Biography: sport Books
DB Publishing A Sheffield Boy
Book SynopsisKeith Farnsworth writes from the heart with the humour and honesty of an inverterate romantic who, despite a background and circumstances which were often far from ideal, finally achieved success and fulfilment as a writer and journalist. Whether recalling his grandfather''s mysterious disapperance at sea, or the injustice of being expelled from school, A Sheffield Boy tells a colourful and entertaining tale of life in this great city after the Second World War.
£11.69
Mereo Books We're Queer And We Should Be Here: The perils and
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£12.60
Mousehold Press Master Jacques: The Enigma of Jacques Anquetil
Book SynopsisOf all the great cycling champions, Jacques Anquetil - the first man to win the Tour de France five times - remains the most mysterious. A prodigy, he burst upon the racing scene at the age of 18, defeating the world's best in the Grand Prix des Nations. From that moment on, insists Pierre Chany, 'he no longer belonged to himself'. Yet, perhaps more than any of cycling's legends, he managed to protect his private life from public gaze. Outwardly confident, and yet profoundly shy; rational and calculating, and yet superstitious and haunted by fear of death, Anquetil was an enigma. He defied the conventional picture of a racing cyclist: elegant on or off the bicycle, winning seemed to come too effortlessly; and he was too fond of the good life that his successes enabled him to enjoy. The French public did not really know what to make of him. 'His courage defied imagination, but nobody noticed because his style was so perfect,' said his manager, Raphael Geminiani. His domination of the 1961 Tour de France, which he led from first day to last, earned him the title 'Master Jacques', but was greeted by boos and whistles. It was only as he neared retirement that Anquetil finally received the acclaim his achievements deserved. In this, the first full-length English book about Jacques Anquetil, Richard Yates explores the enigma of this great French rider. Richard Yates is an English cycling historian who has lived for many years in France; he is the author of several books about French cycling.
£13.46
Mousehold Press In Pursuit of Stardom: Les Nomades du Velo
Book SynopsisFor much of cycling's "Fabulous Fifties" it was Brian Robinson alone who flew the flag for Britain abroad - that is until three young men set out to emulate his success, starting from ground zero. This book tells the story of how, along with fellow Yorkshireman Vic Sutton and South Londoner John Andrew, the intrepid Tony Hewson set off to conquer the European racing scene, first off in an old, battered, converted ex-WD ambulance, then in an oil-leaking pre-war Wolseley with a caravan in tow. Variously mistaken for gypsies, terrorists, undertakers, even market traders, these were our original cash-starved, have-a-go pioneers, whose inspiration prompted Tom Simpson and succeeding generations of would-be stars to cross the Channel. It is an often hilarious sometimes sad but never bitter saga of daring-do that found the trio rubbing shoulders with Coppi, Anquetil, Van Looy and the other greats of the era. It tells of how Andrews won a place in the prestigious Mercier-BP trade team and of how Sutton conquered the headlines with a brilliant display of climbing in the mountaains of the 1959 Tour and its relates Hewson's own pickings of primes and placings in after-Tour criteriums.It also provides a wonderfully evocative insight into what life was like in France and Belgium back in that far-off era.Trade Review'Read it and you'll be instantly transported back to a golden age of our sport. You'll get the whiff of embrocation in your nostrils.' Roger St Pierre, Cycling Plus
£13.46
Mousehold Press Brian Robinson: Pioneer: The Story of Brian
Book SynopsisThis is a biography of Brian Robinson, racing cyclist. Brian Robinson, the first Englishman ever to complete the Tour de France, went on to make a career as a professional cyclist in what is generally regarded as one of the toughest eras in a very tough sport. He adapted to French life, the continental style of racing and the taxing demands of a long season with clear-headed tenacity. For all the British riders who later followed him to Europe - and there have not been many since his days as a lone coureur anglais, still a comparatively rare breed - he was, without dispute, the great pioneer.
£16.16
Mousehold Press Dennis Horn: Racing for an English Rose
Book SynopsisAt the age of 20, Dennis Horn won his first English Rose - the emblem of a National track champion. Throughout the 1930s he rapidly graduated from the rough and tumble of makeshift grass track racing at country fairs and gala sports days in provincial towns to assail the heights of British track cycling on the great urban cycling bastions of the time - the hard-surfaced stadiums of London's Herne Hill and Manchester's Fallowfield - and become the star of British track racing. Every year from 1931 to 1938 he was awarded the season-long Meredith Trophy to add to those legendary gold and silver cups he'd won in fiercely contested track battles in front of crowds of tens of thousands. It was a cycling scene entirely unique to Britain in the years before World War II. But this is more than a simple tale of a strapping rural lad who took on and beat the streetwise metropolitan champions of his era. Dennis Horn, son of a Fenland blacksmith, proved himself to be as astute as any of his urban contemporaries at treading the fine line between amateurism and professionalism as defined by the puritanical British cycling establishment of their day.
£8.50
Melbourne Books Russell Mockridge: The Man in Front
£15.19
Fitness Information Technology, Inc, U.S. 100 Trailblazers: Great Women Athletes Who Opened
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£23.39
Gray & Company Publishers Lebron James: The Rise of a Star
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£15.15
Beckett Publications Everything You Need to Know about Collecting
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£19.36
Turner Publishing Company Arnie: Inside the Legend
Book Synopsis"...by far the most valuable book ever written on Palmer." —John Markon, Richmond Times-DispatchArnie: Inside the Legend is the most definitive and personal answer ever written to the question, "What is Arnold Palmer really like?" Unlike other books on Palmer, it does not focus on his golf game. Instead, it views him as a man—his relationships with his friends, golfing colleagues, business partners, and family.The result is a portrait of a Palmer whose fans—"Arnie's Army"—adore him, including, for instance, a woman hit on the shoulder by an errant drive in 1988. When Arnie arrived at the scene, she pointed to her shoulder and gushed, "This is such an honor to be hit by you. This is the greatest day of my life!" Arnie gave her a gallant kiss on the cheek, then gave her the ball as a souvenir. Respect and affection flow back and forth between Palmer and his fans in a way unprecedented in modern sports.Also included in Arnie: Inside the Legend are stories of how Palmer handles success and failure off the golf course and of his longstanding rivalry with Jack Nicklaus. Arnie: Inside the Legend is the next best thing to a long conversation with Palmer about his life and career, hopes and dreams.
