Sports teams and clubs Books

Book SynopsisIf your club wants to attract and retain the best coaches, enthusiastic volunteers and committed team members and raise its game, the C+L+U=B Framework is your path to success.

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Book SynopsisLiverpool FC: Minute by Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Reds' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From the Reds' early successes to the glory years of domestic and European dominance, the book covers everything from the Bill Shankly era to the heavy-metal swashbuckling football of Jurgen Klopp's thrilling side. Revisit Liverpool's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's glorious past. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Anfield and around the world, Liverpool FC: Minute by Minute is packed with memorable moments. From Keegan to Salah, from Neal to Robertson, from European and Champions League finals to bruising Merseyside derbies, battles with the Manchester giants and incredible goals - the book is filled with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle.

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Book SynopsisAward-winning cricket writer Mark Peel charts the development of the England captaincy - from the autocratic captains of the post-war years to the dual captaincy of the present, where power is shared between captain and coach. Peel examines the huge demands the England captaincy imposes on the occupant and why few leave office with their reputation enhanced. You'll learn about the long-lasting legacy of the Hutton captaincy of the mid-1950s, the downfall of mavericks such as Brian Close, Tony Greig and Mike Gatting, the success of the Illingworth and Brearley eras and the chaos of the 1980s, when captains came and went with regular abandon, and finally the glory years of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Strauss. The Hollow Crown contains individual portraits of the 43 England captains, exploring their background, philosophy, strengths, weaknesses and the legacy they left, with special attention given to the likes of Hutton, May, Illingworth, Brearley, Atherton, Hussain, Vaughan and Strauss.

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Book SynopsisAlthough well-known as the birthplace of Charles Darwin and for its idyllic location on the River Severn, in footballing terms Shrewsbury was still a backwater in the late 1970s. But Town's promotion for the first time in their history to Football League Division Two in 1979 changed all that. The 'Spirit of 79' propelled them into the limelight with a famous FA Cup run and an unlikely Third Division title triumph. Chelsea, Newcastle and West Ham would now be heading to Gay Meadow, and predictably Shrewsbury were the pundits' favourites for relegation. Come On You Blues is a vivid, first-hand account of Town's inaugural campaign in Division Two in 1979/80, as seen through the eyes of a 15-year-old fan and proud owner of a GBP12 junior season ticket. The book recalls the thrills and anguish of following a small team from Shropshire battling for survival in the second tier, and defying the odds by trouncing footballing giants, upstaging local rivals and scrubbing up well against exciting, up-and-coming sides.

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Book SynopsisLeeds United Minute By Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Whites' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From United's early years and successes to the days of domestic dominance in the late 1960s and early 70s, the book covers everything from the Don Revie and David O'Leary eras through to the days of Howard Wilkinson and Marcelo Bielsa. Revisit United's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's proud history. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Elland Road and around the world, Leeds United Minute By Minute is packed with memorable moments. From Clarke to Lorimer and from Viduka to Becchio - all the club legends are here, with thrilling memories from kick-off to the final whistle.

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Book Synopsis*****THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK"Felix White's beautifully, elegantly and passionately written book reminds me why I love cricket so much. And reading, come to that." - Stephen Fry"The love of cricket is both communal and individual. Felix has a wonderful knack of evoking both in a book full of life, joy and resilience." - Gideon Haigh"Life beyond sport, love after loss, a soulful portrait of how play stops the rain." - Cariad Lloyd"This is an extraordinary first book ... funny, tragic, candid and heartfelt; it would be remarkable if he ever wrote a better one." - Wisden Almanack 2022Felix White, for reasons often beyond him, has always been deeply in love with cricket. His passion for the game is at the fore on the BBC 's number one cricket podcast and 5Live show, Tailenders, which he co-presents with Greg James and Jimmy Anderson. It's Always Summer Somewhere is his funny, heartbreaking and endlessly engaging love letter to the game.Felix takes us through his life growing up in South West London and describes how his story is forever punctuated and given meaning by cricket. Through his own exploits as a slow left arm spinner of 'lovely loopy stuff', to the tragic illness of his mother, life with The Maccabees and his cricket redemption, Felix touches on both the comedic and the tragic in equal measure. Throughout, there's the ever-present roller coaster of following the England cricket team. The exploits of Tufnell (another bowler of 'lovely loopy stuff'), Atherton, Hussain et al, are given extra import through the eyes of a cricket-obsessed youth. Felix meets them at each signposted moment to find out what was really behind those moments that gave cricket fans everywhere sporting memories that would last forever, sending the book into an exploration of grief, transgenerational displacement and how the people we've known and things we've loved culminate and take expression in our lives.It's Always Summer Somewhere is an incredibly honest detail of a life lived with cricket. It offers a sense of genuine empathy and understanding not just with cricket fans, but sports and music fans across the world, in articulating our reasons for pouring so much meaning into something that we simply cannot control. Culminating in the heart-stopping World Cup Final in 2019, the book finally answers that question fans have so often asked... what is it about this game?

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Book SynopsisThis book contains as full a statistical record as archival data permits for games played by the England Women's National team from their first official match played against Scotland in 1972 to the final match played in 2022.

