Sporting venues Books

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

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Book SynopsisScratch Off 92 Football Grounds Print is the perfect gift for football lovers. Visit the football grounds, scratch off the map. The Scratch Off 92 Football Grounds Print is part of our Collect and Scratch collection and shows all 92 Football Stadiums required to complete the stadium hopping challenge. Scratch off the stadiums you have visited. Once scratched you can look at the stadiums you are yet to visit, and book your trip! Each Stadium is located by a football icon and you can scratch off the label and football kit, revealing the team colours.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2024 Illustrated Sports Book of the YearLaunched as rugby hit fever pitch at the 2023 World Cup, Remarkable Rugby Grounds is the perfect title for the passionate rugby fan who will be astonished at the worldwide reach of their favourite game.Remarkable Rugby Grounds continues the blend of earlier Remarkables' by mixing some of the world's cathedrals of rugby with some of the quirky club grounds and local pitches set in beautiful locations.We travel Around the World in 80 pitches' with grounds in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, Alaska, Argentina, Romania, along with the Six Nations venues.Apart from Aviva Stadium/Lansdowne Road in Dublin (which has a train running beneath the grandstand), the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Murrayfield and Twickenham, there are the genteel splendours of Bath's Recreation Ground nestling alongside the River Avon or the historic home of Richmond FC one of the founding clubs of English rugby.Featuring 80 of the Trade Review‘While cricket and football stadiums have long been revered and celebrated, rugby grounds haven’t been given quite the same level of adulation – until now. Ryan Herman seeks to redress the sporting imbalance, selecting 80 rugby grounds to fawn over.’ — Pitch Magazine ‘A beautiful collection of some of the most magnificent places to watch and play rugby.’— Phil Caplan, TALKSPORT ‘A resplendent coffee-table book.’— RugbyWorld

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Book SynopsisScratch Off UK Golf Courses Print is the perfect gift for golf lovers. Once you have played the golf course scratch off the map. The map shows our selection of 100 Golf Courses in the UK, each one is located with a golf tee icon. Scratch off the golf courses you have played at and see how far you get! Once scratched you can look at the courses you are yet to try and travel the country to find them.

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Book SynopsisRemarkable Golf Courses encompasses the extremes of the sport – from the highest golf course in La Paz, Bolivia, to the lowest, in Death Valley, USA; from the most northerly in the Arctic Circle to the most southerly in Tierra del Fuego. The many quirks of the golfing world are covered, such as the 18th green the other side of the River Lea which is serviced by an electric ferry, or the LA golf course that has its own funicular railway, or the floating golf hole in Idaho, where it’s not just the pin position that’s changed every day, it’s the distance from the shore! Golf courses that feature neolithic standing stones (Scotland), Roman roads (England), and ruined medieval castles (Wales) take their place alongside the old temples of Delhi or a UNESCO World Heritage bridge that is used to link the 9th and 10th at Angkor Wat. There are the beloved classic courses of St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal St. George and Westward Ho!. There are spectacular golf courses hewn out of the Nevada and Arizona desert, green oases in a cactus-strewn, rocky landscape, along with Hawaiian courses fringed by barren black lava flows. But nothing can beat the thrill in Guatemala of lining up your drive on an active volcano at the Fuego Maya course. In comparison there are the traditional wind-blown Scottish links, such as the Machrie Hotel on the island of Islay which has the most blind greens on any course, or the remote Isle of Barra where greens are only accessible via a kissing gate. Fancy swapping countries mid-round? You can at the Llanmymynech club in Wales. At the fourth hole golfers tee off in Wales and putt out on the green in England. Remarkable Golf Courses brings together some astonishing stories with some extraordinary photography.

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Book SynopsisExplore more than 25 legendary F1 race tracks in high-definition satellite photography. From the glamour of Monaco and Yas Marina, to the heritage of Silverstone, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps, Formula One Circuits from Above showcases more than 25 legendary F1 race tracks as you've never seen them before. Powered by unique Google™ Earth photography, this stunning illustrated book highlights the signature properties of iconic circuits including Monza, Interlagos and the Nurburgring in incredible detail, providing an unparalleled insight into the unique strengths and challenges of each.This insightful commentary is accompanied by fascinating details on the history of each circuit, as well as the outstanding drivers and unforgettable moments that have defined them: the rivalries, the controversies and the spectacular feats of driving skill. Whether you're a seasoned F1 fan or a newcomer to the sport, Formula One Circuits from Above captures the colour, drama, history and excitement of Formula One.Table of ContentsHigh-definition aerial photographs of all these legendary F1 circuits, along with fascinating trivia and historic moments from each. EUROPE: Spa-Francorchamps • Magny-Cours • Hockenheim • Nurburgring • Red Bull Ring • Brands Hatch • Silverstone • Hungaroring • Imola • Monza • Monaco • Baku • Sochi • Barcelona. ASIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST: Yas Marina • Sakhir • Shanghai • Suzuka • Sepang • Marina Bay. THE AMERICAS: Buenos Aires • Interlagos • Montreal • Circuit of the Americas • Indianapolis • Mexico City. AUSTRALIA: Adelaide • Melbourne.

