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Book Synopsis Shortlisted for the 2023 Illustrated Sports Book of the Year Remarkable Football Grounds is a collection of some of the most memorable places to watch and play football around the world. Ranging from the stellar stadiums of the Premier League to windswept islands in the Scottish Hebrides or the far-flung Pacific, including stadia that resemble flying saucers, a crocodile and an armadillo! Remarkable Football Grounds features a range of the oldest, biggest, highest, quirkiest and furthest flung stadia and the stories behind their existence. Italian Serie B team Venezia can be reached by canal, with moorings nearby; Bamburgh Castle football ground lies in the shadow of a Game of Thrones-scale fortress, while Estadio Silvestre is a full-size pitch on the roof of a building in Tenerife. Some of the oldest, storied stadiums are here, including Anfield for Liverpool, Fulham, which has a tunnel under the pitch and the two Dundee football clubs, that have sizeable grounds, Tannadice and Dens Park, just 183 metres (200 yards) apart. At the quirkier end of the scale, the Aveiro stadium in Portugal looks like a giant children's playset, while in Gangwon, South Korea, the football pitch doubles as a ski jump landing area. Many of the stadiums come with spectacular views. The Faroe Islands have produced some strong football teams in the past and many of their grounds are set in picture perfect landscapes. The same can be said of Norway’s Lofoten Islands where flat land is at a premium and the pitch sides are used for drying fish. In Slovakia, the Janosovka football pitch has a narrow gauge railway that runs between the pitch and the grandstand. Others are located in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. Nobody loves the ‘away’ fixture at Coroico which entails tackling the ‘Death Road’. Grounds include: the impressive new Qatari World Cup venues, Wembley Stadium, Camp Nou, Monaco, Old Trafford, Allianz Arena, Petrovsky (Zenit St.Petersburg), Trogir in Croatia, Longgang in China and the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.Trade Review‘Any fan of the beautiful game will fall for this gorgeous coffee-table book. A tour of the most incredible venues from the Hebrides to far-flung Pacific islands – it’s a visual treat combined with some fascinating backstories’Deirdre O’Brien, Best magazine ‘With the world once again open for travel, this book serves as the perfect guide for those wishing to take in a stadium or two. Groundhoppers unite!’Pitch magazine ‘Should the groundhopping community need a sacred text, Herman’s book would make for a spectacular bible. It features jaw-dropping photographs of nearly 100 stadia around the world that each offers visitors something extra.’Esquire.com ‘The perfect gift for football fans.’My Weekly ‘Awe-inspiring photos of the world’s most remarkable football pitches.’CNN Style

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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.

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Book SynopsisThe glory days of Welsh rugby seem long ago now. Mortifying defeats, threatened strike action, institutionalised sexism, racism and homophobia in the WRU, bad financial management – this book examines key events from the 1980s to today which have brought Welsh rugby to its present crisis.

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Book Synopsis''I love Tifo'' Ian Wright ''Tifo are great'' Alan Shearer''Tifo have changed the game when it comes to football analysis'' Elis JamesRULE #1: DON''T WATCH THE BALLYes, football is about stars, goals and glory. But it''s also about the intense calculations and movements being made by the twenty-one other players on the pitch. It''s about the ticking clock, and the bellowing fans, and their impact on player psychology. It''s about the coach, the club owner, and the director of football, who are watching, scouting and scheming from the side-lines. It''s about money and data, about geopolitics and architecture, and even about climate change.Football is the most popular sport in the world, and Tifo Football is one of the world''s most popular football channels. In this short, illustrated guide, its creators share fifty-two simple ''rules'' for understanding and enjoying the beautiful game-both on and off the pitch.CTrade ReviewThis pocket-size guide is a must-have for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of the game -- Goal.com - 'The Best Football Books to Read Right Now'I love Tifo. Their range is brilliant and the way they are able to simplify complex topics is great -- Ian WrightTifo are great. They cover everything from the basics on the pitch to the biggest questions facing football today -- Alan ShearerTifo have changed the game when it comes to discussing football. They have helped explain a sport I have been fascinated by for over thirty years and answered questions I have had for almost as long. They have set a new benchmark for football analysis -- Elis JamesBetter than any pundit * RedCafe.net *

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Book SynopsisFootball. Bloody hell.'The longest serving and most successful manager in British football history shocked the world by finally retiring in May 2013 and instantly created more column inches and twitter mentions that the death of Margaret Thatcher. And he wasn’t just the greatest, but also one of the most outspoken, engaging and witty voices from the game, as this book proves. Here is the history of his supreme verbal sparring during his years at Manchester United - the man in his own words (with a few additional thoughts from those who knew him best and crossed swords with him most).'There's nothing wrong with losing your temper once in a while if it's for the right reasons''If he was an inch taller he’d be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in – I’d check the milkman'On Gary Neville'He could start a row in an empty house'On Denis Wise'The list of gentle, naturally retiring men who have been successful in their attempts at running clubs isn't a long one, is it?

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Book SynopsisWriter Harry Pearson takes a warm and witty journey around Britain in pursuit of the lost folk sports that somehow still linger on in the glitzy era of the Premier League and Sky Sports to find out how and why they have survived and to meet the characters who keep them going. When Victorian public schoolmasters and Oxbridge-educated gentlemen were taming football, codifying cricket, bringing the values of muscular Christianity to the boxing ring and the athletics field, games that dated back to the pagan era clung on in isolated pockets of rural Britain, unmodified by contemporary tastes, shunned by the media and sport’s ruling elites.  Here they remain, small, secret worlds, free from media scrutiny and VAR controversies, wreathed in an arcane language of face-gaters, whack-ups, potties, gates-of-hell and the Dorset flop; as much a part of the British countryside as the natterjack toad and almost as endangered. No Pie, No Priest! t

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Book SynopsisThe word legend is thrown around all too easily these days, but there can be no doubt that the NBA players featured in this book are the very best to have ever graced a basketball court. They are true legends of the game. Spanning the decades and covering all the league?s most iconic eras, this book uncovers the fascinating stories and incredible accomplishments of the greatest basketball players. From the game?s first superstars, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Jerry West, to the modern-day greats of the late Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett. There are also in-depth features on Lakers legends Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O?Neal, as well as Celtics great Larry Bird, while it also explores 23 reasons why Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time. It?s not just about great players, though. Without great coaches there would be no great players, legendary teams, or memorable matchups. That?s why this book also runs down the 10 most successful and influential coaches from NBA history, looks back at the 10 greatest championship-winning teams, and relives 10 of the best ever games. It also includes a review of the 50 most iconic NBA players of all time.