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Book SynopsisArsenal On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's distinguished past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of red-and-white history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian roots playing in donated shirts right up to the Emirates era, Gunners fans have witnessed league, cup and Double triumphs, hard-fought derbies and unforgettable European nights - all featured here. All-time greats including Thierry Henry and George Armstrong, Liam Brady, Charlie George and Eddie Hapgood loom larger than life - while their team-mates bare their buttocks before the North Bank, score solo pop hits and win Olympic gold medals. Find out which legend debuted on the day George Graham was born; the day which links Bertie Mee and Arsene Wenger; and which Arsenal manager was sacked on Friday the 13th.

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Book Synopsis'Genius ... Squires' creativity shines through in this collection - there's simply no one better at what he does.' - Best Football Books of 2019, FourFourTwo***Half-and-half scarves? VARs? England winning penalty shoot-outs?Modern football can be baffling. But if you're contemplating throwing it all in for the simpler pleasures of quantum mechanics, don't despair just yet: help is at hand.In Goalless Draws, David Squires unpicks the modern game with an unmissable selection of his Guardian football cartoons from 2014 to the 2018 World Cup. From the ever-dizzying managerial roundabout to the absurdities of the transfer window, and from the annual tradition of poppygate to the 'stable genius' of José Mourinho, the result is a riotous reminder of all the pitfalls of the modern game, as well as everything that keeps us coming back for more.

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Book SynopsisGribble's unique mystery, featuring the actual Arsenal squad of 1939, sends Inspector Anthony Slade into the world of professional football to investigate a case of deadly foul play on and off the pitch.

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling autobiography of the greatest rugby player of our time: Brian O''Driscoll.Since 1999, when he made his international debut, there has been no greater player in world rugby than Brian O''Driscoll. In 2010 Rugby World magazine named him its world player of the decade - and since then the legend has only grown.Now, at the end of his amazing career - which culminated in fairy-tale fashion with Ireland''s victory in the 2014 Six Nations championship - he tells his own story. Honest, gritty and thoughtful, Brian O''Driscoll''s Autobiography is not just an essential sports book. It is an essential book about family, friends, hard work, courage and imagination.''Honest, charming and revealing - a thoroughly good read'' Rugby World''A thoroughly enjoyable read ... After reading The Test I warmed even more to O''Driscoll as a player and a man. He stood for a new ethos in Irish sport that refused to accept mediocrity or glorious failure'' Fergal Keane, Irish Times''O''Driscoll''s honesty ... takes the reader to a place they simply have not been before'' Vincent Hogan, Irish Independent''A must-read insight into the life and mind of Ireland''s greatest rugby player'' Irish Mail on Sunday''There are fascinating insights into the lengths he was willing to go to perform at the highest level'' Sunday Business PostBestseller, April 2015Trade ReviewA thoroughly enjoyable read ... After reading The Test I warmed even more to O'Driscoll as a player and a man. He stood for a new ethos in Irish sport that refused to accept mediocrity or glorious failure -- Fergal Keane * Irish Times *O'Driscoll's honesty ... takes the reader to a place they simply have not been before -- Vincent Hogan * Irish Independent *The Test allows the reader to get to know O'Driscoll the person, the husband, the father and the friend. It is honest, charming and revealing - a thoroughly good read * Rugby World *A must-read insight into the life and mind of Ireland's greatest rugby player * Irish Mail on Sunday *There are fascinating insights into the lengths he was willing to go to perform at the highest level * Sunday Business Post *

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Book SynopsisLiverpool FC is rarely out of the news and always is the subject of interest from inside and outside of the world of football. From Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen and Graeme Souness through Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp to Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, John Henry and coach Jurgen Klopp, few clubs can boast as many people with so much to say for themselves, especially in the case of Bill Shankly, football's most quoted man. Liverpool have a proud tradition and a very loyal support, and this book aims to capture the flavour of both. In 2019 the Reds came to within a point of their long-awaited 19th title, but ultimately avoided disappointment by finishing their season winning the UEAF Champions League. With the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup also won by the end of 2019, Klopp now knows what it takes to win and few will be surprised if Liverpool are front and centre when it comes to handing out trophies in 2020. The Little Book of Liverpool, brim-full with more than 170 quotes, celebrates the club's continued success at home and abroad. Table of ContentsThe Liverpool Way • Shankly's Sayings • Red Stars • The Kop on Top • Inside the Boot Room • Comings and Goings • Secrets of Success • Magic Moments • You'll Never Walk Alone.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Leeds United from 1980 to 2000 when the club crashed and burned and then rose from the ashes to become the last First Division champions, before approaching the Millennium full of expectations for their dynamic young team.Trade Review'This is an absorbing tale of Leeds’ helter-skelter existence over a couple of eventful decades.' -- Sports Journalists Association, October 2023