£10.44
Via Media Publishing Company,US The Best Fight
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£11.66
Via Media Publishing Company Martial Musings: A Portrayal of Martial Arts in
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£16.79
Heritage House Publishing Co Ltd Denny's Trek: A Mountie's Memoir of the March
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£9.89
Rocky Mountain Books,Canada Don Forest: Quest for the Summits
Book SynopsisBiography of one of the most colorful, some might say eccentric, people the Canadian West has thrown out who also happens to be a climber. At a time when most men are thinking of retirement from strenuous activities, Don was busy setting records: the first person to climb all the 11,000 foot peaks in the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains and the oldest person to climb Mount Logan, Canada''s highest mountain. Apart from Don''s climbing achievements, for which he received the Banff Mountain Festival''s Summit of Excellence Award in 1990, Don is renowned for his idiosyncrasies which the author and Don''s friends have documented in hilarious detail.
£9.89
Heritage House Publishing Co Ltd Steve Nash
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£15.29
Conundrum Press Bowlbrawl
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£12.34
OverTime Books Most Hated Man in Hockey, The: Gary Bettman and
Book SynopsisSince 1993, Gary Bettman has been the commissioner of the National Hockey League and he has taken the game to new and incredible heights. But despite his many positive accomplishments for the game, when he makes a public appearance, he is mercilessly booed. Heckling and booing this man has almost become a part of the hockey culture. And there''s no love lost on the players'' side either. After three lockouts in his 20 years behind the desk, he has given them a good reason to despise him and what he represents. This book sets out to discover why Gary Bettman has become the most hated man in hockey. Is that hate justified? Or is he just a scapegoat for fan frustration and player dissatisfaction?
£13.49
Baton Wicks Publications Anderl Heckmair My Life Eiger North Face Grandes
Book SynopsisIn 1938 Anderl Heckmair made the first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, a monumental climb that cemented his place in history. In My Life he tells the story of how he turned from a fragile child wrapped 'quite literally, in cotton bindings,' into one of the most important mountaineers in the world.
£16.19
Paragon Publishing A Billiards and Snooker Compendium
£17.09
Empire Publications Ltd Real Jason Robinson
Book SynopsisAs the scorer of the only try in England''s historic World Cup victory in 2003, Jason Robinson''s career has scaled the peaks. Yet while his career has been statistically impressive -- with 37 tries in 102 starts for Sale, 22 tries in his 35 England appearances and a remarkable 11 tries in 10 Lions appearances -- it is perhaps for his character and personal achievements that Jason is best loved. As England''s first black Rugby Union captain. Jason has given what has in the past been regarded as a stuffy, public school game a much wider profile. Away from the pitch, Jason''s conversion from bad lad to religious family man has made him a role model and, while this part of his career has been well-chronicled little is known about the man behind the achievements -- his sense of fun, love of practical jokes and fast food in equal measure. Author Dave Swanton delves behind the public persona of Billy Whizz'', a nickname he acquired at Wigan in his Rugby League days. Swanton first saw Jason Robinson play for Wigan in 1992 while working for Warrington Wolves. When Dave later joined Wigan as PR man in 1998 their careers became inextricably linked. Their paths continued to be intertwined when Jason moved across to Rugby Union with Sale Sharks in 2000, shortly after Swanny became Media and PR Manager. For the last eight years Jason Robinson has called him his right hand man''. Together Swanny and Robbo have fuelled the rise of Sale from suburban Rugby Union club to a Premiership team challenging for European honours. When they joined, Sale were still adjusting to the demands of the newly professionalised game, playing before crowds of 3,000 at the quiet bonhomie of their Heywood Road home. 5 years on, the club groundshare with Stockport County, have seen their average gate rise to nearly 10,000 and regularly challenge for the top European and domestic honours. Jason''s subsequent disappointments with the England and Lions teams are also documented and only serve to throw into sharp relief his previous achievements. Yet Jason remains most famous for the dazzling side-steps that form the basis of his elusive running style. As Neil Squires of the Daily Express discovered when invited to tackle a rampant Robbo in training, One moment a rapidly approaching Jason Robinson is filling my vision, the next he is nowhere to be seen. There is no hole in the ground, no scorched grass, not even a sound as he vanishes. It''s like tackling a gust of wind. Robinson''s step, Rugby''s most watchable magic trick, is even more jaw dropping from the pitch than the stands. The balance and acceleration belong to one of the most highly tuned sports cars, the change of direction to a zigzag''.