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

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Book SynopsisIn spring 1914, a new ballpark opened in Chicago. The park would soon be known as Wrigley Field, one of the most emblematic and controversial baseball stadiums in America. In this book, the author provides a detailed chronicle of this living historic landmark. It shows how the stadium has evolved through the years.Trade Review"This is the story of how ordinary old Wrigley Field became Wrigley Field, baseball mecca and tourist trap, a ballpark populated by dreams and drunks. It takes a Chicago native and baseball scholar like Shea, a North Sider who has lived and died with the Cubs for three decades, to write this outstanding history of one of baseball's crown jewels." (Gary Gillette, editor of The Baseball Encyclopedia)"

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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.

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Book SynopsisFrom Turtle Bay on Oahu? s famous North Shore to the once royal estate of Vidago Palace Hotel near Portugal? s famous port-making Douro Valley region Golf Courses and Resorts around the World is a fascinating guide to the most outstanding golf courses and resorts that are open to the public.Whether it is teeing off at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, which has hosted more championships than any other course in the United States, or playing a marathon four rounds at Oregon? s links golf paradise of Bandon Dunes, you? ll find a great variety of unforgettable golfing destinations to explore. Some of the most respected golf writers, golf professionals and course architects in the world have come together to select the worlds? top golf resorts.With a mix of history, course architecture, tips on how to play each course, fine dining and luxury features, as well as other resort activities such as scuba diving and fishing, the reviews combine to provide a comprehensive guide to the world? s best luxury golf destinations.

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Book Synopsis''They''re places skiers will love.'' - Metro''An intercontinental romp through a galaxy of ski trivia.'' - Scotsman''Whether you''ve ever skied or never been near a chairlift or the piste, there is gold in these pages. '' - Press & The Journal The amazing history behind the best ski trails in the world.Veteran ski journalist Patrick Thorne has unearthed the incredible stories behind 50 unique runs from the utterly unmissable to the totally unexpected. Discover the two different Alpine ski areas who claim to be Hannibal''s route through the mountains with his elephants; the debate around what is really the world''s steepest slope; how smugglers have used ski runs to escape custom patrol; and why hundreds of skiers dress as witches at Belalp in Switzerland every year.Features skiing from across Europe, North America and South America, as well as fascinating global ski destinations including China, Iran and evTrade ReviewThey're places skiers will love. * Metro *Around the World in 50 Slopes is an intercontinental romp through a galaxy of ski trivia, in which the various runs are included not only because of the quality of skiing they offer, but also because of the stories they have to tell. -- Roger Cox * The Scotsman *Whether you've ever skied or never been near a chairlift or the piste, there is gold in these pages and Patrick is a master of the quirky, the weird and downright surreal. -- Neil Drysdale * The Press & The Journal *

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Book SynopsisFrom ancient stadium construction to a design object of the twenty-first century, sports arenas have long been turned into places hosting a global media spectacle. For a few hours or days, colossuses made of steel and concrete transform into colourful festival locations. Since the first ancient stadium in Greek Olympia, the typology of stadium construction has undergone a profound transformation: due to changes in requirements and demand, an urban entertainment centre has emerged from the simple running track in the countryside. Through selected examples of projects, this volume from the Construction and Design Manual series illustrates the development of stadiums in relation to building typologies. It provides a basic manual of stadium design using basic planning parameters. Examined are, amongst others, Olympic stadiums, football stadiums, velodromes and ice arenas. Drawings, detailed plans and large- format photos facilitate an understanding of the carefully selected examples and are used to analyse stadium construction in terms of its history, planning and architecture.