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Book SynopsisLiverpool's magnificent number 7s is 112 pages full of everything a football fan could ever want to know about the most iconic players to have not only worn the Number 7 shirt, but to have played at one of the most iconic clubs in the world. Packed with features, including a detailed account of their time at the club. Also included are in-depth statistics, facts, trivia, most memorable games, and an unmatched historical account of the famous Number 7s to have elevated the club.

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Book Synopsis''[a] compelling book Test cricket is hanging on. It''s a worry'' Graham Gooch''Huw Turbervill is the ultimate passionate polemicist for the Test format with a zeal that manages to weave both George Orwell and Basil Fawlty into his arguments'' David Gower OBE''As cricket expands into ever more formats and franchise leagues, more and more voices are to be heard; but the editor of The Cricketer should always be listened to'' Scyld BerryThe editor of The Cricketer goes on a soul-searching journey to discover what the future holds for Test cricket.As T20 grows like Japanese knotweed, Test cricket is in mortal danger. White-ball tournaments mainly T20 and T10 are now sprouting in places like the US and Saudi Arabia, and Test cricketers are commonly being offered all-year-round contracts by IPL owners, allowing them to play short-form tournaments in the West Indies, the UAE and elsewhere.The IPL has expanded,

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Book SynopsisThe importance of cricket to England has been immortalised in the art and literature of a thousand years. For countless artists and writers across the centuries, the culture and aesthetics of cricket - white-clad players, the crack of bat on ball, booming appeals, admiring applause, figures running up to bowl, batsmen leaning, waiting, swinging the blade - have been as essential to the English landscape as the hills and meadows immortalised by Gainsborough, Constable and Turner.It is a story that is known in part, but one that has never been explored in full. And it is lined with surprises, forgotten tales and unnoticed details - ranging from medieval manuscript illustrations, through a dazzling variety of visual art, poetry, fiction and drama, to recent portraits of contemporary heroes.Echoing Greens is a fascinating and thoughtful exploration of the bond between cricket and the English imagination. It unveils that beneath cosy patriotic dreams of ''English values'', a much wilder, more complex story exists. Alongside stories of heroic figures, noble values, and pastoral idylls, the literature and the art of cricket also tell of vice, violence, and scandal. The result is a thrilling investigation into the true story behind these representations of the game, and forces us to reconsider the history of cricket itself.

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Book SynopsisDespite being 1,500 years old, chess has never been more relevant than it is today. The Chess Revolution explores chess as a cultural phenomenon from its biggest stars and most dramatic moments to the impact of the internet and AIChess, as it turns out, isn't just one of the greatest games ever devised. It has inspired writers, painters and filmmakers, and was a secret mover behind technical revolutions like artificial intelligence that are transforming society. In The Chess Revolution the acclaimed Chess.com journalist Peter Doggers reveals how computers and the Internet have further strengthened the timeless magic of chess in the digital era, leading to a new peak in popularity and cultural relevance.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated exploration of the design, meaning and symbolism of world football club crests.Why is there a devil shown on the crest of Manchester United? Which club's crest motto is To Dare Is To Do'? And whose emblem depicts a bear and a strawberry tree?From the seahorses of Newcastle United to the royal crown of Real Madrid, via the riveting hammers of West Ham United, Valencia's famous bat design and German club St Pauli's unofficial skull-and-crossbones emblem, there is a story behind every crest, a tale of identity.Covering more than 200 clubs from 20 different leagues, World Football Club Crests explores the design, meaning and symbolism of the game's most famous club crests to reveal why the badges look as they do.This carefully curated collection charts the continuing evolution of the designs and describes the changing styles, varied influences and remarkable controversies that have shaped football's most iconic crests. These important symbols of football heraldTrade ReviewExplores the meaning behind the badges of 200 clubs from across the world. * Daily Mail *Uncovers badges through the ages of football teams from around the world. * Daily Star *This is lovely -- Miguel Delaney * The Independent *a masterpiece for people interested in design and who are passionate about football... [a] must for football and design lovers. * SvD (Swedish Newspaper) *One of the best sports books of the year... A nerdy book made with a lot of love and knowledge * SVT 1 (Swedish television) *Table of ContentsForeword Introduction England Scotland Spain Italy Germany France Sweden Australia USA Rest of the World

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Book Synopsis***WINNER OF A SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARD***A TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEARLONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR'A truly important book.' MEGAN RAPINOE'Hardhitting and clear sighted.' THE TIMES'Impassioned . . . joyous.' SPECTATORDISCOVER THE STORY OF THE WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR THE LIONESSESThis is the astonishing history of women's football: from the game's first appearance in England in the late nineteenth century to the incredible teams that at their height drew 53,000 spectators to Goodison Park, through to its fifty-year ban in the UK and the aftershocks when restrictions were lifted. Following the game's meteoric rise in recent years, Suzanne Wrack considers what the next chapter of this incredible story might - and should - be.'A thoroughly entertaining and enlightening read.'CLARE BALDING'A fantastic book on how the game has developed and what its future could hold.'PHIL NEVILLE'A compelling narrative . . . The history of the women's game has been long overlooked. This book celebrates it, and the teams and individuals who helped the sport develop into today's nationally and internationally recognized phenomenon.'TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT'Wrack is something of a trailblazer herself . . . few would be better placed to write its history.'IRISH TIMES

