Pitch Publishing
Pitch Publishing Ltd Still Here
Book Synopsis
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Bill McCracken the Offside King
Book SynopsisBill McCracken, the Offside King is the first biography of a football pioneer and Newcastle United legend who forced a change which altered how football was played. Known as the 'Offside King', Bill was a key figure in Newcastle's famous Edwardian line-up. Discover the colourful career and life of a hugely influential figure.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd They Came They Saw They Conquered
Book SynopsisThey Came, They Saw, They Conquered is a celebration of the late 1980s and 90s, when Italian football dominated Europe. It explores an era when Italian teams routinely won European silverware, while the world's most gifted players strutted their stuff in Serie A. Everything about Italian football was cool.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Senna
£22.50
Pitch Publishing Ltd Blood on the Crossbar
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Got; Not Got: Liverpool: The Lost World of
Book SynopsisGot, Not Got: The Lost World of Liverpool is an Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to Anfield's fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mud and magic - as well as a Reds-mad childhood of miniature tabletop games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. The book recalls a more innocent era of football, lingering longingly over relics from the good old days - Reds stickers and petrol freebies, league ladders, big-match programmes and much more - revisiting lost football culture, treasures and pleasures that are 100 per cent Liverpool. If you're a lifelong Liverpool fan, one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from when Shanks won his first '60s silverware to the early days of the Premier League, then this is the book to recall the mavericks - Keegan, Dalglish and St John, Rush, Barnes and Souness - and the marvels of the Lost World of Football.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd 501 World Cup Moments
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Roar of the Lionesses: Women's Football in
Book SynopsisMillions watched the 2015 Women's World Cup as the England Lionesses roared in Canada, winning bronze. Their fighting spirit and fabulous skill captured the fascination of the entire country as their campaign unfolded in the small hours of the 2015 summer mornings. On the back of this success, attendances in the FA Women's Super League increased, as interest in women's football accelerated. Top stars talked enthusiastically about the dawn of a new era for women's football. Carrie Dunn spent a year following some of the most famous - and not so famous - female footballers in the country, to see what the future holds for women's football. Can the smaller, lower-profile teams ever compete with the big bucks and big names of the Women's Super League? How are grassroots clubs going to rise to the top when elite divisions of women's football depend on the award of licences? Can the women win a World Cup before the men do? And if they do, what reward and recognition will they get? Roar of the Lionesses tells the tale of an increasingly popular, yet still woefully underrepresented sport.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Sinner and Saint: The Inspirational Story of
Book SynopsisSinner and Saint is the inspirational story of Martin Murray, St Helens' flawed yet favourite son. A promising amateur teenage boxer, Murray was drawn into a life fuelled with drugs, alcohol and street fighting. By the age of 24, he had completed four jail sentences, one of them in a notorious Cypriot prison. He still managed to win the ABA welterweight title in 2004 - while on the run! The reintroduction of boxing back into his life and a settled family life proved to be his saviour. Turning pro in 2007, Murray went on to win the Commonwealth and British middleweight titles, and challenged for the world title on no fewer than four occasions. Murray pulls no punches as he recounts his story in the most intimate and vivid way - a rollercoaster life ultimately redeemed through his success in boxing.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Liverpool FC Cult Heroes
Book SynopsisLiverpool FC Cult Heroes is devoted to 20 players who, over the years, have won a special place in the hearts of the Anfield faithful - not necessarily the greatest footballers, but a unique brotherhood of mavericks and stalwarts, local lads and big signings. The cast list alone is enough to stir up memories and tug at the heartstrings of any Reds fan - Elisha Scott, Billy Liddell and Joey Jones, Johnston, Carragher and Suarez - recalling how these charismatic personalities ignited passion on the terraces. Find out which Red icon was left at a motorway service-station as a prank. Which striker was involved in a punch-up with Italian waiters after a European Cup semi in Milan. And which skipper was carried through Lime Street station on the shoulders of fans. Discover and delight in the magical qualities of these 20 mere mortals elevated to cult status by the Red half of Liverpool.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Unforgiven: Missionaries or Mercenaries? The
Book SynopsisIn the early 80s, 20 black West Indian cricketers were paid more than $100,000 each to take part in rebel tours of apartheid South Africa. Some, such as Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran, were household names in the Caribbean and around the world, while others were fringe players seeking a short cut out of poverty. All would be condemned by the international cricketing fraternity. Accused of pocketing 'blood money' in order to prop up a regime that systematically discriminated against people of their own colour, they were banned for life from playing the sport they loved. In many cases, they were shunned by their fellow countrymen. A few turned to drugs and gangs, some turned to God - and others found themselves begging on the streets and dealing with mental illness. Forgotten and neglected for close to four decades, The Unforgiven tells their often-tragic stories through face-to-face interviews that explore the human cost of an onerous decision made early in these young men's lives.Trade Review"It was a hopelessly naive comment but, rather than simply condemn, Gray's skill is not just in unearthing these former cricketers - including Rowe, living out his years in Florida - but in allowing each to relive their fateful choice to go