History of sport Books

Book SynopsisCelebrating the 50th anniversary of America's greatest game. From its inauspicious beginnings as 'The First World Championship Game between the AFL and NFL' in 1967 to the raucous worldwide cultural event that was Super Bowl 50, Allan Maki and Dave Naylor count down the greatest moments in each staging of the first 50 Super Bowls. Be it Joe Namath's guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III or the Miami Dolphins' perfect ending in Super Bowl VII or David Tyree's helmet catch in Super Bowl XLII, all the iconic moments are recounted here, and more! MVP performances and game-changing plays are all included in this action packed book, filled with photos, informative stat boxes and essays that deliver a complete picture of how the biggest game in sport played out, year by year. One-name heroes like Brady, Montana and Bradshaw share top billing with lesser-known, big-time contributors, like: Max McGee, Timmy Smith and Rod Martin. And what compendium of Super Bowl stories would be complete without a mention of the media moments, famous commercials and controversial plays that sometimes shared centre stage with the on-field heroics? From the highest highs to the lowest lows, Maki and Naylor cover it all in 50 Super Bowls.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBoxing Day 1920, and 53,000 men, women and children pack inside Goodison Park. The extraordinary crowds have come to watch two local rivals play a match for charity. But this is no ordinary charity fixture. Eleven of the players are international celebrities and their team is the biggest draw in British - and world - football. Yet they are all full-time factory workers - and they are women. They are the ladies of Dick Kerr electrical works. And the male football establishment is terrified by them. With the men away fighting from 1914-1918, most of the workers in the factories of northern England were women. And many factories had a ladies' football team. In December 1917, the team from the Dick Kerr factory challenged the ladies of the nearby Arundel Coulthard Foundry to a charity match. It was the first of 828 games for Dick Kerr Ladies as over the decades they scored more than 3,500 goals and raised the equivalent of GBP1 million for an array of charities. By 1920, ladies football was a major spectator sport. But away from the cheering terraces are bastions of professional men's football viewed the mass popularity of women's soccer with increasing alarm.On 5 December 1921 the Football Association met in London. After a brief debate behind closed doors it unanimously passed an urgent resolution: women's football was banned from all professional football grounds. Dick Kerr Ladies did not give in, playing their matches on parkland with thousands of spectators turning up to watch. But constant pressure from the FA meant that one by one, teams began to fold,. It would take until 1971 for the FA to life its ban. Today, women's football has once again claimed a place in the global games. But it came too late for the pioneers of the sport: Preston Ladies - nee Dick Kerr Ladies - played their last match in 1969.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWimbledon has long stood at the pinnacle of British and world tennis. But, as Kevin Jefferys shows in this ground-breaking new study, Britain has a rich history of international standard play beyond SW19, in top-level tournaments and Davis Cup competitions at iconic venues such as Queen's Club, Eastbourne and Edgbaston. The book traces the fluctuating fortunes of a dozen or so tournaments that have brought the world's finest players to English shores during the 140-year history of lawn tennis. Taking a tour around different regions of the country, the author sheds fresh light on the best-known events and on largely forgotten but once high-profile tournaments held in Bristol, Torquay and Scarborough. Both a record and a celebration of England's tennis heritage, the book is packed with stories about memorable players and matches, full results for singles finals and anecdotes about quirky or controversial incidents, ranging from the courtside fire that halted a tournament final to the anti-apartheid protests that disrupted a Davis Cup tie.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the rules and history of the game to the four provincial teams and legendary players, and more this lavishly illustrated book includes everything you could possibly want to know about Irish rugby.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFounded in 1884 to promote Irish identity and revive the traditional sports of hurling, football and handball, the GAA enjoyed an intimate relationship with the nationalist movement from the turn of the twentieth century onwards. In 1914, the Irish Volunteers drilled with hurley sticks in the absence of rifles; after the 1916 Rising many of those interned by the British were GAA members; and on 21 November 1920, a Gaelic football match between Dublin and Tipperary at Croke Park was interrupted by a raid by British crown forces that left fourteen dead in Ireland's first 'Bloody Sunday'. With affection and authority, Tim Pat Coogan traces the stirring story of an institution which, from modest beginnings as a grass-roots sporting organisation, has grown into a cornerstone of Irish society both North and South. The Gaelic Athletic Association is, Coogan argues, the most socially valuable organisation in Ireland, whose ideal of voluntarism has contributed to a distinctive sense of national identity that flourishes wherever green is worn.Trade ReviewA new book has charted the 'intimate' connection between the GAA and Irish freedom. Historian Tim Pat Coogan has investigated the influential role played by the association in the revolution * Irish Independent *Tim Pat Coogan's new book underlines the association's huge role in galvanising people against British rule, and how it acted as an important unifying force * Irish Examiner *With his usual erudition and readability, he considers the border campaign of the 50s, The Troubles, and the Hunger Strikes * Irish News *In The GAA and the War of Independence there is little room for doubt. The book knows what it is for, and knows who it is against. It asks few questions, and even fewer to which it doesn't already have an answer * Irish Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisArsenal's on-field success has been well documented. But what has never been written before is the equally remarkable history of Arsenal's rebels, both on and off the pitch. Spanning almost 120 years, and set against a backdrop of turbulent social and political change, Rebels for the Cause assesses the legacy and impact of Arsenal's most controversial players, officials and matches. From hard men like '30s player Wilf Copping to the reformed wild ones of recent years such as Tony Adams, Jon Spurling highlights the infamous figures whose refusal to conform has made them terrace legends. Mavericks such as '80s star Charlie Nicholas and the 'King of Highbury' Charlie George are here, as are '70s lads Alan Hudson and Malcolm Macdonald. The book also focuses on the club's revolutionary founding fathers, David Danskin and Jack Humble, the terrifying '20s 'soccer Tsar' Sir Henry Norris and David Dein's controversial introduction of free-market economics to Highbury in the regressive '80s. Also investigated are the stories behind Arsenal's most infamous tabloid exposés. Featuring extensive interviews with 15 former players, Rebels for the Cause is an indispensable guide to the alternative history of Arsenal Football Club, shedding new light on the origins of the rivalry with Tottenham, on many of Highbury's cult heroes and on the struggle of several players to adapt to life outside the game.Trade ReviewFascinating . . . reveals the story of the club's darker side * Shoot Monthly *Essential reading for all true Arsenal fans * Highbury High *A detailed, thought-provoking and informative study * Programme Monthly *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRugby union has undergone immense change in the past two decades - introducing a World Cup, accepting professionalism and creating a global market in players - yet no authoritative English-language general history of the game has been published in that time. Until now. A Game for Hooligans brings the game's colourful story up to date to include the 2007 World Cup. It covers all of the great matches, teams and players but also explores the social, political and economic changes that have affected the course of rugby's development. It is an international history, covering not only Britain and France but also the great rugby powers of the southern hemisphere and other successful rugby nations, including Argentina, Fiji and Japan. Contained within are the answers to many intriguing questions concerning the game, such as why 1895 is the most important date in both rugby-union and rugby-league history and how New Zealand became so good and have remained so good for so long. There is also a wealth of anecdotes, including allegations of devil-worship at a Welsh rugby club and an account of the game's contribution to the Cuban Revolution. This is a must-read for any fan of the oval ball.Trade ReviewAn ambitious project, triumphantly realised * Independent on Sunday *Crammed with fact and leavened with anecdote . . . an utterly reliable guide * Daily Telegraph *Huw Richards has managed to distil the very essence of rugby union history into this one volume . . . an excellent chronicle * The Independent *Magnificent * The Times *Engagingly quirky * Publishing News *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'EIGHT YEARS WITH RANGERS, MORE THAN 300 GAMES, INCREDIBLE HIGHS, PAINFUL LOWS – AND IT ALL CAME DOWN TO ONE NIGHT IN THE NOU CAMP' 24 May 1972. The biggest night in the history of Rangers. Having overcome the might of Italian giants Torino and Beckenbauer’s Bayern Munich en route to the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Dynamo Moscow stood between the Light Blues and the trophy. The stage was set in Barcelona for an unsung hero: Dave Smith. Creator of two of the goals on the night and arguably man of the match. In a rollercoaster career, Smith joined the Ibrox club from Aberdeen in 1966 for a record fee. He tasted defeat in the 1967 European Cup Winners’ Cup final and had his career blighted by two horrific leg breaks during a period in which he also experienced the tragedy of the Ibrox disaster. But by 1972 Smith was a lynchpin of Willie Waddell’s team. Playing as sweeper, he dicated the tempo of games with his vision and pinpoint passing. The star of the Nou Camp victory was voted Player of the Year in Scotland to cap the most memorable of seasons. He departed Rangers in 1974, making a shock switch to Arbroath after a fallout with new Ibrox manager Jock Wallace, before going on to star overseas in South Africa and then alongside George Best for the LA Aztecs in America. Rejecting the chance to join Paris Saint-Germain, Smith chose to end his career in Scotland’s lower leagues as player-manager at Berwick Rangers where he would find success and happiness playing the game the way it was meant to be played.Trade Review'The Road to Barcelona is beautifully written and full of warmth' * The Times *'An excellent new autobiography.' * The Herald *'Barcelona Bear Dave Smith lived the dream every time he wore the shirt for the club he loved' * Daily Mail *

