Pitch Publishing
Pitch Publishing Ltd Standing Free
Book SynopsisStanding Free is the funny, emotional, at times downright bizarre but always enthralling autobiography of 1980s and 90s Aberdeen FC hero Theo ten Caat. Theo's time at Aberdeen was certainly eventful. All is revealed in this no-punches-pulled chronicle of his career, both in Scotland and Holland, told in Theo's own words.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Shades of Green
Book SynopsisJoin football writer Chris Lee on a journey of discovery around Ireland to learn about one of the world's oldest soccer cultures. Along the way, Chris talks to fans, historians and academics. He uncovers a complex story of politics, identity and division, but also one of hope, reconciliation and glory.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Still Aint Got A Barrel of Money
Book Synopsis(Still) Ain't Got a Barrel of Money charts Sheffield United's astonishing rise from the brink of oblivion, after dropping to the Fourth Division for the first (and only) time in its history, to competing in the inaugural Premier League season. It tells the story of the managers and the players who gave Blades fans back their pride.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Celebration of AngloScottish Footballers
Book SynopsisA celebratory look at Anglo-Scottish footballers and the positive contributions they have made at English league clubs in domestic as well as European competitions. From medal winners at top-flight teams to cult heroes at Bournemouth, Burnley and Crystal Palace great Scots, great teams, great managers, we salute you all!
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Nights in Gold Satin
Book SynopsisNights in Gold Satin tells the fascinating story of the floodlit friendlies', the groundbreaking series of matches hosted by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1950s. Victories over Moscow Spartak and Honvéd saw Wolves hailed champions of the world', and out of the debate that followed the European Cup was born.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Escape
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Inside the Academy
Book Synopsis Inside the Academy tells the stories of a talented set of footballers spanning a quarter-century, exploring childhood aspirations and what became of them. It lifts the lid on teenage training grounds and what it takes to even come close to being a Premier League player.From Bobby Moore to Declan Rice, West Ham United has a proud history of cultivating young talent. Yet their 2023 FA Youth Cup triumph came against a backdrop of complaints about congested pathways to first-team football and inflated pay packets quelling ambition. These concerns are not unique to West Ham; they are symptomatic of the modern game.This book offers an insight into what life as a young footballer is really like, via interviews with people who''ve lived and breathed the game over the past 25 years. It''s a must-read for anyone who wonders why child prodigies don''t always become professionals and what happens to those who don''t make it to the top.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Horses in Training 2025
Book SynopsisHorses in Training is an institution in racing. It is an encyclopaedia of invaluable information on the horses each trainer has in their care, with around 18,0000 horses and 550 trainers. Fully indexed, it includes around 150 pages of key statistics, covering everything from big-race winners to trainer and jockey tables.
£23.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Before You Go
Book SynopsisJohn Aizlewood and his 14-year-old son, Oscar, attended every Stevenage game of the 2024/25 season, home and away, league and cups. This is not merely the story of a season in the life of League One's smallest club; it's the story of a father and son bonding through football, before the son takes his GCSEs and goes on to become a man.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Smell of Football II
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Crickets Black Dog
Book Synopsis
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Not Just a Pretty Face
Book SynopsisGripping autobiography of former Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick, one of football's nice guys, who fought a hidden battle with depression and anxiety due to appalling abuse from the media and fans.Foreword by football legend Dion Dublin, Luke's hero who became his team-mate.As a member of the Manchester United first team, Luke found himself lining up alongside Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Roy Keane as United marched to their third successive Premier League title. But instead of enjoying what should have been the happiest of times, he shut himself away from the outside world.Read and you will discover: A first-hand insight into Sir Alex Ferguson's unique method of signing promising youngsters and the way he dealt with the more established stars How unbeknown to his Manchester United team-mates, friends and family, Luke was battling depression and anxiety, brought on by the personal abuse he was receiving from the national media and football fans up and down the country Luke's time as an England under-21 international His early life growing up in a sleepy Cambridgeshire village although he had ambitions of becoming a professional footballer, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he would play for the biggest club in the world Details of his time at Royal Antwerp, Reading, Burnley, West Ham United, Stoke City, Norwich City, MK Dons and Cambridge United, and how he became one of only a handful of players to score in each of the top five divisions in English football Having played more than 500 games across seven different divisions during his 15-year playing career, Luke's tale covers all aspects of life as a professional footballer. Brutally honest and often hilarious, his story isn't one of gloom it's a tale of resilience and inspiration.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Journey into the Unknown