to South Africa... Gray paints a compelling portrait of each of them in a moving and thought-provoking read." Matt Dickinson, Sunday Times Sports Books of the Year; "Ashley Gray's thoroughly engaging dissection of the tours examines the moral complexity of the matter and the long-term effects on the rebels." Steven Carroll, The Age; "One can feel nothing but admiration for the tenacity of Gray's pursuit... The Unforgiven is richly sewn with tragedy... It is a truism to say history is written by the victors... The Unforgiven belatedly gives the losers their say." Gideon Haigh; "Possibly the biggest surprise of Ashley Gray's painstaking, sometimes harrowing, awkward and amusing, investigation of those tours is that it is highly nuanced. In The Unforgiven: Mercenaries or Missionaries?, Gray digs beneath the obvious motivation of money to discover that for many of the rebels, the tour was either their only hope of carving a career from cricket or their way of retaliating against the closed shop they perceived the West Indies side to be... We are left feeling the rebels were neither mercenaries nor missionaries, just lost souls." Alyson Rudd, The Times; "Sometimes it helps to come at these things from an angle. There's an excellent new book about cricket and race called The Unforgiven by the Australian writer Ashley Gray. The Unforgiven tells the story of West Indian rebel tours to apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, focusing on the later lives of those players who took the Blood Rand." Barney Ronay, The Guardian; "Gray, an Australian journalist, is unflinching in his portrayal of Murray and the other rebels... [he] is unsparing, if also deeply humane, in his account of the players' fates, those castigated by their communities as race traitors: "Cashed up, but ground down, some coped with ostracism by deserting their homelands, others sought refuge in drugs and religion. The tyranny of inter-island distance ensured that there would be no genuine rebel brotherhood. They were on their own"." --Alex Wade, The Times Literary Supplement; "A powerful and necessary book... brings the rebels out from the demonised whole and gives air and dignity to what are for the most lives blighted and broken by the decision to take the money and go." Wisden Cricket Monthly; "Gray tells the rebels' stories with insight and panache" David Brearley, The Daily Telegraph; "I finished The Unforgiven in one afternoon. It was compelling... one of the best cricket books I've read." Ken Piesse, Cricket Books (Australia); "The Unforgiven is riveting." Sharda Ugra, Senior editor, ESPNcricinfo; "The Unforgiven should be mandatory reading for anyone genuinely interested... in Caribbean cricket history." Fazeer Mohammed, Trinidad Express; "The Unforgiven is a fascinating and engrossing book and Ashley Gray deserves great credit for bringing the story of these West Indian cricketers to our book shelves." Andrew Roberts Cricket Statistics; "Gray, who travelled to the Caribbean several times for the book, has revealed a fresh voice and a talent to be rivalled among the best cricket writers in the world." Barry Nicholls, Australian Cricket Digest; "Cricket is a game enhanced by great books and Ashley Gray's The Unforgiven is an excellent dive into one of the most intriguing stories in the sporting world." Robert Craddock, The Courier-Mail;
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd One Step from Glory: Tottenham's 2018/19
Book SynopsisThe tale of Tottenham Hotspur's extraordinary run to the 2019 Champions League Final in Madrid. Authors Alex Fynn and Martin Cloake examine how Spurs confounded all predictions to enjoy their most successful ever CL campaign - and what it means for the future. They explain why a certain style of football and competing in Europe are central to the club's identity, and look at how manager Mauricio Pochettino drew on these traditions to create a very modern success story. Using match reports from national newspapers to provide the narrative thread, Fynn and Cloake draw on their football backgrounds to explain why this campaign so fired the imagination - in a season with no signings, played mostly without a home stadium. With a rich cast of characters and locations ranging from Eindhoven to Madrid via Barcelona and Dortmund - and one emotional night in Amsterdam - One Step from Glory tells the story of a football odyssey.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Diary of Sport: History, Facts & Figures from
Book SynopsisThe Diary of Sport brings together the most memorable moments and characters in sports history, in one enthralling diary. It's not just about football, rugby and cricket - there are highlights from lesser-known sports such as icosathlon, camogie and Haxey Hood as well as the obsolete Olympic events of one-armed weightlifting, two-handed discus, rope climbing and the swimming obstacle course. Read about the evolution of every major sport from humble beginnings to the multi-million pound businesses we know today. With an entry for every day of the year, you'll learn about the most significant contributions of the famous - and sometimes infamous - men and women who make the world of sport so compelling. Discover how sporting hostilities led to war, the sporting geniuses guilty of crass stupidity and the mediocre competitors who achieved glory with one inspired moment of sublime brilliance. There are underdogs, heroes and villains, gifted winners, spectacular losers and bizarre events aplenty in this page-turning compendium.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Liverpool Minute by Minute: Covering More Than
Book SynopsisLiverpool FC: Minute by Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Reds' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From the Reds' early successes to the glory years of domestic and European dominance, the book covers everything from the Bill Shankly era to the heavy-metal swashbuckling football of Jurgen Klopp's thrilling side. Revisit Liverpool's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's glorious past. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Anfield and around the world, Liverpool FC: Minute by Minute is packed with memorable moments. From Keegan to Salah, from Neal to Robertson, from European and Champions League finals to bruising Merseyside derbies, battles with the Manchester giants and incredible goals - the book is filled with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Football's Fifty Most Important Moments: From the