£16.16
Empire Publications Ltd Complete George Best: Every Game -- Every Goal
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£10.40
St David's Press The Indomitable Frank Whitcombe: How a Genial
Book SynopsisFrank Whitcombe, described as 'one of the greatest Welsh rugby league forwards of all time', played for Bradford Northern, Wales, and Great Britain. Adored by Bradford supporters and admired by the rugby league fraternity, such was his prowess that he was named in the Bradford Northern all-time greats team. The Indomitable Frank Whitcombe, lovingly tells the incredible story of a rugby league legend who was born and raised, as one of ten children in Grangetown, the heart of working-class Cardiff. Frank's rugby career, after a brief and successful spell as a boxer, began in rugby union, when he played for the British Army and London Welsh, as a deceptively nimble and skilful 18 stone forward. His talents were quickly spotted by rugby league scouts, and Frank was persuaded to 'go north' for GBP100 and two new suits, although the cost of buying himself out of the Army left him just GBP10, and the suits! Frank was made for rugby league and he enjoyed a glittering career in professional rugby, winning the RL Challenge Cup three times, the RL Championship three times and was capped 14 times by Wales.He quickly created a big impression on the Great Britain selectors and he was chosen for the famous 1946 'Indomitables' tour of Australia. Frank excelled as the tourists made history and won plaudits from antipodean fans and media alike as the team became the first, and to date only GB tourists, to win a rugby league Test Series, undefeated, 'down under'. After 331 games, Frank bowed-out of rugby with Bradford Northern, four days after playing in a Challenge Cup final at Wembley, in his last match at Odsal; a game which attracted 19,000 fans. He then turned to life as an RL administrator and publican before his life was tragically cut short by pneumonia at the age of only 44. Frank was a true giant of rugby league and this is the first book to tell his remarkable story.Trade Review'We both played for Cardiff RFC and for Bradford Northern RLFC; we both played at Wembley in Challenge Cup finals; and we both played for Wales and Great Britain. We were both prop forwards and when our playing careers were over we both went into the licensed trade. I am so proud to have walked the same path as this wonderful man did.' Jim Mills, Cardiff RFC, Bradford Northern, Wales & Great Britain; 'Frank Whitcombe became a Welsh international and a Great Britain tourist. He is widely regarded as an all-time great of rugby league. Dad always enthused, not only about his scrummaging and play in the loose; but that he was very light on his feet for a huge man, a surprisingly good place kicker and an excellent tactical kicker of the ball. This was unheard of back then and even now it is rare to see such skills from a prop forward.' Fran Cotton, Sale, England and British LionsTable of ContentsCONTENTS Foreword by Jim Mills Preface by Fran Cotton 1. A Family at Play 2. Army Games 3. A Broughton Ranger 4. Wearing the Three Feathers 5. Enter Harry Hornby 6. Odsal Here we Come' 7. War-time Glory and Gloom 8. Building the Dream 9. Rising to the Challenge 10. Winning the Peace 11. The Indomitables Depart 12. Across Australia 13. Let the Action Commence 14. The First Test 15. The Ashes Retained 16. Mud-baths in New Zealand 17. Back to Bradford 18. Hard Men 19. The Road to Wembley 20. The Lance Todd Hero 21. Bowing out 22. Goodbye to a Rugby Giant 23. The Dynasty Goes on... Appendix 1: The Rugby Career of Frank Whitcombe Appendix 2: The Official Rugby League Report of the 1946 Great Britain tour of Australia & New Zealand
£18.99
St David's Press Bernard Hedges: The Player from 'Ponty'
Book SynopsisThe Player From 'Ponty' is the biography of Glamorgan cricketer Bernard Hedges, the talented sportsman from the valleys of south Wales who played rugby for Pontypridd and Swansea, represented a Great Britain side at football and became a widely respected cricketer with Glamorgan between 1950 and 1967, who: Scored 17, 773 first-class runs - Glamorgan's 7th all-time top run scorer. Hit Glamorgan's first one-day century, v Somerset in the Gillette Cup in 1963. Was one of only six Glamorgan players to score 2,000 runs in a season (2,026 in 1961). Bernard's journey from his early days in Rhydyfelin - the eldest of eight children raised in a small council house - to the local grammar school, his National Service days, and to his professional career with Glamorgan is lovingly revealed by his son Stephen, who tells the story of the sporting life of a man who epitomised the 'unsung hero' by showing great grit and determination to make the most of the sporting talent he had.Trade Review`Bernard was a true sportsman and played the game with an honesty and sense of fair play that stood out ... He was a good player but more than that, perhaps, he was a good bloke, easy company and willing to do anything for anyone.' Don `Shep' Shepherd, from his Foreword; `Bernard Hedges was an inspiration to a generation of cricket-mad Welsh kids. That was partly, of course, because he was such a steady batsman - who could weather any attack and punish every loose ball - and a marvellous fielder ... but our admiration was particularly strong because we knew that he was a 'valley boy' who'd had no special coaching or fancy equipment. That made Bernard really special. Truly, he was a hero who lived up to my expectations on and off the field. Every team in every sport needs a Bernard Hedges to make it whole.' Neil Kinnock; `As kids, we grew up playing all sorts of sport in the street, including cricket. We had stringent rules with six ball overs with every player in our imaginary teams having to bat, and many times I chose to be Glamorgan's Bernard Hedges. We dreamt of being sportsmen. We wanted to be part of that exciting life and Bernard, along with all the Glamorgan boys, was part of that.' Sir Gareth EdwardsTable of ContentsForeword by Don Shepherd Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Early Years 2. War, School and the All-Round Sportsman 3. National Service 4. Rugby with Pontypridd and the All Whites 5. The Early Years With Glamorgan 6. The Wooller Way 7. Shep 8. Gilbert Parkhouse, Opening Partner #1 9. 2,000 Runs in 1961 10. Thirteen Men 11. Alan Jones, Opening Partner #2 12. One Day Glory in 1963 13. The Incident at Llanelli 14. Retirement 15. Life After Glamorgan 16. The Amateur Professional Epilogue Bernard Hedges - Career Statistics Bibliography and Selected Reading