Book Synopsis Journey into the Unknown explores the early years and development of pan-European football competition alongside changing British attitudes to overseas teams.There was once a belief in Britain that England and Scotland were among the leaders in the development of football and therefore de facto champions of the game. But when UEFA introduced a competition for Europe's top clubs, the Brits got a rude shock. It soon became clear that sides like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Benfica possessed more technically gifted players, and that Football League clubs had much to learn.This fascinating book: Examines the development of pan-European football competitions, from the Mitropa Cup and Latin Cup to the introduction of the European Cup in 1955 Explores the reluctance of England to get involved, from the stand-off with FIFA to the Football League denying Chelsea the chance to enter the first European Cup Covers Scotland's early adventures, with Hibernian the first club to play in European competition and Rangers making early strides Looks at Manchester United's early years in Europe, ending with the Munich tragedy in 1958, including Sir Matt Busby's role in encouraging British involvement Includes how Europe influenced clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, the first English trophy in 1963, Celtic's success in 1967 and Manchester United winning the European Cup in 1968, Cup Winners' Cup successes and Liverpool's domination of Europe Turns the spotlight on British xenophobia and the threat of playing abroad, with violence on and off the pitch and suggestions of cheating Discover how European club competition became an exciting spectacle that opened the football community's eyes to just what was possible. Scotland and England gained a foothold in Europe, but things took a disastrous turn with the Heysel Stadium tragedy in 1985.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Cinque Anni
Book SynopsisCinque Anni takes an in-depth look at the reasons why Italy failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cups but became champions of Europe. It tells the story of how all this happened the agony and ecstasy, the tears and laughter. It's a must-read for anyone fascinated in the fine line in sport that can separate winning and losing.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Jimmy Armfield
Book SynopsisThe official biography of Jimmy Armfield CBE tells the story of a young boy captivated by the town of Blackpool, and the loyalty he had for its football club. More than 600 appearances and 43 England caps made Jimmy one of the best-known players in the country. The book includes his management career and his time at the FA and the BBC.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Tackling the Game
Book SynopsisManchester United legend Paul Parker pulls no punches in this warts-and-all autobiography. In a dressing room peopled by Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Bryan Robson and Peter Schmeichel, there could be no shrinking violets. Parker speaks with candour as he reveals stories of life behind the scenes and lifts the lid on an Old Trafford dynasty.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Darts Master
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Snookers Bad Boys
Book SynopsisSnooker's Bad Boys looks at the feuds, fist fights, fixes and playboys who put the sport on the front and back pages of the national press, as told by those who were there, with colourful tales of the rogues who drank, gambled, partied and potted their way into the hearts of millions, from the sport's peak years in the 1980s up to the present day.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Believer in Blue
Book SynopsisBeliever in Blue is the fascinating autobiography of Marvin Andrews, who famously overcame serious injury and defied expert medical opinion to help Rangers win the title on 'Helicopter Sunday'. A year later, he led Trinidad and Tobago to an unprecedented qualification for the 2006 World Cup. His story is one of religious faith and glory.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The History Boys Part Two
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Graveyard of Champions
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Call Yourself a Hammers Fan?: The Ultimate West
Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about the club you love? You can find out by exploring the 1,000 questions set out in 100 categories that make up this West Ham quiz book. It s not often that books on football make reference to Inspector Morse, Dostoyevsky, Shredded Wheat, The Everly Brothers, Fawlty Towers, Catch-22 and EastEnders, but this one does! Try these for size: which West Ham United player in the 1980 FA Cup Final had already scored for another club in an earlier FA Cup Final? Which two players with West Ham United connections appeared in 43 games between them for Blackburn Rovers when they won the Premier League in 1994/95? And who is the only man to manage West Ham United in two different centuries? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. This quirky, challenging book is a must for West Ham fans of all ages, and you might not see anything quite like it again.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Leeds United Miscellany: United Trivia, History,
Book SynopsisLeeds United Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Whites. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about David Harvey's suicidal monkey? How about the chairman who spent GBP240 on a goldfish for his office? Or the gypsy who urinated on Elland Road's corner flags to help Don Revie lift an ancient curse? Do you know when a Leeds side last wore sock tags? The fate of the orange kit worn once in 1970? Or how many miles of pipe make up the undersoil heating system at Elland Road? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Leeds United fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart. Featuring a foreword by Leeds legend Eddie Gray.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Huddersfield Town Miscellany: Terriers Trivia,
Book SynopsisHuddersfield Town Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Terriers. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the striker who scored 223 goals in 268 appearances for the club? How about the centre-forward who netted 289 goals in just 40 games before joining Town? Do you know what has been the longest journey (by road) any Huddersfield Town team has had to make to play a Football League fixture? When Town were unbeaten at home in the FA Cup for 19 years? Or which Town player had a record 32 letters in his name? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of blue-and-white history close to their heart.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Fifty Shades of White: Half a Century of Pain and
Book SynopsisFifty Shades of White is Gary Edwards's fifth book; and he returns with more fabulous, rib-tickling tales that come with half a century of following one of the most talked about football clubs in the world. Like the time he was asked to accompany a four-and-a-half-foot tall monk with a large hearing aid, who hadn't previously left his abbey for 25 years, to a Leeds United game as part of a BBC documentary. Or the time he escaped from hospital, still in his hospital gown and attached to a catheter, a blood bag, several needles and with two tampons stuck up his nose to travel 70 miles up the A1 in a thunderstorm for a relatively meaningless Leeds game at Darlington. There is a fascinating, controversial and hilarious insight into Leeds United's former owner Ken Bates, gleaned from being a special guest at his birthday and Christmas parties for eight consecutive years. Fifty Shades of White gives a unique fan insight into the club and a life devoted to Leeds United.
£9.74
Pitch Publishing Ltd Everton Greatest Games: The Toffees' Fifty Finest
Book SynopsisEvertonians know what it is to experience greatness. Since the club first came to life in 1878 there have been titles won, European adventures and trips to Wembley. The fans have seen records broken, legends make their mark, matches of undeniable class. Every decade that Everton have been in existence has yielded moments of wonder, games that supporters at the time have cherished for their entire lives and which fans of subsequent generations have looked back on with undeniable pride. From the earliest days, when St Domingo's first morphed into something recognisable as a modern football club, the whole span of Everton's narrative is covered here. Those earliest title wins, those earliest finals, Dean, Lawton, Hickson, the Holy Trinity, Latchford, the glory of Kendall, the agony of Wimbledon, the joy of Royle and restoration under Moyes. Everton Greatest Games is more than just a selection of the moments that have stirred the soul of Blues. It is the story of Everton, the tale of how a church team grew into an English giant.
£12.74
Pitch Publishing Ltd Got; Not Got: Leeds United: The Lost World of
Book SynopsisGot, Not Got: The Lost World of Leeds United is an Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to Elland Road's fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mud and magic - as well as a Whites-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 - United stickers and petrol freebies, league ladders, records, big-match programmes and much more - revisiting lost football culture, treasures and pleasures that are 100 per cent Leeds. If you were a Junior White, one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from Don Revie's lads first lifting the title to the '91 championship, then this is the book to recall the mavericks - Bremner and Giles, Gray and Currie, Sheridan and Strachan - and the marvels of the Lost World of Football.