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Book SynopsisA colourful guide to the world’s most remarkable and desirable golf courses, featuring beautiful design, challenging layouts and unforgettable settings.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive, one-stop guide to environmental stewardship for golf courses and grounds This highly practical guide covers the full complement of tools green industry professionals need to create a successful environmental program on golf courses and grounds. Written by a leading golf course superintendent and grounds manager, The Environmental Stewardship Toolkit offers a comprehensive analysis of all relevant issues, including environmental management, resource management, community engagement, and document management. The emphasis throughout is on the development of programs that are both sustainable and practical, combining the protection and renewal of environmental systems with a workable business plan. Regulatory issues as well as concerns of owners, customers, and the community at large are also addressed. Clear, pragmatic, up-to-the-minute coverage includes: Numerous illustrations, photos, and customizable templates and checklists that readeTable of ContentsForeword xi Acknowledgments xiii SECTION 1 Environmental Management 1 Chapter 1: Building a Green Team 3 How to Establish an Environmental Committee 3 Where Do You Look to Begin Filling Positions in Your Committee? 4 How Many People Should Be on Your Environmental Committee? 9 Summary 10 Chapter 2: The Environmental Plan: Site Assessment 11 The Site Assessment 12 Site Assessment Features for Golf Courses 16 Summary 17 Chapter 3: The Environmental Plan: Agronomic Programs 19 Soil Structure and Edaphology 19 Essential Elements to “All” Plant Growth 21 Soil Samples and Soil Testing 23 Tissue Samples 25 Cultural Practices for Turf 26 What Is a Carbon Footprint and Why Is It Mentioned Here? 33 Summary 35 Chapter 4: The Environmental Plan: Water Quality and Conservation 37 Water Basics 37 Water Quality Programs and Strategies 38 Summary 53 Chapter 5: The Environmental Plan: Wildlife and Habitat Management 55 Developing a Wildlife Inventory 55 Guidelines for Enhancing and Maintaining Wildlife Habitat 64 Summary 66 Chapter 6: The Environmental Plan: Integrated Pest Management 67 Protecting Agronomic Assets through IPM 67 Summary 82 Section One: Environmental Management Conclusions 82 Action Steps: Green, Greener, Greenest 83 SECTION 2 Resource Management 85 Chapter 7: Accounting and Financial Processes 87 The Accounting Equation 88 Specifi c Financial Documents 89 Using Comparative Reports 94 Summary 98 Chapter 8: Budget Reduction and Contingency Strategies 99 Environmental Programs That Cut Expenses and Protect Assets 99 Partnerships Increase The Effectiveness of Recycling Programs 104 Summary 114 Chapter 9: Human Resources Management 115 Employee Recruitment and Hiring Practices 116 Achieving More with Less 121 Safety Programs and Resource Management 122 Summary 129 Section Two: Resource Management Conclusions 132 Action Steps: Green, Greener, Greenest 132 SECTION 3 Environomic Community Engagement and Green Public Relations 135 Chapter 10: Environomic Community Engagement 137 The Role of the Green Industry Professional in an Environomic Community Engagement Program 138 Simple Steps for Starting an Environomic Community Engagement Program 139 Summary 144 Chapter 11: Public Relations and the Green Industry Professional 145 Communicating to and with Target Audiences 145 Public Relations and the Green Industry Professional 148 Creating a “Beyond the Property” Program 150 Crafting Your Story 152 Ten Steps to Creating and Sustaining a Successful Beyond the Property Public Relations Program 155 Summary 156 Chapter 12: Photography’s Role in Green Public Relations 157 Digital Camera Facts for the Green Industry Professional 160 Learning Another Language (or Two) 171 The Future of Community Engagement 173 Summary 174 Section Three: Environomic Community Engagement And Green Public Relations Conclusions 174 Action Steps: Green, Greener, Greenest 174 SECTION 4 Documentation Management 177 Chapter 13: Essential Green Industry Documentation 179 How Do I Begin to Create a Personal Documentation List? 180 Transforming Your Personal Documentation List into a Personal Documentation Program 182 Documentation: Tools of the Trade 184 The Daily Work Log 185 Weather Reports 188 Agronomic Reports and Documentation 191 Water Quality Tests 193 Disease and Nematode Sampling 195 Chemical Application Records 195 The Right to Know Center and Safety Training Documents 198 Licenses and Miscellaneous Documents 202 Summary 202 Chapter 14: Case Study Documentation and Uses 203 What Exactly Does a Case Study Look Like? 204 Environmentally Focused Documentation: the Building Blocks of Case Studies 216 Water Use and Irrigation Documents 219 Summary 221 Section Four: Documentation Management Conclusions 221 Action Steps: Green, Greener, Greenest 222 SECTION 5 Putting It All Together: Synergy and the Green Industry Professional 223 Chapter 15: Career Focus and Professional Image 225 Time Horizons, Career Focus and the Green Industry Professional 231 Stretch Goals and Link Goals 238 Summary 244 Chapter 16: Professional Associations and Networking 245 American Nursery and Landscape Association 246 American Society of Golf Course Architects 246 American Society of Landscape Architects 247 Golf Course Builders Association of America 247 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 248 Irrigation Association 248 International Society of Arboriculture 249 Professional Grounds Management Society 249 Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) 250 Sports Turf Managers Association 251 The Green Industry Ambassador 251 Summary 255 Chapter 17: Roadmaps for Success—Personal Success Stories from the Green Industry 257 Delany, Tom 258 Dinelli, F. Dan 260 Farren, Bob 265 Finney, Shelia 267 Hiers, Tim 269 Higgins, Monica 272 Jackson, Joseph B. 275 Maples, Palmer Jr. 277 Mangum, Ken 279 Mongeon, Roger 281 Newell, Ellen 282 O’Donnell, Kevin 284 Phipps, David 285 Pinson, Bob 288 Scott, Bob 289 Toma, George P. 291 Van Etten, John 292 Van Haasteren, George 294 Williams, Bruce R. 296 Summary 298 Section Five: Synergy and the Green Industry Professional Conclusions 298 Action Steps: Green, Greener, Greenest 299 Index 301