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Book SynopsisThe complete, official history of the England football team as you've never seen it before! England: The Official History is a fascinating account of the world's oldest and most iconic national football team.• Includes England's fantastic performance at EURO 2020. • A great gift for any England fan. • Features more than 250 exceptional photographs of England icons past and present including Alf Ramsey, Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Hope Powell, David Beckham, Steph Houghton and Harry Kane. • The complete story of the England men's and women's teams – from 1872 right up to the present day. • Written by award-winning journalist and author Daniel Storey in association with the FA and filled with incredible stories spanning 150 years of England football.The book charts the highs (and lows) of the England national teams and the men and women who've worn the Three Lions with pride. Each chapter delves into a specific era, covering key figures, famous and infamous matches, and the evolution of football over the course of more than a century and a half.This is the definitive visual history of English Football.Table of ContentsForeword • The dawn of a team (1870s-1890s) • Olympic success (1900s-1910s) • Intra-war years (1920s-1930s) • The full-time era (1940s) • Chastening defeats (1950s) • The march to greatness (1960s) • World Cup 1966 • The fallow years (1970s) • The re-rise of the women's game (1970s) • So near and yet so far (1982-1990) • The impossible job (1990-1994) • Reagan's time (1980s) • Golden generations (1996-2006) • Unfulfilled potential (2006-2016) • Hope springs eternal (1998-2013) • A brighter future (2016-2020) • Appendix: Lions & Lionesses. Plus features on key England figures including Alf Ramsey, Bobby Moore, Hope Powell, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and more.

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating story of Manchester United's 1989/90 campaign one of the most pivotal in the club's history and the goal that kick-started Sir Alex Ferguson's epoch-making rein.Foreword by acclaimed Manchester United author Wayne Barton.United were at a turning point in the winter of the 1989/90 season. Ferguson had arrived three years earlier to try to end a two-decade wait to lift the First Division title. The gifted Scot had brought unprecedented success to Aberdeen, but the Old Trafford faithful were starting to get restless. Money had been spent but the team were no nearer to their goal of reaching the pinnacle of English football.With fans calling for the head of the man in the dugout, the club's board of directors had reached a fork in the road. Would they bring in another new manager now or wait and see how the FA Cup run played out? There was going to be a hero, but little did he know the importance of that goal. Fascinating delve into Manchester United's past, drawing on a rich mixture of sources A must-read for all Manchester United fans, the book will appeal to the wider footballing world as well Sports historians, particularly football historians, will enjoy this gripping story of an important season Riveting accounts drawn from newspaper research and interviews with players and managers Interesting facts and statistics for the period This is the compelling story of how the Red Devils inadvertently embarked on a period of domination beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

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Book SynopsisFootball is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win' Gary Lineker Packed with exclusive interviews with key protagonists, Raphael Honigstein's book lifts the lid on the secrets of German football's success.13th July 2014, World Cup Final, the last ten minutes of extra time. Germany forward Mario Götze, receiving a floated pass from his international teammate André Schürrle, jumps slightly to meet the ball and cushion it with his chest. Landing on his left foot, he takes a step with his right, swivels, and in one fluid motion, without the ball touching the ground, volleys it past the onrushing Argentine goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. The goal wins Germany the World Cup for the first time in almost twenty-five years. In Das Reboot, journalist and television pundit Raphael Honigstein charts the return of German football - how did German football transform itself from its efTrade ReviewFantastic ... Honigstein's detail is superb -- Aidan Smith * Scotland on Sunday *Fantastic ... Honigstein's detail is superb -- Aidan Smith * Scotland on Sunday *Honigstein charts how fussball became the hippest version of the game * Shortlist *Honigstein tells the story with panache and exactly the same kind of eye for detail he's writing about -- Chris Maume * Independent *An excellent chronicle -- John Mcauley * The National *

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Book SynopsisSimon Hughes is a journalist and author. He writes for the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and The Independent, as well as Liverpool Football Club's official magazine. Red Machine won the Antonio Ghirelli prize for Italian soccer foreign book of the year in 2014. His other titles include Secret Diary of a Liverpool Scout and The Torres Story. Simon's latest book, Men in White Suits: Liverpool in the 1990s, the Players' Stories is the inside story behind the decline of Liverpool FC, as told by a host of influential characters associated with the team during this tumultuous period in the club's history.Trade ReviewThe best Liverpool author around, investigating one of the most enduring questions in British club football: why Liverpool, imperious for so long, so abruptly and completely stopped winning titles from the 1990s. That is some combination. A captivating book which is essential reading for all fans of the game, whether Liverpool supporters or not. * Ian Herbert, Chief Sportswriter, The Independent *

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Book SynopsisEnglish football's Moneyball.

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Book SynopsisA complete history of the Tigers, from the author of the acclaimed Look Back in Amber.

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Book SynopsisSo you thought you knew everything about Manchester City, did you? Well, think again.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on first-hand accounts from several players and original research, respected rugby writer Chris Schoeman marks the 50th anniversary of this controversial tour remembered as much for politics as for rugby.

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Book SynopsisFor fans of books by Jimmy Bullard, Paul Merson, The Sidemen and the F2 FreestylersMessi might be the most skilful, Ronaldo might have the best shot, but according to FIFA it''s 16-stone Adebayo Akinfenwa who''s the strongest footballer in the world. With a larger-than-life personality to match, it''s no wonder ''The Beast'' has become an icon, attracting millions of social media followers, launching his own clothing label, and still banging in the goals for Wycombe Wanderers. With such fame and adoration, it''s easy to forget that Bayo is one of the hardest-working footballers around. His mental strength has had to be equal to his physical. Told by English clubs he was ''too big'' to play football, he joined Lithuanian team FK Atlantas as a teenager where he faced widespread racial abuse. A career of grafting in the lower leagues of English and Welsh football followed, with spells at Barry Town, Torquay, Swansea, Gillingham, Northampton and AFC Wimble

