Pitch Publishing
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Greatest of Great Escapes
Book SynopsisThe Greatest of Great Escapes: Rotherham United's Finest Hour is the story of one of the most astounding comebacks in modern football a true underdog tale that captured the imagination of football fans everywhere. The book relives the twists and turns that punctuated Rotherham's resurgence.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Turning Points
Book SynopsisTurning Points: Moments that Defined Football History dives into the archives to reveal some of the most important stories from the annals of the beautiful game. From the FA ban of women's football to Marc-Viven Foe's death and Frank Lampard's ghost goal', this book uncovers the moments that shaped the course of football history.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Fistful of Doldrums
Book SynopsisA Fistful of Doldrums is the engaging and richly researched story of a turbulent period in the intense world of Sunderland AFC and North East football. Set amid a fascinating late-1970s backdrop, the story features first-hand accounts and authentic dialogue. This book will appeal to anyone interested in this fascinating era.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Thin White Line
Book SynopsisThe Thin White Line is the gripping account of the spot-fixing scandal which sent shockwaves through cricket. Taking the reader through the events of that August and beyond, it reveals how the News of the World uncovered the criminality of the Pakistan captain and his two best bowlers, and how its star reporter followed them to jail.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Sunshine After the Rain
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd When Asia Welcomed The World
Book SynopsisThis is the story of the 2002 World Cup, a tournament that saw heart-warming stories and controversy intertwined. The book resurrects the great characters who lit up 2002's biggest footballing stage - Ronaldo, Oliver Kahn, David Beckham and RÃ?tà ReÃber among them - and examines the tournament's controversies and giant-killing upsets.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Big Daddy versus Giant Haystacks
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Stars on Sunday
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Culture of Kits: The Definitive Guide to
Book SynopsisCulture of Kits: The Definitive Guide to Classic Football Shirt Collecting is a fascinating exploration of the booming business behind the growing culture and community surrounding vintage football shirts. The intersection between fashion and football has never been more pronounced, resulting in the market for classic football shirts growing into a multi-million-pound business in the past ten years. Culture of Kits captures the story of the people and companies behind the growth in global collecting who have turned a once-niche pastime into mainstream fashion. Charting the milestones in the community’s rise to societal prominence, it explores the key questions surrounding this growth story. What makes a shirt a classic? What motivates collectors? Is shirt-collecting here to stay or a cyclical fashion trend? Drawing on intel from experts and global collectors, this book lifts the lid on the cultural phenomenon of football shirt fashion and provides the ultimate guide to classic football shirt collecting.
£24.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Making of the FIFA World Cup
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Trivquiz Tottenham Hotspur: 1001 Questions
Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about Spurs? Put your knowledge to the test with this bumper book of brainteaser quizzes and fascinating facts, beautifully illustrated by one of the world's leading sports artists. It's packed with trivia on all the great Lilywhites sides and players - from goal-getter Greaves to goal-king Kane, from the pioneering double winners of the 1960s to the Champions League finalists of 2019 - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Who scored five goals in one game for England, three of them in just over three minutes, a record that stood for 62 years as the fastest hat-trick in international history? In which 1981 movie did Ossie Ardiles appear alongside Sylvester Stallone? Whose gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games earned him exemption from military service? What was the title of the 1987 single by Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle that reached number 12 in the UK charts? Which striker is nicknamed 'Coco'? Trivquiz Tottenham Hotspur holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.