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Book SynopsisExperience the legendary history of Formula 1 in this definitive illustrated book.Foreword by Ross Brawn.Fully updated for 2024, Formula 1: The Official History is an electrifying account of the F1 phenomenon, telling the complete story of one of the world''s most popular, thrilling, and glamorous sports. Bringing together a superbly written account of the history of the sport and an exceptional selection of stunning images from across seven decades of F1 racing, the book charts the FIA Formula One World Championship, decade by decade, from its first race at Silverstone in May 1950 right through to the present day.Each chapter tells the fascinating stories behind the greatest drivers and teams, important personnel, famous and infamous incidents, as well as key changes to the rules on design, safety and competitiveness. These tales are accompanied by more than 250 exceptional photographs featuring icons past and present, including Ayrton Senna, M

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Book SynopsisThe autobiography of the fastest man of all time and a superstar whose talent and charisma have made him one of the most famous people on the planet.Whether you know Athletics or not, and even whether you know sport or not, chances are you know Usain Bolt. The fastest man on the planet, not just now but ever, Usain has won the hearts of people everywhere with his mind-blowing performances and his infectious charisma uniting supporters around the world.In this, his full autobiography, Usain tells his story in his own words: from humble beginnings in Jamaica, to international stardom at Beijing and on to the new heights of superstardom he has reached since lighting up London 2012.Full of the charm and charisma that has made him the most popular sporting figure of our time and a universal celebrity, this is a book that Usain's millions of fans will love.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 - CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR.SHORTLISTED FOR THE CRICKET SOCIETY AND MCC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2023.SELECTED AS ONE OF WATERSTONES BEST SPORT BOOKS OF 2022.A CRICKETER BOOK OF THE YEAR.''Superb'' Matthew Syed, The Times''Fascinating'' The Observer''Crickonomics is packed with sufficient statistical analysis to have the most ardent cricket geek purring with pleasure'' Mail on Sunday''An insightful, Hawk-Eye-like analysis of the numbers behind cricket'' Financial TimesAn engaging tour of the modern game from an award-winning journalist and the economist who co-authored the bestselling Soccernomics. Why does England rely on private schools for their batters but not their bowlers? How did demographics shape India''s rise? Why have women often been the game''Trade ReviewSuperb -- Matthew Syed * The Times *Fascinating * The Observer *Crickonomics is packed with sufficient statistical analysis to have the most ardent cricket geek purring with pleasure * The Mail on Sunday *Provides answers to a range of fascinating questions about the sport -- The Daily TelegraphAn insightful, Hawk-Eye-like analysis of the numbers behind cricket * The Financial Times *An illuminating study * The Times *A fact-packed and thought-provoking tour through cricket’s highways and byways * Times Literary Supplement *A startingly comprehensive insight into the past, present and possible future of this most English of sports. * City A.M *Part history, part data analysis, part reflection on the sport’s future, Crickonomics is exactly what the title suggests - a diagnosis of the state of professional cricket through the lens of economics. * All Sports Books *Taps into meaningful and eternal themes * Wisden Cricket Monthly *Pacy and extraordinarily broad * The Cricketer *The most engaging and insightful book on the progress of cricket that I have ever read… it is a book which should be of interest not only to cricket enthusiasts, but anyone with an interest in sport. * Braham Dabscheck, The Newtown Review of Books *Wigmore is one of sporting journalism’s most original thinkers. * The Cricketer *brilliant research and arguments, backed by conviction one would associate with true experts of the game…a must read. * Sportstar *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART ONE - CENTRES OF POWER: NEW AND OLD 1. Batters and bowlers, nature and nurture 2. The strange conservatism of Kerry Packer, and why Covid-19 will accelerate the rise of club cricket 3. An urban sport in a rural country: the challenge of Indian cricket 4. An Ashes Education - why cricket's oldest rivalry is the battle of private schools 5. The rise of New Zealand: by luck or design PART TWO - PIONEERS 6. Women's cricket - a history of innovation 7. How Jayasuriya and Gilchrist transformed Test 8. League cricket - the game's great missed opportunity 9. A fair result in foul weather PART THREE - CRICKET'S PROBLEMS 10. Cricket's concussion crisis 11. Stereotypes 12. What will the future of women's cricket look like? And the case for reparation 13. Why doesn't South Africa produce more Black batters?

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Book SynopsisA history of beloved cricket grounds from around the world. Using a Then and Now format, historic pictures of cricket grounds are paired with their modern-day equivalent to show the dramatic changes that have taken place. Cricket Grounds Then and Now is a history of some of the most famous cricketing venues from around the world, told through the format of Then and Now photos. Author of the bestselling Remarkable Cricket Grounds and Remarkable Village Cricket Grounds, Brian Levison, has assembled a stunning array of vintage photos of the major Test venues such as Lord's, The Oval, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Adelaide and the Sydney Cricket Ground, with which are paired a modern photo from the same viewpoint. There are smaller venues too – Saltaire in Yorkshire with its World Heritage mill as a backdrop; New Road, Worcester, viewed across the River Severn from the Cathedral and Ickwell Village Green with its large oak tree firmly inside the boundary rope. The photos show how some features survived for decades – such as the famous scoreboard on the SCG 'Hill' – or the standing terraces at St.Helens. Some grounds, such as the Central Ground in Hastings, have disappeared altogether. At the larger test venues in Australia, drop-in pitches are now the norm, allowing multiple use of the huge stadia, while in the UK, the county 'outgrounds' have gradually been whittled away. Yorkshire have lost Brammall Lane in Sheffield, Kent have abandoned their occupancy of Dover and Maidstone, while Essex have left Leyton in East London. Cricket Grounds Then and Now is a nostalgic trip around the world's cricketing venues showing both massive changes across a century and occasionally (Cheltenham College) no change at all. Grounds include: Barbados, Berlin, Scarborough, Canterbury, Wellington, Ahmedabad, Ageas Bowl, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, The Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Hollywood, Tilford, Dublin, Chelmsford, Sydney Cricket Ground, Aigburth, Buxton, Edgbaston, Philadelphia, Worcester, Headingley, Hove, Taunton, Lord's, The Oval, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Sidmouth and Singapore.