£9.74
Pitch Publishing Ltd Marvelous: The Marvin Hagler Story
Book SynopsisMarvelous Marvin Hagler is a sporting legend. Often called the greatest middleweight boxer of all time, he held the world title for 12 defences, including bouts with Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran which entered fistic folklore. From his wild early fights in the boxing wilderness of Brockton, Massachusetts, Brian and Damian Hughes trace the blazing trail of Hagler's career: the controversial defeats subsequently avenged, a riot-scarred title win in London, and his unification of the middleweight crown. Hagler became a huge favourite, taking on all comers while never taking a step back. And so to The Ring magazine's "greatest round of all time" against Hearns, his ferocious battle with Duran, and the still-controversial loss to his nemesis Leonard. Marvelous tells the story of Hagler's extraordinary life for the first time, separating truth from myth to get right to the heart of a complex and charismatic man.
£8.54
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 Lost in France: The Remarkable Life and Death of
Book SynopsisIn 1914 one of Britain's most famous sportsmen went off to play his part in the First World War. Like millions of others, he would die. Unlike millions of others, nobody knew how or where. Until now. Lost in France is the true story of Leigh Roose: playboy, scholar, soldier and the finest goalkeeper of his generation. It's also the tale of how one man became caught up in a global catastrophe - one that would cost him his life, his identity and his rightful place as one of football's all-time legends. Lost In France is the biography of goalkeeper Leigh Roose, football's first genuine superstar, a man so good at his position on the field of play that the Football Association made one of the most significant rule changes in the game's history just to keep him in check. Small wonder that when the Daily Mail put together a World XI to take on another planet, Leigh's was the first name on its team sheet.
£8.54
Pitch Publishing Ltd Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff!: Roy's True Story
Book SynopsisRoy Race was Melchester Rovers' super striker, and later manager and chairman; he is known everywhere simply as 'Roy of the Rovers'. Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff is the inside story of his life with Melchester, told by the man who knows him better than anyone: editor Barrie Tomlinson, the man who helped turn him from comic-book hero to a national institution. From the 1950s, millions of children grew up reading about his footballing adventures in Tiger and Roy of the Rovers. Now they can relive all the memorable moments from Roy's illustrious footballing career. From his debut as a fresh-faced teen in the comic Tiger, Roy became the hero of his own football comic; with league titles, cup finals, Wembley wins and much more; how he survived near-death experiences, became the first boys' hero to get married and just why the saying 'Real Roy of the Rovers stuff!' became a stock phrase for football commentators everywhere. Packed with photos from Roy's life, the book tells how he became a top celebrity of his day, how Sir Alf Ramsey was convinced to be Melchester manager, Geoffrey Boycott became chairman and even how the Duke of Edinburgh once came to write for Roy's comic!
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Grandad; What Was Football Like in the 1970s?
Book SynopsisGrandson Charlie attending a Championship game at Hillsborough prompts Richard Crooks to transport himself back to the 1970s and recall what football was really like for supporters in the 1970s. Crooks provides an engaging and comprehensive narrative on all things football in that decade, and brings out the social context of the time. Reflecting on what it was like getting to a game, the grounds, the crowds, the clubs, the managers, players, referees, reporting the game, growing commercialism, the World Cups, and through to the spectre of the rise of hooliganism and racism. Using written and broadcast material of the time, as well as Crooks's own experiences, Grandad, What Was Football Like in the 1970s? provides a fascinating insight and description of a decade when things really started to change in football - and also sheds light on the oft-asked question 'Was football better then or in the modern era?'