£18.99
St David's Press Huddy: The Official Biography of Alan Hudson
Book SynopsisOne of the finest players football has ever seen, Alan Hudson is still revered at Chelsea, Stoke City, Arsenal and Seattle Sounders, and yet his professional success was dogged by injuries and enormous personal challenges. His love of the glitzy 'footballer lifestyle', dominated by hard-drinking and glamorous women, saw Alan descend into rampant alcoholism, depression, and frequent brushes with authority. Huddy - his official biography - reveals for the first time, the full story of the real Alan Hudson, the man behind the lurid newspaper headlines and booze-fuelled anecdotes. A straight-speaker who doesn't suffer fools gladly, he has as many enemies as close friends. Speak to either and you'll get a vastly differing perspective on just who the man is. Even his team-mates were evenly split; they either loved or loathed him. The one thing that couldn't be taken away from him, however, was his talent for the beautiful game. Some years after retiring from the sport he loved, Alan embarked on a new career in the media but, on December 15, 1997, he was the victim of a 'hit-and-run' car accident near his East London home and his 'life well-lived' changed forever. He sustained injuries that the medical profession thought would kill him. Huddy, lovingly written by his friend Jason Pettigrove, describes Alan's determined fight for life and how his single-mindedness enabled him, along with the brilliance of the NHS and the support of his closest family and friends, to recover from his horrendous injuries and rebuild his life. Alan Hudson's fascinating story is one that has never been fully told ...until now.Trade Review'A total one-off footballer. There's never been anyone quite like him, in his ability and what he was able to do with a football.' Malcolm McDonald; 'I was fortunate enough to play with a few great players and Alan was up there with the very best.' Denis Smith; 'Alan was a top quality, gifted player.' Gordon Taylor; 'Gazza's sitting there, with Gary Lineker and Gary Mabbutt, and the first thing he shouted out was, "Where did you get that shirt from?" so I told him that Al was my uncle. With that, Gazza's literally jumped off the treatment table, dived at my feet and started bowing. "His uncle's the Guv'nor" he kept saying over and over!' Billy Hudson, nephew.Table of ContentsForeword by Jeff Powell 1. Childhood 2. Chelsea 3. Marriage and the 'Good Life' Don't Mix 4. Mr. Waddington 5. Stoke 6. England 7. Arsenal 8. Seattle Sounders 9. Chelsea and Stoke ... Again 10. The Accident 11. Recovery 12. Keep Moving Forward
£13.29
St David's Press Brian Flynn: Little Wonder
Book SynopsisLittle Wonder is the story of Brian Flynn, the stylish yet tenacious midfielder from Port Talbot who, in the 1970s and '80s, enjoyed a successful top flight playing career with Burnley and Leeds United - where is still held in great affection by fans of both clubs - before moving on to Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers, Bury, Limerick and finally to Wrexham as player manager. Flynn also won 66 caps for Wales and played a pivotal role when the rejuvenated national team reached the quarter-finals of the 1976 European Championships and were denied a place at the 1978 World Cup by Joe Jordan's infamous 'hand of god' at Anfield. Lovingly crafted by Leon Barton, Little Wonder is also the story of Flynn's 12 years as a club manager with Wrexham where, with solid team-building and cup heroics, he left a legacy that was subsequently squandered, and his two-year spell at Swansea City when he saved the club from relegation from the Football League and whose immense contribution was subsequently built upon to stunning effect. It is Brian Flynn's managerial legacy to Welsh international football, however, that has won him the plaudits of fellow managers, former teammates, the players themselves, and the Welsh nation when, as intermediate team manager under John Toshack, Flynn identified, nurtured and developed the 'golden generation', a group of talented teenagers and Welsh 'Anglos' who went on to become, at Euro 2016, most successful Welsh team in 140 years. Brian Flynn may only stand at 5 foot and 4 inches, but this small man from the town of steel has made a giant contribution to football and Little Wonder is his story.Trade Review`Brian Flynn ... his name is not only so well-known, but so immediately respected ... It was a pleasure writing this Foreword to a great tale done justice by Leon ... everyone should know the story of Brian Flynn.' Chris Wathan, Chief Football Writer, Media WalesTable of ContentsForeword by Chris Wathan Preface by Chris Gunter Part 1: You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover 1. Steeltown 2. Milltown 3. Dragon Heart, Claret Blood 4. Hand of Jaws 5. Nuts 6. Journeyman Part 2: Big Boss Man 7. Milk Money 8. Magic 9. Psycho, Drama 10. Wrecked 11. The Ugly Duckling Part 3: Children of The Revolution 12. Attitude, Intelligence, Ability 13. The Golden Generation 14. The Boy Who Would Be King 15. The Italian Job 16. The Audition Afterword: Doncaster Afterword: Bordeaux Bibliography
£13.29
St David's Press Messi: The King of Camp Nou