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Book SynopsisCombines the business acumen of Ernst & Young with the inside knowledge of renowned sports writer, Skip Rozin, for a unique behind-the-scenes look at how sports have evolved from games to big business. Explains the business reasons behind why popular players are traded, why teams move from cities full of loyal fans, the importance of TV in sports and the real value of advertising to sports teams. Features interviews with sports enterprise figures including Victor Kiam, Jerry Jones and Red Auerbach.Table of ContentsROOTS OF THE SPORTS BUSINESS, OR HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARETODAY. Baseball. Football. The Second Generation. The Legacy. WHAT PAYS THE BILLS?. TV 1--Birth of a Giant. TV 2--Growth to Success and Trouble. Radio, First and Always. Through the Turnstiles. While the Games Play On. Far from the Madding Crowd. WHERE THE MONEY GOES. Star Struck. Building Blocks of Dreams. The Nuts and Bolts of Sports. EXPANSION. Probing the X Factor. FAN EQUITY. A Business Lesson. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisKeep track of game stats, winning plays, final scores, snacks, mascots, and other highlights from your trip in this handsomely finished flexi-bound journal.The Ballpark Bucket List, bound in vegan leather and featuring a heat-stamped cover design and baseball-like stitching around the edges, is filled with prompts to plan the perfect baseball stadium bucket list. Knocking off each item effectively, discover unique park features, record your game experiences, and keep precious memories safe in a journal dedicated to all things baseball.The journal divides the guide into regions of the country and Canada so that you can easily set up visits to the ballparks of the East Coast, Great Lakes, Chicago, and the Midwest. You will find:  In-depth information about each of the 30 Major League stadiums Details about notable attractions such as baseball-related sites (Field of Dreams, Baseball Hall of Fame, BabTrade Review"Are you in the process of or planning to make the rounds to all 30 MLB stadiums? If so, this is a must-have, comprehensive, guided journal you shouldn’t leave home without!" * South Side Sox *

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Book SynopsisThe result is that civic leaders tend to succumb to the blackmail tactics of professional sports, rather than developing and supporting sound economic policies.Trade ReviewAs Euchner shows in persuasive detail, individual sports owners as well as the leagues in whose interests they ultimately act are in a position to control the terms of debate. -- Jonathan Yardley Washington Post Details how owners... have shamelessly played cities against one another to get sweetheart deals for their stadiums. Sports Illustrated. Chapters on the Colts and Orioles in Baltimore, the White Sox in Chicago, and the Raiders in Oakland and Los Angeles... describe the sweetheart deals and legal disputes that arise when a franchise even flirts with relocating. Chronicle Of Higher Education.Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Sports Politics: Teams, Local Identity, and Urban DevelopmentChapter 2. Sports As An IndustryChapter 3. Local Political Economy and SportsChapter 4. Los Angeles: Raided and RaiderChapter 5. Baltimore: City of Defensive RenaissanceChapter 6. Chicago: Whither the White Sox?Chapter 7. Sports and the Dependent CityEpilogueNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisIn Modern Coliseum, Benjamin D. Lisle tracks changes in stadium design and culture since World War II. Featuring over seventy-five images documenting the transformation of the American stadium over time, Modern Coliseum will be of interest to a variety of readers, from urban and architectural historians to sports fans.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Stadiums for the Affluent Society Chapter 1. Urban Intimacy, Urban Anxiety: Stadium Culture and the Old City Chapter 2. Fiction and Function: New Spaces for Sport in the 1950s Chapter 3. From Tenements to Suburbs: The Domestication of the Modern Stadium Chapter 4. Past to Future: The Stadium and Modern Progress Chapter 5. Downtown Playground: The Stadium as Urban Renewal Chapter 6. Machines for Sport: The Stadium Since the 1970s Notes Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisIn its forty-year existence, the 5th Street Gym housed the training grounds for three of the greatest fighters the sport has ever known - Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Sugar Ray Leonard - and became the locus for a grand total of fourteen world champions. This title chronicles the history of the 5th Street Gym.Trade Review"It was the gym where the Muhammad Ali legend was born. The 5th Street Gym in Miami and those that inhabited it are gone now, but inside these pages their spirit lives." - Thomas K. Stewart, Boxing Writers of America"