£13.49
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 Glory; Glory Lane: The Extraordinary History of
Book SynopsisGlory, Glory Lane is the life-affirming history - including a momentous last season - of a world-famous football stadium, home to Tottenham Hotspur for 118 years. A Victorian structure turned wraparound 21st-century all-seater, it became a theatre of dreams for supporters all attracted by teams which played the 'Spurs way' to achieve glory. The Lane gave a stage to a conveyor belt of legends from Cameron to Alli via Nicholson, Blanchflower, Greaves, Hoddle and Klinsmann. It provided unforgettable memories in unforgettable atmospheres - heart-lifting, heart-breaking, nerve-racking. Its story veers from founders obsessed by Harry Hotspur to Harry Kane via Harry Redknapp; through matches, personalities, ground developments and threatened closure, all with first-hand accounts. It's hard to imagine how a new GBP750m stadium can ever replace the edifice which shut its gates for the last time after Spurs played Manchester United in May 2017, having created a daunting legacy.
£21.25
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 Red Odyssey: Liverpool FC 1892-2017
Book SynopsisRed Odyssey: Liverpool FC 1892-2017, is a uniquely affectionate and often deeply moving history of one of the greatest sporting institutions on the planet. Born in the fire of boardroom conflict and launched into the humble surroundings of the Lancashire League, Liverpool Football Club not only endured but rose to conquer all of Europe, leaving its local rivals trailing in its wake. This journey through the ages represents a thrilling sporting odyssey, packed with heroes and foes, victors and villains. It features tales of conquest and heroic homecomings as well as soul-crushing defeats. Its people have endured great tragedy and fought for both redemption and vindication. Modern-day Liverpool supporters, standing on the shoulders of their forebears, are tough, gritty, irreverent and united. These qualities have sustained them for 125 years, and they run through the book like a golden thread. Red Odyssey is 125 individual love letters to Liverpool FC and its people, written with a Scouse accent.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Lancashire Turf Wars: A Football History
Book SynopsisLancashire has had a major role to play in English football from its earliest days to the present. The county's leading clubs were largely responsible for the introduction of professionalism in the 1880s, after Preston North End admitted paying their players, and the world's first Football League was divided between teams from the North West and the Midlands. Preston's 'Invincibles' triumphed in that first competition before adding the FA Cup that two different Blackburn clubs had already won - and soon the great clubs of Merseyside and Manchester were winning their first trophies. As the turf wars developed, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Bury and Oldham all made their mark in the top division; clubs such as Rochdale and Wigan fought the good fight in rugby hotbeds; and more recently Fleetwood and Morecambe have carried the name of their towns further afield. This is the story of these great rivals, their triumphs, scandals and tragedies, and the great players who have kept the red rose to the fore at home and abroad.
£11.69
Pitch Publishing Ltd Scotland in the 70s: The Definitive Account of
Book SynopsisThe 1970s saw a change in the fortunes of the Scottish national side. After a gap of 16 years World Cup qualification was achieved for the finals in West Germany in 1974. Credited as the only undefeated side at the tournament, the sobering trip to Argentina four years later prompted more realistic future expectations. In a decade in which the SFA celebrated its centenary, the scandal of the Copenhagen Five and a breakdown in relations between the press and players were significant events - while, on the park, players of the calibre of Dalglish, Hartford, Jordan, Souness and McQueen replaced the old guard. Scotland in the 70s looks beyond the decade's 89 matches, examining the role of the managers - Brown, Docherty, Ormond, MacLeod, Stein - and the circumstances surrounding the many memorable games. Extensive newspaper and video archive research is complemented by the memories of star contributors including Bobby Brown, Archie MacPherson, Asa Hartford, Eddie Gray, Willie Morgan, Willie Johnston, Lou Macari, Bobby Clark, Jimmy Bone and John Blackley.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Lionel Messi and the Art of Living
Book SynopsisLionel Messi and the Art of Living is a bold and insightful examination of a world-famous sporting hero's career from an entirely new perspective, providing a context extending far beyond the football field. The idea that sports stars are role models is a cliche, but it is also true in a way that is rarely appreciated. Although the details of Messi's story are already well known, The Art of Living examines afresh and anew his highs and lows, his successes and failures, his ongoing evolution and his endless struggle to succeed. It encourages us to consider, to analyse and - above all - to think about Messi's career from a different viewpoint, understanding how his journey can be related to our own lives on a meaningful and impactful level. Containing exclusive, illuminating interviews with deep thinkers and high achievers from a number of different fields, this book delivers a fresh and inspiring approach to a global icon, ensuring that you will never look at Lionel Messi - or life - in the same way again.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Transfer Market: The Inside Stories