Book SynopsisWidely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, seven-time Ballon d’Or and six-time Golden Shoe winner, Lionel Messi, enjoyed a record-breaking 17-year career at FC Barcelona during which time he scored more goals, played more games, won more titles and provided more assists than any other player in the Catalan club’s history. Adored by Barça fans, Messi reigned supreme until August 2021, when he made a tearful farewell to a stunned global audience. Messi: The King of Camp Nou is the definitive story of Lionel Messi’s entire Barça career, written by Jason Pettigrove, a football journalist who worked for FC Barcelona during Messi’s final years in Catalonia. Charting Messi’s rise as a hopeful 13-year-old Argentinian boy from Rosario to becoming the best footballer in the world, Pettigrove’s comprehensively researched book features exclusive interviews with key individuals in Messi’s story - team-mates, opponents, managers, agents and fellow journalists - including: Joan Laporta, Lionel Scaloni, Victor Font, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Jamie Carragher, Mike Phelan, Josep Maria Minguella, Horacio Gaggioli, Tony Watt, Santi Padro and Jorge Barraza. From being signed by Barça on a napkin to Champions League glory and becoming FC Barcelona captain, Messi: The King of Camp Nou reveals the inside story of Leo’s remarkable reign at Barça including breaking Pelé's incredible record for most goals scored at one club, how the longed for Copa América title was won and how he, season-on-season, mesmerised the football world.Trade Review'I guarantee this will be the best book on Leo Messi you haven't yet read.' Graham Hunter; 'He was born to play football and it’s on the field where we see the happiest version of Lionel. It’s what he does best and what gives him the most joy.' Lionel Scaloni; 'I don't think any have been better than Lionel Messi.'Sir Kenny Dalglish; 'Messi's the best club footballer of all time.' Jamie Carragher; 'You can fit Pele's best moments into a one-hour video, or you can make a two-hour video for the best of Maradona. With Messi's best, it's a 24-hour long video.' Jorge Barraza; 'Messi makes more correct decisions than anyone on a football field. He doesn't pigeonhole himself into a specific role because his role was to be the difference, and that's what he did at FC Barcelona.' Mike PhelanTable of ContentsForeword by Graham Hunter 1. Rosario to Barcelona 2. Signed on a Napkin 3. Five Teams in One Season 4. First Barca Goal 5. The New Maradona 6. An El Clasico To Remember 7. Olympic Glory 8. 'Tiki-Taka' 9. Ballon D'Or 10. El Clasico Overkill 11. Masterclass v Man Utd 12. 91 Goals in a Calendar Year 13. The Double Treble 14. A World Champion ... Again 15. 500 Up For Barca 16. More Than a Club 17. One Goal From Invincibility 18. Nightmare at Anfield 19. A Sixth Golden Shoe 20. 'Barcagate' and the Burofax 21. Beating Pele's Record 22. Laporta's Promise Epilogue Index Statistics and Record of Achievement
£16.14
St David's Press The Boxers of North, Mid and West Wales
Book SynopsisCasual observers of the Welsh boxing scene might well think that the best practitioners of the sport have all hailed from the valleys and coastal cities of the south. But the rural counties have contributed their share to the nation's fistic history. In the high-profile heavyweight division alone, the area covered by this book has produced two British champions and another who contested the title. Others have worn and challenged for Lonsdale Belts at lower weights. The first British boxer ever to win a medal at the world amateur championships can be found between these covers, along with the incredible youngster who was ranked in the world's top 10 by the American Ring magazine when he was just 16 years old. This volume, packed with photographs - many published for the first time - profiles more than 50 boxers from the bare-knuckle era to stars of the present and future. It is a must-read for any fight fan, whether from Wales or further afield.Trade Review‘It comes as a bit of a surprise to learn how many top fighters have emerged from beyond the traditional southern hotbeds. The final book in Gareth Jones's outstanding Boxers of Wales series pays them due tribute, while also revealing that a Cockney ring legend was in fact a Welsh-speaking Welshman!’ Gareth A. Davies, Daily Telegraph; ‘There is surely no writer with a deeper knowledge of Welsh boxing than Gareth Jones. Coming from Pembrokeshire myself, it is great that his latest book tells the stories, not merely of my county's British heavyweight champion, Scott Gammer, but old-timers such as Ocky Davies, the fighting milkman of the 1930s, and a rising star of the present day, Mickey McDonagh. This latest volume is a characteristically detailed study of the noble art in our country.’ Riath Al-Samarrai, Daily MailTable of ContentsAmmanford Jake Anthony ۰ John Davies ۰ Tommy Davies ۰ Zack Davies ۰ Phil Dicks ۰ Danny Evans ۰ Leon Findlay ۰ Chris Jenkins ۰ Kevin Jenkins ۰ Dai Jones ۰ Terry Magee ۰ Iorrie Morris ۰ Billy Quinlan ۰ Reg Quinlan ۰ Archie Rule Carmarthen Angelo Dragone ۰ Dale Evans ۰ Kevin Evans ۰ Stanley Jones ۰ Robert Peel Ceredigion Alan Jones ۰ Chris Lawson Denbighshire Rocky Feliciello ۰ Carl Gizzi ۰ Eddie Lloyd ۰ Craig Winter Flintshire Tom Doran ۰ Paul Economides ۰ Ray Hood Gwynedd Dave Davies ۰ Tim Redman ۰ Johnny Williams Pembrokeshire Ocky Davies ۰ Steve Davies ۰ Mickey McDonagh ۰ James Probert ۰ Scott Gammer ۰ Henry Jones ۰ Bryn Phillips Powys Nipper Pat Daly ۰ Tiger Ellis ۰ Emrys Jones ۰ Dudley Lewis ۰ Willie Lloyd ۰ Dennis Powell ۰ Ned Turner ۰ Allan Wilkins Wrexham Jim Crawford ۰ Bob Fielding ۰ George Fielding ۰ Mike Jones Ynys Môn Mark Evans ۰ Ivor Jones
£18.99
St David's Press Devs - Double Dragon, Double Lion: The Official