Book SynopsisFootball is more than just a game. Over the past 150 years it has become a source of identity, conflict and debate for all who follow and play it. It has reached the farthest corners of the globe and boasts more players and supporters than any other sport. Football's Fifty Most Important Moments charts the illustrious, colourful and often tragic history of football, uncovering the sport's most significant and staggering moments. Starting in Victorian England with the 1857 introduction of modern football, we journey through 160 years of incredible events to the modern day, where new and innovative ideas are changing the game. Since its creation, football has been shaped by the actions of teams, supporters and of course remarkable individuals on and off the pitch. Whether through mass spectatorship at the 1923 'White Horse Final' or the infamous 'Hand of God' in 1986, football has never failed to amaze and inspire. Learn about its evolution from its modest 19th-century roots to the modern age of nine-figure transfer fees and billionaire investors.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd If Not Me; Who?: The Story of Tony Greig, the
Book SynopsisIn March 1977, England cricket captain Tony Greig was arguably the most famous and popular sportsman in the country, and the best all-rounder in world cricket. He had recently led England to a famous series victory in India, her first successful campaign on the subcontinent since the Second World War. Then he had conjured a doughty performance from his travel-weary troops in the dramatic, one-off Centenary Test in Melbourne, narrowly losing by 45 runs. Within weeks, though, his reputation was in tatters. He was branded a traitor and mercenary, stripped of the England captaincy and excluded from the national side. He was also relieved of the Sussex captaincy and banned from first-class cricket for eight weeks. His involvement in the controversial 'Packer Revolution' had caused his fall from grace. Soon afterwards, he left England for good for a commentary career in Australia. At 6ft 7in, Greig was a giant of the game both figuratively and literally. His life story is every bit as fascinating as the controversy that engulfed him.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Follow Fucking Orders: The Gangland Execution of
Book SynopsisThe brutal 2010 murders of promising footballer Eddie Moussa and his brother were a harbinger of the gang violence now laying siege to Sweden. Written by crime reporter Ann Tornkvist, Follow Fucking Orders captures the freefall of a quaint town, known for its sports-crazed community and top-league football team, into a bloody turf war. After the biggest police investigation into organised crime in Swedish history, the local mob boss was sentenced to life for ordering the hit on Eddie. Author Ann Tornkvist followed the gripping story for five years, securing unique access to families who had fled into the witness protection programme. In 2016, the mob boss tried to derail this book's publication by threatening to have her killed. Undeterred, Tornkvist published Follow Fucking Orders in Sweden in 2018. The first edition sold out within a week and soon became the most popular book in the country's maximum-security prisons. Ultimately, the book offers a chilling reminder that true crime has no last chapter.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd When the Seagulls Follow the Trawler: Football in
Book SynopsisEnglish football changed in the 1990s. For better, for worse - but mainly for better. The shirts and shorts got baggier and brighter. Exotic-named players were enticed from overseas. New stadiums were built in the wake of the Taylor Report. The Premier League emerged and England hosted its first international tournament since 1966. The era of 'New Labour' and 'Cool Britannia', it was also the decade English football went mainstream. When the Seagulls Follow the Trawler author Tom Whitworth travelled to English football's hotbeds - the cities of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle - to meet the people who lived through an era of change: the players and the managers, the owners and the fans. He looks back at key moments, the teams, the title races, the twists and turns, the characters and the rivalries. All from a decade when English football began to shrug off its bad-lad image - at least off the pitch - and move out of the darkness and into the light.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd I'm with the Cosmos: The Steve Hunt Story
Book SynopsisI'm with the Cosmos' was the phrase New York Cosmos players used to get a table reserved at the city's best restaurants or skip the queue at the glamorous Studio 54 nightclub. And it was one Steve Hunt became used to trotting out, after he was transferred from Aston Villa to New York Cosmos at the tender age of 20, having played just seven times for the first team at Villa. He walked straight into a world of celebrity and a team of superstars including two of the world's finest players, Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. This is Steve's story of those heady days in New York - but also a stellar career back in England during the early 1980s. Returning to the West Midlands, Steve played for Coventry City, West Bromwich Albion and returned to his beloved Aston Villa for a second spell - and at the age of 28, he won the first of two England caps under Bobby Robson, realising an ambition held since early childhood. This is Steve's story, and in it he writes frankly about his football career, as well as his life outside the game.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Is it Just Me or is Modern Football S**t?: An
Book SynopsisDoes the sight of half-scarves enrage you? Does transfer-deadline day make you want to throw a brick through the TV? Do the opening bars of goal music make your ears bleed? If the answer is 'yes', then this could be the book for you. Since English football's very own 'Year Zero' in 1992, the game has changed beyond recognition, rejecting the rough-and-ready days of the past. And like any change, not all of it has been welcome. The quality of the 'football product' might be better but it's come with spiralling levels of debt, yawning inequality and Neymar advertising batteries. These, and many other ills of the modern game, form Jim Keoghan's exploration of the nation's favourite pastime. Navigating a world populated by dodgy owners, celebrity referees and Ray Winstone's floating head, he searches for an answer to the question: Is it Just Me or is Modern Football S**t?
