Sports teams and clubs Books

Book SynopsisThis Collectors Edition Illustrated Book provides an insight into the most successful period for one of the most famous football clubs in the world. Liverpool Football Club is the team that dominated English and European Football throughout the 1980’s. The book charts the highlights of the ten year period from the excitement of winning 2 European Cups, 7 League Trophies, 2 FA Cups and 4 League Cups to the devastation of the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters. The significant matches, career player retrospectives, a special focus on Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush and Graeme Souness, the managers and the greatest players who guided the club and in depth statistical information. This Collectors Edition looks at all the magic moments of this extraordinary period in this great clubs history.

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Book Synopsis***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A heroic outsider - a pleasure to read.' - The Guardian'A fulsome evocation of football before the Premier League.' - The i'Such a good storyteller...joyous.' - Financial Times'Honest, raw, revealing and very funny. How to live a life and career to the full. Insightful book about the most successful outsider inside football ever...' - Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer, The Times'Pat is a wonderful one-off...and this is the story of why that is.' - John Murray, Chief Sports Correspondent, BBC Radio 5 Live'Unusually vibrant and elegant with heroic doses of humour, insight and self-effacement, this is an absolute must-read for the football connoisseur.' - Omid Djalili 'The biggest influence of my professional career both on and off the pitch.' - Graeme Le Saux'I grew up captivated by Pat Nevin the player. As a man he taught me even more about the beauty of the game. One of football's great mavericks, and Chelsea's greatest players. And he can spin a mean tune too.' - Sam Matterface 'I used to walk miles to see Pat Nevin play football and I'd do the same now to read his thoughts. Always challenging, always entertaining.' - Lord Sebastian Coe'A refreshingly honest and thought-provoking autobiography. As deftly delivered as some of Pat's ball skills in his 1980's heyday.' - ToffeeWeb Pat Nevin never wanted to be a professional footballer.His future was clear, he'd become a teacher like his brothers. There was only one problem with this - Pat was far too good to avoid attention. Raised in Glasgow's East End, Pat loved the game, playing for hours and obsessively following Celtic. But as he grew up, he also loved Joy Division, wearing his Indie 'gloom boom' coat and going on marches - hardly typical footballer behaviour!Placed firmly in the 80s and 90s, before the advent of the Premier League, and often with racism and violence present, Pat Nevin writes with honesty, insight and wry humour. We are transported vividly to Chelsea and Everton, and colourfully diverted by John Peel, Morrissey and nights out at the Hacienda.The Accidental Footballer is a different kind of football memoir. Capturing all the joys of professional football as well as its contradictions and conflicts, it's about being defined by your actions, not your job, and is the perfect reminder of how life can throw you the most extraordinary surprises, when you least expect it.

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Book SynopsisThis is a complete history of the England rugby union team - told by the players themselves. Based on a combination of painstaking research into the early years of the England team through exclusive interviews with a vast array of Test match stars from before the Second World War to the present day, world-renowned rugby writers Stephen Jones and Nick Cain delve to the very heart of the English international rugby union experience, painting a unique and utterly compelling picture of the game in the only words that can truly do so: the players' own. This is the definitive story of English Test match rugby - a story etched in blood, sweat and tears; a story of great joy and heart-breaking sorrow; a story of sacrifice, agony, endeavour and triumph. Behind the Rose lifts the lid on what it is to play for England - the trials and tribulations behind the scenes, the glory, the drama and the honour on the field, and the heart-warming tales of friendship and humour off it. Absorbing and illuminating, this is a must-have for all supporters who have ever dreamed of walking the hallowed corridors of Twickenham as a Test match player, preparing themselves for battle in the changing rooms and then marching out to that field of dreams with the deafening roar of the crowd in their ears and the red rose emblazoned on their chest.Trade Review'A handsome new book ... a historical treasure trove' * Guardian *'a superb book' * ESPN Scrum *'delves to the very heart of what it means to play for England ... a must-have' * Planet Rugby *'A riot of anecdote, inside track and genuine insight' * The Rugby Paper *

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Book SynopsisAberdeen have competed on the European stage since season 1967/68 and have enjoyed some epic encounters along the way, culminating in the club’s greatest ever victory – beating Real Madrid 2–1 in the 1983 Cup Winner's Cup final. Ally Begg charts a path through Aberdeen's storied history in Europe, vividly brining to life the most interesting, exciting, and unforgettable games by interviewing players from Aberdeen and their rivals and augmenting them with his own richly rendered memories. Aberdeen European Nights takes the reader on a nostalgic romp around the continent, crossing beyond the Iron Curtain and building a fortress at home at Pittodrie. Humorous, quirky and insightful, it is the perfect book for Aberdeen fans, young and old.

