Sports teams and clubs Books

Book SynopsisWhen the final whistle was blown at Upton Park on 10 May 2016, it was more than a football match that had ended. West Ham United's victory over Manchester United was the club's spectacular swansong after 112 years at its spiritual home. The Boleyn's Farewell: West Ham's Final Game at Upton Park delves into one of the club's most historic nights, with insight from players, fans and others who were there. Everything from the atmosphere before the game, Winston Reid's winner and the digitised Bobby Moore switching off the stadium lights, the build-up and aftermath of the game, as well as the on-pitch action are recounted and celebrated within these pages. This was an evening that would come to define a generation and is unforgettable for many West Ham supporters. While the Boleyn Ground no longer stands, memories of the stadium and the Hammers' glorious farewell performance will endure. The Boleyn's Farewell is the definitive account of one of the most significant matches in West Ham's long history.

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Book Synopsis55 Olympic medals. 6 Tour de France victories. Countless world records and world championship victories. Since the year 2000, British Cycling, Team Sky and INEOS have dominated the sport of cycling to an unprecedented degree. But at what cost? Did Sir David Brailsford, Peter Keen and the other brains behind British Cycling's massive and sudden dominance in the modern era find a winning "Moneyball" formula? Or did their success come down to luck and personal chemistry? Did this organisation, founded on relentless, ruthless efficiency contain contradictions which threatened to overwhelm it, amid accusations of drug-taking, bullying and sexism? The Medal Factory tells the full story from amateurish beginnings through a sports-science revolution to an all-conquering, yet flawed, machine. Through interviews with Brailsford and Keen, Shane Sutton, Fran Millar, Chris Boardman, Sir Chris Hoy and many other key players, Kenny Pryde interrogates the parts of the story - lottery funding, marginal gains - that we think we know, and reveals others that have remained hidden, until now.Trade ReviewA fine, reasoned and informed book * Herald *Pryde has done an excellent job of explaining the other side of the British cycling story, making sense of the machinations behind medal-winning performances. * Road.cc *Pryde's narration of events bears comparison with Matt Rendell's The Death of Marco Pantani, predominantly on the strength of his investigative tenacity, and unquestionably lays claim to pride of place on your bookshelf * TheWashingMachinePost.net *

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Book SynopsisTo celebrate 50 years of watching Manchester City, Steve Mingle presents an array of memories spanning the whole period. The Best and Worst of Everything includes heroes and villains, triumphs and disasters, moments of genius and heinous cock-ups. Here are Steve's most memorable games, players and incidents in a weird and wonderful range of categories. There's much to look back on with affection - the best wins at Old Trafford, the Goat's spawniest finishes, Bell's finest goals, the best wins with ten men - but also plenty of pain, as Steve looks back on the worst goalkeeping howlers, City's jinxes and the biggest villains ever to have darkened the club's doorways. Amongst all this, Steve selects his favourite hard men, pie-eaters and comedy moments as well as providing hard statistical input - who have really been City's penalty kings? Who do we wish we could have played every week? It's a fascinating book packed with memories good and bad, full of debating points for City fans of all ages.

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Book SynopsisAston Villa 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 Villa history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian foundation by the congregation of Handsworth's Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel through to the Premier League era, Villa's rollercoaster history takes in FA Cup glory from the Victorian age to the 1950s, Third Division ignominy in the early '70s followed by league championship success just a decade later, all crowned by European Cup victory in Rotterdam. Pivotal historic events such as Villa committee man William McGregor's founding of the Football League form a backdrop against which Villa Park heroes - Archie Hunter, Pongo Waring and Peter McParland, Andy Gray, David Platt and Paul McGrath - all loom larger than life.

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Book SynopsisDerby County On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Rams diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation in 1884 through to the Premier League era, the black-and-white faithful have witnessed Football League and Cup triumphs, hard-fought derby matches, European adventures and heartbreak - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Dave Mackay, Jackie Stamps and Steve Bloomer, Kevin Hector, Stefanio Eranio and Charlie George all loom larger than life. Revisit 29 March 1975, when Roger Davies scored all five against Luton (and had two disallowed). 1 June 1967: the arrival of young boss Brian Clough from Hartlepools United. And 28 April 1996: when a Robin Van der Laan goal pipped visitors Palace to automatic promotion to the Premier League.