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Andrew Watson; a Straggling Life: The Story of
Book SynopsisThe son of a Scottish plantation owner and a free woman of colour, Andrew Watson was provided for by his wealthy father. Receiving a first-class education in English public schools, he would later reject university to become a footballer in Glasgow. Schooled by the most advanced practitioners of the game at that time, he became one of the best footballers in Glasgow and captained Scotland's invincible national team. He played for the greatest clubs of the day on both sides of the border and as a 'Scottish professor', brought his talent to England and shared his knowledge with the Southern amateurs, helping the game evolve from a public-school pastime to a national obsession. He played alongside and educated many who would represent the English national team, changing the game forever. But the record of his achievements faded as the game he helped change took over the world, leaving his memory in the shadows. Over 100 years later, he was rediscovered in an old photograph, and after years of research, his achievements were finally recognised.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Enable: Queen of the Turf
Book SynopsisEnable is a modern day racing heroine, a Queen of the Turf, and she has stirred the emotions of racing fans like few before her. She has won 11 Group Ones to date including the Epsom Oaks, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice and the Breeders' Cup Turf. She is partnered by Frankie Dettori, the world's most famous jockey and she is his 'big girl' and his favourite racehorse. His trademark flying dismounts seem to now be accompanied by tears and by the time of publication, she will have attempted a historic third 'Arc' which Frankie wants to win 'for her' and not himself. As well as looking at her close bond with 'Frankie' the book looks at how Enable's masterful trainer, John Gosden, managed her from the beginning and how her connections cherish her. Her full story is told through the lens of the Racing Post - its best writers, most astute analysts and unrivalled photographers.
£17.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd Beautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje: The
Book SynopsisBeautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje: The Unfulfilled Glory of Dutch Football is the story of a dazzling football dream. Built on the club successes of Ajax and Feyenoord, it's a utopian ideal that blazed with a bright but ephemeral Oranje flame, scorching the football pitches of the world in the 1970s. Although Dutch clubs dominated the European Cup from 1969 to 1973, until 1974 the Oranje had failed to qualify for a World Cup for 36 years. Two finals then followed in successive tournaments, as 'totaalvoetbal' burst from its chrysalis, proudly revealing to the world its wings adorned with vivid shades of Oranje. The winners were the brides. It was their day, but the Dutch sides were more beautiful, yet so fragile, and football loved them for it. This isn't merely a tale of bridesmaids who came so close yet failed gloriously. It is the celebration of a footballing counter-culture, a revolution, a flame that burned so brightly, but so briefly. It's the story of those Beautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Programmes! Programmes!: Football and Life from
Book SynopsisProgrammes! Programmes! Football and Life from Wartime to Lockdown is a fascinating archaeological dig through a collection of 2,000 programmes. From the bleak wartime era when players had to shelter from air raids and depend on army leave, to tragedies and the 'Slum Game', through to the glitz of today's global stars, noodle partners and fan-owned, community-based clubs - every aspect of football's evolution, its highs and lows can be found in match-day programmes, along with a dose of bad poetry, adverts for sex magazines, boy bands who never made it and explanations of a 'magic sponge' for American fans. There are unforgettable games, World Cup winners, schoolboy internationals destined for stardom and others whose glimpse of glory proved fleeting. The stories play out against a backdrop of technological, economic and social change in Britain and beyond, rekindling the memories of generations of fans. Programmes! Programmes! is a 'must' for lovers of football nostalgia, with fascinating, funny and quirky tales galore.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Secret Cricketer: English Cricket from the
Book SynopsisThe Secret Cricketer first picked up a cricket bat as a toddler and became a county junior. He secured a professional contract and has been at the coalface of the English county game ever since. This fast-paced, insider's account lifts the lid on modern cricket to reveal what life is really like for an English professional in the 21st century. How do players cope when they can't take a wicket or score a run and their livelihood is on the line? What makes a good coach and how many are there (hint - not many)? Is there still an old-school hierarchy in dressing rooms or a bullying culture? What's the secret to a winning dressing room, and what's it like to be in one when morale hits rock bottom? How much do county players earn? And what's it like to walk out at Lord's to play in a major final? With unique first-hand insight into the fast-evolving modern game, the book answers all these questions and more. It's brimming with untold stories - some that will make you laugh and others that will shock you.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Trivquiz Newcastle United: 1001 Questions
Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about Newcastle United? Put your Magpies 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 Newcastle greats - from 'Wor Jackie' Milburn to Supermac and Shearer, from 'King Kevin' Keegan to Rafa Benitez and beyond - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. On his retirement in 1984, which player left the field by helicopter still dressed in his kit? Which club favourite made 95 appearances for Peru? Alan Shearer once scored a goal 10.4 seconds into a Premier League game against which club? Who was the first Newcastle United player to win the Premier League Golden Boot? The Magpies take to the field for each home game to the sound of which Mark Knopfler song? Trivquiz Newcastle United holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Trivquiz Manchester United: 1001 Questions
Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about Manchester United? 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 Man United sides and players - from the 'Busby Babes' to 'Fergie's Fledglings', from Charlton, Law and Best to Rooney, Ronaldo and Rashford - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Which player earned a taekwondo black belt and seriously considered abandoning his football career to work as a docker? Which Republic of Ireland international was raised in orphanages? Son of a Greco-Roman wrestling champion, which striker served in the Norwegian army? Which United striker made history when he played for Stockport County alongside his father? Which player appeared opposite Cate Blanchett in the 1998 movie Elizabeth? Trivquiz Manchester United holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Gerrard's Blueprint: The Tactical Philosophy
Book SynopsisGerrard's Blueprint provides an in-depth analysis of Rangers' tactical evolution over three years under Steven Gerrard, culminating in a league title win that saw them crowned kings of Scotland for the 55th time. In May 2018, Rangers appointed Liverpool legend Gerrard as the 16th permanent manager in the club's long history. A megastar player but untested as a coach, many wondered how Gerrard would fare at a club like Rangers, especially in light of the team's struggles in the past six seasons. Fast forward to 7 March 2021 and Gerrard's Rangers clinched the club's 55th title in record time, staying unbeaten in all 32 league games to that point. This book delves into the tactical approach used by Gerrard and his coaching team and shines a light on the key principles of their footballing philosophy. Adam Thornton picks out key games and players that have shaped the tactical evolution of the side and helped them become title winners.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Nine Waves: The Extraordinary Story of How
Book SynopsisThe Nine Waves is a tour de force. The most entertaining and up-to-date history of Indian cricket ever published, it tells the story of the nine great waves of the game from 1932 to the present day. Each wave in Indian cricket was chock-full of mesmerising stars, thrilling moments, great victories, heartbreaking losses and significant turning points. The first wave of Indian cricket rolled in against the backdrop of momentous changes in the country and the world: Gandhi's civil disobedience campaign, World War Two and Indian independence. Through each of the waves, India strengthened its position in the cricketing firmament. By the end of the 20th century, it was the most powerful nation in world cricket. Award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author Mihir Bose brings together his first-hand experience of some of the most seminal moments in Indian cricket, his encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and his unrivalled ability as a chronicler of the sport to create a magisterial history of Indian cricket.Trade Review"Bose has been writing about cricket for nearly 50 years [and] has set himself a challenging task... Any discussion of India's dominance of modern cricket must include the IPl... [and] Bose neatly explains its beneficial effect." * Widen Almanack *
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Tales from the Front Line: The Autobiography of
Book SynopsisFor over a decade Luke Fletcher has been a firm fan favourite at Trent Bridge. This 6'6" gentle giant never gives less than 100 per cent for Nottinghamshire, but a laugh and a joke are never far from his lips. Within the space of a week in 2017 he went from the highs of winning a Lord's cup final to suffering a serious injury. As with most events in his life, the incidents provided scope for his infectious humour, much of it self-deprecating. An uncanny ability to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and his on-off relationship with the strength and conditioning gurus has often landed him in hot water, providing ammunition for witty comebacks. But although a clever quip is never far away, the broad-beamed paceman has earned the respect of everyone in the game. He has played against - and got the better of - virtually every opponent he has faced and has a career record to be proud of. In Tales from the Front Line, 'Fletch' serves up laughs aplenty as he takes us on an anecdotal journey through our summer game.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Glory and Despair: The World Cup, 1930-2018
Book SynopsisGlory and Despair is a pictorial celebration of the World Cup that takes us on a spellbinding journey, from the inaugural tournament in 1930 to the present day. Using stunning library stock images, the book brings to life the feats of the greatest stars ever to grace the game, including Pele, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore and both Ronaldos. This beautiful visual homage covers the great matches, the incredible goals, the controversies, heroes and villains, capturing the most iconic moments in the greatest tournament of any sport. Glory and Despair is an essential piece of World Cup nostalgia that honours the history of the greatest football show on earth.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Nii Lamptey: The Curse of Pelé
Book SynopsisNii Lamptey: The Curse of Pelé is the authorised biography of Ghanaian footballer Nii Lamptey, a one-time bright young talent who was hailed as 'the next Pelé' by Pelé himself. By age 16, Lamptey had won the Belgian title with RSC Anderlecht and the world championship with Ghana's under-16s. One year later, he won a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. After joining Dutch masters PSV Eindhoven on loan in 1993 and scoring 10 times in 22 games that season, Lamptey appeared to have the world at his feet. Spells at Aston Villa and Coventry City followed, but he failed to fulfil Pelé's bold prophecy. Instead, his career became a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when too much pressure is applied to young players. Injuries, lack of schooling, domestic violence, bad agents and a tragic and turbulent personal life pushed Lamptey to the brink of suicide, but thankfully he recovered. In this 'warts and all' account he finally lifts the lid on his incredible story.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Working Hands of a Goddess: The Tactics,
Book SynopsisThe Working Hands of a Goddess is the story of how Atalanta BC rose from the lower reaches of Serie A to become Champions League quarter-finalists in just four years. The appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as manager in 2016 changed the club's fortunes forever. Quickly making his mark, he developed a squad that play one of Europe's most scintillating brands of football, and upset the status quo by going toe-to-toe with the giants of the Italian game. The Working Hands of a Goddess analyses and details the tactics and systems that underpin this thrilling team, the stories and backgrounds of the unique players that define it, and the culture and history that not only produced a beautiful football team but a special club and city-wide community. When the pandemic rocked the community, Atalanta became far more than just a football team by uniting a city in strife.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd What Was Football Like in the 1990s?