Book SynopsisFor years, transfer gossip columns have been Alan Gernon's (author of Retired: What Happens to Footballers When the Game's Up) guilty pleasure. Fed up with the time wasted reading them, he explores how many of these rumours are accurate, planted by agents or simply made up - and how easy is it to plant a transfer story in the UK media. Along the way, he discovers how the market works and how a transfer happens; what a move actually means for a typical player in a world where you could buy more than 315,000 League Two players for the price of Neymar; and that almost 30 per cent of transferred players worldwide are moved between clubs against their wishes. He also uncovers how to become a football agent overnight, and why British players are reluctant to move abroad. He speaks to players about the pressures and real-life effects of a move, and tries to figure out how much the stars of yesteryear would be worth in today's crazy transfer market - where Premier League clubs spent a record GBP1.4 billion in the summer of 2017 alone.
£11.69
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 One in a Million: The Trevor Francis Story
Book SynopsisCompelling, entertaining and refreshingly honest, One in a Million is the autobiography of Trevor Francis, the subject of the first GBP1 million transfer fee in football history - a record for all time. As a 16-year-old, Francis set a record as the youngest player to score four goals in a match, an early indication of an exceptional talent. And so his unique career journey would continue to unfold, encountering a seemingly endless succession of superlatives, larger-than-life characters and astonishing events. Trevor played professionally not only in England but also in the USA and Scotland, in Italy and Australia. He gained 52 England caps, and won the European Cup on his debut in the competition. He played his part in the English revolution at Glasgow Rangers and managed QPR, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City. Thrillingly, Trevor takes the reader with him into dressing rooms, into boardrooms and on to the field of play. He has a true gift for memorable detail, providing a wealth of revelations and remarkable stories.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Every Cloud: The Story of How Leeds City Became
Book SynopsisA true story of intrigue, mystery, blackmail and skulduggery, which tells how one man was able to bring down an English Football League club. In 1919, Leeds City player Charlie Copeland returned from active service and made a request for a pay rise, which the club steadfastly refused. During the war, guest players for League clubs were supposed to have gone unpaid for their services, though in general this FA law was overlooked as a nod to the war effort. Copeland, however, issued the club with an ultimatum: either meet his wage demand or answer to the FA for making illegal payments. When Copeland carried out his threat and City proved reluctant to produce their books for FA inspection, a complex web of deceit and hypocrisy ensued. Subsequently, Leeds City were disbanded and expelled from the Football League, the only club before or since to receive such harsh punishment. However, out of the ashes of this fallen institution emerged another, brand new club - Leeds United.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Tangled Up in Blue: The Rise and Fall of Rangers
Book SynopsisIf the wider, football-conscious world is aware of just two things about Scottish football, they are surely as follows: firstly, that there is a virulent rivalry in Glasgow between the city's two great teams, Rangers and Celtic, based on a religious divide; and secondly, that Rangers recently suffered a catastrophic financial collapse, which ultimately led to the club's insolvency. Split into two separate, but closely linked, sections, Tangled Up in Blue: The Rise and Fall of Rangers FC gives the full account of both of these stories. Stephen O'Donnell explores how Rangers first became associated with hard-line Protestantism, dominating Scottish football for decades without ever knowingly signing a Catholic footballer, until the feted arrival of Maurice Johnston at Ibrox in 1989. He then switches focus to the club's financial affairs, as Rangers' unsustainable spending brought the club to the brink of collapse and, despite the hidden benefits of an illegal tax avoidance scheme, resulted in its liquidation.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Pride of the Lionesses: The Changing Face of
Book SynopsisThe sequel to The Roar of the Lionesses - named one of The Guardian's best sports books of 2016. England's Lionesses headed to France for the 2019 Women's World Cup endeavouring to improve on their third-place finish in Canada four years previously. But they didn't have the easiest of preparations, with dramas and headlines emerging for all the wrong reasons. Back home, FA upheavals brought yet another restructure of competition in women's football. The top flights switched back to a winter season, and now all the elite teams had to employ players on a full-time professional basis. While the superstars went in search of spectacular silverware, the goalposts were being moved for pros, part-timers and amateurs alike. Even women playing football for fun were forced to consider their place in the system. Carrie Dunn's Pride of the Lionesses offers a timely inside analysis of one of the UK's fastest-growing sports. Is women's football in England actually growing from top to bottom - or is it just another slick PR campaign?