Book SynopsisJohn Devereux burst into rugby's big-time as a 19-year-old student when he terrorised a Cardiff team packed with Lions and Wales stars for his South Glam Institute side in a Welsh Cup tie. His powerful piston-pump hand-off saw him nicknamed the 'Dalek' and two months later, in January 1986, he was making his Wales debut against England. He was one of the stars of the 1987 union World Cup as Wales finished third, the nation's highest ever position in the tournament, and appeared for the British and Irish Lions before being lured to rugby league by a big-money offer exceeding GBP350,000. Devereux was a huge hit for Widnes, playing 185 games and scoring 120 tries, and Manly Sea Eagles in Australia, and became a dual-code international - scoring six tries in eight games for Great Britain, and three tries in 12 games for Wales RL. He was also the last Wales union international to appear in a RL World Cup final when he lined up for Great Britain against Australia at Wembley in 1993. Held in the highest regard by former teammates and opponents alike, John Devereux is revered by followers of rugby league and rugby union and, in his official biography, Devs, tells the fascinating story of his life in rugby.Trade Review‘Devs was big, explosive, fit and full of enthusiasm. You could see he could become something special.’ Derek Quinnell; ‘John is right up there when it comes to Welsh players making a mark on the Rugby World Cup’ Tony Gray; ‘It’s not easy to make the transition from union to league but Devs did it, and more.’ Jonathan Davies; ‘John was, without a doubt, one of the finest players to ever wear the Widnes jersey.’ Jim Mills; ‘He was a player you didn’t just play to, you also played off him.’ Sir Ian McGeechanTable of ContentsForeword by Jonathan Davies 1. 'Is There a John Devereux here?' 2. Garw Valley Boy 3. Twickenham Calling 4. Debut 5. The Brawl to End Them All 6. Accidents Will Happen 7. The Inaugural Rugby World Cup 8. The Talk of Wales 9. Lion 10. Going North 11. Surfing the Waves with Widnes 12. Wales RL 13. Tearful World Cup Final 14. Implosion at Widnes 15. Maninga and Manly 16. Wales and Samoa Go To War 17. The Toughest Fight of My Life 18. Back to Rugby Union 19. Wales, Henry and Granny-Gate 20. The Green Green Grass of Home 21. 2000 RL World Cup 22. End of the Rugby Road Career Statistics Index
£13.29
St David's Press Arthur Gould: Rugby's First Superstar
Book SynopsisArthur Gould is the definitive biography of the record-breaking Welsh international player who is widely acknowledged as the first superstar of rugby. Such was his fame and renown, that upon his tragic, early death in 1919, aged just 54, Gould's funeral in Newport was reported as the biggest Wales had ever seen. Nicknamed 'Monkey' due to his childhood fondness for climbing trees, Gould played the majority of his club rugby for Newport RFC and won a then-record 27 Welsh caps; 25 of which were at centre (a record only bettered by Steve Fenwick in 1980); and captained his country 18 times (a record only beaten in 1994 by Ieuan Evans). A true sporting sensation, when he retired in 1899 Gould had played more first-class matches and scored more tries and drop goals than any other player. Gould's superstar status was illustrated late in his career when a testimonial appeal received widespread public support and resulted in the Scottish and Irish unions cancelling their fixtures with Wales in protest at the apparent breach of the game's strict amateur ethos. The controversy deepened when the Welsh Football Union (now the WRU) stood firmly behind their iconic player and withdrew from the International Rugby Board. Fearing that lucrative fixtures with Welsh clubs might be lost and that Wales might join forces with the newly established Northern Union of professional rugby, England's Rugby Football Union brokered a 'one-off' dispensation which enabled Gould to benefit from the testimonial while retaining his amateur status, and ensured that international fixtures were resumed. Comprehensively researched and written by acclaimed rugby historian, Gwyn Prescott, with the full support and encouragement of the Gould family, Arthur Gould - Rugby's First Superstar includes over 100 illustrations and will be enjoyed by all who love rugby and treasure its sporting and cultural heritage.Trade Review'We may never have seen him play but there is no doubt that those who did regarded Arthur Gould as one of the greatest sportsmen ever to wear the red shirt of Wales. His fame extended beyond the rugby field too and it is no exaggeration to describe him as the game's first superstar. This book is a fitting tribute to Gould. Intelligent, lively and intriguing, it matches its subject in its verve. Prescott's research is meticulous and he has done Gould and the histories of rugby and Wales itself proud.' Prof Martin Johnes; 'In vividly chronicling the life of rugby's first superstar, Gwyn Prescott has combined impeccable scholarship with an assured readability to produce a terrific book that enthrallingly evokes the world in which Welsh rugby union grew from infancy towards international importance and produced, in Arthur Gould's Newport, its first great club.' Huw Richards; 'The Gould family are delighted that the complete and definitive story of Arthur's colourful life and illustrious rugby career has at last been written, and in such a brilliant manner by Gwyn Prescott.' Gareth Harvey (Great-Great-Nephew of Arthur Gould)Table of ContentsIntroduction: "Arthur Gould Stands Alone" 1. A Sequence of Chance Events 2. Bob Leads the Way 3. "Monk" Breaks Through 4. History at Crown Flatt 5. Back in the "War Paint" 6. "Newport's Football King" 7. A Testimonial for a Football Prodigy 8. The Testimonial Comes Home 9. Extra Time Afterword Gould Brothers' International Matches & Scoring Record Bibliography Index
£16.19
Jeremy Mills Publishing Motor Racing and Record Breaking
£22.51
Dewi Lewis Media Ltd Luiz Felipe Scolari: The Man, the Manager
Book SynopsisAs one of the most successful and controversial managers in world-wide footaball, Scolari's biography covers his career, methods and infamous pitch side rages.