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Book SynopsisThis is the ultimate guide for any football fan who wants to know everything about the beautiful game - from World Cup winners to football skills and techniques.Whether you are a keen player, a lifelong supporter, or an armchair football manager, this book illustrates every aspect of the most popular sport in the world. The Football Book reveals the story behind the game - from the history of the sport to the results of the Qatar 2022 Men''s World Cup, and the build-up to the 2023 Women''s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.Discover everything there is to know on football with this fantastic guide, featuring:- A fresh graphic style illustrates everything from beach football to block tackles.- Stats and fact boxes profile players, managers, fans, national teams, and club.- Special features highlight great matches, stadiums, and football culture.- Top 5 boxes provide an alternative look at the best and worst of the g

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Book SynopsisFew cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue. It was in the English capital that the Football Association - the first of its kind anywhere - was founded in 1863 and that the FA Cup, the world's most famous domestic cup competition, was born. After the North and Midlands dominated the first forty-odd years of league football, three clubs in particular - Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea - began to challenge them and eventually succeeded, joining West Ham United as trophy winners not only at home but in Europe. Between those four clubs, and more than a dozen other professional clubs past and present, grew the turf wars that are the bedrock of the great rivalries and derbies across England's most vibrant football city. Turf Wars tells the story of football in the capital.

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Book SynopsisYou can see them, but you don't know them.Ultras are football fans like no others. A hugely visible and controversial part of the global game, their credo and aesthetic replicated in almost every league everywhere on earth, a global movement of extreme fandom and politics is also one of the largest youth movements in the world. Yet they remain unknown: an anti-establishment force that is transforming both football and politics. In this book, James Montague goes underground to uncover the true face of this dissident force for the first time. 1312: Among the Ultras tells the story of how the movement began and how it grew to become the global phenomenon that now dominates the stadiums from the Balkans and Buenos Aires. With unprecedented insider access, the book investigates how ultras have grown into a fiercely political movement, embracing extremes on both the left and right; fighting against the commercialisation of football and society – and against the attempts to control them by the authorities, who both covet and fear their power.Trade ReviewBrilliant and daring * Tobias Jones, Guardian *Utterly gripping. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. * Rory Smith, New York Times *

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Book SynopsisA FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022''This book delivers a thousand memories''. - Mark Lawrenson----A football fan''s dream come true every complete UK PANINI sticker album 1978-1985 reproduced together for the very first time. ''Swapsies'', ''Got, Got, Need'' and ''Shinies''... This landmark illustrated book is a fantastic feast of nostalgia for any football fan of a certain age. PANINI albums were a must-have if you were a football-mad kid growing up in the late 70s and 80s, when player stickers were bought, bartered and collected in a treasured rite of passage. This book will bring back all those I had that one', I'd forgotten about him' and look at that haircut!' memories as well as providing in-depth details on all the players and teams of the era.Licensed by PANINI, this is a comprehensive collection of PANINI''S UK domestic football albums from 1978 to 1985 inclusive. Covering all English First Division and Scottish Premier teams,Trade ReviewThis book delivers a thousand memories -- Mark LawrensonThis reissued collection of ordinary men turned into immortals is also an elegy to evanescent youth and defunct hairstyles. I felt I remembered half the stickers. -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times *A new anthology of Panini albums is a treasure trove into a long-forgotten world * Ian Herbert, Daily Mail *Those albums were part of football history * Bryan Robson *Table of ContentsForeword by Mark Lawrenson Introduction by Greg Lansdowne Football 78 Football 79 Football 80 Football 81 Football 82 Football 83 Football 84 Football 85

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Book Synopsis'Reveals criminal corruption on a scale that the Kray twins would never have dreamt of' John Pearson, Profession of Violence, The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins'Gillard's detailed investigation makes for a stunning and shocking read' Barry Keeffe, The Long Good Friday'Legacy illustrates the sordid links between business, politics and organised crime' Ioan Grillo, El Narco and Gangster WarlordsWhen billions poured into the neglected east London borough hosting the 2012 Olympics, a turf war broke out between crime families for control of a now valuable strip of land. Using violence, guile and corruption, one gangster, the Long Fella, emerged as a true untouchable. A team of local detectives made it their business to take him on until Scotland Yard threw them under the bus and the business of putting on 'the greatest show on earth' won the day. Protecting the Olympic legacy by covering up a scandal of suspicious deaths and corruption seemed more important than protecting Londoners from tTrade ReviewAfter reading this extraordinary book, I realised how much has changed in the criminal underworld of London’s East End since I wrote my own book on the Kray twins nearly fifty years ago. Where there are criminals, there is always corruption, but Michael Gillard reveals criminal corruption on a scale that the Kray twins would never have dreamt of when I knew them. Recreational drugs had barely started, the Krays were simple East End gangsters and the police were relatively easy to cope with then. In contrast, the world that Gillard uncovers is a nightmare of corruption, with vast amounts of crooked money and constant threats against him. To write a book like Legacy requires courage as well as literary skill. Michael Gillard has both -- John Pearson * The Profession of Violence, The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins *A story of violence and corruption in gangland London that reads like The Sopranos….says a lot about Gillard’s immense strength of character and his fearless commitment to evidence-based journalism… it was Gillard’s robust journalism that managed to prove what the police failed to do in 30 years. -- Jonathan Calvert * The Sunday Times *Digging deep into the underbelly of London, Legacy illustrates the sordid links between business, politics and organised crime. It's not only Latin America that suffers from gangster capitalism and corruption in the twenty-first century; to understand modern Britain you also have to understand how modern organized crime works -- Ioan Grillo * author of El Narco and Gangster Warlords *Gillard's detailed investigation makes for a stunning and shocking read and adds credence to the old adage that truth can be stranger than fiction -- Barrie Keeffe * The Long Good Friday *a superbly well-researched book... Legacy could never be called a sports book in the accepted sense (it reads more like an outstanding crime thriller). -- Peter Sharkey * Bristol Post *this is a book that’s both eye-opening and hair-raising. -- James Walton * The Daily Telegraph *Gillard’s forensically meticulous book is a labyrinthine account of East End villains and the councillors, bankers, CEOs and police who became ensnared in their web of corruption... * The Herald *Gillard is unflinching as he sorts through the serious organised criminals and police tasked to take them down... You will emerge reeling. -- Kirsty Brimelow * The Times *Gillard is not one to shy away from a challenge, however risky, and his latest book, Legacy: Gangsters, Corruption and the London Olympics, finds him in fearless mode. -- Chris Moss * Big Issue in the North *Table of ContentsPrologue: Going for Gold Part One: Land of Dope and Gory 1. Children of the Docks 2. The Silvertown Strip 3. Billy Liar 4. The Aladdin’s Den Part Two: The Long Fella 5. Snipers 6. Poofed Off 7. Cut 8. Blackjack Part Three: Let the Games Begin 9. Judas Pigs 10. Estocada 11. Document 12. The Dementors Part Four: Legacy 13. Promised Land 14. Hammer Time 15. TOWIE 16. Games Epilogue: Truth Commission Index