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Book SynopsisFully updated to contain Sir Ian McGeechan''s reflections on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand. 2017 saw the latest contest between the British Lions and New Zealand - the ultimate rugby clash between the northern and southern hemisphere. Ian McGeechan is the ''Ultimate Lion'', and no one could have done more than McGeechan to promote the magic of the Lions. McGeechan played for the Lions in their unbeaten 1974 tour of South Africa, and again in the 1977 tour of New Zealand. Subsequently he has been the head coach on four Lions tours. In this unique and fascinating book which celebrates the immensity of rugby at the top level, Ian McGeechan uses his own coaching notes to provide his special insight and background into what it means to be a Lion. By looking at various themes such as selection, how to create the right environment and how to build the players into what he describes as ''Test-match animals'' the reader learns how some of the most successf

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Book SynopsisARSENAL: THE STORY OF A FOOTBALL CLUB IN 101 LIVES tells the history of the Gunners through the biographies of key individuals associated with the club from its formation in the gas-lit days of Victorian Britain through to the present day. From David Danskin, the Scottish mechanical engineer and footballer who was the driving force behind the team raised at Dial Square, a workshop at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, to Arsene Wenger, the longest-serving and most successful manager in Arsenal's history. The in-depth stories of the characters - players, managers, chairmen - here paint a fascinating picture of how the club - indeed, the game of football itself - has developed from workers playing for fun to today's multi-million-pound business.

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Book SynopsisEver wondered what it's REALLY like to be a Premier League footballer?My name is James Milner and I'm not a Ribena-holic.Let me share insights into what it's like being a professional footballer, across my different experiences with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and now Liverpool (not forgetting a six-match loan spell at Swindon). Plus my highs - and a few too many lows - playing for England.There isn't a current player who's been playing Premier League football as long as I have, and that gives me a pretty rare perspective into how the top-flight game has changed over the past seventeen years.In this book, I explain how a footballer's working week unfolds - what we eat and how we prepare for matches technically, tactically, mentally and physically - and talk you through the ups and downs of a matchday. I reveal my penalty-taking techniques, half-time team talks and the differences between playing against Lionel Messi, Wilfried Zaha and Jimmy Bullard.I've played for managers ranging from Terry Venables, Peter Reid and Sir Bobby Robson to Martin O'Neill, Fabio Capello and Jurgen Klopp. I tell you what it's like sharing a training ground and a dressing-room with team-mates such as Lee Bowyer, Mario Balotelli and Mo Salah. I also reveal the behind-the-scenes work that went into Liverpool's Champions League success - and the celebrations that followed.So this isn't an autobiography. The whole point of Ask A Footballer is that you, the fans, asked me questions and I have used my own experiences to answer them. I hope you like it, and don't find it too boring.

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Book SynopsisBoxing Day 1920, and 53,000 men, women and children pack inside Goodison Park. The extraordinary crowds have come to watch two local rivals play a match for charity. But this is no ordinary charity fixture. Eleven of the players are international celebrities and their team is the biggest draw in British - and world - football. Yet they are all full-time factory workers - and they are women. They are the ladies of Dick Kerr electrical works. And the male football establishment is terrified by them. With the men away fighting from 1914-1918, most of the workers in the factories of northern England were women. And many factories had a ladies' football team. In December 1917, the team from the Dick Kerr factory challenged the ladies of the nearby Arundel Coulthard Foundry to a charity match. It was the first of 828 games for Dick Kerr Ladies as over the decades they scored more than 3,500 goals and raised the equivalent of GBP1 million for an array of charities. By 1920, ladies football was a major spectator sport. But away from the cheering terraces are bastions of professional men's football viewed the mass popularity of women's soccer with increasing alarm.On 5 December 1921 the Football Association met in London. After a brief debate behind closed doors it unanimously passed an urgent resolution: women's football was banned from all professional football grounds. Dick Kerr Ladies did not give in, playing their matches on parkland with thousands of spectators turning up to watch. But constant pressure from the FA meant that one by one, teams began to fold,. It would take until 1971 for the FA to life its ban. Today, women's football has once again claimed a place in the global games. But it came too late for the pioneers of the sport: Preston Ladies - nee Dick Kerr Ladies - played their last match in 1969.

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Book SynopsisLiverpool Matches of My Life provides a unique perspective on 50 iconic Liverpool games spanning the author's lifetime, from 1960 to date. It takes the reader on a journey through 60 years of this famous club, from its Second Division days to the recent victory in the FIFA Club World Cup and many trophy-winning successes in between. Beginning with a brief history of the club up to 1959, the author relives 50 crucial games that brought Liverpool to the pinnacle of club football by 2019. All the chosen matches meant a great deal to the club, its fans and the author. Along the way there are many firsts, record victories, trophies and games that have gone down in Anfield folklore. As well as covering iconic matches, the book provides brief profiles of key players and tells the story of the intervening years, with all the highs and lows that Liverpool experienced in search of that elusive Premier League title. Are Liverpool the greatest English team of the last 60 years? Judge for yourself as you read the story of this wonderful club.