£8.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Darts Greatest Games: Fifty Finest Matches from
Book SynopsisDarts fans, you require...this book! With help from the sport's biggest names, Matt Bozeat tells the inside story of darts' 50 greatest games. The book includes exclusive interviews with 16 world champions - including Michael van Gerwen and Phil 'The Power' Taylor - who relive the back-and-forth drama of their greatest ever moments on the oche. Here are classic matches such as those between Taylor and Ray van Barneveld and, further back, darting duels involving legends like Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, John Lowe, Leighton Rees and many more. The secrets behind Taylor's darts domination are revealed, Andy 'The Viking' Fordham tries to remember the night he won the world championship, and other revelations include why being brainy won't make you a good darts player! Darts' Greatest Games follows the sport's story from its 'thud, sweat and beer' beginnings on television in the 1970s up to the present, including the rise of van Gerwen.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Barnsley Match of My Life: Oakwell Legends Relive
Book SynopsisFifteen Barnsley footballing legends tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, pulling on the famous red shirt. Local lad Mick McCarthy recalls the moment he was selected for his first game representing his boyhood team, revealing how dearly he holds the club, the fans and one person in particular all these years later. Arjan de Zeeuw talks about how he was smuggled into a hotel when he was still an unknown, and was told he was signing for an English club. In the end he was delighted that his career in England started at Barnsley, going on to describe how it felt to do the unthinkable at Anfield during the club's only Premier League season. Oakwell legends including Marley Watkins, Lewin Nyatanga, Marc Richards, Paul Hayes, Brian Howard, Adie Moses, Darren Barnard and Stephen Foster also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Simply the Best: A Biography of Ronnie O'Sullivan
Book SynopsisRonnie O'Sullivan's status as one of snooker's all-time greats was cemented in 2017 by adding to his five world titles, a seventh Masters and sixth UK, thus equalling Stephen Hendry's 18 'triple crown' triumphs. Now is the perfect time for his story to be told by Clive Everton - 'The Voice of Snooker'. Simply the Best traces Ronnie's course from carefree junior prodigy to deeply troubled and depressed adult, and so to maturity and self-knowledge. Along the way, he emerges as instinctively warm-hearted, the most loyal of sons and a true sportsman in his acceptance of defeat. Even so, full consideration is given to Ronnie's mistakes in a rounded portrait of one of snooker's most fascinating, complicated and successful characters.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Villeneuve: His Untold Life from Berthierville to
Book SynopsisVilleneuve sheds new light on the Formula 1 legend through 48 illuminating interviews with his contemporaries and a stunning array of action and behind-the-scenes photographs, many previously unseen. Gilles Villeneuve, F1's last cavalier, lives on in the memories of his fans - his heritage all the more colourful thanks to Karoly Mehes' vivid tribute. Villeneuve's Formula 1 career only lasted for 67 grands prix between 1977 and 1982, yet he made an indelible impression as a driver who raced without limits. Having debuted for McLaren, the daredevil Canadian soon switched to F1's most charismatic team: Enzo Ferrari was Villeneuve's biggest fan. After his tragic death in May 1982, Villeneuve's legend has continued to grow globally. Karoly Mehes has interviewed Villeneuve's Ferrari team-mates, his opponents and journalists - as well as Gilles' widow, Joann, and son, Jacques (world champion of 1997). Nearly 40 years on, they speak about the incandescent star of Formula 1 - a man who gave everything for his beloved sport, ultimately his life.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Guardian of the Streets: James Cook MBE, My Story
Book SynopsisJames Cook's autobiography is a gripping account of his life told with the assistance of his friend and boxing author, Melanie Lloyd. Cook was raised by his grandparents in Jamaica until he was nine years old, when his mother arrived from London to collect him. His words paint a vibrant picture of childhood in the Caribbean sun and having to adapt to life on the notorious North Peckham Housing Estate in the late 60s. He started boxing in his teens and became British and European super-middleweight champion. Cook eloquently leads the reader through his life in the ring with plenty of droll tales along the way; but this is much more than a boxing book. Cook's commitment to keeping his local community safe through his youth work contributes to an inspirational and uplifting read. But anybody expecting to find Saint James on every page is in for a shock. His stories range from fighting with wheel-clampers in a Tesco car park to receiving his MBE from the Queen, all told with equal warmth and a sweet honesty that will keep the pages turning.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Drop In!: A Snowboarding Life
Book SynopsisSnowboarding maverick Billy Morgan has dedicated his life to redefining what is possible. With two world firsts to his name, he is also the first British male to win an Olympic medal on snow. Emerging from working-class origins in Southampton, a long way off piste, Morgan came late to the traditionally bourgeois world of snowsports. Driven by a latent love for fun, he reaches far beyond the cliches of stoner kids and street slang to explore the courage required at his sport's highest levels. Morgan's specialist event, Big Air, involves flying off a 50-metre ramp at 70 miles per hour, spinning and twisting while airborne, then landing. Even within the death-defying world of adventure sports, it is one of the most dangerous disciplines imaginable. In this groundbreaking autobiography, Morgan outlines the culture, ethos and philosophy of his sport. A sport in which one wrong move can cause life-changing injury. A sport whose party-animal practitioners feel peculiarly attuned with nature. Drop In! is a testament to human potential.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd This Boxing Game: A Journey in Beautiful