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Book SynopsisRangers 101 distils the history of the most successful football club in the world, Glasgow Rangers F.C. From their founding in 1872 and their first (drawn) League Championship, all the way through to the present day, Rangers' history is brought to life via people, matches and objects. This fascinating volume traces the nearly 150 years of this unsurpassed institution – sometimes irreverent but always faithful to the characters, controversies, disasters and achievements that have taken place to give the club such a rich tapestry of triumph. Whether an old fan or new this is a perfect partner for those who support the club, are interested in its history and who love to recall past and present glories.

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of Manchester City's return to the top of English football as well as their journey to their first ever Champions League final as Pep Guardiola's team battle to secure their place in history. Throughout this historic season of breath-taking football, they were followed by their equivalent from the world of sports writing: a team of elite talents, assembled by The Athletic to leave all competition trailing in their wake. The result is an alchemical blend of inside access and expert analysis; great ideas and beautiful writing. City's triumph is relived in real time, in 360 degrees. Articles include profiles of each of City's title winners by their former youth team coaches; on-the-road features from the hometowns of some of their international superstars, brilliant tactics board breakdowns of key moments in the season; and exclusive interviews with players, coaches and backroom staff.

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Book SynopsisFrom is genesis as Newton Heath LYR Football Club founded in 1878 all the way to the global sporting and commercial superpower that it is today, this is the history of Manchester United Football Club as you have never seen it before. Lifelong Red Devils’ fan Neville Moir has distilled this extraordinary history into an amusing, fascinating and easy to read anthology. This entertaining volume is an instructive, if sometimes irreverent – but always affectionate – guide to some of the groundbreaking firsts, controversies, innovations, characters, achievements and disasters that have shaped one the greatest sporting institutions on the planet. Whether an expert or a novice, this compendium is perfect for all Man United fans, young and old, around the world.

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Book Synopsis'Fascinating and original ... will tell you things even the most ardent United fan will not know' - Jim White, The Telegraph On 26 May 1999, Manchester United sealed their historic Treble of league, FA Cup and Champions League in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, scoring twice in stoppage time to snatch an unthinkable victory from Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. The story of what happened on the pitch is well known, enshrined in the annals of football history. But less in known about how this rollercoaster campaign played out behind the scenes. Thanks to unparalleled insight gleaned from hundreds of exclusive interviews, with United players, coaches, opponents, backroom personnel, club staff, journalists and commentators, They Always Score: The Unforgettable, Improbable, Iconic Story of Manchester United’s Treble Winners peels back the curtain to give readers the most comprehensive, illuminating and entertaining picture ever painted of one of the all-time great sports teams.Trade Review'Fascinating and original, this is the book you need to read about the treble. It will tell you things even the most ardent United fan will not know' -- Jim White * The Telegraph *'Riveting, poignant, thought-provoking: Ryan Baldi has written the definitive tome on Manchester United's 1999 Treble greats' -- Jamie Jackson * The Guardian *'Superb! Ryan Baldi has delivered the book this unforgettable story deserves. If you're a Manchester United fan - or just love a dramatic ending - you will find this book both moving and uplifting' -- Daniel Taylor * The Athletic *'Loved this . . . very readable recap of a remarkable team and season' * Sports Book Reviews *