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Book SynopsisA captivating and moving account of the first England women''s football team that took part in the 1971 World Cup - detailing the injustice faced by those who took part and its effect on the women''s game as a whole. Told by the team themselves and written by the celebrity daughter of the main striker.''Don''t laugh, one day there may be a female Arsenal'', one headline read amidst the ridicule following the First Women''s World Cup in 1971.The spotlight was on the original lionesses, a diverse group of schoolgirls, bank clerks, and telephonists, primarily hailing from Chiltern Valley football club, run by a 60-year-old, multilingual bus driver called Harry. These amateur girls emerged as England''s first women''s football team at the 1971 World Cup in Mexico, only to face scorn once returned home. They were mocked by the press and their achievements were undermined. Players were banned for three months to two years if they tried to play with another team. The heroes had been punished.But the time has come to tell their truth.Narrated by the daughter of one of the team members, Janice Barton, with unprecedented access to the secrets and insights of the first ever woman''s team, this is a multi-generational story celebrating the power of a group of women who refused to accept the status quo - revealing how the events of 1971 shaped mother and daughter''s lives both personally and professionally.50 years later, Gail, her mother, and the rest of the team are ready to tell their story and share the legacy of the lost lionesses.

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Book SynopsisEvery cricket lover, for better or worse, has their year. The year it all fell into place or all fell apart. A year of triumph or disaster; of tragedy or comedy. This being cricket, there’s normally a bit of everything. Covering 50 different seasons, from 1934 right up to the weird summer of 2020, a series of journalists, poets, musicians, comedians, and ex-players – plus the odd England captain – have come together to produce a collection of personal essays, using the game of cricket as the backdrop to tell the story of their own Golden Summers. 50 voices for 50 years: each one delving into the year that means the most to them. This is Golden Summers.

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Book Synopsis''Football is a pleasure that hurts''This unashamedly emotional history of football is a homage to the romance and drama, spectacle and passion of a ''great pagan mass''. Through stories of superstition, heartbreak, tragedy, luck, heroes and villains, those who lived for football and those who died for it, Eduardo Galeano celebrates the glory of a game that - however much the rich and powerful try to control it - still retains its magic.''The Uruguayan whose writing got right to the heart of football ... readers were never in doubt of the warmth of the blood running through his veins'' Guardian''Galeano can run rings round our glamorous football intelligentsia'' When Saturday Comes''Stands out like Pele on a field of second-stringers'' New YorkerTrade ReviewGaleano can run rings round our glamorous football intelligentsia. * When Saturday Comes *Stands out like Pele on a field of second-stringers. * New Yorker *Galeano has a style of a great left half. He constantly switches the direction of play. His observations are acute. He delivers with an air of insouciance which cannot mask his mastery * Herald *Uplifting, reckless, ironic, impassioned... sparkles with supple imagery and a fine dry wit. * Independent *Deeply humane . . . he has produced literature that will endure, monuments to the imagination -- Toby Green * Independent *

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Book SynopsisA huge number of people ski, and this fun little book looks at all aspects of what makes it so appealing. For some, it's a serene communication with nature as they glide down a gentle slope in silence, for others it's a 100-miles-an-hour descent down an almost vertical piste with an evening of beer, cheese and singing as a follow-up.The Little Book of Skiing delves into this fascinating sport, starting with the history and encompassing pretty much everything that draws us to beautiful white slopes across the world. So whether you're a once-a-year wobble-down-a-nursery-slope type or a skiing superstar in lycra, this book will inform, amaze and amuse, and hopefully make your next epic power day that little bit better.SAMPLE QUOTE: 'There are really only three things to learn in skiing: how to put on your skis, how to slide downhill, and how to walk along the hospital corridor.' - From A Chinaman in My Bath and other pieces by Lord Mancroft, 1974SAMPLE FACT: The word 'ski' comes from the ancient Norse word 'skio', which means a split piece of wood.Table of ContentsIt's All Downhill From Here: The history of skiing, from the earliest records of transporting goods over snow to the most exciting downhill challenges. All You Need is Gloves: This chapter looks at skis, boots, goggles, poles and all the other fancy accoutrements you may 'need' on the slopes. Peak Your Interest: The most interesting, exciting and famous places you can ski, from all around the world, from St Moritz, Courchevel and Zermatt in Europe, Whistler in Canada, Aspen in the USA, to Thredbo in Australia, Niseko in Japan and Whakapapa in New Zealand. Après Ski: For some, it's a critical party time, for others it's stretching out by a log fire with some mulled wine. Powder to the People: Includes great skier biographies, details of skiing types and tournaments, records, facts, quotes and more. The Best Things in Life Are Freeze: Quotes, sayings, proverbs and jokes.