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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 Little Book of Arsenal is a hotshot collection of words of wit and wisdom by and about the managers, players and officials who have passed through the marble halls of Highbury. From Herbert Chapman to the appointment of Freddie Ljungberg as caretaker manager, via the likes of Bertie Mee, George Graham and Arsene Wenger, from one Double to another, and from Ted Drake to Charlie George, Frank McLintock, Liam Brady, Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp. Thierry Henry, Jack Wilshere, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe, here are more than 170 hot-shot quotations for the avid Gooner. Enjoy the humour and poignancy as The Little Book of Arsenal takes you through the highs and lows of the club''s fortunes on the pitch and savour some great moments. As England Rugby International and broadcaster Stuart Barnes says: ''I did not have a choice, but I am so glad I was born an Arsenal supporter.''

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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 SynopsisWINNER OF THE FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR'This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Més que un book!' - GARY LINEKERFrom the bestselling co-author of Soccernomics comes the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful football club in the world - and how that envied position now hangs in the balance.Barça is not just the world's most popular sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organisations on the planet. With almost 250 million followers on social media and 4 million visitors to its Camp Nou stadium each year, there's little wonder its motto is 'More than a club'. But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona has transformed from regional team to global powerhouse, becoming a model of sporting excellence and a consistent winner of silverware.Simon Kuper unravels exactly how these transformations took place. He outlines the organisational structure behind the club's business decisions, and details the work of its coaches, medics, data analysts and nutritionists who have revolutionised the sporting world. And, of course, he studies the towering influence of the club's two greatest legends, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi.Like many leading global businesses, FC Barcelona closely guards its secrets, granting few outsiders a view behind the scenes. But, after decades of writing about the sport and the club, Kuper was given unprecedented access to the inner sanctum and to the people who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top. Erudite, personal, and capturing all the latest successes and upheavals, his portrait of this incredible institution goes beyond football to understand Barça as a unique social, cultural, and political phenomenon."I began my research thinking I was going to be explaining Barca's rise to greatness, and I have, but I've also ended up charting the decline and fall."Trade Review'Ultimately this superb book is about far more than football - it's about Spain, about Catalan culture, about the psychology of management, about developing youngsters, and crucially about the three remarkable men who have shaped the modern game - Cruyff, Messi and Guardiola.' * Daily Mail *'This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Més que un book!' -- GARY LINEKER'Simon Kuper's Barça has it all: riveting storytelling, superb analysis, non-partisan investigation and, perhaps best of all, it's shot through with Simon's wonderfully dry humour. Simply unmissable.' -- AMY RAPHAEL, author of 'A Game of Two Halves'The chapters devoted to Cruyff, who played for the club and then transformed it as a manager, are essential reading for anyone interested in innovation or high performance. The book is both a debunking and a restoration. -- Ed Smith * The New Statesman *One of the best sports books I have read. About so much more: politics, Spain, elites in business... brilliant on Cruyff and Ajax, Messi... quite outstanding. -- ROGER ALTONSimon expertly charts the path from Cruyff to present-day Barça, showing how Messi, in his own way, represents an update on the Cruyffian style. His approach to a wealth of information about the club, along with his knowledge and passion for football, make for a really great book. -- JORDI PUNTÍ, author of 'Messi: Lessons in Style'What is the point of football, Simon Kuper asks? It makes our lives a little happier than they would be without it. And the point of this book? It makes our lives even happier. Kuper has written a great story, a history and an autobiography, a work of philosophy and gossip. It is the best book about sport, any sport, that I have read in a long time. An outright joy. An instant classic. -- BILL BUFORD, author of 'Among Thugs'Simon's writing has been an indispensable part of football's landscape for the better part of the last three decades. His access to Barça has enabled him to tell a story that no one else can about the biggest club in the world, and its biggest star. This book both chronicles and analyses an era in football history that we're lucky to have witnessed, and that may never be matched.' -- BILLY BEANE, the inspiration behind 'Moneyball''Rich value here: five books for the price of one. Much more than a mightily well-researched chronicle of the rise and decline of FC Barcelona, Simon Kuper's Barça offers a masterclass on football, a brilliantly perceptive, anecdote-rich anatomy of the game's greatest team, greatest player, greatest coach and most influential figure.' -- John Carlin'The best football book of 2021.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *