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2023 Sports Book Awards for Best Sports Writing of the Year The British, who are rightly proud of their sporting traditions, are now having to come to terms with the dark, unacknowledged, past of racism in sport – until now the truth that dare not speak its name. Conscious and unconscious racism have for decades blighted the lives of talented black and Asian sportsmen and women, preventing them from fulfilling their potential. In Formula One, despite Lewis Hamilton’s stellar achievements, barely one per cent of the 40,000 people employed in the sport are of ethnic minority heritage. In football, Britain’s premier sport, the number of non-white managers in the professional game remains pitifully small. And in cricket, Azeem Rafiq’s testimony to the Commons select committee has exposed the scandal of prejudice faced by Asian cricketers in the game. Veteran author and journalist Mihir Bose examines the way racism has affected black and Asian sportsmen and women and how attitudes have evolved over the past fifty years. He looks in depth at the controversies that have beset sport at all levels: from grassroots to international competitions and how the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement has had a seismic impact throughout sport, with black sports personalities leading the fight against racism. However, this has also led to a worrying white fatigue. Talking to people from playing field to boardroom and the media world, he illustrates the complexities and striking contrasts in attitudes towards race. We hear the voices of players, coaches and administrators as Mihir Bose explores the question of how the dream of a truly non-racial sports world can become a reality. The Marcus Rashford mural featured on the cover was commissioned by the Withington Walls community art project, created by artist AskeP19 (@akse_p19) and based on photography by Danny Cheetham (@dannycheetham). To find out more about the Withington Walls project, you can follow them at @Withingtonwalls on both Twitter and Instagram, or visit their website: www.withingtonwalls.co.ukTrade Review'Bose’s book should be a wake-up call to all those running British sports' * The Times *'Bose has written a thought-provoking, worthwhile and at times fascinating analysis of how racism has blighted sport in Britain, and what might be done to change this' -- John O'Donnell * Irish Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNFL Scrapbook is packed with rare photographs, images and on-the-page facsimile memorabilia and provides an incredible insight into the history of the NFL and its legendary players and coaches. Spanning the decades and covering all the NFL?s most iconic eras, we uncover the fascinating stories and incredible accomplishments of the greatest football players of all time, from the game?s first superstars like Don Hutson and Jim Brown, to modern giants such as Tom Brady, there?s something for every NFL fan here. Over almost a century, the NFL has provided fans with hundreds of unique personalities, countless unforgettable moments and some of the greatest feats of sporting brilliance ever seen. From its humble beginnings in the midwest to the global phenomenon it has become today, the league has evolved and changed almost beyond recognition. But the exploits of the football heroes of years past continue to stand the test of time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's Britain's hottest summer since 1976 and English cricket is in a sweat of transformation. The public is no longer interested in County Championship games, traditional touchstone of the calendar. Fans prefer a bit of flash, bang, wallop – or so the experts tell us. Where though does that leave the twenty minor counties – strung out from Northumberland to Norfolk to Cornwall – who for the past one hundred and twenty-five years have fancied themselves the stepping-stone between regional club and first class county competitions? A level of the game seen as either an ex-professionals' graveyard or the last refuge of blazered old duffers is in a struggle for its very existence. And come 2020, the venerable Minor Counties Championship will indeed be blown away, like dandelion seeds on the breeze, replaced by the newly-branded and 'more marketable' National Counties Championship. At least that was the plan. In 2018, no-one has yet heard of Covid-19. What they do know is that this threat to their competition is existential and the modernisers at Lord's are to blame, far more interested in such innovations as a proposed new 'Hundred' than bolstering that which has stood the test of time. Granted full access to committee and squad, Tony Hannan, author of Underdogs – A Year in the Life of a Rugby League Town, spent a season with Cumberland CCC amid the lakes, fells and mountains of Cumbria. And as might have been expected in such dramatic terrain, he tells a story full of ups and downs – complete with one or two surprises. Skippered by former Durham player Gary Pratt – who as substitute fielder ran out Australia captain Ricky Ponting during the 2005 Ashes – Cumberland's expenses-only nomads are nevertheless just one important thread in a yarn stretching well beyond the boundaries of Cumbria. The Wicket Men is a cricket book unlike any other. It draws stumps on a small but fascinating aspect of a pastime whose rhythms and rituals, while endlessly evolving, are rooted firmly in the English folk tradition.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen the Rogers Place arena opened in downtown Edmonton in September 2016, no amount of buzz could drown out the rumours of manipulation, secret deals, and corporate greed undergirding the project. Working with documentary evidence and original interviews, the authors present an absorbing account of the machinations that got the arena and the adjacent Ice District built, with a price tag of more than $600 million. The arena deal, they argue, established a costly public financing precedent that people across North America should watch closely, as many cities consider building sports facilities for professional teams or international competitions. Their analysis brings clarity and nuance to a case shrouded in secrecy and understood by few besides political and business insiders. Power Play tells a dramatic story about clashing priorities where sports, money, and municipal power meet. Foreword by Richard Gruneau.Trade Review"Power Play is easy to understand, with a clear message: cities set to negotiate with professional sports teams must be aware there is a carefully-crafted playbook designed to attract maximum public dollars for sports facilities..." -- Liane Faulder# 1 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, October 27, 2019 * Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers *# 2 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, November 03, 2019 * Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers *# 3 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, November 10, 2019 * Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers *"In Power Play, Jay Scherer, David Mills and Linda Sloan McCulloch not only clear the fog, they situate the whole ordeal as only the latest example of a long pattern of North American pro sports teams coercing public subsidies for new facilities.... No amount of massaging the messaging or shiny renderings will cover up the most fundamental divide in these debates: whether scarce public resources should be spent building something that will generate private profit, and which many citizens cannot reap the benefits of." -- Taylor Lambert * The Sprawl *"Power Play delves into the dark world of billionaire club owners, weak mayors and unconscionable subsidies that litter the world of professional sports. The names and dollar values change, but these grinding sagas are all the same: One false move and the dummy gets it. Pay up or you lose the team. So, taxpayers pay and pay". -- Holly Doan * Blacklock's Reporter *# 7 on Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers list, November 24, 2019 -- Edmonton Non-Fiction Bestsellers"Ultimately, Power Play asserts that the city was the biggest loser when it came to building the arena. The city financed a majority of the new arena at an enormous cost.... While it agrees the arena has made positive contributions to Edmonton, it cautions future cities and arena developments to think critically about spending public dollars on private ventures." -- Adam Lachacz"[The arena deal] was viewed by some as a catalyst for invigorating Edmonton’s downtown core and a way to lock in the city’s storied Oilers franchise. Others argued it was a gift to a billionaire businessman and the presumed result of backroom deals and public threats to move the team. Now, a new book sheds light on how Edmonton City Council reached the arena deal." -- Jennifer Crosby# 8 on Glass Bookshop's Top 10 list, November 11, 2019# 8 on Glass Bookshop's Top 10 list, November 18, 2019# 7 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, December 01, 2019# 8 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, December 08, 2019# 9 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, December 15, 2019"...a lot of things that a lot of political parties and governments do should be examined carefully. One informative way to look at them is to read the newly published Power Play. The book examines events leading to the City of Edmonton’s decision to provide most of the funding for the Edmonton Oilers’ new arena.... The book’s real value lies in detailed recounting of how a big political battle was fought. Proponents of the arena deal were operating on articles of faith.... The book outlines constant appeals to conventional wisdom. It implicitly raises the question of whether politicians act on a strong information base in such cases, or whether they make decisions on gut instinct and a strong pull toward going along with a crowd." -- Mark Lisac"Power Play: Professional Hockey and the Politics of Urban Development is an absolute masterpiece of civic journalism." -- Fish Griwkowsky# 8 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, January 5, 2020Ten of the year's best books by local authors to look out for. Many sports fans may not be aware of the true costs behind one of Canada’s most beloved sports. Diving into the politics behind the Rogers Place deal, this book illuminates the facts previously shrouded in secrecy around the manipulation and machination that got the $600-million arena built. -- Fish Griwkowsky * Edmonton Journal *"Power Play is a book that needs to be out there, for the politicians, the protesters, the civic activists, the journalists, even the fans to read before the next power play by some rich owner, like, say Calgary or Ottawa.... As a reader, there's plenty to take away from Power Play, from the deep respect of all the research for the book to befuddlement at how public funds continue to fund rich people's toys." [Full review at https://www.sihrhockey.org/__a/public/column.cfm?cid=4] -- Greg Oliver, Society for International Hockey Research# 2 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, February 02, 2020 * Edmonton's Bestselling Books *# 10 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, February 09, 2020 * Edmonton's Bestselling Books *# 5 on Edmonton's Bestselling Books list; Non-fiction, March 08, 2020 * Edmonton's Bestselling Books *"Readers interested in the business of sport will enjoy Power Play. But this book is really about how municipal politics can be hijacked. Themes of democracy, transparency and public participation in municipal politics run throughout the book.... Power Play shows what can happen when local politics becomes enmeshed with local and international business interests." [Full review at https://albertaviews.ca/power-play-professional-hockey-politics-urban-development/] -- Ryan Gauthier"University of Alberta kinesiology professor Jay Scherer is one of the authors of the upcoming book Power Play: Professional Hockey and the Politics of Urban Development — a deep dive into Edmonton’s arena deal... 'Any time a city does a new deal, it does set a very powerful precedent that the city with the next-oldest arena is invited to meet, if not exceed, in terms of subsidy,' Scherer said." -- Madeline Smith, Toronto Star, 07/31/2019“The book adds significantly to literatures on the economics of sport, municipal government, and urban development by providing a detailed case study of the process and politics of sports facility construction, grounded in the distinct history and sporting experiences of a particular North American city…. Power Play provides a template for investigating and analyzing the political and economic issues that will be faced in the next decade or two by every North American city with a major professional sports franchise seeking public subsidies…. Power Play should go straight to the top of the reading list of anyone interested in the range of important issues illuminated by this carefully assembled and thought-provoking case study.” Stacy L. Lorenz, American Review of Canadian Studies, 51:4 [Full review at https://doi.org/10.1080/02722011.2021.1996932]"Part scholarly history, part muckraking exposé, part caution tale, the book tells the story of how the team’s owner, Darryl Katz, a millionaire drugstore chain magnate, enticed the City of Edmonton, its mayor and councillors, to rezone lands, relocate residents, and build the new facility so that the Oilers could leave their 'obsolete' digs in the Rexall Centre (once and now again the Northlands Coliseum) and inhabit a state-of-the-art, 'world-class' entertainment stage on par with those occupied by the NHL’s best-earning teams. Power Play explains an intricate deal in remarkably plain terms..." Andrew Holman, University of Toronto Quarterly, Summer 2021Table of ContentsForeword | Richard Gruneau xi Preface xv Acknowledgements xxi Important Terms xxiii 1 Introduction 1 2 Boosting Edmonton 15 Hockey and the Promotion of the City, 1894–1977 3 The Blue Line and the Bottom Line 43 Peter Pocklington, the EIGLP, and the Business of Hockey in Edmonton, 1977–2005 4 Preparing the Political Terrain 67 5 Making the Team 89 6 Power Plays 119 7 Shut Out 139 8 Show Me the Money 167 9 End Game? 191 10 The Beat Goes On 213 11 Head Games 235 12 Lobbying the Province, Slamming Northlands 257 13 The Art of the Deal? 283 14 Conclusion 307 Epilogue 337 The Oilers Get a New Arena, So the Flames Want One, Too Notes 357 Bibliography 409 Index 419

