, REVOLUTIONS made me want to jump straight on my very own 'freedom machine' and go out for a ride. An utterly fascinating, and gloriously fiery read -- FELICITY CLOAKEEngaging * The i *A high cadence spin through the history of female cycling that is comprehensive despite its concision * Guardian, Books of the Year *This is a fantastic book -- MAXINE PEAKEOne of the most comprehensive cycling books we've read * CYCLIST, 13 Best Books About Cycling *A celebration of the women who fought against the patriarchy to claim that most versatile of vehicles, the bicycle, for themselves. From Simone de Beauvoir's two-wheeled adventures in Paris to the extraordinary Annie 'Londonderry' Kopchovsky who in 1894 set out to circumnavigate the world on a bike these are remarkable stories, wonderfully told * THE NEW EUROPEAN *Meticulously researched 130 year history of women awheel. A huge and wide ranging story but written with such skill and lightness of touch that it's a pure pleasure to read -- JACK THURSTON, author of LOST LANES

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times BestsellerThe exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the Mauricio Pochettino revolution at Spurs, told in his own wordsSince joining the club in 2014, Mauricio Pochettino has transformed Tottenham from underachievers into genuine title contenders. In the process, he has marked himself out as one of the best managers in the world. He has done so by promoting an attacking, pressing style of football and by nurturing home-grown talent, fully endearing himself to the Spurs faithful along the way.Guillem Balagué was granted unprecedented access to Pochettino and his backroom staff for the duration of the 2016-17 season, and was therefore able to draw on extensive interview material with Pochettino, his family, his closest assistants, players such as Dele Alli and Harry Kane, and even a very rare conversation with Daniel Levy to tell the manager''s story in his own words. From Pochettino''s early years as a player and coacTrade ReviewBrave New World: Inside Pochettino's Spurs reads like it is the start of something, a self-aware manager exploring some bold ideas and exciting potential . . . Pochettino comes over, above all, as a man who puts enormous stock in working relationships, trust, and comfort in his environment . . . But mostly there are detailed insights into the impressive workings of a football manager * The Times *Mauricio Pochettino may be the most interesting coach currently working in England, perhaps even Europe. The author is granted unprecedented access to see the inner workings of one of the success stories in the Premier League in recent years * i news, The 10 Best Football Books of 2017 *An essential piece of reading for anyone keen to understand how someone goes about transforming a football club * FourFourTwo *An unparalleled insight into one of the most exciting managers working in football * Independent *

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Book Synopsis Hoyt Wilhelm''s intriguing baseball career lasted two decades. A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, the eight-time All-Star from Huntersville, North Carolina, was a standout for the New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Atlanta Braves, though he did not reach the majors until he was nearly 30. He pitched a no-hitter as a starter, won as many as 15 games a season, was the first reliever to win more than 100 games and save more than 200, and broke Cy Young''s record for most games on the mound. Along the way, he relied almost entirely on his baffling skill with a rare weapon of choice--the knuckleball. This first full-length biography covers the life and career of the first relief pitcher in the Hall of Fame.Table of Contents Table of Contents Preface Introduction  1. A North Carolina Guy  2. From North Carolina to North Carolina  3. War  4. Starting Over  5. Minneapolis: Make It or Break It  6. The Majors at Last  7. A Hot Commodity  8. The World Series  9. Entrenched with New York 10. On to Other Teams 11. Lightning Strikes 12. Rebirth with Orioles 13. Trying to Make Sense of It 14. Out of Control 15. Hanging Tough with the Orioles 16. Good Company 17. Wilbur and Hoyt 18. White Sox and Still Going 19. A Thousand Games 20. Running Out of Teams 21. A Call from the Hall Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Runners’ vocabulary is full of acronyms like DNS for “Did Not Start” and DNF for “Did Not Finish,” but when Mirna Valerio stepped up to the starting line, she needed a new one: DNQ for “Did Not Quit.” Valerio has tied on her running shoes all across the country, from the dusty back roads of central New Jersey to the busy Route 222 corridor in Pennsylvania to the sweltering deserts of Arizona. When you meet her on the trail, you might be surprised to see she doesn’t quite fit the typical image of a long-distance runner. She’s neither skinny nor white, and she’s here to show just how misguided these stereotypes can be. In this prejudice-busting, body-positive memoir told with raw honesty, an adventurous spirit, and a sharp sense of humor, Valerio takes readers along on her journey from first-time racer to ultramarathoner and proves that anyone can become a successful athlete.