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Book SynopsisA classic David & Goliath tale, complete with colourful heroes, cold-hearted villains, and nail-biting games—with the hockey rink serving as an arena for a nation’s resistance. During the height of the Cold War, a group of small-town young men would lead their underdog hockey team from the little country of Czechoslovakia against the Soviet Union, the juggernaut in their sport. As they battled on the ice, the young players would keep their people’s quest for freedom alive, and forge a way to fight back against the authoritarian forces that sought to crush them. From the sudden invasion of Czechslovakia by an armada of tanks and 500,000 Warsaw Pact soldiers, to a hockey victory over the Soviets that inspired half a million furious citizens to take to the streets in an attempt to destroy all representations that they could find of their occupiers, Freedom to Win ranges from iconic moments in history to courageous individual stories. We will witness the fearless escape by three brothers who made up the core of the national team, thrilling world championship games and gold medal matches. We will watch as a one brave player takes a stand and leads ten thousand people in a tear-filled rendition of the Czechoslovak national anthem amid chants of “freedom!” while a revolution raged in the streets of Prague. At the heart of Freedom to Win is the story of the Holíks, a Czechoslovak family whose resistance to the Communists embodied the deepest desires of the people of their country. Faced with life under the cruel and arbitrary regime that had stolen their family butcher shop, the Holík boys became national hockey icons and inspirations to their people. Filled with heart-pounding moments on the ice and unforgettable slices of history, Freedom to Win is the ultimate tale of why sports truly matter.Trade Review“In Freedom to Win, Ethan Scheiner examines a less well-known chapter of Cold War hockey: the rivalry between teams from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union around the time of the Moscow-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Mr. Scheiner shifts between the circumstances of the invasion and the action on the ice. A sign in the stands read: ‘You send tanks, we bring goals.’” -- Benjamin Shull, The Wall Street Journal “What makes Freedom to Win so intriguing is the way it is framed. Scheiner’s book weaves hockey and world history magnificently. As he spoke with Martina Navratilova, Scheiner got his inspiration for the book’s title. ‘Those games meant everything to us. They gave us hope. They gave us a sense that we still had the freedom to win.’” -- The Hockey News“Many readers will be familiar with the time in Eastern Europe’s history centered around the Prague Spring, but fewer will know how hockey played a part in the Czechoslovakian people’s resilience. Scheiner deftly interweaves the story of Czechs and Slovaks forming a national hockey team. Much more than a book about hockey. Will appeal to hockey fans and readers interested in the relationship between sports and patriotism.” -- Library Journal"Ethan Scheiner’s Freedom to Win is a masterwork of narrative nonfiction. The research, attention to detail, colorful characters, and riveting history combine to create a remarkable book that’s impossible to put down. While the story of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the 1969 world hockey championships may mean skating on new ice for many readers, the stirring tale of resistance to authoritarianism is both universal and timely. More than a hockey story, Freedom to Win brilliantly illustrates the transcendent power of sports in moments of crisis." -- Andrew Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside, Games of Deception, Singled Out, and Inaugural Ballers“Just as war is said to be diplomacy by other means, sport can be war by other means, never more dramatically so than in the epic ice hockey games between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia in the 1969 World Championships. A more timely story, in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is hard to imagine. Grippingly told, packed with rich characters, the book’s intimately narrated climax comes seven months after Soviet tanks rumbled into Prague, stifling Czechoslovakia’s attempt to break free from the hardline repressive rule the Soviets had imposed upon it. Freedom to Win is a classic tale of revenge, but much more. It is a celebration of courage, hope and human dignity, a story for the ages that needed to be told, especially right now.” -- John Carlin, New York Times bestselling author of Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation“Had Freedom To Win been delivered by a Hollywood screenwriter, it would have been regarded as fine fiction. But Ethan Scheiner's work is the real thing. History at its gripping best. Individual stories of heroism help this wonderful work shine a bright light on a history too long overlooked.” -- Stan Fischler, The Hockey News and member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame"Ethan Scheiner’s Freedom to Win is, at once, the inspiring tale of a family caught in the maw of the Cold War, and a riveting underdog story about how sports have the power to transcend and transform us all." * Monte Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Saban, Lords of the Fly, and 4th And Goal *"Freedom to Win is much more than the tale of the underdog Czechoslovakia hockey team taking on the Soviet juggernaut on the ice after the Red Army crushed the 1968 Prague Spring. While focusing on hockey, it manages to tell the entire modern story of the Czechs and Slovaks and their remarkable quest for freedom. This highly readable book deserves to make Czechoslovakia's "Miracle on Ice" as familiar as the better known (at least to American fans) U.S. hockey triumph at the 1980 Olympics." * Max Boot, Washington Post columnist and New York Times bestselling author of The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam *