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Bromley Boys: The True Story of Supporting
Book SynopsisThe book that inspired the major motion picture 'I loved it ... extremely funny. A must-read for anyone who loves football.' Peter Crouch In the late 1960s, in the warm glow of England winning the World Cup, Dave Roberts, like most teenage boys his age, was football mad. There was just one difference: rather than supporting the likes of Arsenal or Manchester United, Dave’s team of choice was the ever so slightly less glamorous Bromley Football Club – one of the last genuinely amateur football teams left, fighting for survival in the lowest non-league division. This book is the story of Bromley’s worst ever season. It is a funny and heart-warming tale of football at the very bottom: Dave turns up to each match with his football boots in his bag, just in case the team are a player short; the crowd is always announced as 400 as no-one can be bothered to count; the team ship so many goals that in one match, the taunting opposition fans actually lose count of the score. It’s easy being a football fan when your team are always winning. The Bromley Boys is the touching true story about supporting a club through thin and even thinner: proof that the more your team may lose on the pitch, the more there is to gain on the terraces.Trade Review'Will strike a chord with football fans everywhere' Adrian Chiles
£9.49
Pesda Press Tall Stories: Andy Jackson a Biography
Book SynopsisThis book is a celebration of the life and adventures of Andy Jackson, Scottish kayaking legend. In December 2004 the kayaking community was stunned by the premature death of Andy Jackson. "Tall Stories" collates accounts and photos of the tall man's adventurous life. As we follow him around the world, Andy's gregarious good humour comes across at every turn. From his native Scotland to Nepal, New Zealand and North America on his 'World Tour' and on to Iceland and Chile, Andy made a friend of everyone he met.Every first weekend in September, kayakers from around the world gather at the Wet West Paddlefest to celebrate his life and paddle two of his favourite rivers. Andy will remain an inspiration for generations to come.Ron Cameron first encountered Andy Jackson in Tain, Easter Ross when Andy was 19 and he was 43 and kayaked, skied and climbed with him regularly until the time of his death, suffering no significant injuries as a result. He was stupid/smart enough to rent Andy a house for about six years. Sometimes he thinks he should have stuck to climbing but paddling and skiing with Andy was a life enhancing experience.Table of Contents1 Boy Meets Girl 62 Wild Child 243 World Tour - Nepal 364 World Tour - New Zealand 445 World Tour - North America 546 The House 727 The Home Front 808 The Summer of 96 1029 Iceland 11410 Chile 12211 Flying Fish 12812 The Legacy 136
£13.49
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Lure of the Mountains: The Life of Bentley
Book SynopsisLure of the Mountains is the first published biography of accomplished photographer, ornithologist, teacher and 1924 Everest expedition member Bentley Beetham (1886 - 1963). Written by the late Michael D. Lowes, a pupil of Beetham's at Barnard Castle School in County Durham, and with a foreword by Graham Ratcliffe MBE, the first Briton to have summited Everest from both the North and South sides, and also a pupil of Barnard Castle School, Lure of the Mountains charts Beetham's life from childhood in Darlington, to rock climbing in the Lake District and selection by the Mount Everest Committee as a member of the infamous and ill-fated 1924 Everest Expedition on which George Mallory and Sandy Irvine disappeared high on the mountain. Many of Beetham's images, including those made on the 1924 expedition, were for over 25 years curated by Michael Lowes and are reproduced in this book with the kind permission of the Bentley Beetham Trust and Durham University. His images of Tibet are 'an important historical record of Tibetan culture and a way of life that in modern times has rapidly begun to disappear'. Beetham was a highly skilled rock climber and a pioneer of new routes in the Borrowdale Valley, where he established such notable climbs as Little Chamonix on Shepherd's Crag, and Corvus on Raven Crag. The author, like many other pupils Beetham inspired, was introduced to climbing by his teacher in the Lake District on club trips, and over the years he became a valuable source of information and expert on Beetham's life and work.
£11.69
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Statement: The Ben Moon Story
Book Synopsis'Ever since I first set foot on rock at the tender age of seven years, climbing has been the most important thing in my life. In fact I would go so far as to say it is my reason for living and as long as I am able to climb I hope I will. It is from climbing I draw my inspiration for life.' On 14 June 1990, at Raven Tor in the Derbyshire Peak District, twenty-four-year-old Ben Moon squeezed his feet into a pair of rock shoes, tied in to his rope, chalked his fingers and pulled on to the wickedly overhanging, zebra-striped wall of limestone. Two minutes later he had made rock-climbing history with the first ascent of Hubble, now widely recognised as the world's first F9a. Born in the suburbs of London in 1966, Moon started rock climbing on the sandstone outcrops of Kent and Sussex. A pioneer in the sport-climbing revolution of the 1980s and a bouldering legend in the 1990s, he is one of the most iconic rock climbers in the sport's history, In Statement, Moon's official biography, award-winning writer Ed Douglas paints a portrait of a climbing visionary and dispels the myth of Moon as an anti-traditional climbing renegade. Interviews with Moon are complemented with insights from family and friends and extracts from magazines and personal diaries and letters.
£17.00
Checkpoint Press Hash House Harriers - On You!
£11.63
Icon Books Suarez: The Remarkable Story Behind Football's
Book SynopsisBestselling football biographer Luca Caioli tackles his most controversial subject yet - Barcelona, Uruguay and former Liverpool forward Luis Suárez.When in late September 2013 Luis Suárez returned from a landmark ten-match ban for biting an opponent, one in a long line of high-profile misdemeanours, it seemed unlikely that he would ever win over his critics.In the months that followed he scored an astonishing 31 times, propelling Liverpool back into the Champions League following a four-year absence. The World Cup in Brazil followed but Suárez saw his action-packed tournament curtailed after just two games, two goals and one moment of madness, with favourable comparisons to Messi and Ronaldo once again overshadowed by those with Jekyll and Hyde.Acclaimed football biographer Luca Caioli provides an in-depth look at one of football's most enigmatic characters, from humble Uruguayan beginnings to his big-money move to Barcelona in July 2014.