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Book SynopsisThere are two kinds of people in this world. Those who insist that football is just a game, and those who know better. Take the April 1967 clash between England and Scotland. Wounded by their biggest rivals winning the World Cup just nine months earlier, Bobby Brown's Scots travelled to Wembley on the mother of all missions. Win and they would take a huge step towards qualifying for the 1968 European Championship, end England’s formidable 19-game unbeaten streak, and, best of all, put Sir Alf Ramsey’s men firmly back in their box. Lose? Well, that was just unthinkable. Meanwhile, off the pitch, the winds of change were billowing through Scotland. Nationalism, long confined to the margins of British politics, was starting to penetrate the mainstream, gaining both traction and influence. Was England’s World Cup victory a defining moment in the Scottish independence movement? Or did it consign Scotland to successive generations of myopic underachievement? Michael McEwan, author of The Ghosts of Cathkin Park, returns to 1967 to explore a crucial ninety minutes in the rebirth of a nation. Trade Review'Written with the quality and flair Wembley '67 deserves. Brilliantly captures Scotland's magical day' -- Michael Grant * The Times *'A meticulously researched, crisply-written work of elegant storytelling' -- Daniel Gray * Nutmeg *'Wonderful sports writing. A glorious retelling of an imperious age, when Scotland ruled the world, kind of' -- Tom English * BBC Sport *'The definitive account of when we were kings, told with a swagger and style that befits those Wembley heroes' -- Hugh MacDonald'Superbly and entertainingly researched - and so much more than just an account of a famous Scottish victory' -- Dougie Donnelly

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Book SynopsisThe Official Arsenal Annual 2022

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the2023SportsBookAwardsfor Best Sports Writing of the YearShortlisted for theUSGA Herbert Warren Wind Book AwardThe Long Golden Afternoontells the story of the transformative generation of golf that followed the rise of Young Tom Morris - an era of sweeping change that saw Scotland''s national pastime become one of the rare games played around the world.It begins with the first epochal performance after Tommy - John Ball''s victory at Prestwick in 1890 as the first Englishman and the first amateur to win the Open Championship - and continues through the outbreak of the Great War. If Tommy ignited the flame of golf in England, Ball''s breakthrough turned that smoldering fire into a conflagration.The generation that followed would witness the game''s coming of age. It would see an explosion in golf''s popularity, the invention of revolutionary new balls and clubs, the emergence of professional tours, the organization of the game and its rules, a renaissance in writing and

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Book SynopsisFor three extraordinary seasons at Bayern Munich, Martin Perarnau was given total access around the German super club – to its players, its backroom staff, its board members and, above all, to its manager, Pep Guardiola. In the follow-up to his critically acclaimed account of Guardiola’s first full season at Bayern, Pep Confidential, Perarnau now lifts the lid on the Catalan’s whole tenure in Bavaria. Pep Guardiola: The Evolution takes the reader on a journey through three action packed seasons as Bayern smashed domestic records yet struggled to emulate that dominance in Europe, analysing Guardiola’s management style through key moments on and off the field. Perarnau reveals how Guardiola improved as a manager at Bayern despite failing to land the ultimate prize in European football, examines his decision to leave Germany to take up the challenge at Manchester City and how his managerial style will continue to evolve in the Premier League. This is more than the story of three seasons with one of the biggest clubs in the game. It is a portrait and analysis of a manager and the footballing philosophies that have beguiled the world.Trade Review'Perarnau's fascinating follow-up to Pep Confidential, his acclaimed inside portrait of Guardiola's first season at Bayern … [and shows] football's most successful manager is a Swiss Army Knife coach' * Sunday Times *'A hugely informative read' * FourFourTwo Magazine *'Unrivalled access' * The Observer *'Amazing' * Independent *'Perarau's inside access is extraordinary' -- Graham Hunter'Brilliant' -- Jamie Carragher

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Book SynopsisTwenty-three long years, 276 tortous months, 1,196 despairing weeks it''s a long time in the wilderness . . .After a string of household names failed to deliver, the Tartan Army''s foot soldiers finally found a leader who could turn their fortunes round. On his appointment in 2019, former Chelsea stalwart Steve Clarke faced an enormous challenge but under him nothing feels beyond Scotland''s grasp. With the experience of Euro 2020 under his belt and time spent moulding a team capable of going toe to toe with the world''s finest, Euro 2024 represents another major milestone.This book looks behind the scenes of Scotland''s remarkable rise and tells the story of the man who has led the revival and how he has transformed the squad. Former teammates and coaching colleagues lend their voices alongside an all-star cast of past and present Hampden favourites in a tale of triumph and hope.