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere''s one topic that passionately unites people around the globe: football! No other sport is as accessible and can be realised with so few resources. No matter where you go, someone is surely playing football, and joining in is almost always allowed. It''s no wonder that countless fan themes revolve around this topic, and they all find their place in the new coffee table book by Peter Feierabend and Bernd Pohlenz, Football - The Ultimate Book.With meticulous comprehensiveness, the two authors in this entertaining illustrated book orbit football and all the societal expressions of the world''s most popular grassroots sport. They showcase legends on the field, highlights from the best games in sports history, and the greatest football players, both men and women. The book also provides an overview of the various football associations and clubs, the World Cup, continental championships, and of course, presents the most beautiful goals.In addi

Read more less

Book SynopsisCricket’s Fifty Most Important Moments charts the sport’s long, colourful and sometimes controversial history, delving into its most significant moments on and off the cricket field.Tracing the sport’s development from its early days in the 18th century through to the modern era, the book journeys through more than 275 years of intriguing events. It explores how players, teams and other remarkable individuals have shaped the game. It also assesses the famous matches, tactical changes, new laws and other innovations that have punctuated cricket from its infancy to the present day.From the early teams based in sleepy English villages through to international cricket and the modern franchise game played for a global television audience; from the start of first-class cricket and the birth of the Ashes and Test cricket to World Cups and the phenomenon of T20 cricket, this book showcases the key moments, matches and controversies that have come to define the sport.Trade Review"Tim's fifty encompasses the very earliest days of the game from the 1700s and works its way through to the present day... [all are] vastly different and interesting chapters which show the vast length and breadth of the game of cricket... Nicely written and well researched." -- Andrew Roberts * Cricket Statistics *"The book is well worth reading and will provide much to think and talk about. The quality of the paper and the generous spacing all enhance the fascinating material. The book is handsomely produced and economically priced." -- Rajesh Kumar * rajeshkumarcricketstatistician.com *

Read more less

Book SynopsisArguably the greatest coach in British sporting history.SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDSJurgen Grobler's Olympic coaching career is one of legend, yet the man himself has remained resolutely out of the spotlight. Over the last twenty years he has masterminded British Rowing's incomparable success. And when the difference between gold and silver can mean mere fractions of a second, Jurgen Grobler has consistently delivered Olympic gold through various boat classes and with an ever-changing group of athletes.Arguably the greatest coach in British sporting history, Grobler's unparalleled record outstrips many much better known records and stories; building champions such as Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell to name but few.This authoritative account of Grobler's career straddles the Iron Curtain, beginning in the German Democratic Republic, where systemic state-funded doping was an open secret, before crossing to Britain following the fall of the

Read more less

Book SynopsisBoth Newcastle United and Sunderland provide the English game with some of the finest ever line-ups and most celebrated players in football''s history, as well as arguably the country''s most passionate supporters. Pioneers of the North is a comprehensive account of how football developed and took a grip on the very life and soul of the region, on Tyneside in particular but also in Northumberland as well as neighbouring County Durham. Related in detail is the social and sporting background, the origins of football and its growth from Berwick in the north to Darlington and Middlesbrough in the south. Other significant clubs which took a non-league route in development are examined notably Shankhouse Black Watch as well as forgotten pioneer teams such as Rendel and Elswick Leather Works