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Book SynopsisInvestigates the mystique of the ballparkTrade Review"A fascinating book!" -- Doug Miller,for MLB.com"Borer's text is a solid achievement." -- Robert Trumpbour * American Studies Journal *"Borer has captured the magic of Fenway Park." -- Doris Kearns Goodwin"Even if you dont already love the Red Sox, youll love this account of the stories people tell about why Fenway matters." -- Nancy T. Ammerman,author of Everyday Religion: Observing Modern Religious Lives"Even Yankee fans will have much to consider from this book, published so soon after the Red Sox curse has ended. This is an important work of the sociology of sport and of urban sociology." -- Gary Alan Fine,author of With the Boys: Little League Baseball and Pre-adolescent Culture"Borer haunted Fenway Park for several season. He talked to players, executives, vendors, fans. Trot Nixon discussed the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry with him, and former Red Sox second basemen Mike Andrews described the sadness of being traded." * The Falmouth Enterprise *"Along with his astute social scientific insight, Borer also includes plenty of first-person accounts of the ballpark from Red Sox greats like Carl Yastrzemski and Johnny Pesky and from regular Bostonians and out-of-town baseball fans. This ability to intermingle scholarly research with Americas beloved pastime has allowed Borer to write an astute academic treatise that has the appeal of a consumer sports pub." * Publishers Weekly *"Borers Faithful to Fenway: Believing in Boston, Baseball, and Americas Most Beloved Ballpark gives proper props to the Red Sox home since 1912" * Sacramento Bee *"Faithful to Fenway is a must-have item for the Red Sox fans who champion their old stadium despite its uncomfortable seats" * Portland Press Herald *"A must-have item for Red Sox fans who champion their old stadium." * Maine Sunday Telegram *"Borer assesses the attraction of Fenway Park through his own expert lens. The results . . . will prove invaluable not only to Red Sox and more general baseball scholars but also to students of urban life, the organization of limited inner-city space, social psychology and collective memory, how a baseball park can become a cultural shrine, and a cohorts shared valuesnot to mention Fenways contributions to our understanding of fandom" * Library Journal *"While many writers have likened Americas particular devotion to baseball to religious devotion, Borer gives texture and substance to the metaphor through curious and moving stories of Red Sox fans treatment of Fenway as sacred turf." * American Journal of Sociology *"Bostons Fenway Park has become as valued as any star player in those cities and as much an attraction as the teams themselves. Borer, a sociologist and lifelong New Englander, explores the history of Fenway and its place in Bostons culture through research and interviews with players, stadium personnel, fans, and team owners. . . . [H]e explains Fenways place in the culture as an example of identity continuity. Fenway is an emotional anchor for fans in the sense that it encompasses a part of an individuals past and present." * Booklist *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments INTRODUCTIONThe Sociology of Green Monsters and Broken CursesBOSTON BELIEVESFenway Park, a "Lyrical Little Bandbox"THE BIRTH OF AN URBAN BALLPARKLeisure, Nostalgia, and the Baseball Creed THE BALLPARK AT RESTThe Civic Partnership between Boston, the Red Sox, and the Fenway Faithful OBJECTS OF FAITH AND CONSUMPTION Souvenirs, Replicas, and Other Representations of Fenway Park SOME DIAMONDS ARE NOT FOREVERDebating the Future of Fenway Park BELIEVE IN BOSTONRed Sox Nation and the Cultural Power of Place APPENDIXMaking the Familiar Strange: Urban Sociology at the Ballpark Notes Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book Synopsis100 years of Wembley Stadium told through 100 matches.  The 1923 FA Cup final – also known as the White Horse final – was the first football match played at the British Empire Exhibition Stadium. Although best remembered for its vast, well-beyond-capacity crowd, which had to be marshalled by a policeman atop a white horse, that afternoon marked the opening chapter of the long and eventful history of the stadium soon to be known simply as Wembley.   Over the 100 years since that overcrowded day, Wembley has established itself as the home of the beautiful game and, almost certainly, the world’s most famous football stadium. It occupies a special place in the hearts of players and punters alike. Watching your team at Wembley is the highlight of a fan’s lifetime of support; playing there the fulfilment of a childhood dream. Its sacred pitch has been the crucible of many classic matTrade Review'Brilliant' -- Adrian Chiles'An absolute cracker. If you buy one football book this year make it this one... A brilliant, brililant book' -- Paul Ross * TalkSport *'Beautifully written and adeptly researched, this book is both a celebration of, and fitting tribute to, England's national stadium in both its incarnations' * Pitch *

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Book SynopsisAn examination of the Hillsborough disaster, drawing on eyewitness accounts and interviews with those who were there and those most affected.

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Book SynopsisGrab a Zweigle''s White Hot at Dwyer Stadium (built in 1939) and cheer on the Batavia Muckdogs. JoinC.T. the Tiger as he warms up the crowd at Norwich''s Dodd Stadium. Take in the view of Coney Island from the upper deck of MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. Watch from a box seat in Pawtucket as top Red Sox prospects try to make it to the bigs. . . . It''s all part of minor league baseball in the Northeast.This book conveys the essence of the sport--from the sublime (summer nights under the lights cheering for a hometown team) to the ridiculous (racing bagels, cowboy monkeys, garish alternate uniformsby visiting 27 minor league ballparks through the Northeast. It offers both a visitor''s guide and an appealing narrative, covering the particulars of each venue--who plays there and when, how to get there, where to sit and what to eatand describing what makes each park, and each team and town, special.