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Book SynopsisLifelong Brentford FC fan Jonathan Burchill draws from contemporaneous resources to present a unique history of Brentford through season-by-season reviews of the events at Griffin Park.

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Book SynopsisThe extended story of Tottenham Hotspur's 2022/23 Season.

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Book SynopsisHard Shoulder, M62 Eastbound, June 1982... Britain is on the verge of taking the Falkland Islands back from the Argentine invaders, Margaret Thatcher is three years into her tenure at 10 Downing Street and for the first time since the 1930s, three million people are unemployed – with the nation reeling from recession. One of those searching for a job is standing at the side of the motorway which links the north of England’s east and west coasts with his thumb out. Newly-retired former Everton, Manchester City and England striker Joe Royle is trying to hitch a lift to Boundary Park for what he thinks is an interview for the post of manager at backwater Oldham Athletic. Behind him, smoke pours from his broken-down car’s engine. After a passing lorry takes him the rest of the way, Royle is told that the job is his – and that he will have to sell a player or the club will go bust. Later that day, bailiffs drop in and eye up his office furniture. That night he is in his own garage, stencilling the initials of players’ names on training kit as the reality of the task in hand hits home. What happened next is one of the great, untold football miracles of all time as unfancied Oldham emerged from the shadows of their illustrious Manchester neighbours and embarked on a thrilling, white knuckle ride to the summit of the English game. This is a story that has not been told before. It is a time when the impossible was possible, long before the vast millions in broadcast money arrived and the creation of the Premier League changed football in England forever. A time when an astute manager and wily chairman could scour the big clubs for castoffs and achieve the unachievable. It is something that will never be repeated and, in these times of huge salaries and commercial excess, is a tale of harder and yet often-happier times when small clubs could dream big. In the 30th anniversary year of Royle’s remarkable revolution, it is the perfect time for This Is How It Feels to hit the book shelves.

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Book SynopsisNotes on a Season 2021/2022 - The Chase is an official club book that provides a fascinating look back at this unique campaign in the words of the Liverpool manager who made it all possible. This is the story of an unforgettable campaign in Jurgen Klopp's own words about another famous chapter in Anfield history.

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

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Book SynopsisLiverpool's magnificent number 7s is 112 pages full of everything a football fan could ever want to know about the most iconic players to have not only worn the Number 7 shirt, but to have played at one of the most iconic clubs in the world. Packed with features, including a detailed account of their time at the club. Also included are in-depth statistics, facts, trivia, most memorable games, and an unmatched historical account of the famous Number 7s to have elevated the club.

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate World Cup showdown, in the words of those who were there. From 1997 to 2003 England and Australia battled for domination of the rugby world in one of the greatest rivalries the sport has ever known. In The Men in the Arena, William Hill shortlisted authors Peter Burns and Tom English explore every aspect of the teams’ journey to the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, telling the story primarily in the words of the protagonists at the centre of the battle. Featuring exclusive new interviews with players and coaches from both teams plus an array of superstars who faced them from New Zealand, Ireland, France, Wales and beyond, this is the inside story like it has never been told before. 'A splendid re-telling of English rugby's most celebrated story. Cracking stuff from start to finish' - Robert Kiston, The GuardianTrade Review'Highly recommended, a deep dive into one of the best-known rivalries between two rugby nations when both were at the peak of their powers. Great stuff. A fantastic, exciting read' -- Rob Robertson * Daily Mail *'A splendid re-telling of English rugby’s most celebrated story. Cracking stuff from start to finish' -- Robert Kitson * The Guardian *'Sensational. For those who screamed and celebrated in 2003, this book is as good as it gets' -- Alex Payne * The Good, the Bad and the Rugby *'A brilliant book' -- Chris Jones * BBC Sport *'Another absolute classic' -- Paul Williams