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy did killing a fox mean liberty? What did parish revels have to do with the Peterloo Massacre? What did animal cruelty have to do with the English constitution? What did the Factory Acts mean for modern football?In This Sporting Life, Robert Colls explains sport as one of England''s great civil cultures. The lived experiences of people from all walks of life are reclaimed to tell England''s history through its great sporting cultures, from the horseback pursuits of the wealthy and politically connected, to the street games in working-class neighbourhoods which needed nothing but a ball. It observes people at play, describes how they felt and thought, carries the reader along to a match or a hunt or a fight, draws out the sounds and smells of humans and animals, showing that sport has been as important in defining British culture as gender, politics, education, class, and religion.Trade Reviewa highly original, personal yet deeply accomplished, history of sporting pastimes * Mike Huggins, Cultural and Social History *This is an idiosyncratic work that is full of erudition and wit, being highly informative and often very entertaining ... a valuable addition to libraries specializing in modern British history or the history of sport. * M. Klobas, CHOICE *A compelling, evocative and unique explication of what sport has meant to the English. * Aberdare Literary Prize *Simultaneously insightful, beguiling and accomplished...it's not about the slow development of sporting rules and governing bodies. None of that matters. It is a tour de force account of how the love affair with liberty had a profound influence on the English and their sports. * Mike Huggins, Cultural and Social History *Eccentric, erudite and often very funny... [a] dazzling history of sport in England... Every page is a delight. * Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times, Best History Books of the Year 2020 *Robert Colls has taken on 200 years of English history through the prism of its culturally neglected sports - common, exclusive, innovative, brutal. He's written a definitive work not only of our sporting life, but also of our social texture. * Melvyn Bragg, New Statesman, Books of the Year 2020 *Robert Colls's exploration of sport in England between 1760 and 1960 is like no sporting history I have ever read... Eccentric, dazzlingly learned and often very funny... Colls is a historian of matchless insight and admirably democratic range. * Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times *This Sporting Life displays exhausting quantities of erudition... The prose is lively even in the footnotes... there are jewels on every page... There is more life in these pages than can be explained, or needs to be. * Simon Kuper, Financial Times *Superb... This is much more than a history of sport; it is really an alternative history of England itself... This book is full of moments that pull you up short and make you think. * Alex Massie, The Spectator *Colls has combined painstaking research with elegant prose to produce a thoroughly readable history of British sports and pastimes over two hundred years. In doing so he has breathed new life into an often-neglected corner of British history. * Emma Griffin, Literary Review *[A] quirky and strikingly original social history of England through its sports, games and pastimes... beautifully and inventively expressed, witty and bawdy in places... perhaps the most impressive element of This Sporting Life is its light touch, the way it never quite loses sight of the fact that at its heart, sport is fun. * Jonathan Liew, New Statesman *A remarkably and admirably human history, full of empathy for people of all classes and condescension towards none... Crackling on the page, Colls's prose elucidates and amuses in equal measure and with equal sharpness. * Stephanie Barczewski, Times Literary Supplement *strongly recommended contribution to the history of the emotions * Daniele Serapiglia, Passato e Presente *thought-provoking...readable...valuable...novel..intuitive.. excellent example of how a topic can be revitalised by thinking creatively... * Dave Day, idrottsforum *A monograph of monumental importance...placing sport at the forefront of civil culture in Britain. A work of national and international importance that should provide a platform for similar studies in other countries. * Keith Laybourn, Labour History Review *I'd like to say something about style. Colls is a master. He can be--in turn--witty, slapstick comic, ironic, satirical, sarcastic, lyrical, sombre, or elegiac. Sometimes he's Robert Surtees and sometimes he's John Milton. Mostly, I think, he's Pierce Egan. Whatever the tone, he's a marvel at the epigram. * Allen Guttmann, author of From Ritual to Record. The Nature of Modern Sports *At heart this book is the best kind of social history: vivid, revelatory and penned by an author who seems to know the byways of every county in England... a joyous book of dazzling scholarship. * Dan Jackson, History Today *This is both a vivid and thought-provoking read... I would recommend the book to anyone skeptical of the historical significance of sport. * Lincoln Allison, The Critic *[This Sporting Life] is absorbing, original, and entertaining... Colls is a formidable historian of England and English identity * Simon Heffer, New Criterion *An exemplary work and one that illuminates with stories rather than numbing with statistics... Colls' previous work, in particular 'Identity of England' (2002) and 'George Orwell: English Rebel' (2013), established his credentials as a historian on a mission to restore the experiences of the working-classes to the national record - the Jack Tars, pitmen and pugilists - but to do so through hard evidence not special pleading... Nowhere is this better realised than in his final chapter on football. * John Mitchinson, Byline Times *It is when Colls rises to the challenge of his subtitle - 'Sport and Liberty' - that the book really soars. * John Mitchinson, Byline Times *A great read for anyone who loves sport... free of jargon and and full of what people actually did... The writing is full of memorable phrases, wry comments and thoughtful insights into human behaviour... a message that could have been penned by George Orwell himself. * Philip Cottam, The Arbuturian *This fascinating and engagingly written book is about much more than sport: customs, tradition, place, identity, national myths as well as national stories all have their place. Colls has written the best book I have read on George Orwell, and this book too is definitive. * Jason Cowley, Editor of The New Statesman *The two most successful and positive exports from this country are the English language and organized sport. The profound influence of sport has been grievously unacknowledged. In his new book, Robert Colls puts this right by bringing its history to life and linking it quite brilliantly with common notions of liberty, patriotism, and belonging. He also shows the part modern sport played in replacing the many textures of our traditional patterns of social life. It's vivid, passionate, and goes to the heart of a subject which in so many ways is now the dominating conversation in peoples' lives. * Melvyn Bragg, Broadcaster *A brilliant book by one of my favourite British historians...giving the real thrill of first hand research and covering every corner of our national life. Even if you don't like sport you will like this book. * John Mitchinson, Backlisted Podcast *This is a wonderful book. It is engrossing,beautifully written, overflowing with insight into England and English ideas of liberty as manifest through sport.It is a history of sport unlike any other and is nothing short of exhilarating. * Paul Rouse, School of History, University College Dublin *Sparkling and scholarly, Robert Colls' new history of sport is expertly set within the wider context of English society and culture. Abounding with fresh insights, sport is celebrated and explained from Regency prize-fights to Wembley Cup Finals; vibrantly written, full of dramatic incidents and exceptional individuals. * Richard Holt, author of Sport and the British: A Modern History *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Land of Liberty 2: 'Bottom' 3: Custom 4: Belonging 5: New Moral Worlds 6: Moderns Conclusion: Sport and the English Hero

Read more less

Book SynopsisA brilliant, funny and insightful analysis of Paul Gascoigne's crazy up and downs during his three years at Lazio a period which shows his entire career in microcosm.4th July, 1990.Turin, ItalyEngland are on the brink of reaching their first World Cup final in 24 years. Twenty-three-year old Paul Gascoigne has been one of the breakout stars of the tournament. His athleticism, speed of thought and incredible natural gifts have given England fans renewed faith in their perennially underachieving national side.Then in the 99th minute of a tense semi-final against Germany, Gascoigne lunges into a mistimed tackle. The ref awards him his second yellow card of the tournament, meaning that if England were to win, he would miss the final. Gascoigne turns away, tries to hold it together, but can't. Floods of tears run down his face. We understand. We feel his pain and anguish. The legend of Gazza is born.Two years later, after an injury-stricken season at Spurs, he arrives at Lazio for a then r

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe history of fair play in Britain from earliest times to the present, asking whether it is in fact a British, or alternatively an English, characteristic at all - and if so, whether fair play still matters today?Trade Reviewwhat Duke-Evans shows with an impressive mass of evidence is that ... 'fair play' really has had a unique influence on how Britons think of themselves * Sam Leith, Sunday Times *a pleasant surprise ... ambitious and wide-ranging * Robert Tombs, The Daily Telegraph *Rigorous and personable, fluently navigating potentially dry or finicky subject matter * Henry Hitchings, The Times *An original, scholarly and extremely readable history of what is often regarded, by the English anyway, as an essential attribute of their national character * Sir Keith Thomas, author ofReligion and the Decline of Magic *The book is leavened throughout with the lightness of touch and wry humour of an escaped academic and career civil servant; it succeeds in every respect. * Patrick Nash, Catholic Herald *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Introduction: The Problem of Fair Play 2: What Do We Mean When We Talk About Fair Play? 3: Fair Play: The History of a Phrase 4: Classical Perspectives 5: Christianity and Chivalry 6: Fair Play in Pre-industrial Britain: Law, Politics, Religion and Class 7: Fair Play - The Popular Strand 8: The Rise of the Gentleman 9: The Realm Beyond England 10: The Great Appropriation 11: The Expanding Circle 12: The Wider World 13: Fair Play in the 20th Century and Beyond 14: Conclusion: Fair Play and the British Appendix 1: Quantifying the Use of 'Fair Play' Appendix 2: Fair Play Quotients for Teams playing 15 or more Matches at World Cup Finals, 1930 to date