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Book SynopsisPut your Manchester United knowledge to the test with the ultimate quiz book for Red Devils' fans.Do you think you know it all about Manchester United? Could you name the colours the team originally played in? The most decorated player in the club’s history? Do you know which sides United have beaten most, and vice versa? Or which foreign countries have supplied the most United players?Whatever your area of interest or depth of knowledge, this expertly assembled quiz will have some testing questions for you. From the club’s earliest days right through to the Busby Babes, the glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson and beyond, Think You Know It All? Manchester United will challenge your knowledge of players, managers, records and more.Featuring an entertaining mix of questions and puzzles, this is the perfect test for new and veteran United fans alike. Proving you know it all about your club has never been such fun – or so tricky.

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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 SynopsisFrom the 'team of the century' to relegation, from Feyenoord to Field Mill, from trophies under the iconic Bill Nicholson to relegation under former Zambia coach Keith Burkinshaw - all in a little over three years. The 1970s weren't kind to Spurs. Nicholson's exit, the loss of legendary players and the club's eventual relegation all took place during a defining decade for British sport, painted against a backdrop of dramatic change for society at large. Social and economic malaise both informed and fed off a blooming culture of football hooliganism. The defining images of the decade were violent ones, both on and off the terraces. This book explores Tottenham's place in that unfolding drama, the club's own Götterdämmerung. But, as in Wagner's Ring, there was also a renaissance. The sun rose again as that same maligned Burkinshaw built an exciting team around the young Glenn Hoddle and World Cup-winning duo Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa. By the end of the decade, Tottenham had been reborn and were ready for more glory, glory days.Trade Review“In Glory, Glory, Gone: The Story of Tottenham Hotspur’s Regression, Relegation and Rebirth in the 1970s, Rooke bravely dives straight into one of Tottenham’s most painful periods in its long history — painful not just because of the poor football and on-pitch results but because it shone an even brighter light on the era that had just passed, one which had established Spurs as one of the greatest clubs in England.…a fascinating read. The real comfort in Glory, Glory, Gone is that despite a decade of frustration, happy times and glory did come again to Spurs, eventually. Something for all of us living in the future to remember.” * Cartilage Free Captain *

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Book SynopsisScheisse! recounts the extraordinary story of Union Berlin, the German Bundesliga's most spirited football club, interwoven with a witty history of contemporary Berlin.Trade Review'Fascinating' Daily Mail'A wonderful journey into the heart of a very unique club' Raphael Honigstein'The history and culture of a special football club deserve a special kind of chronicling – and Holden has executed it to perfection' Patrick Barclay'An engrossing portrait' Philip Oltermann'For the first time, Scheisse is a good thing! A captivating read on one of the most unique clubs in world football' Archie Rhind-Tutt'A beautifully crafted set of stories that reveal a personal history of one of Germany’s most special clubs and cities' Jonathan Harding'Holden superbly captures the myth, history and spirit that make Union so very special and beloved' Andreas Michaelis'A fascinating tale that is expertly told' Adam Bate'A must-read for any football romantic, regardless of where you're from and what team you support' Cristian Nyari