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Book SynopsisThe first history of Italian football to be written in English, Calcio' is a mix of serious analysis and comic storytelling, with vivid descriptions of games, goals, dives, missed penalties, riots and scandals in the richest and toughest league in the world.Calcio' tells the story of Italian football from its origins in the 1890's to the present day. It takes us through a history of great players and teams, of style, passion and success, but also of violence, cynicism, catenaccio tactics and corruption.We meet the personalities that have shaped this history from the Italian heroes to the foreigners that failed, the model professionals to the mavericks. Calcio' evokes the triumphs (the 1982 World Cup victory) and the tragedies (Meroni, the ''Italian George Best'', killed by his number one fan), set against a backdrop of paranoia and intrigue, in a country where the referee is seen as corrupt until proven otherwise.Calcio is no longer a game. It is sometimes difficult to define it as a Trade Review‘“Calcio: A History of Italian Football” reveals more about the national character than any dry study of politics or economics ever could. This is a hefty work but there is so much going on that the pace never slackens. Foot is a meticulous and knowledgeable guide to his complex subject and leaves the reader wanting to investigate further.’ Andrew Baker, Daily Telegraph ‘John Foot is head over heels in love with calcio, and his detailed, thematically structured account of its past and present is overwhelming evidence of that.’ Independent, Sport Section Book of the Week 'An excellent chapter on British failures in Serie A but it's the many scandals that one keeps coming back to.' Observer Sport Monthly 'Foot's exemplary history shows how football and Italian society are inextricably intertwined, and is full of fascinating vignettes.' Sunday Times 'Highly readable… “Calcio” has set an impressive benchmark for football histories in general.' Sean O'Connor, Soccerpile.com 'Like a match-winning penalty taken in extra time, this is a book not to be missed.' Oldie

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate guide to Real Madrid. The Real Madrid Handbook is an entertaining compendium of fascinating facts, match coverage, stories, personalities and trivia from the biggest club team on the planet. Rab MacWilliam traces the history of Real Madrid from the early 20th century, examining its progress in the domestic cup and league, and analyses the impact that the Republic, the Spanish Civil War and the repressive authoritarian aftermath had on the club. He relates how the stunning success in European football in the mid-1950s to the early 1960s was one of the factors that helped to ease Spain’s integration into Europe and explores the club’s rise to become one of the most skilful and dominant teams in the global game over the last thirty years. Fascinating, informative, irreverent and insightful, The Real Madrid Handbook is the perfect guide to the history of this extraordinary club.

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Book SynopsisThe daring exploits of motorcycle race legends Valentino Rossi, Barry Sheene, Casey Stoner and John Surtees are all gloriously celebrated in MotoGP: The Illustrated History.Updated for 2023 and packed with more than 150 stunning photographs, this authoritative and long-overdue illustrated history celebrates high performance motorbike racing since the start of the world championship in 1949.Each racing decade is dissected and discussed, as are the big incidents, top personalities and technological innovations. To complete the book, motorcycle racing's greatest names – including John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez – provide exclusive personal insights and accounts of what it is like to race at speeds of 200mph. MotoGP: The Illustrated History is a unique book which brilliantly conveys the exhilarating spirit of this stunning sport.Table of ContentsIntroduction • 1949-1958 Birth of the Series (Interviews with Geoff Duke and John Surtees) • 1959-1968 Japan and the First Golden Age (Interviews with Giacomo Agostini and Jim Redman) • 1969-1978 The Two-Stroke Takeover (interviews with Phil Read and Kenny Roberts) • 1979-1988 The Rooster-Tail Americans Hit Town (interviews with Wayne Gardner and Wayne Rainey) • 1989-1998 Beyond the Golden Age (interviews with Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan) • 1999-2013 The Return of the Four-Strokes (interviews with Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner) • 2014-2022 Good Times, Tough Times • MotoGP records.

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of the most contested fixture in world footballA must read.' Henry Winter''Superb.'' Daniel TaylorLiverpool and Manchester. Two gloriously independent-minded, eclectic, culturally vibrant places. Yet the inhabitants dislike each other with a passion that is visceral. It is a divide that spans generations, across class, gender and ethnicity. And it has grown over the years, largely driven by one thing: football.The dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of Liverpool and Manchester United has seeped into every aspect of life in the two cities. Football is not a barometer of disdain, as it is in places like Glasgow or Istanbul or Moscow. In northwest England, it is the engine of animosity.How did it come to this? Why did things turn so nasty? And what does it say about the two cities in which the clubs are based?Written by a Scouser and a Manc in a rare collaboration, Red on Red addresses the divide by talking to those involved in ten seminal football matches. ITrade Review‘A great insight into this ancient rivalry, the rants, duels, the reasons… A must read.’ Henry Winter, The Times 'Superb – if you have been brought up on the greatest rivalry in football, you will love this book.'Daniel Taylor, The Athletic ‘Fascinating…a must-read not just for the fans of both of these great clubs but anyone with a passion for football.’John Cross, The Daily Mirror 'White and McNulty’s writing is so astonishingly powerful and vivid. It brings back so many memories – of famous battles on the pitch, and on the streets outside. They capture it all – the noise, the tension, even the smell. The glory and the fear. This isn’t just football history, it’s football literature.' Michael Crick, author of The Boss: The Many Sides of Alex Ferguson ‘Phil McNulty and Jim White have delved into the most ferocious of rivalries. Two clubs. Two winners. The animosity for each other was a natural spin-off from their geographical closeness. As a player, you couldn’t show weakness. The way it should be. Red v Red.’ Jim Beglin, Liverpool and Republic Of Ireland defender Praise for Jim White’s Manchester United: A Biography… ‘A wonderfully entertaining history.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Championship sportswriting.’ The Guardian ‘Engaging.’ The Independent ‘When historians 1,000 years from now try to fathom the cult of Manchester United Football Club, White will be a good place to start.' Financial Times Praise for Jim White’s You'll Win Nothing With Kids: Fathers, Sons and Football… ‘The Fever Pitch of the junior league.’ Sunday Times ‘A fizzingly funny, sad, thoughtful book.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Touching, involving and really quite enthralling.’ Daily Telegraph ‘A pleasure to read.’ The Independent