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst drawn into the sport while a student in Spain in the mid-1980s, Peter Cossins has been writing about cycling since 1993, contributing principally to Cycling Weekly, Cycle Sport and Procycling. The Monuments, his history of cycling's five greatest one-day Classic races, was published in 2014, followed in 2015 by Alpe d'Huez, an appraisal of cycling's greatest climb.For Yellow Jersey Press he has written the definitive account of the first ever Tour de France, Butcher, Blacksmith, Acrobat, Sweep the also the enlightening book on cycling tactics, Full Gas.He lives in the Ariège in the heart of the French Pyrenees.Trade ReviewEssential…The First Tour de France takes you back to the race itself. Cossins produces a deeply researched and detailed description of the race that toggles between background information on the race’s organization and the individual stages, with long stretches of real-time-style stage reporting one chapter at a time.The effect of this, especially the latter, is soaring * Podium Cafe *Enthralling… Full of outlandish characters and ripping yarns, it makes for a cracking good read * Bikes Etc *

Read more less

Book Synopsis A comprehensive, non-partisan account of the judicial proceedings spawned by the corruption of the 1919 World Series is badly needed. This book provides it. The narrative of events has been crafted from surviving fragments of the judicial record, contemporaneous newspaper accounts of the proceedings, museum archives and, occasionally, the literature of the Black Sox scandal. Preceding the account of judicial events are a brief overview of the baseball gambling problem, a summary of the 1919 Series, and a discussion of post-Series events that presaged revelations of the Series fix. The grand jury proceedings, the criminal trial, and ensuing civil suits initiated by various of the banned players against the White Sox are then recounted in detail, accompanied by copious source citations. The book concludes with a survey of how Black Sox-related legal proceedings have been treated in scandal literature. The book does not purport to be the definitive account of the Black Sox

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis was the defining decade for the Le Mans 24 Hours. It started with six consecutive victories by Ferrari, overwhelming Aston Martin and Maserati. But then Ford threw its all-American dollars at the race and won it four times in a technically exciting period that also brought the competitive emergence of brands such as Alfa Romeo, Matra, Porsche and Renault. The participation of great automobile manufacturers spurred the development of many iconic racing cars: Ferrari Testa Rossa and GTO, Ford GT40 and Daytona Cobra, Porsche 904 and 917. The machines that were specially built for Le Mans evolved through the decade from front-engined brutes to mid-engined monsters. By the end of the period, many of them could achieve more than 200mph on the awesome straights that defined the race, thrilling as many as 300,000 spectators at trackside.- Highly detailed year-by-year coverage of the decade''s ten races, giving over 30 pages of information and photographs for each year.- Official status provides a number of unique features, including the reproduction of the full-colour race poster artwork for each year and photographs from the ACO''s archives.- The images include rare color, and the emphasis is on photographs that enthusiasts will not have seen before.- The story of each race is told through photographs and an accompanying commentary.- Complete data for each year includes technical regulations, entry list, circuit changes (with diagram), lap chart, full results and category awards.- The whole work is beautifully designed and presented.- The 1960s was the decade of Ferrari and Ford: the Italian manufacturer took six consecutive wins until Ford finally came good, winning the decade''s other four races, including the 1969 thriller that saw the closest ever finish at Le Mans.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA complete history of White Hart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspur from 1899 to 2017 and the setting for some of their greatest successes.For a football supporter, a real fan, there is nothing more evocative than the journey to their home ground, a place where they have experienced the highs and lows that the game brings - delight, despair, hope, pain and, occasionally, pure joy. But while those stadiums seem permanent, they are not.In May 2017, White Hart Lane, the backdrop to more than a century of Spurs history, staged its final game. With the active support and endorsement of the club, who have granted him exclusive access to senior figures and historical documents, Martin Lipton pays fitting tribute to the glory days at the Lane. He has talked to, among others, Jimmy Greaves, Martin Chivers, Pat Jennings, Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles, Chris Waddle, Teddy Sheringham, Jurgen Klinsmann, David Ginola, Gareth Bale and Harry Kane. And he has also interviewed fTrade ReviewFantastic detail from Martin. Some of the things that happened i'm aware of but others not. Terrific read. -- Shane Reid * TOTTENHAM ARMY *

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘For 30 years I was the voice of sport at The Times – but that’s enough about me. What matters is sport.’   This is an autobiography from which the author, award-winning writer Simon Barnes, has been surgically removed. He has reported on six World Cups, seven Olympic Games, cricket on five continents and more than 20 Wimbledons, watching Diego Maradona, Usain Bolt, Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer at their peak. Along the way he had soul-revealing conversations with Ayrton Senna and sat on Desert Orchid.   His journalist’s experience gives him perspective, until the addictive madness of sport takes over. Epic is a stunning mosaic of some of the greatest sporting moments in recent years, which build up to provide the reader with a better idea of what sport is for, what differentiates winners from losers, and reveals how sport teaches us how betTrade Review'Excellent in many ways…his insights are rarely less than wise and informative, and often fascinating…It’s very fine sportswriting indeed. This may conceivably be Barnes’s best work yet.' -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *'Brilliant...combining a journalistic eye for detail with a poetic ability to convey the emotions of a unique moment.' * Choice magazine *'From Eric Bristow and Watford as the second best team in England to Novak Djokovic resurgent and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Barnes was there...caustically brilliant.' * Glasgow Herald *'Epic weaves together many of the most iconic, controversial and unforgettable moments that coloured the 30-odd years of Simon Barnes’ tenure as a sports writer at The Times. It is an unlikely triumph… He has a sublime ability to bring you ringside without ever involving himself… A sports book like no other.' * Racing Post *'[Barnes] has re-examined many of the events he attended and taken another look at the figures who tasted glory, disappointment and downright failure...this is sport's story... It truly is an epic tale.' * Sports Journalists' Association *