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Book SynopsisPractical Drainage is easy to read and presented in a non-technical style generously supported with helpful illustrations. There are three key messages in this book: water moves sideways only slowly through soil--leading to a detailed description of how drains work; the how-and-why of perched water table methods of construction; and sands are different from one another--they must be tested before use in turf root zones. These key messages are preceded by detailed descriptions of how water moves into soils and the effects of compaction on that movement. The final chapters give step-by-step guidelines for calculating drain spacings and depths, based on measurements of the hydraulic conductivity of the soil and its various layers. There are also chapters about how to measure hydraulic conductivity and how to design and install sub-soil drainage systems.Trade Review"...explains in great detail how water moves in soils; some of the more difficult concepts such as perched water tables and the capillary fringe; how drains work; how to calculate drain spacings; and how to install subsoil drains...aims to bring this complex subject to the ordinary practitioner in a form that can be understood and used in a practical way..."---Golf & Sports Turf Australia "...well organized, easy to read, treatment of the subject that reflects the state of drainage theory and practice as it is currently perceived...Graphic illustrations and photographs are generous throughout...an excellent value to students and others working in the turfgrass industry."---Dr. David Aldous, Professor of Turfgrass Management, The University of MelbourneTable of ContentsChapter 1. Soil Structure. Chapter 2. Water Intake and Retention in Soils. Chapter 3. Compaction and Particle Movement. Chapter 4. The Capillary and Lateral Movement of Water in Soils. Chapter 5. The Capillary Fringe and How Water Gets into Drains. Chapter 6. Perched Water Table--The Concept and Its Use. Chapter 7. How to Calculate Drain Spacings for Various Soils. Chapter 8. Designing Subsoil Drainage Systems. Chapter 9. Installing Subsoil Drains. Chapter 10. Surface Drainage. Chapter 11. Slit Drainage. Chapter 12. Methodology for Determining Soil Hydraulic Conductivity. Appendix: USGA Recommendations for a Method of Putting Green Construction. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Green Monster. The Triangle. Pesky's Pole. They are but a few of the defining features of Fenway Park, home base for legions of devoted Red Sox fans. Now, a hundred years after Fenway first opened its gates, Mercy! tells the park's history through Red Sox radio and TV announcers recalling and commemorating the American institution.

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Book SynopsisThe Race: Inside the Indy 500 examines in words and pictures this highly evolved auto-racing spectacle, which is hosting the 100th running in 2016. Author James McGuane has spent ten years working to capture the essence of the Indy 500, which is loved my millions, and create a “top-to-bottom” and “start-to-finish” look at this heart-racing extravaganza.The author has used both camera and notepad to dive into the exclusive domain known as “Gasoline Alley.” McGuane addresses topics including the painstaking engineering of the cars; the high-stress training of the drivers; and the split-second actions of the race-car teams to keep the vehicles in meticulous condition. Indy’s past, present, and future are all revealed here.McGuane’s unrestricted access to racing greats, both past and present, offers a dazzling view of the racing life. He has developed and nurtured close contacts with senior Indy officials, drivers, and others connected to the race. Perfect for the avid motor-sports fan, this book includes interviews with many racing favorites, from Al Unser, Sr. to Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser, and more.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team.In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