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Book SynopsisChampions Under Lockdown is the third book in the Red Odyssey series. It tells the story of an extraordinary season from the perspective of the terraces. After their epic 2018/19 season, in 2019/20 Jurgen Klopp would target Liverpool's first league title in 30 years. During this unforgettable season his side would smash all records. They claimed the UEFA Super Cup and then the Club World Cup before sailing to a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Fans who thought they had seen it all witnessed arguably the greatest Reds side in history sweep all before them. They were declared champions-elect, but the fates decreed there would be a final barrier to Liverpool claiming their prize. In the midst of a global virus pandemic and with the country on lockdown, voices called for the season to be declared null and void, threatening to wipe the achievements of this incredible team from history. But Jurgen and his men rose again to claim their holy grail. This is the unique story of the champions under lockdown.

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Book SynopsisCharting West Ham’s tumultuous 2022–23 season and epic triumph in the Europa Conference League final, this is the story of how the Hammers defied the odds to win their first trophy in forty-three years and first European trophy in fifty-eight years. After weathering misfiring signings, dissent among the fans and the near-sacking of David Moyes, the Irons eventually secured Premier League survival and found spectacular redemption in the Europa Conference League. They played fifteen games in Europe and were unbeaten. Captain Declan Rice ended his West Ham career by lifting a trophy, just like Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds before him. The outpouring of joy at the final whistle in Prague will never be forgotten by the club’s fans, many of whom were too young to have seen their team win its last trophy. Packed with hilarious anecdotes and whimsical musings, this is West Ham’s extraordinary 2022–23 season as told by superfan Pete May, who lived (and occasionally suffered) through every nail-biting moment and crucial game. Experience the goals, games and glory all over again in this witty and impassioned book – essential reading for any Hammers fan.

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Book SynopsisAs modern football legends, the Class of 92 need no introduction. Class of 92: Out of Their League, however, opens a dramatic new chapter in the story of former Manchester United greats Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, as they take on a new role in each of their lives: owners of semi-professional club Salford City FC. An enthralling, in-depth account of Salford's first two years under new ownership, Class of 92: Out of Their League combines first-hand accounts from Gary, Phil, Paul, Ryan and Nicky as they try to turn round the club's fortunes, along with a wider story of tremendous athletic and human drama. Featuring colourful characters like managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, star players, club chairman Karen Baird, lifelong fans, and more, this is a story told with real authenticity and grit. Accompanying the second series of the hugely popular BBC series, Class of 92: Out of Their League is both a testament to the best of modern football and a brilliant reminder, in an era when fans are threatening walkouts over rising ticket prices, of what football is really all about.Trade ReviewA must-read for Salfordians -- Salford Star * Salford Star *An intriguing book that does attempt to lose the hype surrounding the club to give an insight into both the Class of 92 and the plight of the players who find themselves in non-league football. -- Salford Star * Salford Star *

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Book SynopsisLeague One Leeds is the story of Leeds United's three seasons spent in the third tier of English football. An illustrious club who had never fallen so low, their journey through League One would become the most chaotic period in Leeds's history and the drama started before a ball was kicked. An unprecedented 15-point deduction that plunged the Whites from promotion favourites to relegation fodder set the tone, as the club's fortunes undulated wildly over the course of three bizarre seasons. Record-breaking winning runs, long barren spells, FA Cup defeats at Histon and Hereford, victory at Old Trafford - this is a football story that twists and turns all the way through to a hair-raising finale. The book is written through the eyes of the author and features exclusive insight from Simon Grayson, Jermaine Beckford, Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson, David Prutton, Casper Ankergren and Luciano Becchio, whose first-hand experiences are interwoven with his own. The result: a riveting account of a fascinating period in Leeds United's history.Trade Review"Rocco is as good as it gets as regards bottling the emotions of what it is like to be a football fan. He expounds the essence of the Elland Road vibe and his skills as a writer are aplenty. This book highlights the wonders and warts of a club." * World of Words *"League One Leeds takes us through those strange, three League One seasons which epitomised the passion and loyalty of Leeds fans." -- Gary Edwards * Leeds United author *"What a read!" -- Jermaine Beckford * Former Leeds United striker *

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Book SynopsisA football season ticket is one hell of a commitment! It's okay if you're guaranteed a good time - sexy football and three points a la Manchester City - but supporting a club of West Ham's stature is a marriage of convenience. In Fortune's Always Hiding, Paul Brand takes us through the Hammers' recent history, with a fan's-eye view that reads like 'The Secret Diary of a West Ham Fan Aged 403/4'. Chronicling a turbulent few years, from the final days at Upton Park to a European semi-final, this captivating account will resonate with anyone whose happiness is unwisely invested in the fortunes of their favourite team. Taking in fit and proper owners, the Leicester fairy tale, VAR, corporate greed, Covid lockdowns and the Three Lions renaissance (which has similarly teased success without delivering), this book is a must for Hammers devotees and anyone else who finds themselves disillusioned with the modern game but in too deep to ever give it up.