Book SynopsisWhat is it about boxing that charms and bewitches us? John Wight looks for the answer as he delves into the world of beautiful brutality. Showing that boxing is fundamentally tied to the human condition, he pulls back the curtains of his own masculinity to reveal the insecurities, life experiences and vulnerabilities that first drew him to the sport and have informed his engagement with it over a 20-year period. While relating his experiences in boxing gyms on both sides of the Atlantic, Wight reflects on the sport's origins, analysing some of its most memorable moments and characters. Through Wight's compelling memoirs we encounter some of modern boxing's most fascinating figures, among them Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao, James Toney and Scotland's IBF junior-welterweight world titlist Josh Taylor. Straddling the line between nobility and barbarity, boxing operates on a different moral and spiritual plane than other sports. This Boxing Game explores why and how.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd King Klopp: Rebuilding the Liverpool Dynasty
Book SynopsisKing Klopp: Rebuilding the Liverpool Dynasty is the story behind Jurgen Klopp's success at Liverpool. Since Klopp's appointment as head coach in October 2015, the club has grown exponentially, swiftly becoming the dominant force in English and European football. But how was the team's rebirth achieved in just a few short years? Experienced football scout and opposition analyst Lee Scott takes an in-depth look at the tactical concepts underpinning Liverpool's success - revealing who does what, how and why. Discover the secrets of the game model developed by Klopp as well as the roles of key players in realising his master plan. Never afraid to experiment, Klopp has refined his game model year on year to the point where Liverpool dominate through their control of space as much as through their pressing and intensity. It's been some ride for Liverpool fans, but beyond the silverware and marquee wins lies an even more intriguing story - the story of a tactical evolution.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Liverpool Matches of My Lifetime: From Second
Book SynopsisLiverpool Matches of My Life provides a unique perspective on 50 iconic Liverpool games spanning the author's lifetime, from 1960 to date. It takes the reader on a journey through 60 years of this famous club, from its Second Division days to the recent victory in the FIFA Club World Cup and many trophy-winning successes in between. Beginning with a brief history of the club up to 1959, the author relives 50 crucial games that brought Liverpool to the pinnacle of club football by 2019. All the chosen matches meant a great deal to the club, its fans and the author. Along the way there are many firsts, record victories, trophies and games that have gone down in Anfield folklore. As well as covering iconic matches, the book provides brief profiles of key players and tells the story of the intervening years, with all the highs and lows that Liverpool experienced in search of that elusive Premier League title. Are Liverpool the greatest English team of the last 60 years? Judge for yourself as you read the story of this wonderful club.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Even the Defeats: How Sir Alex Ferguson Used
Book SynopsisEven the Defeats is the story of how painful moments in Sir Alex Ferguson's early reign inspired him to lead Manchester United to some of their greatest successes. A heavy 5-1 loss at Manchester City in Ferguson's early tenure led pundits and supporters to question the Scot's position, but by the season's end he was holding aloft his first trophy at the club -- the FA Cup. This trend continued when an end-of-season collapse handed Leeds United the league title in the spring of 1992, only to galvanise United to their first championship in 26 years the very next year. From struggles in Europe to winning the treble, from losing the title on goal difference to their city rivals to winning the Premier League in Ferguson's final season in charge - rising from the depths of despair to achieve glory, and using failure to fuel success, was arguably Sir Alex's greatest strength. John Silk brings you the inside story of what made Ferguson tick, with views from players, coaches and other members of staff from the great Scot's reign.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Brazil 82: The Day Football Died
Book Synopsis1982 tells the story of football's most exhilarating and entertaining World Cup side. This scintillating Brazil team - blessed with Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Eder and Junior - lit up the 1982 World Cup with a brand of football that was 'futebol arte'. Playing to the accompaniment of a samba soundtrack from their supporters in the stands, the side scored 15 goals in five games and enchanted the world, but their dream fell apart in the Sarria Stadium against Italy. Even so, it was a match considered one of the greatest World Cup fixtures of all time and it changed the way the game was played forever.The Brazilian 1982 World Cup side have become a cast of mythical characters. Despite failing to reach the semi-finals, they made the football world hold its breath every time they stepped on the pitch. Told through the eyes of a young boy who fell in love with the men in yellow, and the memories of those who were there to witness Brazil's most glorious failure, 1982 is the definitive account of the greatest team never to win a World Cup.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Champions Under Lockdown: Red Odyssey III: Jurgen