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Book SynopsisThe Great Adventure: Al-Fayed’s Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC is the fascinating tale of Mohamed Al-Fayed’s remarkable 16-year reign as the owner of Fulham. The flamboyant Harrods owner bought the famous old London club in a £6.25 million deal in the summer of 1997, just after Fulham had been promoted from the Football League’s lowest rung. He promised to make the club a Premier League side within five years. He did it in four – and then took Fulham into the unexplored territory of European football. Along the way there were ten managers, two promotions, numerous club record signings, rows with the FA, the Football League, the Premier League, the government – and his managers. There were plans to buy the Twin Towers of Wembley and there was the statue of Michael Jackson unveiled at Craven Cottage. Author Tony Banks talks to the players, managers and staff who were there during the most remarkable period in the club’s history and uncovers their astonishing behind-the-scenes stories.Trade Review"Banks, a brilliant sportswriter and a Fulham fan, is insightful and entertaining throughout, revealing what went on behind the scenes during this period... The Great Adventure: Al-Fayed’s Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC is a brilliant read, one I devoured in three days. Tony Banks’ meticulous research, along with the personal accounts of those who were there, make it a publication that all Fulham and most football enthusiasts will enjoy." * On Magazine *

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Book SynopsisOne of the most iconic sporting competitions in existence, The Champions League is synonymous not only with showcasing some of the greatest ever players and games in world football, but also with producing some of the greatest shirts to have ever graced the game. The football shirt itself has developed from a show of support to being an everyday fashion item, with different styles and patterns getting all football fans excited about the variety their club has showcased over the years. Classic football kits have a way of reminding fans of memorable moments, seasons and trophies that form their chosen club’s rich history and footballing identity.

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Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about the club you love? You can find out by exploring the 1,000 questions set out in 100 categories that make up this Liverpool quiz book. It s not often that books on football make reference to the Beatles, Napoleon, Roald Dahl, Moby Dick, 'The Big Bang Theory', Pete Townshend, Dylan Thomas and The Band, but this one does! Try these for size: add one letter to a Liverpool and England international from the 1960s and produce another Liverpool and England international from this century. Which Liverpool manager shares his name with a five-time Open golf champion? The first names of three 21st-century Liverpool players have won The Derby in 1972, the King George at Ascot in 2011 and the St. Leger in 2001, who are the three players? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. It s a must for Liverpool fans of all ages and you might not see anything quite like it again.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE CRICKET SOCIETY AND MCC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024 ''The gripping story of England's transformation from prissy blockers to double world champions''The Times''A must-read for any cricket lover''Nasser Hussain, Former England captain and Sky Sports commentatorThe inside story of how England became the first men's team to hold both of cricket's World Cups simultaneously, from the players and key people involved.When England lifted the T20 World Cup in November 2022, they became the first ever men's team to be One-Day International and Twenty20 world champions simultaneously. In English sport, triumphs aren't just rare they also tend to be followed by a collapse. England's white-ball cricket side was different: a team that followed scaling the summit by doing so again. They became, as Australia's captain

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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 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 Synopsis‘Isn’t it lovely to have moments in your life where you think, oh, nothing can beat that. Nothing.’ George GrahamAnfield, May 26th 1989. The final day of the Division One season. An iconic underdog story.Set against the backdrop of Hillsborough disaster, and during an emotional era in football long before the Premier League as we now know it, 89 is an oral history of a sporting moment so unusual it felt instantly historic. Drawing on years of research, writer Amy Lawrence brings together fascinating and never-before seen testimony from the voices who were there, on the pitch, off it, and beyond. 89 creates a definitive and kaleidoscopic portrait of a match that changed English football forever. ‘Once it hits the net I’m just thinking ecstasy really. It’s incredible. I’ve done what I wanted to do. That’s that feeling. I’ve done it.’ Michael ThomasTrade ReviewFascinating for any sports fan and truly a gold mine for Arsenal supporters -- Alan Davies, for 'Invincible'This book is so full of exclusive interviews you'll soon feel like part of the squad. A worthy tribute to one of English football's best ever teams * Shortlist, for 'Invincible' *Unbeatable insight. The inside story of one of English football's greatest teams -- Henry Winter, for 'Invincible' * Daily Telegraph *I picked it up and couldn't put it down. Brilliantly depicts a piece of football history -- David Dein, Arsenal Vice-Chairman (1983-2007), for 'Invincible'