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Book SynopsisWhen Dave Went Up is the fairy-tale story of Wimbledon's famous 1988 FA Cup win over Liverpool, and how a small team overcame the giants of English football. More than just a recollection of the final itself, the book takes us through the tournament round by round, from the third round to the semi-final, and everything in between. We all know that Lawrie Sanchez got the winning goal, but did you know he was in the wrong place for the free kick? The story shows what great team spirit and sheer hard work can achieve. With tales from the key players in the side, the staff, the fans, plus some of the opposition, this is the definitive account of how Wimbledon FC won the FA Cup. Along the way you'll discover how the Dons fell in love with the competition, with background info on their run in the 1974/75 season, when Dickie Guy become a household name overnight after saving a penalty against Leeds United. If you don't know about the Dons' connection with the famous old cup, you certainly will after reading this fascinating book.Trade Review"Gary Jordan has put together another excellent football book… Jordan, who edits the Wimbledon matchday programme, has done it again! Rating: 9/10." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"When Dave Went Up looks not just at the final but the whole cup run which saw The Dons make it to Wembley thanks to wins over West Bromwich Albion, Mansfield Town, Newcastle United, Watford and Luton Town, a run where they found the net 13 times. The book also looks back on Wimbledon’s history in the world’s oldest cup competition with focus on the famous 1974/75 run by the then-Southern League team who succumbed by a solitary goal in a fourth round replay against the mighty Leeds United. When Dave Went Up is a must for any Wimbledon fan, a group who have seen their side suffer any number of problems since those heady days, and also for anyone who loves a good underdog story (and who doesn’t?)." * Read the League *"One of the book's strengths is its ability to transport readers to the vibrant atmosphere of the matches. The author's detailed descriptions of key moments, heart-stopping goals, and the electrifying atmosphere of Wembley Stadium during the final make the readers feel as if they are right there, witnessing history unfold before their eyes... When Dave Went Up is a celebration of the indomitable spirit of Wimbledon and their remarkable FA Cup triumph. It showcases the power of determination, and the enduring belief in one's abilities. Even if readers are not familiar with the team or the era, the book's universal themes and the sheer excitement of the story will captivate and inspire them." * The Football Library *"It's a book that has been lovingly put together and the end result is something that Dons fans, and neutrals too, can really enjoy… What I particularly enjoyed were the stories of some of the key players in that Dons side – Beasant, Sanchez, Clive Goodyear and Terry Gibson. There are plenty of anecdotes and tales that will raise a smile. Rating: 9 out of 10." -- John Lyons * Late Tackle *

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Book SynopsisUpdated for 2024, and (hopefully) to coincide with the club's return to the Premier League, Ipswich Town On This Day is an appointment with those magical days and memorable moments from the club's illustrious past with an entry for every day of the year.From Town''s Victorian formation through to the Premier League era, the Portman Road faithful have witnessed promotions and relegations, league and cup triumphs, hard-fought derbies and unforgettable European nights and they all feature here along with all-time greats such as John Wark, Ray Crawford, Billy Baxter, Arnold Muhren and Mick Mills.Revisit 18th January 1969 for Bobby Robson''s first game in charge, a 2-2 draw away at Everton. 30th October 1926, when Barclays Bank beat Town 3-1 at Portman Road, but not before the game had been held up to clear an invasion of rats. Or 20th May 1981, that wonderful night that Town won the UEFA Cup in Amsterdam!

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Book SynopsisRugby union has undergone immense change in the past two decades - introducing a World Cup, accepting professionalism and creating a global market in players - yet no authoritative English-language general history of the game has been published in that time. Until now. A Game for Hooligans brings the game's colourful story up to date to include the 2007 World Cup. It covers all of the great matches, teams and players but also explores the social, political and economic changes that have affected the course of rugby's development. It is an international history, covering not only Britain and France but also the great rugby powers of the southern hemisphere and other successful rugby nations, including Argentina, Fiji and Japan. Contained within are the answers to many intriguing questions concerning the game, such as why 1895 is the most important date in both rugby-union and rugby-league history and how New Zealand became so good and have remained so good for so long. There is also a wealth of anecdotes, including allegations of devil-worship at a Welsh rugby club and an account of the game's contribution to the Cuban Revolution. This is a must-read for any fan of the oval ball.Trade ReviewAn ambitious project, triumphantly realised * Independent on Sunday *Crammed with fact and leavened with anecdote . . . an utterly reliable guide * Daily Telegraph *Huw Richards has managed to distil the very essence of rugby union history into this one volume . . . an excellent chronicle * The Independent *Magnificent * The Times *Engagingly quirky * Publishing News *