Read more less

Book SynopsisOverpaid players. Sunday lunchtime kick-offs. Absurd ticket prices. Non-black boots. Football's menu of ills is long. Where has the joy gone? Why do we bother? Saturday, 3pm offers a glorious antidote. It is here to remind you that football can still sing to your heart. Warm, heartfelt and witty, here are fifty short essays of prose poetry dedicated to what is good in the game. These are not wallowing nostalgia; they are things that remain sweet and right: seeing a ground from the train, brackets on vidiprinters, ball hitting bar, Jimmy Armfield's voice, listening to the results in a traffic jam, football towns and autograph-hunters. This is fan culture at its finest, words to transport you somewhere else and identify with, words to hide away in a pub and luxuriate in. Saturday, 3pm is a book of love letters to football and a clarion call, helping us find the romance in the game all over again.Trade ReviewEach is a precision-tooled delight… even apparently obvious subjects are described with such lyricism that the everyday is routinely transformed into the sublime… here is a book that contains nothing but pure, unadulterated joy * When Saturday Comes magazine *Delightfully written…countless little gems of recognition and satisfaction, many of them very funny… a lovely little thing * The Daily Telegraph *Lovingly crafted prose-poetry…a wonderful antidote to the money-sodden excesses of the modern game * Late Tackle magazine *I love this book, I had enormous fun reading it…a great book -- Matt Williams * Simon Mayo Drivetime show, BBC Radio 2 *Really nicely written. A brilliant book. Romantic, very recognisable things. -- James Brown * TalkSport *The author has compiled some wonderful things about our national game…I love this book. Wonderful. A delightful book. * BBC Manchester *A loveletter to nice things about football…fifty perfect little essays. A beautiful book. * BBC Tees *A wonderful book. * Off the Ball, BBC Scotland *I commend this book. Two pages are worth ten cliché-ridden football books. It evokes the nodal points of football memory. -- Archie McPherson * BBC Scotland *Full of eternal delight. I loved it to pieces. Hymns that evoke the essence of the game. A fantastic book. * The Anfield Wrap *If you've ever wondered why people love football, the answers lie within...a damn good read. -- Val McDermidA warm, smiling celebration of football’s quirks, and of ours. Never mind how good a writer Daniel Gray is: what an eye he’s got. You’ll never watch a game again without liking some daft little moment and wishing you could share it with him. -- Michael Grant * The Times *A sonnet to football, whimsical and deeply rewarding. -- Stuart Roy Clarke * Homes of Football *A real midget gem of a book that fits perfectly into a jacket pocket for reading on the way to the match, or indeed during it if you're an England fan. -- Harry Pearson * author The Far Corner *Gray beautifully articulates the pleasure offered by such pursuits as jeering passes that go out of play, listening to the results in the car, and spying a ground from the train window...his prose is exquisite...a physically slim but spiritually hefty treat. * Pitch & Page Books of the Year 2016 *Table of ContentsPreface: Or, finding some things to love 1 Seeing a ground from the train 2 Watching an away end erupt 3 Getting the fixture list 4 Club shops 5 Saturday, 3pm 6 Spotting a fellow supporter elsewhere 7 Listening to the results in a car 8 Ball hitting bar 9 Pre-match routines 10 The first day of the season 11 Slide tackles in mud 12 Watching youth games in the park 13 Carrying on regardless 14 Belonging 15 Fat players 16 Jeering Passes that go out of play 17 Catering vans 18 Going with Dad 19 Jimmy Armfield's voice 20 Headers 21 Floodlights 22 Talking to an old man about football 23 Visiting a ground for the first time 24 Physiotherapist 'races' 25 Local lads 'coming through' 26 Sunday score pages 27 Shirts on a line 28 Defensive walls and drop-balls 29 Club eccentrics 30 Losing 31 Watching in bad weather 32 My daughter listening at the window 33 Singing 34 Brackets in scorelines 35 Standing on a terrace 36 When the ball goes in the crowd 37 Knowing where you are 38 Footballese 39 Time-wasting 40 Being at a junction station on matchday 41 Collectors 42 Football towns 43 Striking up a football conversation on a social occasion 44 Solid fixtures 45 Club nicknames 46 The 'hectic Christmas schedules' 47 Outfield players in goal 48 Seeing a team bus 49 Watching people get player autographs 50 The last day of the season Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2022 The life and times of Don Revie one of the most complex and controversial men ever to grace the game of football. Whenever the greatest managers the game has ever produced are mentioned, names like Busby, Shankly, Paisley and Ferguson trip off the tongue. Despite dominating the game in the late 1960s and ''70s there is one name missing: Don Revie, the former Leeds United and England manager. Revie was one of the most complex and controversial men ever to grace the game of football. As a player, he was crowned Footballer of the Year and credited with creating the modern centre-forward. As a manager, he took a Leeds United side languishing in the lower half of the second division and turned them into not only league champions, but one of the most dominant sides in the country. As England manager, Revie lost the magic touch and became increasingly indecisive. After three years in thTrade ReviewA no-holds-barred insight that convinces the reader that Don Revie stands amongst the giants of English football -- Lord MannExcellent book… an honest and balanced assessment of Don Revie’s career -- Johnny Giles, legendary Leeds United midfielderA superb read which explains in detail the extraordinary life and times of one of English football's most successful and controversial figures… -- Alex Montgomery, former Chairman of the Football Writers' Association and chief football writerAn essential read for any football fan to chart the rise and fall of an enigmatic England manager -- Ryan Sabey * The Sun *From hero to zero to post-humous redemption – Evans tells a tale of great human strengths and weaknesses that will resonate well beyond the world of football -- Guto Harri, strategic comms adviser and broadcasterThis meticulously researched and expertly crafted exploration of the genius and human generosity of Don Revie lifts the veil of controversy from the legacy of one of football’s greatest managers. -- Jeff Powell, the Daily Mail’s multi-award winning sportswriterGripping... -- Michael Dobbs * The Spectator *Table of ContentsForeword by Leeds United legend John Giles Prologue PART ONE 1 Beginnings 2 Leicester City (1944 – 49) 3 Hull City (1949 – 51) 4 Manchester City (1951 – 56) 5 Sunderland (1956 – 58) PART TWO 6 Leeds United (1958 – 61) 7 Leeds United (1961 – 63) 8 Leeds United (1963 – 64) 9 Leeds United (1964 – 65) 10 Leeds United (1965 – 66) 11 Leeds United (1966 – 67) 12 Leeds United (1967 – 68) 13 Leeds United (1968 – 69) 14 Leeds United (1969 – 70) 15 Leeds United (1970 – 71) 16 Leeds United (1971 – 72) 17 Leeds United (1972 – 73) 18 Leeds United (1973 – 74) 19 Leeds United (1974) PART THREE 20 England (1974 – 75) 21 England (1975 – 77) PART FOUR 22 In the Desert (1977 – 83) 23 Back Home (1984 – 1989) Epilogue – No Time For Redemption Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisFew sporting records capture the imagination quite like that of the highest individual score in Test cricket. It is the blue riband record of batting achievement, the ultimate statement of stamina and skill. From Charles Bannerman, who scored 165 for Australia against England in the inaugural Test match in 1877, to Brian Lara, who made 400 not out for West Indies against England in 2004, the record has changed hands ten times. Chris Waters'' The Men Who Raised the Bar charts the growth of the record through nearly one hundred and fifty years of Test cricket. It is a journey that takes in a legendary line of famous names including Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Leonard Hutton, Sir Garfield Sobers and Walter Hammond, along with less heralded players whose stories are brought back into the light. Drawing on the reflections of the record-holders, Waters profiles the men who raised the bar and their historic performances.Trade ReviewAn enjoyable look at cricketers who raised the bar * Bristol Post *Waters sees both woods and trees, discreetly weaving gems of background detail around the run-of-play. * The Cricketer *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019Towards the beginning of the twenty-first century, Borussia Dortmund were on the verge of going out of business. Now they are an international phenomenon - one of the most popular clubs and fastest-growing football brands in the world. Every fortnight, an incredible number of foreigners eschew their own clubs and domestic leagues and travel to Dortmund to watch football, while people from all corners of the world dream of doing the same - of standing on the largest terrace in the world, the Yellow Wall.How did this happen? How could a club that hasn''t won a European trophy in twenty years so thoroughly capture people''s imaginations?Building the Yellow Wall tells the story of Dortmund''s roller-coaster ride from humble beginnings and lean decades to the revolution under Jürgen Klopp and subsequent amazing success and popularity. But it also tells the story of those people who have done as muTrade ReviewThe reasons for BVB's unique popularity are expertly teased out . . . This is Hesse at his most informative and fascinating - read it * FourFourTwo *This is without question the most entertaining historical football book ever written * GUARDIAN *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe 1980s' most memorable sporting moments show how sport became fully entwined in our national story.Travel back to the 1980s - to Botham''s Ashes and the Brixton riots; the Moscow Olympics and the miners'' strike; the Crucible Theatre and the Falklands - to explore how we got to where we are now. Discover how sporting heroes were made, and destroyed; how ''wars'' were fought on the pitch; and how sport responded to - and drove cultural change in - our society.From Sebastian Coe to Margaret Thatcher, John Barnes to the ZX Spectrum, Martina Navratilova to Section 28, Everybody Wants to Rule the World speaks to our treasured memories of eighties sports while also throwing light on where things went deeply wrong. In so doing it tells nothing less than the story of how British sport came into the modern era.A comfortable armchair ride crammed with colourful detail' Literary Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisRugby is full of mysteries on and off the pitchIt is played with an odd-shaped ball. There are twoversions. The rules seem to change regularly. Fans of the twogames still argue about things that happened over a centuryago including who invented it. Award-winningsports history professor Tony Collinscracks many such enigmas.Table of Contents1. Who Framed William Webb Ellis?................................................5 2. Why Is Rugby Played With An Odd-Shaped Ball? ..................11 3. How Rugby Scored The Greatest Own-Goal Of All Time ......16 4. League Or Union: Which Is The Real Rugby? ..........................22 5. Why Didn't Soccer Have Its Own 'Great Split'? ......................27 6. Why Does Wales Play The Wrong Type Of Rugby? ................34 7. Why Didn't Lily Parr Play Rugby? ............................................39 8. The Mystery Of Sherlock Holmes's Missing Three-Quarter.................................................................45 9. Unintended Consequences: How The All Blacks Kick-Started Rugby League Down Under ................................49 10. Did Australian Rugby Union Lose The Code War Because It Was Too Patriotic? ......................................................54 11. Why The 'First Lions' Weren't The First (And Weren't Even Lions)............................................................59 12. Inner City Blues (And Reds): How Manchester Was Lost By Rugby .......................................64 13. The Pen Is Mightier Than The Ball? How Tom Brown's School Days Launched Rugby......................70 14. Rugby's Line-Out And Soccer's Throw-In: Separated At Birth?.......................................................................75 15. Are Leicester Tigers The Most Important Club In The History Of Rugby Union? ...............................................80 Full book interior_Full book 216pp 25/11/2022 10:53 Page 6 16. Who Painted The Players Out Of William Wollen's 'The Roses Match'? .......................................................................86 17. Why Scrums Aren't What They Used To Be (But Never Were Anyway)?.........................................................91 18. Leeds United's Secret Rugby League History ..........................97 19. Why Doesn't Robert Delaunay's Painting 'The Cardiff Team' Show The Cardiff Team?..........................103 20. Why Are There So Many Penalty Goals In Rugby Union?...109 21. Why Does Hull Have Two Professional Rugby Teams?........115 22. Is This Sporting Life Really A Film About Rugby? ..................121 23. When Rugby League Was Almost A Jewish Game................127 24. How Lucius Banks Became America's First Pro Rugby Player And Rugby's First Black Pro ............133 25. Did Melrose Invent Rugby Sevens? It's Complicated ...........138 26. How Romanian Rugby Became A Cold War Football...........144 27. How Wigan v Bath Showed How Rugby Had Changed ... Or Did It? .................................................................................150 28. 1-2-3-4! The Rise And Fall (And Rise?) Of Drop-Goals.........156 29. Imitation Is Not Just A Form Of Flattery: Why Union Borrows From League ..........................................162 30. The Game That Won't Die: Why Reports Of Rugby League's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated...................168