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Book SynopsisA Financial Times Sports Books of the Year.Cristiano and Leo is the fascinating account of the lives and rivalry between two of the best footballers to ever play the game, Ronaldo and Messi, by Jimmy Burns the bestselling author of Maradona: The Hand of God.The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has defined football to a generation of fans – everyone has an opinion on who is the greatest.Do you prefer Ronaldo whose work ethic and physique have been honed for one purpose – scoring goals. Or Messi, whose superhuman natural talent means he can do the seemingly impossible with a football.Between them they have scored over 1300 goals, won the Ballon d’Or ten times, and taken the beautiful game to even greater heights. But statistics alone cannot do justice to their skill, athleticism and dedication to stay at the top for so long of one of the most competitive sports in the world.Cristiano and Leo tells their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to facing each other in the epic clash El Clásico, between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This is the essential book to understand one the most compelling rivalries in sporting history.Trade ReviewA thoroughly researched dual biography by the great Jimmy Burns. -- Simon Kuper, author of The Football MenI am eating up this book. The verve with which Burns writes about the power politics and rich supporting characters like Florentino and Ferguson makes it a captivating read. -- Richard Fitzpatrick, author of El Clásico: Barcelona v Real Madrid, Football’s Greatest RivalryBurns is incapable of writing a boring sentence * Irish Times *Table of ContentsSection - i: Prologue Chapter - 1: Madeira Chapter - 2: Rosario Chapter - 3: Rites of Passage: Ronaldo Chapter - 4: Little Big Man: Messi Chapter - 5: Lisbon Star: Ronaldo Chapter - 6: Growing Pains: Messi Chapter - 7: Into the Market: Ronaldo Chapter - 8: The Dwarf: Messi Chapter - 9: The Red Legacy: Ronaldo Chapter - 10: International Break – Euro Blues: Ronaldo Chapter - 11: First Team Calling: Messi Chapter - 12: Manchester Days: Ronaldo Chapter - 13: The Rise of the Hobbit: Messi Chapter - 14: International Break – Diego’s Shadow: Messi Chapter - 15: World Cup Trauma: Ronaldo the Winker Chapter - 16: Kicking On: Ronaldo Chapter - 17: The New Maradona: Messi Chapter - 18: Close Encounters: Messi vs Ronaldo Chapter - 19: Ronaldinho’s Farewell: Messi Chapter - 20: Euro 2008: Ronaldo Under Pressure Chapter - 21: International Break – The Beijing Olympics and Maradona Chapter - 22: Centre Stage: Ronaldo Chapter - 23: The Guardiola Revolution: Messi Chapter - 24: Goodbye Old Trafford, Hello Bernabéu: Ronaldo Chapter - 25: Untouchable: Messi Chapter - 26: International Break – World Cup 2010: Messi Chapter - 27: World Cup 2010: Ronaldo Chapter - 28: Enter Mourinho Chapter - 29: Clásicos: Ronaldo and Messi Chapter - 30: Mourinho Strikes Back Chapter - 31: International Break – Euro 2012: Ronaldo Chapter - 32: Life after Pep and with Mourinho: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 33: King Cristiano; Black Dog Messi Chapter - 34: International Break – World Cup Disappointment, National Embarrassment: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 35: Enrique vs Ancelotti Chapter - 36: International Break – The 2016 Copa América: Messi Chapter - 37: Rebuilding: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 38: International Break – Euro 2016: Ronaldo the Manager Chapter - 39: On Trial: Messi Chapter - 40: Legends: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 41: Conclusion Acknowledgements - ii: Acknowledgements Section - iii: Bibliography Section - iv: Notes Index - v: Index

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