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Book Synopsis*** SHORTLISTED IN THE SPORTS WRITING CATEGORY AT THE 2024 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS ****** LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 ****** ONE OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH''S SPORTS BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2023 ****** ONE OF THE TIMES'' SPORTS BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2023 ***The remarkable inside story of how two Hollywood A-listers, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, stunned the football world by buying a non-league club in North Wales.''astute, lovingly detailed ... so entertaining ... so charming'' Victoria Segal, the Sunday Times''A superb account of a modern-day success story, told beautifully by one of the best writers in the business. This is one of the great football stories of recent years. No matter who you support, if you love football, you will love the story of Tinseltown.'' Daniel Taylor, The Athletic''This is a compelling, multi-layered, page turner, underpinned by a real sense of both place and connection with the eclectic characters involved. It will appeal to anyone with even the slightest interest in the game''s enduring place in a changing world.'' Louise Taylor, Guardian''...the best sports book I''ve read all year for many years...It''s full on factual but funny, exhaustive but not exhausting and well written and wonderful.'' Paul Ross, talkSPORT''terrific ... A richly layered and fascinating story of a club and community reborn'' FourFourTwo''This book comes from the heart. It tells the story of how Wrexham, the club I love, has always been special and achieved so much in the past, as well as the present. I really enjoyed it.'' Mickey Thomas, Wrexham FC legend and 1992 FA Cup heroIt was one of the most extraordinary takeovers British football has known. In February 2021, Ryan Reynolds joined with Rob McElhenney to buy Wrexham FC, a non-league team in North Wales. Wrexham, a former coal and steel town dealing with its post-industrial legacy, suddenly found itself at the centre of global attention, with broadcast networks around the world descending to discover what was going on. The club became the subject of a smash hit Disney+ docu-series, Welcome to Wrexham.Tinseltown tells the story of this extraordinary, unpredictable and often surreal football takeover and the remarkable events that followed. Written with the full cooperation of Wrexham FC, it is the inside story of what happened when Hollywood met a dot on a map. How a town was transformed when its football club, aspiring only to survive on the fifth rung of the British football ladder, was sprinkled with gold dust and found ambition again. With unique access to key figures, the book charts the club''s attempts to climb up the pyramid, providing a vivid sense of what it is like to play for this ''Hollywood'' team and the pressure and spotlight that comes with it.At their only press conference since buying the club, nobody laughed when Reynolds and McElhenney said the Premier League could be an aspiration. ''Couldn''t we theoretically make this happen?'' McElhenney asked. ''Why not dream big?'' added Reynolds. ''If you don''t dream big, you will never go there, so why not?'' Tinseltown is the story of how they did just that.Trade Review'Brilliant' * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisIn the mad, money-driven world of football, some rather interesting and sometimes shocking kits have been worn upon the field of play. This book is a full-colour celebration of some of the most outrageous strips foisted upon the poor players and the loyal fans, both for club and country, from clashing colours and disastrous designs to surprising sponsors and back luck omens. Written by a leading authority on kit design and with anecdotes from fans, this book is a wry look back at some of the more bizarre decisions taken by marketing companies and clubs alike. Ranging from Victorian outfits to modern-day efforts, The Worst Football Kits of All Time is also a history of the kit, the game and some of the many characters who have played, watched, loved and despaired at this most noble (and sometimes ignoble) of sports. Set to delight fans old and young alike, this book makes the perfect gift and an excellent reference guide. Illustrated with photographs, carica

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Book SynopsisBoth Newcastle United and Sunderland provide the English game with some of the finest ever line-ups and most celebrated players in football''s history, as well as arguably the country''s most passionate supporters. Pioneers of the North is a comprehensive account of how football developed and took a grip on the very life and soul of the region, on Tyneside in particular but also in Northumberland as well as neighbouring County Durham. Related in detail is the social and sporting background, the origins of football and its growth from Berwick in the north to Darlington and Middlesbrough in the south. Other significant clubs which took a non-league route in development are examined notably Shankhouse Black Watch as well as forgotten pioneer teams such as Rendel and Elswick Leather Works

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Book Synopsis'Access inside the changing room and behind the scenes that any journalist or writer would kill for - Perarnau's insights are astonishing' - Graham Hunter 'Write about everything you see. Be as critical as you like' - Pep Guardiola to Marti Perarnau, summer 2013 Marti Perarnau was given total access to Bayern Munich during season 2013-14. This book represents the first time in the modern era that a writer has got this close to one of the elite teams of world football. At the invitation of Pep Guardiola, he shadowed the Catalan, his staff and his superstar players during training and on matchdays. Bayern smashed domestic records on their way to the double, but were humiliated by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. Perarnau was with them every step of the way. Perarnau is with Guardiola as he is courted by the world's greatest clubs during his sabbatical in New York. We hear Guardiola explain in detail the radical tactical moves which transform Bayern's season and reprogramme the players who will win the World Cup with Germany.Perarnau talks exclusively and in fascinating detail with players such as Arjen Robben, Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Thiago Alcantara and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Pep Confidential is much more than the story of a season - it is also a lasting portrait of one of the greatest coaches in sport. Trade Review 'Extraordinary' -- Hugh MacDonald * Herald *'enthralling stuff' * Irish Examiner *'One of the most influential sports books to be written in years' * Scotland Now *'One of the most influential sports books to be written in years' * Scotland Now *'a fine insight into the strains of management . . . one for the students of the game' * Observer *'This book should be compulsory reading for potential employers and opponents alike' * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe amazing underdog story of how Hellas Verona conquered the giants of Italian football to become Serie A champions. Published to mark the 40th anniversary of Verona's achievement, this authentic footballing fairy tale is brought to life through exclusive interviews with players, journalists and fans.By Richard Hough, an experienced writer and historian who has been immersed in Italian life and football for more than a decade.Read and discover how: International stars such as Platini, Maradona, Rummenigge, Sócrates, Júnior, Laudrup, Souness, Hateley and Wilkins were drawn to the peninsula that season, making Serie A the most competitive and prestigious league in the world Innovative new managers, such as Sven-Göran Eriksson, competed with veterans like Giovanni Trapattoni to get their hands on the coveted Albo d''oro del campionato Italiano di calcio, or il Scudetto' as it is commonly known Verona's idiosyncratic manager Osvaldo Bagnoli patiently assembled a tight-knit squad of accomplished but unspectacular homegrown players, plus two astute foreign signings: the former German pentathlete Hans-Peter Briegel and the mercurial but underachieving Dane, Preben Elkjær Larsen Eighties Italian culture forms a compelling backdrop to the story The team's monumental triumph still resonates in the city today Perfect for any football fan with an interest in the game's history plus anyone who enjoys an underdog story this gripping book uncovers how a team came from nowhere to shock the footballing world with one of the most remarkable sporting achievements of all time.