Book SynopsisWhat Was Football Like in the 1990s? captures the spirit of a decade that witnessed so many changes in the game, especially off the field. This engaging and absorbing account of the era interweaves the author's memories and experiences with a wealth of research. The Taylor Report, the Bosman ruling, the advent of the Premier League, the increasing focus on the business of football, Sky television, the rising price of entry to top-flight football, hooliganism and racism are all covered along with the managers who defined the era - Ferguson, Dalglish, Wenger, Atkinson - and of course the players who lit up the decade, including Eric Cantona and other foreign stars who helped mould the Premier League. What Was Football Like in the 1990s? is an enthralling and illuminating account of a truly remarkable decade for the beautiful game, penned by a respected football author and journalist. It's a 'must' for any nostalgic fan.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Got That Lovin' Feelin': From Clark to Cooper,
Book SynopsisGot That Lovin’ Feelin’ is the enthralling story of Nottingham Forest’s emotional return to the Premier League under Steve Cooper in 2022. It charts the promotions, relegations, financial problems and missed opportunities that made Forest’s journey back to the big time such a compelling one. Cooper’s side’s thrilling and unexpected promotion campaign put an end to 23 years outside the top flight. In those lean times, Forest frequently became a byword for decline on the pitch and madness in the boardroom. The book features opinions and insights from those who worked on the pitch, in the dugout and in the corridors of power. It also tells the story of Forest’s first season back in the big time, through the eyes of fans, players and pundits – all the while exploring what it means to be connected to this grand, historic and pioneering club. From Frank Clark’s European dreamers to Cooper’s play-off winners, this is Forest’s roller-coaster ride of a story. Trade Review"Warren Turner's bright red book tells of the Forest journey from Frank Clark to Steve Cooper in order to secure top-flight football again after an absence of 23 years. There's background, backstories and key match reports as viewed 'through the eyes of fans, players and pundits'. In fact, there's a great picture of No.9 Taiwo Awoniyi scoring 'the winner against Arsenal to ensure another Premier League season for Nottingham Forest'. Pictures can speak volumes as do the words - a great, informative book!" -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Two Posts and a Field: Cultural Impact, Social
Book SynopsisTwo Posts and a Field is a unique look at Liverpool FC through the eyes of Neville Gabie (artist and lifelong fan) and Stephen Done (writer and curator at the LFC Museum). Richly illustrated, it is part travelogue, part exploration of the LFC Museum's hidden treasures and part personal story, as Neville takes us from his childhood listening to games on the radio in South Africa to watching his first match at Anfield in 1973. The book tells the story of Neville and Stephen's roadtrip to find the home and birthplace of Mo Salah in Egypt's Nile Delta and of Avi Cohen, a player who broke the cultural mould when he signed from Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 1980s. It shines a spotlight on the struggles of Liverpool's home-grown talent for racial equality, contrasting Trent Alexander Arnold with Howard Gayle, the first black player to be signed by Liverpool, with the backdrop of the Toxteth riots. The stories are brought to life by Gabie's beautiful goalpost photos, which stretch back 20 years.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Brazil 1970: How the Greatest Team of All Time
Book SynopsisBrazil 1970 is the fascinating and dramatic inside story of the greatest football team of all time. Predicted to be drab and dull, the 1970 World Cup became the greatest show on Earth, with the mesmerising Brazilians at the heart of a dramatic and delirious three weeks. After their demise at the 1966 World Cup, the South Americans were no longer the masters of the game. The defenestration rattled Brazil, and left them in purgatory before they swept through the qualifiers with coach João Saldanha. Even so, the team left their home country discredited against the backdrop of a military dictatorship and the proliferation of science in the game. At the World Cup finals, Mario Zagallo and his cast of balletic players - including lodestar Pelé, the cerebral Gerson and the ingenious Tostão - ensured Brazil would forever be synonymous with the global game and a byword for style and craft. Their triumph was also the end of Brazil's golden era. The technocrats had invaded the terrain and Brazil would never again reach those heights.Trade Review"Kunti has been both tireless and very well travelled in his efforts to track down many of the surviving members of the 1970 Seleção. Jairzinho, Gerson and Tostão are among those contributing their own take on the trials and training ground tensions that surrounded the build-up to Brazil’s famous third World Cup victory." * When Saturday Comes *
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Power of Belief: Bethany Shriever's Rise to
Book SynopsisWhen UK Sport removed funding for women's BMX, Bethany Shriever's dream of Olympic glory seemed shattered. Throw in the impact of a broken leg sustained in childhood, plus an untimely arm injury weeks before the final Olympic qualification event, and few would have thought the 22-year-old would be on the plane to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, let alone the podium. And with the uncertainty caused by a global pandemic, the external pressures on Beth were intense and pervasive. However, the BMX racer from Essex is made of stern stuff and, perhaps just as importantly, so are the team around her. From her deeply involved family, to her dedicated coaching team, to her friends within the BMX community, Beth's story recognises the team behind an athlete. This compelling tale of triumph over adversity reveals how the power of belief overcame the obstacles that threatened to derail Bethany's dreams of becoming the best ever female BMX racer.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd All My Own Words: The Sportswriter who was Author
