Sports teams and clubs Books
Pitch Publishing Ltd From Oblivion to Hampden: Hibs Heroes of 1991
Book SynopsisFrom near-extinction to cup-final triumph, this is the story of the team which is remembered by Hibs fans as 'the team that would not die'. From Oblivion to Hampden is the tale of one of the most remarkable cup runs in Scottish football history, as Hibernian Football Club, having survived a hostile takeover by city rivals Hearts in 1990, a dreadful season in 1990/91 and summer spent in administration in 1991, bounced back from the brink of death to fight their way to Hampden glory a few months later. It was a courageous and memorable cup run that nobody, not even Hibs' most optimistic fan, could have envisaged a few months prior to the final. The story begins with the club's attempt to emulate the glory days of previous decades via an ill-fated experiment on the stock exchange in the late 1980s and culminates in the unexpected triumph which followed. With a foreword by Hibs statistician Bobby Sinnet and exclusive interviews with cup heroes Keith Wright, Tommy McIntyre and Mickey Weir, as well as an interview with Sir Tom Farmer and input from current board members, this book examines a crucial period in history at Easter Road.
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Hearts On This Day: History, Facts & Figures from
Book SynopsisHearts On This Day revisits the most magical and memorable moments from the club's distinguished history, mixing in a maelstrom of anecdotes and characters to produce an irresistible Jambos diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's humble, romantic origins in Edinburgh's Old Town, to coming within a hair's breadth of extinction at the hands of a Russian megalomaniac, to ultimate redemption in a record-toppling Championship campaign. Hearts fans have experienced each and every gamut of emotion in the club's 140-year history. The team were the first in Britain to sign up en masse for the Great War. While cup wins, a never-bettered 132-goal title-winning campaign, memorable European nights against such luminaries as Locomotive Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Austria Vienna, Bordeaux and Basle all feature alongside a raft of Tynecastle legends.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Highs; Lows and Bakayokos: Everton in the 1990s
Book SynopsisThe 1990s, what a time to be an Evertonian! After a decade of success in the 1980s which saw cup and league wins, the 1990s brought brushes with relegation, financial ups and downs, a club drifting without purpose; it was a decade that saw Everton fall irrevocably off the pace, abandoning a long-held position as a member of English football's elite. There were still some games which won't fade from the memory, silverware and moments of unadulterated elation. Highs, Lows and Bakayokos explores a period of transformation for one of the game's oldest and grandest clubs; evaluates the causes of Everton's troubles; examines why peers raced away, grasping the opportunities presented by the new Premier League era; and ultimately sets out to rescue and redefine an unfairly maligned decade and its emotional intensity and capacity to thrill that has perhaps been all-too-absent for Evertonians in the recent era of stability.
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Fifty Shades of White: Half a Century of Pain and
Book SynopsisFifty Shades of White is Gary Edwards's fifth book; and he returns with more fabulous, rib-tickling tales that come with half a century of following one of the most talked about football clubs in the world. Like the time he was asked to accompany a four-and-a-half-foot tall monk with a large hearing aid, who hadn't previously left his abbey for 25 years, to a Leeds United game as part of a BBC documentary. Or the time he escaped from hospital, still in his hospital gown and attached to a catheter, a blood bag, several needles and with two tampons stuck up his nose to travel 70 miles up the A1 in a thunderstorm for a relatively meaningless Leeds game at Darlington. There is a fascinating, controversial and hilarious insight into Leeds United's former owner Ken Bates, gleaned from being a special guest at his birthday and Christmas parties for eight consecutive years. Fifty Shades of White gives a unique fan insight into the club and a life devoted to Leeds United.