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Book SynopsisBitten by Wolves takes us on a glorious yet tumultuous journey through the modern history of Wolverhampton Wanderers. From lifting league titles and pioneering European club competition to twice going bankrupt and languishing in the Fourth Division, Wolves have experienced extreme highs and lows. The author spent a year speaking to former players, staff, supporters and others who witnessed or played a part in some of the most successful, turbulent and defining moments in the club's recent history. Wolves have always been about much more than the results on the pitch. It's the club's place in the Wolverhampton community that underpins its identity. Today, Wolves are going through existential change under the ownership of a Chinese investment conglomerate. The author has gained behind-the-scenes insight into the current ownership and management while revealing how Wolves became the club it is today. Filled with fascinating untold stories and eye-witness accounts, Bitten by Wolves tells the definitive story of the club's evolution.

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Book SynopsisChelsea FC, as someone once observed, has always done what other clubs have done, but not necessary in the same order. A stone's throw from the King's Road, draped with showbiz connections, and not even based in the borough from which it takes its name, Chelsea is an enigma. Run by the entrepreneurial Mears dynasty, Ken electric fence' Bates and now the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the club has enough entertaining quirks and anecdotes to keep you entertained for ages. It is also a club whose history is filled with glorious games, unique facts, bizarre statistics, larger-than-life players and a special brand of supporter. And, as this book proves, far from being the imposters Kipling suggested, triumph and disaster make for a fantastically entertaining read.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1939, this book gives the inside story of the club from its formation in 1888 right through to 1939. As this book is virtually impossible to locate in its original hardback format without spending a small fortune, we have decided to make it available as part of our 'Classic Reprint' series of titles.

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Book SynopsisCharlton Athletic represent a model of how a Premiership football club should be run. Former manager Alan Curbishley reveals the secrets of the club's success from the boardroom and manager's office down to the dressing room and pitchside and reflects on how the club went from homeless strugglers to challenging football's elite.Alan Curbishley encountered most of football''s ill winds during the 15 years he was coach, co-manager, then sole manager of Charlton a club once homeless, with gates of less than 3000, forced to sell players to pay the wages and to buy replacement kit for the first team, and teetering on the brink of extinction.Galvanised by fans, staff, forward-thinking board members and a shrewd manager, the Addicks now find themselves firmly established with the Premiership big boys and a shining example of how a successful football club should be run.In his book, Curbishley opens the lid on the soap opera that is Charlton FC. He writes about the political manoeuvrings behind the club''s departure and then emotional return to The Valley. He describes how the they were torn asunder by drugs allegations involving three of its players, including a youthful Lee Bowyer. He re-lives the tortuous rollercoaster ride of falling out of the Premiership two years later before returning in 1999/2000. And he gives an insider''s view of the club''s success in establishing itself in the world's toughest league, including a full update on their 2005/06 season. He also talks candidly about being shortlisted for the England manager's job.His book is a radical insight into the workings of a football club and its staff, and is sure to attract widespread interest from football fans across the country.Trade Review‘One of the best managers in the game’ ESPN ‘He’s sharp, he’s articulate, and he can spot a bargain’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of the most contested fixture in world footballA must read.' Henry Winter''Superb.'' Daniel TaylorLiverpool and Manchester. Two gloriously independent-minded, eclectic, culturally vibrant places. Yet the inhabitants dislike each other with a passion that is visceral. It is a divide that spans generations, across class, gender and ethnicity. And it has grown over the years, largely driven by one thing: football.The dark, malignant loathing shared by the followers of Liverpool and Manchester United has seeped into every aspect of life in the two cities. Football is not a barometer of disdain, as it is in places like Glasgow or Istanbul or Moscow. In northwest England, it is the engine of animosity.How did it come to this? Why did things turn so nasty? And what does it say about the two cities in which the clubs are based?Written by a Scouser and a Manc in a rare collaboration, Red on Red addresses the divide by talking to those involved in ten seminal football matches. ITrade Review‘A great insight into this ancient rivalry, the rants, duels, the reasons… A must read.’ Henry Winter, The Times 'Superb – if you have been brought up on the greatest rivalry in football, you will love this book.'Daniel Taylor, The Athletic ‘Fascinating…a must-read not just for the fans of both of these great clubs but anyone with a passion for football.’John Cross, The Daily Mirror 'White and McNulty’s writing is so astonishingly powerful and vivid. It brings back so many memories – of famous battles on the pitch, and on the streets outside. They capture it all – the noise, the tension, even the smell. The glory and the fear. This isn’t just football history, it’s football literature.' Michael Crick, author of The Boss: The Many Sides of Alex Ferguson ‘Phil McNulty and Jim White have delved into the most ferocious of rivalries. Two clubs. Two winners. The animosity for each other was a natural spin-off from their geographical closeness. As a player, you couldn’t show weakness. The way it should be. Red v Red.’ Jim Beglin, Liverpool and Republic Of Ireland defender Praise for Jim White’s Manchester United: A Biography… ‘A wonderfully entertaining history.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Championship sportswriting.’ The Guardian ‘Engaging.’ The Independent ‘When historians 1,000 years from now try to fathom the cult of Manchester United Football Club, White will be a good place to start.' Financial Times Praise for Jim White’s You'll Win Nothing With Kids: Fathers, Sons and Football… ‘The Fever Pitch of the junior league.’ Sunday Times ‘A fizzingly funny, sad, thoughtful book.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Touching, involving and really quite enthralling.’ Daily Telegraph ‘A pleasure to read.’ The Independent