Book SynopsisAll My Own Words is the remarkable story of a kid with a paper round who dreamed of a career in Fleet Street, the historic fulcrum of the British press. In just a few short years, he achieved that ambition and held two of the most prestigious posts in sports writing, only to be sacked for plagiarism when collating material for a tennis annual. Neil Harman didn't have the proper qualifications when he got his first job on a local paper in Southend, but he passed his O-level retakes and set off on a journey packed with incident and controversy. Harman rose to become the leading football voice on the Daily Mail and later the man they called 'Mr Tennis' on The Times. All My Own Words charts the extraordinary twists and turns of a special sports-writing voyage, as Harman recounts colourful tales and brings us exclusive insight into characters such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough, Graham Taylor, David Beckham, Laurie Cunningham, Sir Andy Murray, Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Steffi Graf and Martina Navratilova.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Out of the Wilderness: A Director's Life at
Book SynopsisFormer Burnley FC director Clive Holt brings us the inside track on his 35 years at the club in a compelling memoir chock-full of anecdotes and previously untold stories. Every committee or boardroom needs someone who can ask awkward questions and see what might be coming around the next corner. Clive was that man at Burnley FC. Wherever Burnley were playing, he rarely missed a match, whether those dreadful games of the old Fourth Division when Burnley were in the doldrums, or the heady afternoons at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or the Emirates in the Premier League. Clive's knowledge of the workings of Burnley was encyclopaedic, and as company secretary he knew exactly what was going on throughout the club. He left the board in 2020 when Burnley were bought by the American company ALK, but continues to attend games with a devotion that has never wavered.
£19.54
Pitch Publishing Ltd El Más Grande: The Story of River Plate,
Book SynopsisEl Más Grande is the story of Argentina's biggest and most successful football club, River Plate. From their humble origins in the southern districts of Buenos Aires, River grew into one of the largest clubs in South America, earning the nickname 'The Millionaires' as they established themselves at the iconic Monumental Stadium. Over the years, River have propelled some of the greatest talents on the continent to fame, whilst enchanting generations of fans with their stylish play. The book journeys back to the 'máquina' team of the 1940s, arguably the most attractive club side of the pre-television era, with its fabled frontline of Moreno, Loustau, Pedernera, Labruna and Muñoz. It takes us through the great sides of the 1950s, 70s and 90s right up to the all-conquering reign of present coach Marcelo Gallardo. Along the way, we discover the great players who have worn the distinctive white shirt with the red sash - from Bernabé Ferreyra, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Enzo Francescoli to Manchester City's new signing Julián Álvarez.Trade Review"Mark Orton has deftly written a most interesting book, based on his travels to, and love of, South America – specifically football and River Plate, Argentina’s biggest club… this is a great, informative read." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd 1992: The Birth of Modern Football
Book Synopsis1992: The Birth of Modern Football brings to life the key events from one of the most important years in football history. After the huge success of Italia '90 and the potential to show football around the world on TV, law makers, chairmen and players ushered in monumental changes to the structure of the game. Everyone remembers the first year of the Premier League, but changes to the backpass rule and the arrival of the newly branded Champions League would have a seismic effect on football. On the pitch, Italian clubs spent huge sums as they bolstered their squads for success at home and abroad. In England, Leeds and Manchester United were battling at the top of the league for the final season in the First Division. That sliding-doors moment really did have a huge impact on Alex Ferguson's men. To add to the growing changes, the revolution was televised. 1992: The Birth of Modern Football transports you back to the year that changed football forever.Trade Review"Fletcher delivers us a breeze of a good read from when it wasn't just the corner flag that was blowin' in the wind." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"Rob Fletcher's book on the key events from one of the most important eras in modern sport is a nostalgic, entertaining read from start to finish... explaining how the Premier League became the billion-pound modern-day monster but also how and why soccer around Europe changed during the same timeframe." -- Ger McCarthy * Top Ten Sports Books of 2023, The Southern Star *
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Pretty Poly: The History of the Football Shirt
Book SynopsisPretty Poly tells the fascinating story of the football shirt, charting its dramatic evolution over a 150-year period, from modest beginnings to a product at the centre of a billion-dollar industry. An emblem of everything it means to be a fan, the football shirt evokes memories of triumph and disaster and acts as a symbol of belonging to a chosen footballing tribe. Packed with facts, figures and anecdotes, Pretty Poly explores the history embedded in every feature of modern-day strips. It covers their ever-changing shape, the emergence of dedicated club and national colours and the often surprising reasons behind them. It also looks at the companies and designers behind some of our favourite strips, and explores the birth and exponential growth of the replica-kit industry. Along the way, we learn the histories of the iconic sponsors, names, numbers, patches and badges, and meet the kit collectors with a burning lifelong passion as we delve into the burgeoning vintage kit market that feeds their interest.Trade Review"An engaging, illuminating read... Ireland is an engaging chronicler, enthusiasm and affection for his subject evident in every sentence." * When Saturday Comes *
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Turncoat: How I Stopped Supporting Arsenal and