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Beautiful Badge tells the fascinating story behind the UK's football club badges, from 1860s hand-embroidered symbols on home-knitted jerseys to today's multi-million pound brands. The book not only covers hammers, cannon and Liver birds but also reveals the link between Peterhead FC and Viz comic; which TV celebrity designed Aldershot Town FC's badge; and whose GBP10 doodle became the opposition's badge. Some clubs have sported ten or more different badges over the decades, ranging from their town's coat of arms to cartoon insects and initials. Promotion, moving to a new stadium or an owner with controversial views often results in a new badge. The book plots the influence of fashion, technology and fans, and investigates the tensions between clubs and supporters over changes to their beloved badge. Do you know why your club's badge looks the way it does? The Beautiful Badge is essential reading for football enthusiasts, historians, designers and anyone who enjoys putting their feet up in the boot room.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnder the Lights and in the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer takes an unprecedented look inside the lives of professional football players around the world - from precarious positions in underfunded teams and leagues, to sold-out stadiums and bright lights. Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Gwendolyn Oxenham tells the stories of the phenoms, underdogs, and nobodies - players willing to follow the game wherever it takes them. Under the Lights and in the Dark takes us inside the world of women's soccer, following players across the globe, from Portland Thorns star Allie Long, who trains in an underground men's league in New York City; to English national Fara Williams, who hid her homelessness from her teammates while playing for the English national team. Oxenham takes us to Voronezh, Russia, where players battle more than just snowy pitches in pursuing their dream of playing pro, and to a refugee camp in Denmark, where Nadia Nadim, now a Danish international star, honed her skills after her family fled from the Taliban.Whether you're a newcomer to the sport or a die-hard fan, this is an inspiring book about stars' beginnings and adventures, struggles and hardship, and, above all, the time-honored romance of the game.Trade ReviewA terrific collection of stories of the adventures undertaken and the struggles faced by players around the world' * Guardian, selected for The best books on sport, 2019 *Oxenham is one of my favorite soccer writers; she connects on a deeply human level with the people who are the soul of the global game. I love this book.' * Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated senior writer, Fox Sports TV *The book's true virtues are in its complexities and portrayals of the players whose lives are interesting both on and off the field . Oxenham understands a good sports story must work as a mirror to reflect the world around it. And, like Friday Night Lights or Seabiscuit, Under the Lights and In the Dark does just that . This work is truly a testament to women's soccer and women in sports. It is also a fun story for both sports fans and plain old readers alike.' * Gretchen Lida, Washington Independent Review of Books *What a fine thing that a superb writer has found these 'untold stories' . and remedied that situation.' * The Boston Globe, The best books of 2019 *The book, just like women's soccer itself, is actually a tapestry of interwoven stories, all connected by different color threads to create one big, stunning masterpiece. And like a tapestry, Oxenham weaves the beauty of her storytelling with the bruteness of a slide tackle to make the book a must-read for any fan of the women's game.' * Allison Lee, The Equalizer *Gwendolyn is the master at finding incredible soccer stories. These are stories that need to be heard - told in a way that leaves you begging for more.' * Julie Foudy, ESPN, USWNT captain, two-time Olympic gold medalist & World Cup champion *A startlingly good book. Oxenham is a marvelous observer. These are moving, uplifting stories from around the world - what top soccer is like when there's no money or fame in it and you just do it for love.' * Simon Kuper, author of Soccernomics *Twelve uplifting and incredible stories telling the risks and rewards of pursuing a career as a professional women's football player. A fantastic collection of pieces that get to the heart of what some of the world's best and most talented players have overcome - from homelessness to motherhood to homophobia, in order to play the game they love - often without the guarantee of fame and fortune should they succeed.' * The Athletic UK writers' favourite football books *The book, a blend of stand-up-and-cheer triumphs and bittersweet cautionary tales, is a revelation, and it is a must-read for anyone curious about not just women's soccer, but the beautiful game.' * The Globe and Mail *If you care one iota about women's football, stop what you're doing, order this book right now - both to understand the true state of the game and to support Oxenham in her work. This is an essential read.' * Men in Blazers podcast *An eye-opening, cohesive collection of fascinating stories that will help bring women's soccer to the next level. Appropriate for high school students, public libraries, and all readers interested in the future of the sport.' * Library Journal *One of the most compelling sports books I have ever read' * Female Coaching Network *Oxenham has a nice, inclusive, easy to understand writing style. The twelve-year-old girl reading this as part of her English homework will be as engrossed as the 60-year-old who never dreamt that these things could happen to a female soccer player. That's a fantastic skill to have as a writer.' * Gorey Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe magnificent story of a writer’s lifelong obsession with his city and its football club. When 5-year-old Michael Chaplin landed in a strange city of ships in the late 1950s, he looked in vain for something that would anchor him to it, make him feel at home. Then, one Saturday afternoon, it came: the roar of a crowd, and a football team to support. Young Michael became an avid Newcastle United fan, and has remained one–if sometimes disenchanted–for over sixty years. In this football memoir with a difference, the celebrated playwright and screenwriter tells the story of his six-decade love affair with the club, each chapter recreating an iconic Newcastle match: the players who graced the game, the managers in the dug-out, and the backdrop outside the stadium–both the changing face of Newcastle, and the ups and downs of Michael’s own life and career. This vivid, thoughtful and entertaining book is an absolute must-read for all Newcastle United supporters, and indeed–given that the club is often described as everyone’s second favourite–for football fans everywhere…Trade Review'Newcastle United Stole My Heart is a testimony to the power of modern sport and how it reaches way beyond the playing fields. … Beautifully written.' -- The Irish Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisPablo Escobar had one obsession. Not drugs, not money, not power... football.Narcoball uncovers the incredible story of Colombian football during the early 1990s - shaped by drug lords, rivalries, and ambition. It uncovers a football empire backed by cartels - where victory was a currency of its own, and defeat, a matter of life and death.This is a different story of Pablo Escobar and his rivals. A tale of clandestine deals that reshaped Medellin''s football clubs, where fortunes were won and lost. It unveils the extraordinary bonds that Escobar forged with football''s luminaries and why his influence reached unprecedented heights, leading to the astonishing 5-0 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires, the murder of referees, and the ruthless coercion of officials culminating in the killing of Andrés Escobar - the Colombian defender who paid the ultimate price for an own goal in the 1994 World Cup. It is also an examination of a people''s relationship with both the sport and the nefarious leaders that brought both pride and terror to their communities.Set against the U.S War on Drugs, international threats, and government clampdowns, this is a gripping exploration of Colombian club football under Escobar''s rise and fall.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThey Must Fall: Muhammad Ali and the Men He Fought features powerful and often moving images and stories of Muhammad Ali and the men he fought in the ring, by award-winning photographer Michael Brennan. “Around 1978, I had been in Houston, Texas photographing former Ali opponent George Foreman who had then reinvented himself as a roadside preacher. On the plane back to NYC, I thought, ‘If that’s what George is doing, I wonder what the rest of his opponents are up to?’ I set out to track down as many of the old guys as I could find.” Brennan spent decades locating Ali’s former opponents to discover what had become of them. This unique book is a look through Brennan’s remarkable archive, containing numerous never-before- seen photos plus poignant stories illuminating the images and contextualising Ali’s powerful role in the world of sport. Includes a special introductory essay by the late, great Jimmy Breslin. “Michael Brennan’s iconic 1977 portrait photograph of Muhammad Ali captures something far bigger and deeper than just the beautiful face of a beautiful man. It is a detailed map of the personal journey of one whose incomparable talents and audacity caused literati to swoon, taught a generation to question authority, and ultimately altered the path of a society which had never before seen a man exactly like him. To look at him the way he was then is to remember, with joy and sorrow, who we all once were.” - Jim Lampley, discussing the cover image (Boxing commentator, HBO Sports)Trade Review”Now a book by Michael Brennan, an English photographer, breathes renewed life into a man who remains the most photogenic of sports stars. Millions of words have been written about him, but each of Brennan’s pictures paints a thousand more.” -- Rick Broadbent, The Times"Great photographs...it's a book for Ali, for boxing and for photography fans.... Unrivalled." -- Steve Bunce, author and BBC Radio 5 Live boxing commentator"Michael Brennan brings together a collection of portraits and stories of the men Muhammad Ali faced in the ring to create a fascinating portrait of the Greatest of All Time. ” -- Miss Rosen, blind magazine“A dozen films have been made around Ali’s life; even more books written about it. Yet, the allure around Ali's larger-than-life persona remains enticing as it ever was. It was this allure which led photographer Michael Brennan to spend decades tracking down Ali’s opponents, from former champions such as George Foreman and Joe Frazier, to forgotten names known only by their contribution to a 56 win tally.” -- Esquire Magazine“A murderer, a homeless man, a taxi driver: what do they have in common? They all boxed Muhammad Ali once. The award-winning photographer Michael Brennan speaks here about his search for the opponent of the “greatest”.” - Benjamin Knaack, Spiegel Sport“A picture is worth a 1,000 words. The photos tell the story. This is a good way to describe a book which has provided tremendous photo coverage of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.” - Donald Hunt, Philadelphia Tribune“The images take us beyond the ropes and across time, into the private lives of men who played vital roles in the history of our ancient sports.” - Rob Chilton, Edgar Magazine"The book, They Must Fall: Muhammad Ali And The Men he fought is a reflection of the impact of a man in sports history….Beyond the ropes, from afar or close, the face of the man who changed boxing is another and his life is another; hence, Brennan bet on going further and taking a historic step: follow closely the men who faced the king." - Mario Villagrán, GQ Mexico