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Book SynopsisSoon to be an ABC reality series entitled Ultimate Surfer, starring 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly SlaterSix-time world surfing champion, actor, and American heartthrob Kelly Slater tells his inspiring story of triumph over adversity From Beach Blanket Bingo to Baywatch to Blue Crush, surfing has fascinated people for years, and Kelly Slater is the sport’s hottest star. He has won more world championships than any other competitor, and he continues to change peoples’ minds about what can and can’t be done on a surfboard. His wild ride has included fame, fortune, a stint on Baywatch, and a high-profile relationship with Pamela Anderson. Not bad for a skinny kid from a broken home in Cocoa Beach, Florida. In Pipe Dreams, Kelly takes the reader into oceans around the world to take on thunderous walls of water and shares the outrageous stories, solemn moments, and undeniable spirit that have made him a superstar.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A fascinating tale." * New York Times Book Review *"A gripping portrayal of [Billy] Garland’s marathon campaign to get the Games." * Los Angeles Times *“Wonderfully written narrative. . . . Recommended." * CHOICE *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Author’s Note Prologue: Billy’s Parade 1 Billy’s Migration 2 LA on the Cusp 3 The Quest 4 A Foot in the Door 5 The Hand of Man 6 Rome, 1923 7 The Great Migration 8 Protecting the Image 9 A Bolt from the Blue 10 Planting a Seed 11 Then Came the Crash 12 Berlin, 1930 13 A Sacred Duty 14 Desperate Hours 15 Competing Narratives 16 Playing His Cards 17 A Lush New World 18 A Parallel Universe 19 The Games 20 A Footing in the World Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes and Sources Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisKobe Bryant is a legend – The Rise is a fascinating look at his early life and how he became regarded as one of basketball’s greatest-ever players.Kobe Bryant’s death in January 2020 did more than rattle the worlds of sports and celebrity. It took the tragedy of that helicopter crash to reveal the full breadth and depth of Kobe’s influence. By tracing and telling the oft-forgotten and lesser-known story of his early life, The Rise promises to provide an unparalleled insight into Kobe.In The Rise, readers travel from the cracked concrete basketball courts of Philadelphia in the 1960s and 70s – where Kobe’s father, Joe, became a playground, college and professional stand-out – to the majesty and isolation of Europe, where Kobe spent his formative years, and to the leafy suburbs of Lower Merion, where Kobe’s legend was born. The story ends with his leading Lower Merion to the 1995–96 Pennsylvania state championship – a true underdog run for a team with just one star player, Kobe – and with the 1996 NBA draft, where Kobe’s dream of playing pro basketball culminated with his acquisition by the Los Angeles Lakers.With exclusive access to a series of never-before-released interviews during Bryant’s senior season and early days in the NBA, and tapes and transcripts which have preserved Kobe’s thoughts, dreams and goals from his teenage years for a quarter-century, Mike Sielski’s The Rise uncovers insights and stories that have never been revealed before.This is an exploration of the making of an icon and the effect of his development on those around him – the essence of the man before he truly became a man.Trade ReviewWhat incredible insight into the rise of Kobe Bryant . . . Captivating from start to finish. A must read -- Billy King, former general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn NetsRichly detailed and beautifully written . . . Even readers who have never watched a basketball game will be riveted by Mike Sielski’s page-turning portrait of a young Kobe Bryant -- Abbott Kahler (aka Karen Abbott), New York Times bestselling author of The Ghosts of Eden Park

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Book Synopsis*THE INSIDE STORY OF HOW ENGLAND REACHED THE EURO 2024 FINAL**Written by the European Football Writer of the Year and the Chief Football Correspondent at the Sunday Times**Includes interviews with Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, John Stones, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and many more**Learn how England broke their penalty shootout hoodoo**Discover Southgate's work behind the scenes to transform the team's culture**Find out how Harry Kane was identified as a leader by Southgate during his first camp**Uncover how Bellingham was picked out as a top talent at an early age and nurtured through the youth system*Under the stewardship of Gareth Southgate and captained by Harry Kane, England reached two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final in four tournaments. After years of underperforming, how did they become genuine contenders a