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Magical Magyars: The Rise and Fall of the World's
Book SynopsisMagical Magyars tells the remarkable story of the legendary Hungarian football team of the 50s, a side whose breathtaking technical skills and passing-and-movement style of play changed the very way the sport was played. Author David Bailey traces the team's origins and details how communist Hungary, a tiny nation impoverished and subjugated by one of the most brutal Stalinist regimes in the Soviet empire, was able to produce a football team that was the envy of the sporting world, and so very nearly world champions. Captained by the genius that was Ferenc Puskas, the Magical Magyars walked a tightrope between being the regime's darlings and providing the beleaguered Hungarian people with a sense of national pride during their darkest days. The team enthralled, dominated and revolutionised world football - until its own demise was brought about by a revolution of a different kind. Weaving in threads of friendship and betrayal, tactics and politics, the quest for glory and upheaval, here is a football story quite unlike any other.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Fighting Back: The Tyson Fury Story
Book SynopsisFighting Back is the story of a different kind of boxing superstar - a hero for winning his battles outside as well as inside the ring. When he outpointed Wladimir Klitschko, on one of the greatest nights in British boxing history, Tyson Fury sat on top of the world. But 'The Gypsy King' soon discovered that being heavyweight champion wasn't all he had imagined. His own demons would prove harder to conquer than Klitschko. In the following months, Tyson drank and ate to excess, took drugs and contemplated suicide. He seemed destined for an early grave. But, with the help of his family, Fury dealt with his issues and launched a boxing comeback - after shedding an incredible ten stones in weight! Fury eased back with a couple of straightforward wins. Then, in what appeared a foolhardy, if very brave, move, he challenged unbeaten KO specialist Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight championship in Los Angeles. Having followed Fury's career from his first amateur bout, author Matt Bozeat has spent time with Fury and his family trying to get to know and fathom out this most remarkable of fighters and people. The result is the humour-laden, heart-wrenching, inspirational story of a boxer who conquered the world, lost everything - and then got it back.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd An A to Z of Football Collectibles: Priceless
Book SynopsisAn illustrated history of football trade cards, an epic saga of 1,000 brands and myriad collections. The A-Z traces the earliest cards and stickers - British inventions, both - through a century of sports cards from tobacco cards to Panini stickers, via everything that came in between: footballers issued with chewing gum and sweet cigarettes, lucky bag mementoes, football teams cut from packets of tea, and many more. It chronicles the epoch of our forefathers and the very first football cards, dating back to the 1880s, followed by the era of their children and the earliest stickers - and so the rise of cigarette cards and paper soccer star adhesives. These days, along with our Panini stickers and trading cards, we appreciate these vintage treasures not only for their beauty but also for their value. Fond recollections of childhood passions past and present will warm hearts, while enchanting galleries of rarely seen cards will captivate football fans and collectors alike. Incorporating a guide to values, the A-Z is priceless.
£21.25