Book SynopsisChampions Under Lockdown is the third book in the Red Odyssey series. It tells the story of an extraordinary season from the perspective of the terraces. After their epic 2018/19 season, in 2019/20 Jurgen Klopp would target Liverpool's first league title in 30 years. During this unforgettable season his side would smash all records. They claimed the UEFA Super Cup and then the Club World Cup before sailing to a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Fans who thought they had seen it all witnessed arguably the greatest Reds side in history sweep all before them. They were declared champions-elect, but the fates decreed there would be a final barrier to Liverpool claiming their prize. In the midst of a global virus pandemic and with the country on lockdown, voices called for the season to be declared null and void, threatening to wipe the achievements of this incredible team from history. But Jurgen and his men rose again to claim their holy grail. This is the unique story of the champions under lockdown.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Boleyn's Farewell: West Ham United's Upton
Book SynopsisWhen the final whistle was blown at Upton Park on 10 May 2016, it was more than a football match that had ended. West Ham United's victory over Manchester United was the club's spectacular swansong after 112 years at its spiritual home. The Boleyn's Farewell: West Ham's Final Game at Upton Park delves into one of the club's most historic nights, with insight from players, fans and others who were there. Everything from the atmosphere before the game, Winston Reid's winner and the digitised Bobby Moore switching off the stadium lights, the build-up and aftermath of the game, as well as the on-pitch action are recounted and celebrated within these pages. This was an evening that would come to define a generation and is unforgettable for many West Ham supporters. While the Boleyn Ground no longer stands, memories of the stadium and the Hammers' glorious farewell performance will endure. The Boleyn's Farewell is the definitive account of one of the most significant matches in West Ham's long history.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Beyond SW19: World Class Tennis in England since
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.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Record Breakers: The Tactics Behind Liverpool and
Book SynopsisRecord Breakers: The Tactics Behind Liverpool and Manchester City's Title Triumphs and Record Points Totals lifts the lid on Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's tactical systems and strategies. Written by a Premier League analyst, the book focuses on the seasons when these two footballing giants registered the highest points totals in Premier League history. It compares their styles and principles of play both with and without the ball, analyses the differences in the positioning of their players and outlines their specific movement patterns, all in the context of how opposition teams attempted to defend against them. Learn how Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling were used very differently from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, how City's system got the best out of Kevin De Bruyne, and how Trent Alexander-Arnold became a unique playmaker from full-back. From 'inverted full-backs' to 'false 9s' via 'free 8s', discover how City and Liverpool's tactics reflect modern football's evolution.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Undisputed Champions of Europe: How the Gods
Book SynopsisThe Undisputed Champions of Europe is a trilogy-ending homage to the golden era of the European Cup. A place where the gods of the game battled for the biggest prize in club football; a place where the likes of Di Stefano, Eusebio, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Dalglish, Gullit and so many others became legends, as they skated across thin ice to glory, in the colours of clubs that are now considered European royalty. An entirely different beast than the Champions League, it was a competition where you had to win your domestic league title to gain entry. With no safety net of group stages, one bad night of football was enough to send you back to square one. In contrast to today's Champions League winners - whose status as Europe's best team is regularly disputed - the winners of the European Cup truly were the undisputed kings of Europe. These are the stories and glories of football's highest achievers.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Always Believe: The Autobiography of Olivier
Book SynopsisAlways Believe is the gripping autobiography of Chelsea, Arsenal and France star Olivier Giroud. Join him on a remarkable journey, from playing for a small club in southern France to achieving top-flight glory there and in England, before lifting the World Cup with the French national team. Giroud shot to prominence in 2011/12 as the top scorer in France's Ligue 1, netting 21 goals to help Montpellier to their first-ever top-flight title. After signing for Arsenal in 2012, he rewarded the Gunners with 73 goals in 180 games and helped them to three FA Cup wins. He is also the French national team's second-highest scorer. Now at Chelsea, Giroud is still hungry for success. But what about the sacrifices he's made along the way? The pressures of being under the spotlight and having to cope with a constant stream of criticism and questions around his selection for the national side? Usually a private person, Giroud holds nothing back as he shares all the highs and lows of a stellar career at the game's top level in this tell-all book.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Life with the Robins and Beyond: The Geoff