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate book for both hoops fans and sneaker obsessives, A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers is an exciting and fascinating look at the sport written with authority and experience by former Complex magazine editor Russ Bengtson. From primeval Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars to baroque Reebok Pumps and myth-making Air Jordans to super-high-tech Nike Adapt BBs, each chapter breaks down how a specific sneaker defined an era of basketball, transformed the culture, or changed the game. With full-colour sneaker photographs and sidebars throughout, the book is a kaleidoscopic celebration of the players, styles, and iconic moments that have shaped hoops both on and off the court. Topics include: Puma Clydes and the New York City street game; the explosion of sneaker marketing in the 1980s and the rise of the modern global basketball superstar with Michael Jordan; Nike Air Swoopes and the evolution of the women's game; sneaker tech and tweaking design to playing style, from inside post moves to outside sharpshooting; and much more.Trade Review“This book is not only a tremendous amount of fun, but also a tremendous resource of history. And I know that oftentimes those two things cannot co-exist. But that’s only because oftentimes it’s not Russ Bengtson who is doing the writing.”—Shea Serrano, bestselling author of Basketball (and Other Things)“This book is not only a tremendous amount of fun, but also a tremendous resource of history. And I know that oftentimes those two things cannot co-exist. But that’s only because oftentimes it’s not Russ Bengtson who is doing the writing.” —Shea Serrano, bestselling author of Basketball (and Other Things)“This is the personification of perfect author meeting perfect subject. Russ Bengtson’s passion for sneakers knows no bounds, and it oozes from the pages of this joyfully explosive book. A herculean effort that takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of leather, laces, and soul.” —Jeff Pearlman, bestselling author of Showtime, Three-Ring Circus, and The Last Folk Hero“This is the personification of perfect author meeting perfect subject. Russ Bengtson’s passion for sneakers knows no bounds, and it oozes from the pages of this joyfully explosive book. A herculean effort that takes the reader on an unforgettable journey of leather, laces, and soul.”—Jeff Pearlman, bestselling author of Showtime, Three-Ring Circus, and The Last Folk Hero“A gorgeous book, as innovative and essential as the iconic sneakers that grace these pages. Whether you’re a sneakerhead, a basketball lover, or someone who has never even watched hoops, this book will pull you in. There’s no one better to tell this story than Russ Bengtson.”—Mirin Fader, bestselling author of Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP and senior staff writer at The Ringer“A gorgeous book, as innovative and essential as the iconic sneakers that grace these pages. Whether you’re a sneakerhead, a basketball lover, or someone who has never even watched hoops, this book will pull you in. There’s no one better to tell this story than Russ Bengtson.” —Mirin Fader, bestselling author of Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA MVP and senior staff writer at The Ringer“Russ Bengtson has been at both the genesis and the center of the sneaker revolution for thirty years. A History of Basketball In Fifteen Sneakers is not the typical sneaker dive—it is a historical recreation on how basketball and the shoes that have been a part of the game since Day One are as deeply connected as Chuck is to Taylor, Jordan is to Air, and P. J. is to Tucker.” —Scoop Jackson, author of Sole Provider and former writer/editor at SLAM and ESPN“Russ Bengtson has been at both the genesis and the center of the sneaker revolution for thirty years. A History of Basketball In Fifteen Sneakers is not the typical sneaker dive—it is a historical recreation on how basketball and the shoes that have been a part of the game since Day One are as deeply connected as Chuck is to Taylor, Jordan is to Air, and P. J. is to Tucker.”—Scoop Jackson, author of Sole Provider and former writer/editor at SLAM and ESPN“A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers confirms Russ Bengtson as this generation's definitive voice on everything sneaker-related. This book is a treasure trove of knowledge for novices and a reminder to even the most diehard sneakerhead that there are many layers to the history behind what we're wearing on our feet today.”—Alex Wong, author of Cover Story and We the Champs“A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers confirms Russ Bengtson as this generation's definitive voice on everything sneaker-related. This book is a treasure trove of knowledge for novices and a reminder to even the most diehard sneakerhead that there are many layers to the history behind what we're wearing on our feet today.” —Alex Wong, author of Cover Story and We the Champs“Russ Bengtson has spent three decades reporting on—and shaping—basketball and sneaker culture. A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers is a culmination of that expertise, but, more importantly, it is flat-out terrific. Through interviews with major contributors (Kobe Bryant, Sonny Vaccaro, David Falk) and tireless research, Bengtson crafts a mix of sports and cultural history that will inform and intoxicate readers for years to come.” —Pete Croatto, author of From Hang Time to Prime Time“Russ Bengtson has spent three decades reporting on—and shaping—basketball and sneaker culture. A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers is a culmination of that expertise, but, more importantly, it is flat-out terrific. Through interviews with major contributors (Kobe Bryant, Sonny Vaccaro, David Falk) and tireless research, Bengtson crafts a mix of sports and cultural history that will inform and intoxicate readers for years to come.”—Pete Croatto, author of From Hang Time to Prime Time

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Book SynopsisWriter Harry Pearson takes a warm and witty journey around Britain in pursuit of the lost folk sports that somehow still linger on in the glitzy era of the Premier League and Sky Sports to find out how and why they have survived and to meet the characters who keep them going. When Victorian public schoolmasters and Oxbridge-educated gentlemen were taming football, codifying cricket, bringing the values of muscular Christianity to the boxing ring and the athletics field, games that dated back to the pagan era clung on in isolated pockets of rural Britain, unmodified by contemporary tastes, shunned by the media and sport’s ruling elites.  Here they remain, small, secret worlds, free from media scrutiny and VAR controversies, wreathed in an arcane language of face-gaters, whack-ups, potties, gates-of-hell and the Dorset flop; as much a part of the British countryside as the natterjack toad and almost as endangered. No Pie, No Priest! tTrade Review'Highly entertaining' * Spectator *'Harry Pearson has a wry, affectionate look at these lesser-known British sports...a light, amusing read' * Country Life *In this cracking book, Harry Pearson travels Britain taking notes on peculiar local sports... His writing style is sublimely funny' * Daily Telegraph *'As well as enjoying a singular sort of history lesson, one comes away from his book with all manner of memorable nuggets' * Times Literary Supplement *'It’s difficult to recommend this book highly enough…Harry Pearson is so effortlessly funny that I found myself snorting aloud while I read this on the Tube. Indeed, he’s so engaging that it’s hard not to want to conduct one’s own tour to catch some of these games before it’s too late' * The Field *'Highly entertaining' * Spectator *'Harry Pearson has a wry, affectionate look at these lesser-known British sports...a light, amusing read' * Country Life *In this cracking book, Harry Pearson travels Britain taking notes on peculiar local sports... His writing style is sublimely funny' * Daily Telegraph *'As well as enjoying a singular sort of history lesson, one comes away from his book with all manner of memorable nuggets' * Times Literary Supplement *'It’s difficult to recommend this book highly enough…Harry Pearson is so effortlessly funny that I found myself snorting aloud while I read this on the Tube. Indeed, he’s so engaging that it’s hard not to want to conduct one’s own tour to catch some of these games before it’s too late' * The Field *

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