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Book SynopsisThe American sports stadium, for all its raucous glory, is an overlooked centerpiece—a veritable temple—of our national culture. A hallowed ground for communal worship, this is where history is made on grass, artificial turf, hardwood, and even ice; where nostalgia flows as freely as ten-dollar beers; where everything thrills, from exploding fireworks to grinning cheerleaders. In The Arena, "an altogether new and riveting sports classic" (Josh Wilker), intrepid sportswriter Rafi Kohan crisscrosses the country, journeying from one beloved monument to the next. As he finagles access to the unexpected corners and hidden corridors of our most frequented fields, he discovers just what makes them tick—and what keeps us coming back time and time again. Beginning with the "old-timers," Kohan pays his respects to Chicago’s ivy-laced Wrigley and Green Bay’s lovable Lambeau, which have creakily adjusted to the twenty-first century while maintaining those age-old quirks fans have prized for generations. Juxtaposing these cherished time capsules with mighty new mammoths like Dallas’s shiny AT&T Stadium, Kohan examines the often-punishing realities of how they are built, from architectural ambition to controversial funding and political strong-arming. Meanwhile, just outside the turnstiles of these commercial cathedrals, whole ecosystems flourish, buzzing with charming merch men and cutthroat ticket scalpers. Trips to Cleveland’s Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena illuminate such shadow economies, revealing the remarkable impact a team—and even just a single player (yes, we’re looking at you, LeBron James)—can have on an entire city. With infectious enthusiasm and wit, Kohan also explores the behind-the-scenes logistics and deeply ingrained traditions within these bustling facilities, cracking open a secret world of unforgettable characters—groundskeepers, mascots, halftime performers—who work tirelessly to make the live event worth the price of admission. If you’ve ever wondered how they coordinate those fighter jet flyovers with the national anthem, how many hot dogs they serve in a day at Citi Field, how boozy pregame tailgates are kept in line, or what on earth AstroTurf is made of, look no further. As rowdy and rollicking as its subject, The Arena is a must-read for diehard fans, shameless bandwagoners, umpires, broadcasters, groundskeepers, culture junkies, tailgaters, and anyone else who’s ever eagerly headed off to the ballpark to catch a game.Trade Review"Smart, readable, deeply reported and researched, engagingly personal, funny and often surprisingly poignant." -- Jay Jennings - New York Times Book Review"[The Arena] covers everything from how those fighter jet flyovers sync with the national anthem to an inside look at the disease that is rabid fandom (in the chapter "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Gross"). Think of it this way: for less than the price of admission to most any of these stadiums, Kohan will let you travel from Wrigley to Lambeau to the Superdome in the most American way possible. Without ever having to leave the comfort of your couch." -- GQ"Fascinating….He comes across as the Studs Terkel of stadium life, demonstrating an easy camaraderie with his sources…It’s his sod-level reporting that animates the book, lending a distinctive blue-collar vibe of bantering co-workers who take pride in jobs well done—jobs like painting the logo on a playing field or combing over the bald spots in the ivy-covered outfield walls of Wrigley Field." -- Will Blythe - Wall Street Journal"The Arena is fun because of the author’s wit and style – a kind of gonzo/embedded journalism hybrid…But most importantly it’s fun because it is, metaphorically speaking, a circus mirror reflection of who we are as a nation 'psychologically, economically, politically, culturally, historically.'" -- Christian Science Monitor"The Arena is an inventive, fast-paced look at what have become our modern shrines in a sports-obsessed society. But it artfully illuminates us - including the often quirky people flocking to these shrines - even more than the structures." -- Tom Verducci, Best-Selling Author, Sports Illustrated Senior Writer"This is an irresistible tour de force that reveals how and why our monuments to games are hard-wired to fans’ most thrilling and heartbreaking memories. A fabulous book." -- Don Van Natta Jr., ESPN, Pulitzer Prize winner, and New York Times best-selling author"Rafi Kohan’s terrific The Arena sees stadiums as a reflection of ourselves, in all of our glory, all our failings, and all our desires. It also made me want to go to a game, immediately." -- Will Leitch, author of Are We Winning? and God Save The Fan, senior writer Sports On Earth and founder of Deadspin"Kohan answers a central question: If every game is on TV, why do we still shell out hundreds to see them live? Hint: Even in this era of HDTV and disposable stadiums, we still need to be together. The Arena is a pioneering work of athletic anthropology—and just plain fun." -- John U. Bacon, New York Times best-selling author of Three and Out, Fourth and Long, and Endzone"An altogether new and riveting sports classic. A copy of Kohan’s brilliant, funny, illuminating book should be sealed in a vault beside every one of these places we go to yell ourselves hoarse, so that future archaeologists sifting through our ruins can understand who we were and why we gathered together." -- Josh Wilker, author of Benchwarmer and Cardboard Gods"An addictive, detailed look at the lives of sports arenas . . . . Kohan’s curiosity and empathy are infectious as he demonstrates how human this corporate aspect of sports can be. He has created an immersive, informative work that will delight and enlighten a wide range of readers." -- Publishers Weekly"Highly compelling . . . . Part history and sociology, part ethnography, and part journalism—sometimes straight shoe-leather, sometimes participatory, and oftentimes a little bit gonzo—the book features many of the behind-the-scenes questions you have always had and a few that you never considered. . . . Kohan brings the modern sporting arena to life in this fine exploration of the ‘corners of American stadiums that aren't necessarily hidden but are almost assuredly unseen.'" -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review"Fascinating…comprehensive, accurate, and often quite funny." -- Booklist"A unique and readable perspective on the impact of U.S. sports stadia and arenas." -- Library Journal

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

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Book SynopsisOn 19 May 1928, just three months after the sport had been launched in this country at the pioneering High Beech meeting, Fred Mockford and Cecil Smith introduced speedway racing to Crystal Palace with the first international match between England and Australia, the forerunner of the Test matches. It was an immediate success with the public who flocked in their tens of thousands to witness these latter day black-clad gladiators hurtling their way round the track on bikes with no brakes at breakneck speed and flinging their bikes into a slide at the corners at impossible angles. This book looks at how speedway came to open at Crystal Palace and follows its history through the next six years as a league team operating in the world's first speedway league until its closure in 1933 and its brief revival in the late 1930s. Although one of the pioneering tracks little was known about its history until now as Norman Jacobs provides a comprehensive history covering the major events at the track, facts and figures, behind the scenes anecdotes and its larger than life characters including Johnnie Hoskins, Ron Johnson and Tom Farndon, who became the Star Riders' champion in 1933.