Book SynopsisTurncoat is the light-hearted story of one disillusioned Arsenal fan’s quest to find a new team while rediscovering the simple joys of watching football. From sneaking out of bed to see Michael Thomas’s winner against Liverpool, to holding a season ticket for 16 years, Matt Coughlan was a dedicated Arsenal fan. Then came the move to a new ground, kick-off times always being shunted around and the goalposts being moved when billionaires injected vast sums into rival teams, so the height of ambition became finishing fourth. He became disillusioned with the modern game and drifted away from it, but he missed being part of the conversation in the pub and correcting friends on points of trivia. He started to watch non-league football and searched for a new team to follow. On his journey, Matt rediscovers a love for the sport, gets into club boardrooms, talks with officials, finds out about community-owned clubs, learns about some historic old clubs and watches a mixed bag of football. But does he find a new team to support?Trade Review"Books on the life of a nonleague fan are rare... For any others fans disillusioned with the never-ending greed at the top of the game Matt’s search for something more down-to -earth is to be praised." -- Cadhain's blog"He describes the matches he goes to and the people he meets along the way in an entertaining style... it’s fair to say the book may give other fans food for thought." -- John Lyons * Late Tackle *"Part memoir, part ethical inquiry, Coughlan's book explores provocative questions about loyalty, identity, and what following a club truly means…Coughlan writes in an introspective, self-aware style inviting both agreement and critique. For any football supporter, it poses thoughtful questions about balancing tradition and one's own ethical code." -- Matt Riley * Goodreads *
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The American Football Revolution: How Britain
Book SynopsisThe American Football Revolution: How Britain Fell In Love With The NFL is the remarkable story of how the USA's biggest sport converted a sceptical soccer-mad nation. In 1982, an esoteric new TV channel started beaming NFL highlights into British homes and building up a small but devoted audience - just as hooliganism was turning people off the UK's national game. A year later, the Global Cup saw the Vikings and Cardinals play a flop preseason game at Wembley. Now, 40 years later, the UK is the NFL's second home. The marketing muscle of the league played a part but it's the fans staying up late to watch on TV, creating their own content and booking holidays to the States to coincide with big games that have made the sport a hit. From the man who sold his home so he could tour the NFL's tailgate parties to the one who turned his love of the sport into an all-consuming passion for fantasy football, these are the stories of the fans who transformed the NFL from a curiosity to a mainstay in the British sporting landscape.Trade Review"Isaacs is such a good storyteller... The writing is engaging and well-paced, which makes for a very easy read. Any British fans who, like me, discovered the NFL in the 1980s will love this book. It’s not just for them, however. Newcomers to the sport – as well as American fans – might be surprised to learn how far back the NFL’s UK history goes. There’s plenty in here for everyone." * Pigskin Books *
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Auld Foes: World Football's Oldest Rivalry
Book SynopsisAuld Foes is the remarkable story of the world’s oldest football rivalry – Heart of Midlothian v Hibernian – interwoven with a fascinating 150-year Edinburgh history. For more than a century the rivalry ebbed and flowed, culminating in a hostile takeover bid in 1990. While this raised hostilities off the pitch to a new high, animosity between the Edinburgh sides was nothing new. Theirs is a rivalry as complex and historic as Edinburgh itself, encompassing World Wars and sacrifice, Scottish society, religious and ethnic hatred, social class, football hooliganism, clubs on the brink of death saved by amazing feats of fan devotion, and the dubious financial dealings – and characters – that took them to the edge of ruin. This is a story with exhilarating highs, innovations, world firsts and trailblazing in Europe; plus the wretched lows of relegations, agonising near-misses and everything in between. Auld Foes shines a vital spotlight on a captivating football rivalry that is poorly understood.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Rise of a New Dynasty
Book SynopsisRise of a New Dynasty charts FC Barcelona Femini''s journey from 2019 to 2023 with in-depth tactical analysis and player interviews. Barcelona is an iconic brand in European and world football, and the men''s team''s success has been mirrored by the achievements of the women''s team, creating a sense of unity throughout the club.Barcelona Femini has emerged as one of Europe''s most dominant forces of recent times, winning the UEFA Women''s Champions League in 2021 and again in 2023 to solidify their legacy.The book explores the factors behind their sustained growth, analysing the tactics and strategies that led to their success in Europe. It highlights the contributions of Ballon d''Or winner Alexia Putellas, as well as other superstars like Caroline Graham Hansen and Aitana Bonmati, and examines how they came together as a cohesive unit to conquer Europe.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Cricket in Poetry
Book SynopsisCricket in Poetry tells the fascinating story of cricket''s strong ties with poetry.It may be cricket''s rural origins, its slow pace or the literary ambitions of its aristocratic patrons, but the game has inspired more poetry than any other. Some of it is moving, some is funny, and some is arch and clunky. Two poems stand out: Vitai Lampada and At Lord''s. Both were penned by the sons of prosperous families. One poet, Henry Newbolt, was a toff. The other, Francis Thompson, was a religious writer and Jack the Ripper suspect. While the two were growing up, county cricket was coming of age.The book charts the game''s early days from the countryside of the south to the industrial towns and cities of the Midlands and the north. It recalls the famous matches, W.G. Grace and Gloucestershire on their first visit to Old Trafford and the first Ashes Test. And it celebrates the heroes, from Hornby and Barlow to Ranjitsinhji and the great victory calyp
£17.09