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the earliest FA Cup finals in the 1870s between teams of former public schoolboys to the glittering world of 21st-century Champions League matches contested by squads of millionaires, The Times has been at pitchside to write the history of football as it has happened.It is story of great matches: Hungary’s historic victory over England at Wembley in 1953, Manchester United’s triumph over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final, Brazil’s thrashing of Italy in the 1970 World Cup final, Liverpool’s remarkable recovery to win the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005. It is a story of dazzling individual performances: Stanley Matthews finally winning an FA Cup winners’ medal at Wembley in 1953, Bobby Moore giving a masterclass in the art of defending for England against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo’s virtuoso performance as Real Madrid won the 2017 Champions League. It is a story of national highs and lows, from Wembley in 1966 when England ruled the world after defeating West Germany to the humiliation of losing to Iceland in the 2016 European Championship.But above all it is a story of great players, great managers and great personalities in a sport that grips the attention of the world like no other.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Chelsea Scrapbook is packed with rare photographs images and on the page facsimile memorabilia and provides an insight into the unique journey of one of the most famous football club’s in the world Chelsea FC. The superb rare memorabilia includes, Match tickets - Programmes - Team sheets and many other promotional gems. With additional career player retrospectives, a focus on the managers who have guided the club including Thomas Tuchel and some in depth statistical information, the Chelsea Scrapbook looks at some of the great moments in this unique collection of images and memorabilia from the club’s golden age including a special feature on Chelsea’s 2021 UEFA Champions League win.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisArsenal 101 is an entertaining compendium of Arsenal's fascinating history, facts, games, stories, personalities, legends and footballing adventures. Rab MacWilliam has revisited the club's history from its early years as Woolwich Arsenal at the end of the nineteenth century to its status as one of the leading European teams of the present day. Rab has distilled Arsenal's history into 101 facts, moments and stories, examining many of the key characters, matches, controversies, innovations, and dazzling instances of brilliance that have illuminated the proud history of this great, if occasionally erratic, club. Funny, irreverent, fascinating and insightful, Arsenal 101 is the ideal handbook for Gunners fans of all ages.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the carriage work sheds of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway to becoming the greatest football team in Europe: the rise of Manchester United Football Club is brought vividly to life through the expert colourisation of over 150 stunning photographs. Trawling through the archives, ‘Old Manchester United in Colour’ brings together iconic and rarely seen images, turning them from black-and-white photographs into fully pigmented pictures showing scenes just as they would have been witnessed first-hand at the time. Revisit many of the moments that have made United the world’s most famous football club. From our first steps into competitive football as Newton Heath LYR, to our maiden trophy successes as the renamed Manchester United. Our post-war emergence under Sir Matt Busby to the much-loved Busby Babes and the tragedy of the Munich Air Disaster. The Reds’ incredible European glory in 1968, right up to the fledgling years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s glorious reign. This collection charts the club from its humble beginnings right up to the fledgling years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s glorious tenure. See what the newly-built Old Trafford looked like over a century ago. Feel the excitement and passion of pre- and post-war matchdays. View action shots from many great games over the decades. Enjoy portrait images of players, coaches and staff, plus some of United’s greatest ever teams. And all in a way you’ve never done before. ‘Old Manchester United in Colour’ allows you to view the past through the eyes of your ancestors for the first time in stunning, vivid colour, bringing to life a period of football history normally only documented in monochrome.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisLearn all about the players, characters and teams that shaped rugby and inspired millions. From 19th century innovators to 21st century superstars, the latest book in the Illustrated History of Rugby series examines players who overcame the odds to beat everything from injury and illness to racism and sexism to excel and thrill followers of our great game. It also tells the stories of giant killing teams who shocked the world and took the scalps of heavily favoured opponents. From the Tonga team that beat Australia in the 1973 to the ‘Miracle in Brighton’ which saw Japan topple the mighty Springboks, James Stafford and Raluca Moldovan bring to life some of the most thrilling moments in rugby history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe history of Indian tennis begins in the late nineteenth century, soon after it was established as a competitive sport in England. The sport quickly caught the imagination of the colonised just as much as it had of the colonisers. In those early years, Mohammed Sleem, the Fyzee brothers, S.M. Jacob and Ghaus Mohammed (whose genius was sadly curtailed by the Second World War) were the heroes tennis needed, claiming it for India.After Independence, a new set of players set the courts ablaze: Dilip Bose, Sumant Misra, Naresh Kumar and the dazzling Ramanathan Krishnan, who remains one of India's biggest icons. In the 1970s and '80s, Vijay Amritraj and Ramesh Krishnan established India as a regular on the international stage, until finally in the mid-1990s, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi earned the country its first Grand Slam titles

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Invaluable . . . A whistle-stop tour down through the ages'' Jarlath Burns, GAA PresidentThe ultimate book to celebrate 140 years of Ireland''s greatest sporting and cultural institution - The GAA.Pulse of the Nation is a celebration of the GAA''s 140 years at the centre of Irish life, from its foundation inNovember 1884 to the present-day institution that has expanded massively at home and abroad.It zones in on the greatest players in football and hurling, ranking them one-to-ten, accompanied by profiles, in each of the fifteen positions in both codes.The ''greatest day'' for all 32 counties is explored, along with a trawl through the various competitions, from the All-Ireland championships with their ''Heartbeat of the Irish Summer'' billing, to those that were once popular but are no longer in place.Controversies are examined, the changed managerial environment is assessed - including the impact ofsome of the

Read more less