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Book SynopsisThe Ryder Cup is one of the world's most dramatic sporting events. In 2014, the stakes were higher than ever, as the US team sought to recover from their devastating loss two years before; but the dominant European team stormed to victory, taking their tally to eight wins out of the last ten matches. In this gripping account, Iain Carter delves into the drama behind the epic battle at Gleneagles, from the appointment of the captains and the team selection, to the behind-the-scenes tensions and the thrilling action during the three days that culminated in Europe's blistering triumph. Tensions were running high in the build-up to the 2014 Ryder Cup. Following the 'Miracle' at Medinah that saw Europe take the trophy in 2012, the Americans pulled out all the stops, appointing veteran Ryder Cup hero Tom Watson as captain. Put under pressure, the Europeans bet on an outlier: Irishman Paul McGinley, a diminutive stalwart touring pro, a team man and an astute tactician. It was a fight between acumen and aura. Acumen won.On this occasion the European triumph was not miraculous; it was meticulous, the product of an extraordinarily detailed plan that rode the dramatic swings of fortune of the golfing calendar. Since Medinah, the golfing world had not just evolved; it had turned on its head. There was a new order. The old were fading, injured, out of form, unable to maintain winning habits. The younger generation had taken over. And, when it came to the showdown, McGinley's masterplan came to fruition. Telling the inside story of an enthralling contest, this is a fascinating look at the pivotal moment that established Europe as the undisputed leaders in the Ryder Cup.Trade Review'A forensic examination... wonderfully and accurately chronicles the entire Ryder Cup story from captaincy selection to the sinking of the final putt in Perthshire. He encapsulates everything the contest involves, mainly by interviewing every key protagonist. This offers an attention to detail that replicates that of the successful European captain, Paul McGinley.' --Ewan Murray, Books of the Year, The Guardian; Proclaimed to be the "ideal Christmas present" by Derek Lawrenson, The Daily Mail; "A great read I'd suggest you go out and get a copy before it sells out!" - Stuart Barber, Amateur Golfer; "IAIN CARTER delves deep into the heart of the Gleneagles Ryder Cup in "Showdown" to expose untold tales about the captains and players, painting a full and vibrant picture of the tournament" - Charley Lemay, Golfmagic; 'As golf books go, "Showdown" is as good as it gets with all the background shenanigans as well as the golfing drama, brilliantly recounted by a gifted storyteller.'--Brian Keogh, Irish Examiner; 'A masterpiece about a masterpiece'--Peter Corrigan, thegolfinghacker.com; 'An impressive feat'--Simon Redfern, The Independent

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Book Synopsis**THE ONLY DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST RACE - FULL OF EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH NIKI LAUDA, ROSS BRAWN, DAMON HILL, DAVID COULTHARD, SIR JACKIE STEWART, OLIVER PANIS AND 2016 WORLD CHAMPION NICO ROSBERG**Circuit de Monaco. Monte Carlo. The ultimate race in the Formula One calendar.When you think of Formula One, you think of Monaco. Once a year, yachts jam the harbour, celebrities fill the stands and luxury sports cars litter the streets as of thousands of people gather from across the world to watch the greatest, and one of the oldest, races in motorsport.Monaco is glamorous, prestigious and seductive. But for the drivers, it is the most demanding race of the year. The narrow streets, tight corners and sharp elevations make it the ultimate test of driving skill. It is physically draining and mentally exhausting.Proposed today, the race would not exist but it remains the jewel in the crown for every Formula One driver. There is simply no other race like it. Win at Monaco and your name is etched in history. You will join the likes of Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.With exclusive interviews and insight from drivers and a wealth of F1 insiders, award-winning sportswriter Malcolm Folley goes behind the scenes to discover what it's really like to drive and live and breathe this iconic circuit. He reveals along the way a unique and definitive portrait of the circuit, and recreates in thrilling detail its most extraordinary weekend, when only three cars finished.Trade ReviewOn no other modern circuit can the skill and commitment of a Grand Prix driver be observed at such close quarters and Malcolm’s book brings to life the most memorable exploits of our champion drivers and heroes from the Jazz Age to Modern Times in the delightful Springtime setting on the Cote d’Azur. -- Design and Development Director, McLaren Racing * Neil Oatley *A gripping evocation of glamour and danger and champion drivers -- Jonathan McEvoy * Sports Journalist Association *a true portrait of the iconic race * Sunday Sport *If you’re an F1 fan this book is a must read. But even if you’re just an occasional watcher and you tune-in just once a year to look at the boats and the apartments that you’d need a racing driver’s salary to afford, Monaco: Inside F1’s Greatest Race is more than worthy of its cover price * On Magazine *A wonderfully entertaining window into the history of F1’s greatest race * Monaco *

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Book SynopsisFrom its humble beginnings in the 1970s, Knockhill Racing Circuit has evolved and developed to become Scotland's Motorsport Centre - the modern, fully-equipped race track that we have today. Over the years Knockhill has seen its share of thrills, spills and action, all now captured in this beautifully presented band informative official 50th anniversary book.This is the story of Knockhill's journey from a farmer's grazing land to an international race track, reliving legendary moments, incredible action and motorsport triumphs as well as the stories of the men and women who have raced and worked at Knockhill over the last half century. Charting the highs and lows of both the racing and the business over the years, this is a story of the courage, determination and willpower needed to succeed against all the odds, on and off the track.With a huge range of brilliant photographs bringing the last five decades to life, KNOCKHILL relives the racing exploits of so many of the greats, from Colin McRae and David Coulthard to Niall Mackenzie and Steve Hislop, not forgetting legends like Sir Stirling Moss, John Cleland, Louise Aitken-Walker and Gordon Shedden amongst many others. And it's the perfect way to celebrate the 50th anniversary and look forward to fifty more amazing years of motorsport at Knockhill.

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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.

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