£9.74
Pitch Publishing Ltd Arsenal Greatest Games: The Gunners' Fifty Finest
Book SynopsisFrom the thousands of matches ever played by Arsenal, stretching from a muddy field on the Isle of Dogs in the 19th century to the Premier League era and the pristine perfection of the Emirates Stadium, here are 50 of the club's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Arsenal Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in their first FA Cup win in 1930, 1930s dominance of domestic football under the great Herbert Chapman, through to the great 1971 double-winning side; on to the exploits under George Graham in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Arsene Wenger's revolution and his all-conquering invincibles of 2004. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Frank McLintock, Charlie George, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp - comes to life in these thrilling tales of goalscoring feats, great comebacks, Wembley glory and the odd glorious yet crushing disappointment. In all, a journey through the highlights of the Gunners' history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Arsenal Match of My Life: Gunners Legends Relive
Book SynopsisMore than 20 Arsenal legends join together to offer a unique insight into the most magic moments in the history of one of the world's biggest clubs. Gunners greats from David Seaman to Bob Wilson and Theo Walcott to Charlie George take us behind the dressing-room door, enabling fans of all ages to relive these amazing memories through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, pulling on the famous red-and-white shirts. Contained in these pages are previously untold stories from fan favourites including Ray Parlour on winning the Premier League title at Old Trafford and scoring the winner in the FA Cup Final in the space of just four days and what Arsene Wenger did to transform the club. Lee Dixon reveals how he and his team-mates toasted their remarkable last-gasp 1989 title win at Anfield by swigging Kenny Dalglish's champagne while George Graham offers a rare look back at his amazing Highbury career as both player and manager. Double winners Frank McLintock and George also relive the never-to-be-forgotten 1970/71 season and super-fan Piers Morgan offers a unique account of following Arsene Wenger's Invincibles.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd From Orient to the Emirates: The Plucky Rise of
Book SynopsisThis is the story of Burnley Football Club's remarkable recovery from the brink of oblivion, made without the help of ultra-rich benefactors. It concerns the fall and rise of a small-town club, once renowned for its advanced playing style, tactical and coaching innovations and flourishing youth policy. From Orient to the Emirates tells how this former leading club was brought to its knees during the mid-80s by adverse economic circumstances and imprudent management, how it narrowly escaped relegation to the Vauxhall Conference in 1987 - and with it probable liquidation - to once again become a force at the top of English football. The story is largely told in the words of those who took part in this incredible 30-year journey - the directors, managers, players, support staff and supporters. It is an uplifting account of success achieved very much against the odds, founded on indomitable spirit, canny planning and, above all, hard graft. As Burnley's brilliant manager, Sean Dyche, puts it: "Maximum effort is the minimum requirement."
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Scotland - Glory; Tears & Souvenirs
Book SynopsisScotland - Glory, Tears & Souvenirs is an offbeat collection of memories, mementos, rants and aspirations relating to Scotland's national football team. A 'look back in hunger' on the post-war era, with emphasis on the 1970s to date. A reminder of the way football was, the way it is now and the way we'd like it to be! There's Switzerland 54, Denis Law, trading cards, match programmes, Archie Gemmill, Argentina 78, beermats, Kenny Dalglish, vinyl records, Spain 82, Ally McCoist, the Tartan Army, Italia 90, the Kirin Cup, Jimmy Hill, France 98, Panini stickers and James McFadden. Nostalgia and a warped sense of humour are what gets Scotland supporters through in a nightmare world where all our near-neighbours now get to 'go to the ball' - France 2016, at least - while we await the arrival of a Fairy Godmother and a defence that doesn't leak goals. There's no room for wallowing in self-pity, though. Read this therapeutic comfort blanket of a book, cheer at the good bits and laugh at the bad. We shall overcome...
£14.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Blues & Beatles: Football, Family and the Fab
Book SynopsisDuncan Ferguson. David Moyes. Paul McCartney. A father and a son. A passion for Everton, and a passion for The Beatles. Blues & Beatles is a story of football and music across the generations, showing in touching and hilarious detail how a young boy inherited his father's obsessions - and would one day pass them on to his own sons. A journalist like his father, Neil Roberts has special access to his beloved football club, so his heartfelt memoir includes glimpses within the inner sanctum of Goodison Park as well as every unforgettable Everton moment since the 1980s, all soundtracked by the Fab Four. Along the way, Neil meets his heroes - including musical as well as Everton icons - and reveals intriguing connections to Dixie Dean and a famous Victorian footballer. But above all, Blues & Beatles is a story of football and music shared by father and son. Described by Everton fans' website Blue Kipper as "a fantastic read [which] covers every Everton 'moment' from the 70's to date carefully captured in detail."