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Book SynopsisFULLY REVISED AND UPDATED 'The finest Fergie book of them all' – Tom English, BBC Sport When Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2013 season he was the most successful football manager Britain had ever seen, having won twice as many trophies as his nearest rival. But that success had not come easily. Thirty-five years previously he had arrived at the rain-swept training ground at Aberdeen F.C. as the recently sacked manager of St Mirren. Already a divisive figure, this Alex Ferguson came with a reputation for trouble and a lot still to prove. Not for nothing, many thought he was a risky choice. Fergie Rises returns to a time when Ferguson was lucky to get Aberdeen, not the other way around. It's the story of an eight-year revolution that saw the Dons and their ambitious young manager knock the Old Firm off their perch, taste victory in Europe for the first time, and electrify Scottish football. When Ferguson finally left the club for Manchester United, in 1986, fans and rivals were unanimous in believing he had engineered one of the most astonishing upheavals in the game’s history. The author also examines the personal tragedies Ferguson overcame – the deaths of his father and his mentor Jock Stein – and the rivalries, setbacks and triumphs that shaped a sporting genius. 'A masterful retelling of how Ferguson was "made" at Aberdeen' – Alan Pattullo, The ScotsmanTrade Review‘It might be a familiar story – of course it is – but this book brings it alive with fresh interviews, rich in detail and anecdote. It is a brilliant read. A must for all Dandies' -- Graham Spiers * The Times *'The finest Fergie book of them all. It takes you to the heart of the magnificent absurdity of Aberdeen being kings of Europe' -- Tom English * BBC Sport *'The glut of books on Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United Revolution is exactly why this one is so interesting. A neat idea by an author whose account is superbly written' * The Scotsman 'Best Scottish sports reads' *'This is a book that takes the evidence from a series of witnesses to burgeoning genius. The testimonies are stunning, insightful, sometimes bitter, mostly awed and regularly funny' * The Herald *'Having interviewed many of those under Fergie’s Pittodrie stewardship, he brings much fresh insight into a period covered too briefly in his autobiography' * FourFourTwo *'The most fascinating part of Alex Ferguson’s career is his eight years taking Aberdeen from no-hopers to beating Real Madrid in a European Final. All the greatest stories have a beginning and this is it' * Shortlist *'An excellent new tome' -- Stephen McGowan * Scottish Daily Mail *'A masterful re-telling of how Ferguson was "made" at Aberdeen' -- Alan Pattullo * The Scotsman *'It is Grant's own passion that permeates and defines Fergie Rises and makes it the book that all of us would have loved to have written' -- David Innes * Aberdeen Voice *'Grant has painted a vivid tableau of a bygone age on a giant-sized canvas' -- Neil Drysdale * STV Aberdeen *'Such a fantastic book. A great story in itself as well as brilliant insight into Sir Alex and his then still evolving management style. Highly recommended' * Sports Book Reviews *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year''Magnificent ... the pinacle of rugby writing'' Owen Slot, The TimesThe 1997 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa is one of the most iconic in rugby history. Written off at home and abroad, Martin Johnson''s men were given no hope of success against the world champion Springboks in their own backyard. But a combination of brilliant coaching, astute selections and outstanding players laid the foundations for the touring side''s outstanding attacking mindset and brutal stonewall defence.On the other side was a team expected to stamp their authority on the tourists and confirm their place as the best side on the planet. But with political, racial and economic scandals swirling around the Springbok camp, plus a rookie coach parachuted into office just before the tour began, the hosts were under huge pressure.In a Test series that will go down in legend as one of the most compelling of all time, the sides could barely be separated. This is the inside story from both camps as they battle for supremacy, lifting the lid like never before as a huge cast of characters look back on those extraordinary weeks and the impact it had on their lives and careers thereafter. Hilarious, insightful and spine-chilling, Tom English and Peter Burns provide the perfect read for all Lions fans.

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Book Synopsis'A modern classic . . . Absolutely riveting and frequently moving' – The Telegraph 'Among the best books ever written on Irish sport' – Sunday Tribune 'Brilliant . . . Stand Up and Fight is the definitive account. It captures the essence of what makes Munster rugby and its provincial team so unique' – Tony Ward, Irish Independent 'A terrific combination of intelligent reportage and open-eyed mythmaking' – Sunday Times 'A seminal account' – New Zealand Herald 'Irresistible' – Guardian 31/10/1978, Thomond Park. On one of the greatest days in rugby history, Munster beat the All Blacks. More than 100,000 people claimed to have watched the game, even though the ground could only hold 12,000. Now, fully updated for the 45th anniversary of the match, Alan English tells the true story.