Book SynopsisA Life with the Robins and Beyond: The Geoff Merrick Story is the most anticipated book on any player ever to pull on the red shirt of Bristol City. An England schoolboy international, Geoff turned down a host of top teams to sign for his local club. He became the Robins' youngest captain at 20 and eventually led them back to the top flight. During City's stay in Division One, Merrick was seen as one of the country's top defenders, but his life and career were thrown into turmoil when he and seven other players were asked to rip up their contracts to save the club from bankruptcy. This they did, and today their sacrifice is commemorated by a plaque outside Ashton Gate, yet it still goes down as the blackest time in City's history. It is a chapter in Geoff's life that he has never spoken about in depth - until now. When life threw Geoff and his family a cruel twist, he showed the qualities of bravery, self-belief and determination, the very traits that had characterised his performances on the pitch. A Life with the Robins and Beyond is the ultimate tale of not giving up.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Please Don't Take Me Home: A Lovestory with
Book SynopsisPlease Don't Take Me Home is the emotional tale of Italian immigrant Simone Abitante's 20-year love affair with Fulham Football Club. After leaving his native country, Simone falls in love with London and its oldest club, embarking on a personal mission to spread the word and get Fulham recognised beyond Britain by as many people as possible. Following the Cottagers through the most successful spell in their modern history, Simone takes his nephews to Craven Cottage where - together with new friends and Whites addicts Jeff, Mark and Ben - they experience unforgettable wins, exhilarating highs and devastating lows, amid rivers of beer, true friendship and an unquenchable passion for the beautiful game. Even after leaving London for Mallorca, Simone keeps following his beloved Fulham, with that famous white jersey serving as a second skin. Played out against a backdrop of heartbreaks, departures and life-changing decisions, Please Don't Take Me Home is a footballing story every fan can relate to.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Beautiful Game and the Ugly Truth: Football's
Book SynopsisThe Beautiful Game and The Ugly Truth: Football's Tragic Link to Dementia is an emotive examination of the world's most popular sport and its ties to a devastating disease. In 2002, a coroner ruled Jeff Astle's death at the age of 59 was the result of heading footballs. His daughter, Dawn, says football does not believe it can be a killer - but that her father's death certificate proves it can be. Evidence of its impact continues to pile up, 20 years after Jeff's passing. In 2019, Dr Willie Stewart's groundbreaking FIELD study found former footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely than the general population to die of a neurodegenerative disease. In 2020, Sir Bobby Charlton became the fifth member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning side to be diagnosed with dementia. Countless families have seen loved ones slip away from them. Modern professional players are fearing for their futures, too, as experts explain why it is wrong to lay the blame on those old heavy leather footballs.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Basketball 2.0: 3x3's Rise from the Streets to
Book SynopsisBasketball 2.0 takes a riveting and inspirational look inside the rise of 3x3 basketball, which made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, just a decade after launching as the official truncated version of arguably the world's second most popular sport. For generations, three-on-three was a popular form of pickup basketball but seen as a novelty until the governing body, FIBA, hatched an ambitious plan to broaden the sport's worldwide footprint and extend its fan base through a distinctive brand. But to achieve legitimacy, 3x3 needed to accomplish the improbable and go from the streets to the Olympics. Despite scepticism, FIBA created a professional tour and international competitions before its dream was realised when 3x3 became an Olympic sport for the Tokyo Games. FIBA is betting big on its new game, but even after 3x3's memorable Olympic debut, the question remains: will it truly succeed? Basketball 2.0 is the first in-depth exploration of this fascinating and quirky new global game.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Blood on the Crossbar: The Dictatorship's World
Book SynopsisBlood on the Crossbar: The Dictatorship's World Cup is the story of the most controversial football World Cup of all time. When Argentina both hosted and won the World Cup in 1978, just two years after the coup d'etat that ousted Isabel Per n, it was against the backdrop of a brutal military dictatorship in the country. Under the leadership of General Jorge Videla, up to 30,000 citizens, categorised as subversives, 'disappeared'. Dogged by allegations of bribery, coercion and football's first failed drugs test, this is the story of Argentina's maiden World Cup triumph and the controversy that simmered behind it. This isn't exclusively a tale of footballers and generals, and the risks they took to succeed. It's a story of the people: Argentinean exiles, Parisian students, brave journalists, the marching mothers of Plaza de Mayo and their missing children - and Dutch stand-up comedians leading international boycotts from thousands of miles away.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Match: The Story of Italy v Brazil