£7.59
Lodestar Books The The Dolphin: The life of David Lewis
Book SynopsisIn this first biography of David Henry Lewis, Ben Lowings examines his lifetime of adventure forensically yet sympathetically, and unlocks the secrets of his determination. This British-born New Zealander was the first person to sail a catamaran around the world, the first — in Ice Bird — to reach Antarctica solo under sail, and the first to make known to Westerners how ancient navigators reached — and could reach again — the Pacific islands. His many voyages resulted in thirteen books published and translated worldwide; many were bestsellers — We, the Navigators has not been out of print since first publication in 1972. David Lewis’s achievements have been acknowledged with a series of awards, including that of Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. But the price of David Lewis’s adventures had ultimately to be paid by others in the succession of families he created, then broke apart; and many of his actions brought him into conflict with the feelings of friends and contemporaries. We may legitimately ask 'was it really all worth it?' For the first time his six marriages are revealed, through more than a year of original research in Britain, Australia and New Zealand — including interviews with all surviving family members, as well as friends and fellow voyagers. Events thinly-sketched or omitted in his own writings, such as his father’s own failings, are investigated. His kayaking, mountain-climbing and sailing were struggles all the more difficult because of a fractured backbone, shattered elbow and impaired vision. David Lewis’s early years get the comprehensive documentation they deserve — in his own memoir he jumps straight from child to fully-fledged explorer. Inaccuracies are corrected in his tale of kayaking four hundred miles home from school. As playboy medical student, British paratrooper fighting in Normandy, and political activist in Palestine, Jamaica and London, he grappled with academic and colonial prejudice, and fought anti-Semitism and inequality; all is examined. As a general practitioner in the East End’s impure 1950s air he worked where the new National Health Service was most needed. Professional frustrations and marital disappointments were not soothed by weekend sailing. He would join a pioneering single-handed yacht race to America in 1960, leaving his first daughter to find him on board in Plymouth to say farewell only at the last minute. In 1964 he would race again, but this time in a catamaran, and then, with Fiona, his new wife, and their daughters, girdle the earth in it. For the first time, their circumnavigation is described in part from Fiona’s perspective. Media accounts and passages from his many books build up a picture of a consistently experimental, and utterly untypical, middle aged man. Every word in the Antarctic logbook of Ice Bird — scrawled with freezing hands — is closely compared with literary sources, National Geographic articles and his commercially successful book-length account. A new critical appreciation shows the white heat at the core of his being. He has abandoned his children again, and been drugged by ocean solitude. But in the act of writing he is earning his place among humanity. To hell with the frozen hands.
£16.15
£12.96
SportsBooks Ltd Rugby & Art: Jean-Pierre Rives in Conversation
Book Synopsis
£8.24
Dedalus Ltd Decadent Sportsman
Book Synopsis
£9.49
DB Publishing The Day I Met Brian Clough...and Other Tributes:
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Paragon Publishing Ah'm Tellin' Thee - a Biography of Tommy Banks, Bolton Wanderers and England
£13.79
Vertical Editions The Honorary Tyke: Inside Sachin Tendulkar's
Book SynopsisIn 1968, Yorkshire County Cricket Club won a record 29th outright County Championship title. Blessed with the talents of Brian Close, Fred Trueman and Geoffrey Boycott, they dominated their opponents through sheer desire, skill and belief. It was a golden era for the club, and no one saw it coming to an end. But over the next few years, everything changed. Yorkshire's star players departed and their rivals benefited from the introduction of overseas professionals like Garry Sobers, Viv Richards and Clive Rice. As they decided only to hire those born within the county, Yorkshire struggled to compete with their contemporaries and became one of the worst-performing teams in the land. It was a dire time for the club. But when a young Sachin Tendulkar arrived at Headingley in April 1992, a revolution began. Through his talent and personality, Yorkshire's first overseas player modernised a failing institution and gained experience that helped him become the greatest international batsman of his generation. This is the story of how a promising 19-year-old became an Honorary Tyke... and, in the process, changed the history of England's most successful club.
£11.39
Vertical Editions 20 Legends: Scunthorpe United
Book SynopsisWhich Scunthorpe defender was tapped up in the dressing rooms by Brian Clough? Who helped get him changed on top of Princess Diana's car? What did the club's record goalscorer really think about the manager sacked in a promotion season? How does it feel to miss a penalty at Wembley? Win the European Cup? And how on earth did a future England captain manage to break the club's tractor? Throughout their 120 year-plus history, Scunthorpe United have been many things... But boring? Never! Following extensive archive research and exclusive interviews with ex-managers and players spanning seven decades, 20 Legends: Scunthorpe United is packed with stories aplenty. From breathtaking cup upsets, to the raw ecstasy of promotion, the agonies of failure, lifelong friendships, boardroom coups, and good old-fashioned fallings-out; the people in the heat of the action spill the beans like never before. Each chapter tells a different story; focusing on a legend apiece from the club's history and sharing their adventures throughout the beautiful game. Brian Laws also provides the foreword. If you really want to get under the skin of a brilliant, bonkers football club at the very heart of its community, then look no further than 20 Legends: Scunthorpe United.
£12.74
Vertical Editions '91: The inside story of Sheffield Wednesday's
Book SynopsisIn May 1990 the unthinkable happened and Sheffield Wednesday were relegated to the second division of English football for the first time in six seasons. Ron Atkinson's talented squad - blessed with the likes of David Hirst, Carlton Palmer, Roland Nilsson and John Sheridan - could go one of two ways; stick together or fall apart. A year later they were back in the big time and holders of the League Cup having beaten Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United at Wembley. The collection of huge characters formed one of the most iconic sides in the club's rich history. For the very first time, '91 tells the inside story of that incredible season from those that were there; from training ground crisis talks to terrific goals, laughs, tears and beers on the open-top bus.
£11.39
Vertical Editions Bolts From The Blues: Iconic goals in the history
Book SynopsisFrom the 1960s to the present day, the men behind some of Carlisle United's most memorable moments relive the days and nights they made their mark - and open up on their Brunton Park careers. This book celebrates promotion heroes, cup winners, giantkillers, relegation saviours, history makers... and scorers of the strange, stunning and spectacular. From Murray to Murphy, Halpin to Hawley, Rafferty to Reeves, Wake to Winstanley, Poskett to Pericard, Bridges to Branthwaite and Grainger to Glass, these are goals that inspired Carlisle United supporters - told by the stars who scored them. Each sale of this book will benefit the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust's Covid-19 appeal.Trade ReviewThe joyful and agonising stories behind Carlisle's most iconic goals, nimbly told by the best in the business. - George Caulkin, The Athletic
£18.48