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Book SynopsisAnthony Clavane was born in Leeds in 1960, a year before Don Revie became manager. He started life as a history teacher and is now chief sports writer of the Sunday Mirror.Trade ReviewAbsorbing, compelling and very personal. Brilliant * David Peace *'Original, passionate, thought-provoking and hugely enjoyable' * The Times *'Sports book of the year' * Radio 2 *'Compelling...Glorious...Has an appeal far beyond football' * Guardian *'Absolutely brilliant' * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisAmol Rajan is Comment Editor at the Independent, having previously been a news reporter and Sports News Correspondent for the newspaper. He is also a columnist for the Independent and Evening Standard, and a restaurant critic for the Independent on Sunday. He grew up in Tooting, south London, and from the age of 11 played for Sinjuns Cricket Club (now Sinjuns & Grammarians) in Wandsworth, becoming the youngest captain of a men's team when leading the Sunday First XI in 2002, aged eighteen.www.twitter.com/amolrajanTrade ReviewEnchanting. Twirlymen is packed with anecdotes that fizz like a Murali doosra * Spectator *Wonderful * The Economist *Erudite... Charming and insightful... Knowledgeable, obsessed and astute * New Statesman *Rajan captures the distinctiveness of spin bowlers, a tribe within the wider nation of cricketers * Literary Review *I could not stop picking it up... A history of spin bowling, diligently researched but written with wit and, most tellingly, an obsessive's eye for detail -- Andy Bull * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA history of modern Spain told through one of world football''s most intense rivalries' IndependentSports Book of the Year' Sunday TimesIt's Messi vs Ronaldo, it's Catalonia vs Castilla. It's the nation against the state, freedom fighters vs Franco's fascists. It's majestic goals and mesmerising skills, red cards and bench brawls. It's the best two teams on the planet going face to face and toe to toe. It's more than a game. It's a war.It's Barcelona vs Real Madrid. Only, it's not that simple. From the wounds left by the civil war to the teams' recent global domination, historian and expert on Spanish football, Sid Lowe lifts the lid on sport's greatest rivalry. Lowe has spoken to the biggest names and the forgotten heroes who defined their clubs. Men like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Johan Cruyff as well as the only survivor of the most politically charged game in history, the Barcelona striker who knocked MadrTrade ReviewOne of the year’s best football books … an extremely well-informed and usefully myth-busting portrait * Guardian *Fascinating * Sunday Independent *Sports Book of the Year * Sunday Times *Football Books of the Year: Sid Lowe isn’t an ordinary football writer and, as a result, this is not an ordinary football book. Lowe paces it all so well ... like an engaging lesson from your favourite teacher * Daily Mirror *A revelation. Anyone interested in Spain's two biggest teams can learn something new from this labour of love ... tackling tricky subjects with skill and weaving them into an engaging story. For that, this book stands out from the rest. * talksport.com *