Book SynopsisThe Match is the tale of one of the most iconic games in World Cup history: Italy v Brazil at Spain '82. Piero Trellini delves into the stories of the great characters who lit up that unforgettable match - from Paolo Rossi to Sócrates, from Enzo Bearzot to Zico - as well as some forgotten figures who all played their part. The book takes us on a fascinating journey through the 1982 Mundial, exploring the football scene of the day and dishing out fascinating anecdotes on the various historical and sporting links between the two countries. Italy, a nation historically at the forefront of football, did not arrive in Spain as favourites, with widespread doubts about their chances, even in the Italian press. This is one of the reasons why their triumph that summer is still celebrated in Italy above other historic victories by the Azzurri. Following that momentous win, Italy would become the favourite destination for Europe and South America's greatest players.Trade Review"A great hunk of a book which is definitely worth its weight in (blue and) gold... writer Piero Trellini sets the scene brilliantly to perhaps the biggest pitched battle of all time... [It features] 512 pages of education and excitement, including many great colour photos and informative, well-researched writing." -- Mark Watkins * Football Book Reviews, Dare Radio *"You may wonder how it is possible to equal the size of Moby Dick by writing about twenty-two men kicking a ball... Trellini took the trouble to analyze the whole analyzer about the protagonists of that challenge." -- Giuseppe Culicchia * La Stampa *"Trellini has transformed her sweet, very strong obsession in this volume that represents a football odyssey. I had never read, on a single game, anything so complete and engaging. In its genre: a masterpiece." -- Darwin Pastorin * Huffington Post *"The Match by Piero Trellini is an exceptional undertaking. Books like this are no longer made. It's a super-novel, has super-powers, the greatest is to revive the race with an unsustainable suspense as if we didn't know that Paolo Rossi would have made three goals. I recommend The Match to non-football fans. They will discover many things. About life and not just football." -- Antonio D’Orrico * 7Corriere *"Having read many hundreds of sports books over the years, I’ve genuinely never come across one like this... It truly is astonishing and makes you think that reading anything by Trellini on any subject under the sun would be almost as fascinating. I finished The Match truly blown away by the level of research and how Trellini then transformed so many random pieces of information and threads into such a readable and definitive work of art. In short, this is an utterly remarkable piece of work. To call it a sports book or to expect that it limits itself to 90 minutes of football – albeit 90 of the most memorable minutes of football ever played – would be doing it an enormous disservice. This is an homage to a bygone era, the most in-depth account of the before, during and after of any sporting occasion I’ve ever come across, written in a style that is so far removed from anything I’ve ever read before." * On Magazine *"Piero Trellini's The Match is a monumental recreation of his homeland's titanic win over Brazil at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Originally published in Italy in 2019 to much acclaim, the book is a dazzling, dizzying mosaic of detail." * When Saturday Comes *
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 horses
Book SynopsisNational Hunt Champion trainer Nicky Henderson OBE shares behind-the-scenes stories of the dozen most extraordinary thoroughbreds that have defined his glittering career. After his early days as an amateur jockey and assistant to Fred Winter, Nicky started his own training yard, which would become the home of such great riders as Sir AP McCoy, Barry Geraghty, John Francome, Mick Fitzgerald, Sam Waley-Cohen, Richard Dunwoody, Nico de Boinville and many others. From his triple Champion Hurdle-winner See You Then, Remittance Man and Nobby the sheep, record-setting Altior, Sprinter Sacre and the greatest comeback in jump racing history, to his new star Constitution Hill, the Henderson yard has been a breeding ground for success. Through exclusive interviews with Nicky and his jockeys, Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 Horses schools us on life, sport, magic, courage, loss, hope and love.Trade Review"In my lifetime two British trainers have been blessed with a touch of genius: Sir Henry Cecil and Nicky Henderson. This book - via tales about his brilliant horses - takes you on a roller-coaster ride with Nicky’s triumphs and tragedies, heady racedays and disasters, plus gives you a unique insight in to the mind of that training genius." -- Ed Chamberlin * ITV Racing *"A beautiful portrait of the love between Nicky Henderson and his greatest horses. Intimate, revealing and unforgettable, with a long reach in racing but also far beyond." -- Paul Hayward * five times Sports Writer of the Year *"Nicky Henderson’s career is a timeless masterpiece, with craft and thought put into every horse. The attention to detail in this beautiful book is similarly meticulous. A must read." -- Dominic King, Racing Correspondent * The Daily Mail *"Wow, what an interesting book. Nicky is a genius and you really see how he has treasures, and looks after his good horses. It gripped me and anybody remotely interested in jump racing will want to read it." -- Kim Bailey * National Hunt trainer *"A brilliant and original portrait of a man with an exceptional gift. Where others see horses, Nicky Henderson sees magic, sophistication and complex personalities – he’s like the Shakespeare of racing." -- Ed Needham * Strong Words magazine *"This is a book every racing fan should read. For it takes a fresh look at famous horses and jumping’s most famous trainer. In the very best of senses, it puts new wine in old bottles." -- Brough Scott MBE * racing journalist, broadcaster and author and former jockey *"A brilliant insight into the life, knowledge, passion and intuition that Nicky has, and gives his horses on a daily basis. All of which makes him one of the greatest trainers and horsemen of any generation, and above all an absolute gentleman." -- Barry Geraghty * first stable jockey to Nicky Henderson from 2008-2015 *"A full, personable and bewitching account of the genius that is the six-time champion jumps trainer – while this is a must-read for racing fans, I’d recommend it to anyone who has ever loved an animal." -- Martha Terry * Horse & Hound *"Nicky Henderson: My Life in 12 Horses is one of the best racing books I’ve read in years. Built around the stories of some his greats, including Remittance Man, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, See You Then and, of course, Constitution Hill, it’s a properly fascinating insight into what makes Henderson tick and how he does it. You never know, the racing fan in your life might even learn something from it." -- Stephen Pollard * The Critic *