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Bournemouth Match of My Life: Cherries Relive
Book SynopsisMore than 20 AFC Bournemouth legends come together to relive the magical moments from the most memorable matches in the club's illustrious history. From Ted MacDougall on his record-breaking nine-goal haul to hat-trick hero Callum Wilson and the Cherries' historic first top-flight victory, this book brings to life treasured memories for fans of all ages. Bournemouth Match of My Life includes the celebrated conquerors of Cup holders Manchester United and players who won the battle to save the club in the 1990s. Here are previously untold insights on the 2014/15 Premier League promotion from captain Tommy Elphick and an emotional Yann Kermorgant. And club legend Steve Fletcher picks out his favourite memories from his never-to-be repeated 728 games in the famous red-and-black shirt. Carl Fletcher reflects on the League Two play-off final win over Lincoln at Cardiff's majestic Millennium Stadium, while Keith East recalls holding Bill Shankly's all-conquering Liverpool to a draw in front of a packed Dean Court - all the stars winding back the clock to revisit unforgettable memories of the Match of Their Lives for the Cherries.
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd Seoul Glow: The Story Behind Britain's 1988
Book SynopsisSeoul Glow tells the story of the Great Britain men's hockey team who won gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Little to the team's knowledge, the final caught the British public's imagination as they beat rivals West Germany in the gold-medal match. After Sean Kerly's semi-final heroics and Imran Sherwani's double in the final, BBC commentator Barry Davies uttered the now infamous line: 'Where were the Germans? But, frankly, who cares?' Victory, for a team of amateurs, who had either quit their jobs or taken holiday to play in Seoul, propelled the team to celebratory heights on their return to British shores; it was GB's first hockey gold in the post-war era and followed an eight-year plan for a major title. The story also reveals how the team was inspirationally led by the late Roger Self, the manager who gelled his players into Olympic title holders.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Stanley Park Story: Life, Love and the Merseyside
Book SynopsisStanley Park Story: Life, Love and the Merseyside Derby charts the recent history of the longest continuous running derby game in English football. Liverpool and Everton have now contested the fixture every season since 1962. Using a mixture of fact, fiction and personal experience, Jeff Goulding has crafted a compelling tale spanning three generations of two families, Red and Blue. Their lives become intricately woven together through 50 years of this unique sporting rivalry. The story explores the changing fortunes of each team and the relationship between the two sets of supporters, which evolves over the years. The life and times of Jimmy, a Blue, and Tommy, a Red, form the basis of the drama which unfolds against a backdrop of thrilling sporting encounters, social and political upheaval and catastrophe. Ultimately, the story is one of a love so strong it reaches across the park to forge a timeless bond between the two families.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Five Trophies and a Funeral: The Building and
Book SynopsisFive Trophies and a Funeral: The Building and Rebuilding of Durham County Cricket Club is the story of how English cricket's youngest first-class county quickly became the country's top team, before overstretching themselves financially to the brink of extinction. When Durham joined the professional game in 1992 they aspired to be a major on-field force and a home to top international cricket. The high demands put on them as a condition of entry, together with their own lofty ambitions, pushed the club to five major trophies in seven seasons while providing England with top-quality players reared in the North East. But striving for ever more at a time of economic downturn led them to live beyond their means, and they were heavily punished for overspending that the authorities partly encouraged. Now they are looking to restore past glories under the chairmanship of Sir Ian Botham. Part fairy tale, part cautionary story, Five Trophies explains how Durham arrived where they are, and where they aim to go next.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Scotland: Club; Country & Collectables
Book SynopsisScotland: Club, Country, Collectables continues the authors' offbeat look at the issues and idiosyncrasies associated with Scottish international football. It's a celebration of the good, the bad and the mementoes treasured by fans irrespective of results. There's a flavour of the contributions made by our clubs - the players who became legends, those who tried hard, and others who merely tried our patience. A sideways look at Scottish football culture includes opposition teams and past tournaments, statistical overviews and memories full of typical Scottish weltschmerz and schadenfreude. The Road to Euro 2020 is covered, with clues offered as to whether Scotland can qualify for our first 'finals' in over 20 years - or will we achieve the rare distinction of being a host that fails to make it to our own party? While some Scotland supporters may only have tears for souvenirs, Club, Country, Collectables has everything from match programmes and trading cards to badges and beer labels, postcards, postage stamps and replica jerseys.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Bristol City Match of My Life: Robins Legends
Book SynopsisTwenty Bristol City legends tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, pulling on the famous red shirt. Bristol City Match of My Life leads the reader through the highs and lows in the words of the players who made the fans' dreams - and, at times, nightmares - a reality. The heart-stopping accounts include the celebrated conquering of mighty Liverpool during the 90s, promotion to football's elite back in the 70s and also the dark days of the 80s when the club almost went out of existence. This powerful collection of stories by City heroes such as John Galley, Geoff Merrick, Mike Gibson, Bob Taylor and Louis Carey is a must for every generation of City fans. Covering the 60s to the present day, the footballers' own stories create an evocative record of the changes within the game. Only one thing never changes, and that's how much this wonderful club means to each player.