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Book SynopsisPutting on a Show is the story of Chesterfield FC's remarkable 2023/24 promotion season. Written by the Derbyshire Times' Spireites writer Liam Norcliffe, this is a detailed account of Chesterfield's record-breaking return to the EFL after six seasons in non-league which saw them almost relegated to regional football and close to going bust.

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Book SynopsisGet the beautiful book that presents the history of the Cincinnati Bengals football team, with full-color photography and fascinating text.The Cincinnati Bengals are a proud and storied franchise. Some of the NFL’s all-time best players—and all-time great teams—have donned the orange and black. Each season is precious to the fans, whether we won two games or twelve, because it reminds us of special memories: trips to the stadium with parents and children, watching on TV with neighbors and friends, shared camaraderie with strangers, and more.Team reporter, podcaster, debut author, and lifelong Bengals fan James Rapien presents the perfect keepsake for Bengals sports fans. Enter the Jungle collects the team’s rich history and pairs it with professional, full-color photography to create a stunning book for any coffee table or bookshelf. It presents a season-by-season summary, which includes the team’s schedule, starting lineups, and statistical leaders. James also takes a closer look at the best players and greatest wins. The book is rounded out with the author’s picks for every all-decade team. With a foreword by Dan Hoard, voice of the Bengals, Enter the Jungle truly has it all for anyone who loves Cincinnati’s favorite team!Book Features Fascinating summary of every Bengals football season Schedules, starting lineups, and statistical leaders The author’s picks for every all-decade team Full-color photography from throughout the team’s history Score a copy of Enter the Jungle for yourself, and you can give it as a winning gift too.Table of ContentsFootball Abbreviations Foreword A Bit of NFL History Author’s Notes Introduction 1968 1969 1970 Paul Brown 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Ken Anderson 1977 1978 1979 All-1970s Team 1980 1981 Super Season 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 A Game for the Ages 1989 All-1980s Team 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Hall-of-Famers 1998 1999 All-1990s Team 2000 Dillon Runs Wild 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Playoffs, at Last 2006 2007 2008 2009 All-2000s Team 2010 2011 Best Catches 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Marvin Lewis 2018 2019 All-2010s Team 2020 2021 AFC Champions 2022 Photo Credits Sources About the Author