£15.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Tears at La Bombonera: Stories from a Six-Year
Book SynopsisTears at La Bombonera is author Christopher Hylland's six-year journey living, working and travelling through South America - where football is a way of life. From Buenos Aires to Colombia's Caribbean coast, and back again, Hylland experiences the history and fanaticism at some of South America's football clubs along the way. Football is a global language, and he shares the stories and experiences from the terraces. It's a place where what happens on the pitch can rank low in terms of quality, but means so much off of it; where everything else, most notably the culture of the game, is unrivalled. Hundreds of thousands of football-mad visitors flock to South America every season. To the iconic stadia such as La Bombonera and Maracana; to lower division teams in the shadows of some of the world's poorest slums and favelas. Tears at La Bombonera is a book rich in human interest, including the author's own personal experience of adapting to a new continent and way of life.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Team that Could Have Been
Book SynopsisThe Team that Could Have Been: The Rise and Fall of Crystal Palace's Team of the 80s looks back on a fascinating period for Palace, with meticulous research and supporter memories bringing the story to life.Under the leadership of Malcolm Allison and assistant Terry Venables, the Croydon side embarked on a project later dubbed the Team of the Eighties' to transform a mediocre side into one of the most glamorous in the land. As part of the transformation, Allison changed the club nickname from The Glaziers' to The Eagles', and the club colours from claret and blue to the red and blue vertical stripes we know today, to emulate Barcelona.Set in a troubled area of London against a backdrop of racism, hooliganism, despair and a government working against its citizens, it's a story filled with colourful characters, cup runs and the hopes and dreams of a club punching above its weight for a short period of time.This is the first-ever book on the extr
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Secret Tour Caddy: A Year in the Life of a
Book SynopsisThe Secret Tour Caddy is the story of the 2023 DP World Tour season from the unique perspective of a veteran tour caddy. The Secret Caddy started caddying at their local golf club when they should have been at school. Eventually, they ended up caddying on the European Tour (now the DP World Tour), where they have worked ever since. This is the story of their life inside the ropes during the 2023 season as the DP World Tour criss-crossed the globe from South Africa and Australia, through the Middle East, Asia, the Far East, the US and Europe, in what was the most tumultuous year ever in professional golf. Get a unique insight into what it's really like to be a tour caddy. What it's like to walk alongside some of the best players on the planet. What it's like to be in contention down the stretch on Sunday, and what happens when things go wrong. Why tour caddies have zero job security but wouldn't swap their job for yours for all the tea in China. And why you should absolutely not even think about swapping yours for theirs.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Cricket Man
Book SynopsisAs a bowler with Warwickshire, he was tipped to play Test cricket for England. An ambition that was killed by coaches who tampered with his bowling action. With the result that, within months, he went from an England contender to free transfer. Steve recalls that time of his life with no bitterness just humour and gratitude at playing when county cricket was filled with the world's best. If his derailed career was a test, a much bigger one lay ahead.A Cricket Man is more than a cricket book, it is also a love story and a life story. Perryman became a fine bowling coach, helping Warwickshire to the Championship title. Always beside him, inspiring him was his beloved wife Carol. She was his cornerstone until their lives were turned upside down when Carol was diagnosed with cancer, and she passed away in 2018.Perryman recounts that heartbreaking time in his life, in powerful chapters where his sadness is underpinned by strength, and heartbreak is accompanied by jo
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Red Dawn
Book SynopsisRed Dawn: The Ballad of Tom Watson and Liverpool FC''s First Champions is the remarkable tale of how Tom Watson, a man from the North East of England, provided the spark that led to the Anfield club''s first two top-flight titles in 1901 and 1906.Watson was a visionary whose training methods, advice to players on diet and somewhat controversial recruitment strategy would no doubt raise eyebrows in the modern era. However, he would provide the blueprint for success that saw him become Liverpool''s longest-serving manager.Watson''s men were the superstars of their day, and included heroic captain Alex Raisbeck and lethal marksman Sam Raybould, not to mention the incomparable Matt McQueen, a future title-winning manager in his own right.Red Dawn is Jeff Goulding and Kieran Smith''s second collaboration, and like their previous title, The Untouchables: Anfield''s Band of Brothers, the book sheds new light on a previously unheralded period in the club''s history.