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Book SynopsisWhen the Leeds United players celebrated winning the championship in April 1992, they had no idea how momentous the occasion was. Manchester United, losers at Liverpool that Sunday afternoon, had now gone 25 years without winning the league. Howard Wilkinson''s side, promoted just two seasons ago, could bring back the glory days to Leeds. But Wilkinson would prove to be the last English manager to win the league. In 1992, football changed beyond all recognition.The Last Champions explores the roots of that success and the amazing cast of characters who came together to fashion the triumph. As in his acclaimed book The Fallen, Dave Simpson''s quest to catch up with the protagonists of the era, from the visionary Sergeant Wilko, top scorer Lee Chapman and unsung heroes like Mike Whitlow and Carl Shutt (not forgetting Eric Cantona), sees him unearth some extraordinary untold stories.And he finds that The Last Champions were also the last ordinary people toTrade ReviewIn just three and a half seasons, following almost a decade in the wilderness, Wilkinson transformed a relegation-threatened second-level side into League winners. The sheer size of the achievement has finally been given the recognition it deserves in The Last Champions. To put it into context, imagine Southampton winning the Premier League title in 2013-14. That is what Wilkinson and his players achieved and it is what makes this story so special and worthy of Simpson's insightful homage. -- Simon Creasey * When Saturday Comes *I really enjoyed the book... it's a great read -- Lee "Chappy" Chapman, Leeds United centre forward, League Championship winner, 1991-92Unbearably poignant. Simpson neatly captures football's key appeal, the way it can restore the simple certainties of childhood. These men are now postmen, pensioners, disabled, successful, travel agents and the seemingly lost. But they talk with equal wonder about their greatest season * The Last Word *A welcome reclamation of Wilkinson's success... breaks the mould in exploring team-building. As Simpson so wistfully explains, we shall probably never see their like again... Clearly written by a fan. -- Juliet Jacques * New Statesman *Excellent book * Yorkshire Post *

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Book Synopsis''MASTERFUL'' TimeOut''GREAT'' Financial Times''ABSORBING'' FourFourTwo''THOUGHT-PROVOKING'' Independent on Sunday''ENTERTAINING'' When Saturday ComesHaving invented the game, everything that has followed for England and its national football team has been something of an anti-climax. There was, of course, the golden summer of 1966, and the great period of English dominance on the world stage, which fell roughly between 1886 and 1900, when England won 35 of their 40 international fixtures. But before long foreign teams, with their insistence on progressive ''tactics'', began to pose a few questions. And much of what followed for England constituted a series of false dawns... In THE ANATOMY OF ENGLAND, Jonathan Wilson seeks to place the bright spots in context. Taking ten key England fixtures, Wilson explores how what actually happened on the pitch shaped the future of the English game. Bursting with insight and critical detail, yet imbued with a wry affection, this is a history of England like none before.Trade ReviewA masterful work...it could be the best thing to have happened to English football in years * TIME OUT *[A] thought-provoking reappraisal of ten key games in England's football history ... this book should be required reading for all future England squads * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Wilson belongs alongside David Goldblatt and the daddy of them all, Brian Glanville, in the triumvirate of great British football historians * FINANCIAL TIMES *Absorbing in detail...By analysing 10 England matches which sum up the prevailing ethos in the English game, Wilson's forensic examination of events on the bench are lent a broader context and perspective * FOURFOURTWO *Bursting with insight and critical detail, yet imbued with a wry affection, this is a history of England like none before. * LIVING NORTH *

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Book SynopsisThe story of Manchester United told through ten key matches that have helped to shape its history.Award-winning football writer Jonathan Wilson selects ten landmark games from Manchester United''s past, from the first time they lifted the FA Cup, beating Bristol City in 1909, to the Cup victory of 2016 that proved to be Louis van Gaal''s last match in charge. In doing so, he identifies the pivotal moments in the club''s rise to becoming one of the foremost teams of the twentieth century.With his trademark tactical acumen, Wilson goes back to the games themselves and subjects them to forensic examination, re-evaluating and reassessing, and going beyond the white noise of banal player quotes and instant judgements to uncover what really happened. The result is a unique football history of one of England''s greatest and most famous clubs.Trade ReviewWilson belongs alongside David Goldblatt and the daddy of them all, Brian Glanville, in the triumvirate of great British football historians - Financial TimesJonathan Wilson offers superb analysis - Observer on The Anatomy of LiverpoolA thought-provoking reappraisal of ten key games in England's football history . . . this book should be required reading for all future England squads - Independent on Sunday on The Anatomy of EnglandEpic in sweep . . . a history of Argentinian football that is also a truly magnificent history of that country . . . an unfailingly fascinating read

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Book SynopsisEverything you ever needed to know about the Wolves.

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