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of Real Madrid: one of the most incredible turnarounds in sports and business history. Real Madrid is the most successful sports team on the planet. The soccer club has more trophies than any other sports team, including 11 UEFA Champions League trophies. However, the story behind the triumph goes beyond the players and coaches. Generally unnoticed, a management team consisting mostly of outsiders took the team from near bankruptcy to the most valuable sports organization in the world. How did Real Madrid achieve such extraordinary success? Columbia Business School adjunct professor Steven G. Mandis investigates. Given unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, Mandis is the first researcher to rigorously ana- lyze both the on-the-field and business aspects of a sports team. What he learns is completely unexpected and challenges the conventional wisdom that moneyball-fueled data analytics are the primary instruments of success. Instead, Real Madrid's winning formula both on and off the field, from player selection to financial management, is based on aligning strategy with the culture and values of its fan base. Chasing the most talented (and most expensive) players can be a recipe for a winning record, but also financial disaster, as it was for Real Madrid in the late 1990s. Real Madrid's management believes that the club exists to serve the Real Madrid community. They discovered that its fans care more about why the team exists, how their club wins, and whom it wins with versus just winning. The why, how, and whom create a community brand and identity, and inspire extraordinary passion and loyalty, which has led to amazing marketing and commercial success--in turn, attracting and paying for the best players in the world, with the values the fans expect. The club's values and culture also provide a powerful environment for these best players to work together to win trophies. The Real Madrid Way explains how Real Madrid has created and maintains a culture that drives both financial and on-the-field success. This book is an engrossing account of the lifetime of one of the greatest clubs in the most popular sport in the world, and for business and organization leaders, it's an invaluable inside look at a compelling alternative model with lasting competitive advantages that can deliver superior and sustainable returns and performance.Trade Review"This book will be one of the most influential books on sports ever written. It doesn't matter if you are a soccer or Real Madrid fan, you will look at sports and business in a different way after reading this book." --Billy Beane, executive vice president of baseball operations and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics "The fact that Steven Mandis was given complete access into the inner sanctum of the richest football [soccer] club in the world testifies to the trust Real Madrid placed on Steven's head, which is quite amazing. This is the definitive, comprehensive survey on the essential workings of this famous club. It is an eye-opening account, clinical and done with a sensitive touch." --Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United 1986-2013 "With unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, this book is the most complete study of any sports team ever done, analyzing both on the field and off the field performance-- which leads to fascinating conclusions." --David Stern, NBA commissioner emeritus "The book magisterially penetrates through all the mystique of Real Madrid, football [soccer] and sports. This is the ultimate look behind the regal velvet ropes and steel curtains both in the boardroom and locker room at the most successful and valuable team in sports, Real Madrid." --Ray Hudson, soccer commentator for beIN Sport, retired English professional soccer player, and former MLS coach "This book expands on and challenges aspects of Soccernomics and The Numbers Game because of Mandis's access and organizational considerations and reexamines and questions facets and applications of Moneyball." --Francisco Perez Cutino, whose graduate research at Cambridge University is referenced in Soccernomics "This is much more than a book about a soccer team. If you love the NFL, MLB, or NBA, this book is a must-read because it will change the way you view your favorite team." --Geoff Pope, cornerback for 2008 New York Giants, XLII Super Bowl Champions "No Real Madrid book, or sports book for that matter, has ever been written like it. Mandis's unique background in business and academics and outsider's perspective produces an essential book for any Madridista's library collection." --Gabe Lezra, founder and editor-in-chief emeritus of ManagingMadrid.com "The Real Madrid Way delivers ground-breaking insights about the success formula for a legendary sports franchise. An in-depth exploration of organization culture provides a great balance to the role of sports analytics and makes this a must-read leadership book for anyone interested in sports management." --Vince Gennaro, director of the Masters of Science in Sports Management program at Columbia University, author of Diamond Dollars: The Economics of Winning in Baseball, and president of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) "Mandis explains the incredible power of community brands--where a global community feels so deeply passionate about the brand that the brand is synonymous with one's identity, values and much more." --Andrew Messick, CEO of IRONMAN "The Real Madrid Way explains how Real Madrid has created and maintained a culture that drives both financial and on-the-field success. An educational and inspiring example for sports fans and executives alike." --Lindsay McGregor and Neel Doshi, cofounders of Vega Factor and New York Times bestselling coauthors of Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation "Mandis has created a gripping narrative exploring how Real Madrid has done the seemingly impossible: used a strong culture and shared values to overcome the problem of the too-much-talent effect. The book is a must for anyone interested in culture, leadership, and high performance." --Adam Galinsky, chair and Vikram S. Pandit Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and coauthor of Friend & Foe

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Book SynopsisThe rich archive history of Batley Cricket, Athletic and Football Club - from its birth in 1880 through joining the breakaway Northern Union, which subsequently became rugby league, to the current Bulldogs. All of which makes the 'Gallant Youths' one of the oldest clubs in the world, playing on a ground that is among sport's most historic venues.

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Book SynopsisFrom his cricket debuts in 2007 and 2013 respectively, Rohit Gurunath Sharma has grown to be one of the vital pillars of the Indian cricket team. A modern-day entertainer who refused to compromise his approach to batting, his contribution to India''s domination in one-day cricket and victories in the Premier League is indisputable. This is the story of his journey, of the years of hard work and the confidence that has allowed him to keep his place in the team--and his amazing capacity to come up with big scores. His combination of aggression and caution, his lazy elegance and his deadly shots have brought a whiff of fresh air to the cricket field.

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Book SynopsisThere was a time when Bombay was almost synonymous with cricket in India. A Million Broken Windows is the story of how that came to be: of the players who filled the gullies and maidans of the city with their exuberant and institutively skilful play, of the coaches who spotted talent and created opportunities for their boys to grow, and of the crowds that came to cheer their teams, weekday or weekend. Together they ensured that, whatever the result, the joy of competing and pushing oneself, and others, to do better was never lost.Since the inception of the Ranji trophy, Bombay has lifted the trophy forty-one times. Its batsmen and bowlers have had starring roles in match after match, across tournaments, formats and continents. Captains, coaches, administrators.

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