£20.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd Deadly
Book SynopsisDerek Underwood was one of Kent and England's finest-ever slow bowlers. In this first-ever biography of Underwood, Mark Peel assesses the qualities that made him such a formidable bowler, the reasons behind his signing for Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket and the England rebel tour of South Africa in 1982, plus much more.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Overthrowing Crickets Empire
Book SynopsisCricket was once used as a tool to colonise. What happens when those countries grow up? Overthrowing Cricket''s Empire unearths the audacious stories of teams toppling the cricket colossus, England.From W.G. Grace''s Ashes-igniting run-out to Calum MacLeod''s modern heroics, the book spans 150 years of fierce history. New Zealand''s unexpected draws in 1949, Zimbabwe's poultry farmer heroics, Ireland''s audacious chase and hair, India's elephantine triumph and South Africa's spin saga are all etched in defiance.This is a book about a bunch of Davids taking on Goliath. Every chapter has tales of the greatest English players and the men who stood up to slay them. The narrative transcends sport a testament to resilience and national identity. Amid victories, there's human drama.Overthrowing Cricket''s Empire isn't just about cricket; it's an odyssey of liberation, the essence of competition. Cricket is a sport that builds nations, and this book takes you through it brick by brick.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Seve Ballesteross Touch of Class
Book SynopsisForty years on from his dramatic triumph in the Open Championship at the Old Course in 1984, Seve Ballesteros''s Touch of Class is the gripping, fast-paced, definitive account of the charismatic Spanish maestro''s finest hour. Alongside battles with Tom Watson, are tales of other Seve wins and inspirational moments, and what he meant to the world.Author Kenny Reid brings alive Seve''s outstanding play in brilliant detail, as he marched to his greatest victory against his biggest rival. The Spaniard is considered an artist, magician, genius and icon, and although Ballesteros passed away in 2011, his legend endures and Touch of Class paints an insightful, vivid portrait of the man and his golf.Not just Europe''s greatest, his natural talents and swashbuckling play brought style, daring, danger and adventure to the fairways. This is a fascinating account of Seve''s golfing journey: from gifted son of a farmer in isolated Spain to dominan
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Trailblazers
Book SynopsisTrailblazers uncovers the extraordinary pioneering exploits of Nottingham Forest. The Garibaldi Reds have historically influenced progress in the game and possess a wonderful collection of unique records and exceptional firsts'. Key elements of the game today can be linked to the groundbreaking feats of this remarkable football club.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Only the Real Thing
Book SynopsisOnly the Real Thing is the story of how Aston Villa adapted and thrived in the changing world of early 1990s English football. The book dissects the cup-winning campaigns of 1994 and 1996 with a deep dive into the matches, players and management teams, while telling a wider story of the transitionary shift towards modern football.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Not Even in Brazil
Book SynopsisNot Even in Brazil: Liverpool in 1987/88 is the rip-roaring story of one of the greatest teams in both Liverpool FC and British football history. Follow manager King' Kenny Dalglish and Anfield greats such as Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge as they lead the Reds through one of the most incredible seasons the club has ever known.
£16.14
Pitch Publishing Ltd Forgotten Football Clubs of Great Britain and
Book SynopsisForgotten Football Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland is a nostalgic journey through the histories of clubs that left an indelible mark on the sport, yet no longer exist.Philip O''Rourke delves into the narratives of 50 defunct teams from around England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, uncovering their origins, achievements and the circumstances that led to their extinction. Along the way, we learn about their key players and managers and any controversies surrounding them.Inside you'll discover: Interviews with fans and journalists that help bring the story of each club to life How George Best ended up playing for a League of Ireland side The History of Wanderers FC and how they won the first FA Cup How the first ever Welsh Cup finalist, Druids FC, became a forgotten club The story of Renton FC, the Scottish club who were once world champions but are now just a memory How one English club, Corinthians, influenced some of the world's top sides despite staying at amateur level for so long How Drumcondra AFC took on Europe, but now just play in the local football league This engrossing book is a heartfelt tribute to the teams that once brought joy to their supporters, but now survive only in memory or archival record.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The David Speedie Story
£21.25