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Book SynopsisThe author made his fortune building a mobile phone company from scratch. When he sold it for GBP75 million, he bought Crystal Palace FC, the club he'd supported as a boy, and led them into the Premier League. Ten years later Palace was in administration and Jordan had lost nigh on everything. This title tells his story.Trade ReviewIf you are a football fan and have not read this book, you are missing out -- John InverdaleWe all love the idea of owning our boyhood club but [Jordan's] memoir strips away the romance in a frequently hilarious, often alarming account * The Times *No punches pulled * Independent *A frank and brutal insight into why football and business don't mix -- Theo PaphitisI couldn't help laughing... He can't half tell a story * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisSimon Lister is a cricket writer and senior BBC news producer. His first book, Supercat the authorised biography of Clive Lloyd was short-listed for the British Sports Book of the Year award. It was, said the Guardian, beautifully written'. He has been a contributor to the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and has covered the county game for the Sunday Telegraph. For ten years, his magazine column, Eyewitness, appeared in The Wisden Cricketer and its successor The Cricketer.Trade ReviewI doubt there will be a better book written about this period in West Indies cricket history -- Clive LloydOutstanding... Lister's book works magnificently not just because he tells a great story with unfussy clarity and journalistic rigour but because - like the best sports books - it is not content to stick to sport. -- Richard Whitehead * The Times *A perceptive and comprehensive account that more than cricket knows -- Gideon HaighCalm and fair, but with pace and bounce, the story of the most feared team cricket has ever seen -- Matthew EngelAs near definitive as you could want...expert and knowledgeable -- Danny Kelly * Observer *

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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 SynopsisLeicester City''s Premier League victory was the 5,000-1 triumph that delighted the world. But how did Claudio Ranieri pull off one of the greatest achievements in sport? This is the inside story of the rise and rise of the butcher's son from Rome, whose hard work, passion for the game and ability to learn from his mistakes have earned him the respect of players, fans and owners worldwide. Gabriele Marcotti and Alberto Polverosi have known Claudio Ranieri since his early days as a professional footballer. They have closely followed his successes and his failures as he navigated the often topsy-turvy world of football and developed as a player and manager. Hail, Claudio! takes an in-depth look into what sets Ranieri apart as a manager, into precisely how the Premier League was won, and what went wrong following that golden season.Trade ReviewIn this inside account, it is Ranieri’s steadiness and dignity that impress most. -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times, Book of the Year *

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Book Synopsis''I love Tifo'' Ian Wright ''Tifo are great'' Alan Shearer''Tifo have changed the game when it comes to football analysis'' Elis JamesRULE #1: DON''T WATCH THE BALLYes, football is about stars, goals and glory. But it''s also about the intense calculations and movements being made by the twenty-one other players on the pitch. It''s about the ticking clock, and the bellowing fans, and their impact on player psychology. It''s about the coach, the club owner, and the director of football, who are watching, scouting and scheming from the side-lines. It''s about money and data, about geopolitics and architecture, and even about climate change.Football is the most popular sport in the world, and Tifo Football is one of the world''s most popular football channels. In this short, illustrated guide, its creators share fifty-two simple ''rules'' for understanding and enjoying the beautiful game-both on and off the pitch.CTrade ReviewThis pocket-size guide is a must-have for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of the game -- Goal.com - 'The Best Football Books to Read Right Now'I love Tifo. Their range is brilliant and the way they are able to simplify complex topics is great -- Ian WrightTifo are great. They cover everything from the basics on the pitch to the biggest questions facing football today -- Alan ShearerTifo have changed the game when it comes to discussing football. They have helped explain a sport I have been fascinated by for over thirty years and answered questions I have had for almost as long. They have set a new benchmark for football analysis -- Elis JamesBetter than any pundit * RedCafe.net *

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