£12.74
Pitch Publishing Ltd Rangers v Celtic: The Gers' Fifty Finest Old Firm
Book SynopsisRangers v Celtic is Glasgow's contribution to the world's great football derby matches. Otherwise known as the Old Firm, these clashes always attract fervent crowds and huge TV audiences worldwide. Author Jeff Holmes has watched dozens of these battles from the terraces and stands of Ibrox Stadium, Celtic Park and Hampden, and knows exactly what victory means to the hundreds of thousands of Rangers supporters scattered across the globe. Here, he brings to life 50 of Rangers' greatest triumphs against the old rivals, from their first victory in 1893 to a Christmas cracker in 2018. There are iconic matches aplenty and heroes galore, including the great Davie Meiklejohn, who started the rout in the 1928 Scottish Cup Final. Read about the time Rangers thrashed their opponents 8-1 in 1943 - and about Sir Alex Ferguson's favourite ever goal, by South African wing king Johnny Hubbard, back in 1955. Relive the feats of Bob McPhail, Davie Wilson, Ralph Brand, Ally McCoist and Davie Cooper - Rangers greats who knew how to win an Old Firm match!
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Close Quarters: An Extraordinary Season on the
Book SynopsisClose Quarters is the inspirational, against the odds story of Wycombe Wanderers, the poorest club in League One, and how it shapes into a side that sustains a nine-month challenge for promotion before the global pandemic stops the team in its tracks. When the season restarts, Wycombe finds itself in the play-offs behind closed doors, an unprecedented opportunity through unprecedented turmoil. Led by the longest-serving boss in professional football, the charismatic Gareth Ainsworth, this becomes an astonishing campaign, witnessed up close by award-winning sportswriter Neil Harman thanks to his special access. Harman gets to the heart of the team, joins them in the dressing room, on the coach, in the medical room and in team meetings to chart this unparalleled challenge. He gets the inside story of Ainsworth's rise from a working-class upbringing on the back streets of Blackburn, through a rumbustious playing career, to a one-club manager moulding Wycombe while dealing with an American takeover that could make the difference between the club's life and death. Close Quarters is a book that resonates, not just with Wycombe supporters, but fans of underdog clubs everywhere.
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd England On This Day: Cricket History, Facts &
Book SynopsisEngland On This Day revisits the most magical and memorable moments from the national cricket team's illustrious past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable England diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the first ever Test match in 1877 through to the Twenty20 era, England's faithful fans have witnessed world domination and tragicomic failures, grudge matches, controversy and absurdity - all present here. Timeless greats such as Ian Botham, Jack Hobbs and Fred Trueman, Denis Compton, Harold Larwood and Alastair Cook all loom larger than life. Revisit 5 January 1971, when a Melbourne Test became the first ever one-day international, 30 July 1995 when Dominic Cork took England's first hat-trick in 38 years! Or 6 September 1880, when W.G. Grace and his two brothers all made their Test debuts - two successful, one tragic.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Pride: The Inside Story of Derby County in the
Book SynopsisPride: The Inside Story of Derby County in the 21st Century is the fascinating story of one of Britain's most tumultuous football teams, as told by the people at the heart of the club. Ryan Hills gained exclusive access to almost 50 former players, managers and board members to bring you the Rams' modern history. The move to Pride Park in 1997 was supposed to mark an exciting new chapter for the club. But despite initial success, things started to go wrong. Relegation from the Premier League caused huge financial strife, leading to the arrest of three board members. On the pitch, a single promotion brought the worst season in Derby's history and a 362-day wait for a win. Since that fateful season, the club have been on a cyclical and so far fruitless mission to return to the Premier League, while dressing-room turmoil, car crashes and a man named Bobby have stood in their way. Pride gives you the inside track on a football club that refuses to accept obscurity, as revealed by those who know it best.
£14.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Deeper Shade of Blue: Eddie Mccreadie's Blue
Book SynopsisA Deeper Shade of Blue charts the tumultuous years of Chelsea Football Club between 1972 and 1977 when the glittering cup-winning side of the early 70s was broken up, and stars such as Peter Osgood and Alan Hudson departed, along with manager Dave Sexton. It was an era that saw Chelsea relegated to the Second Division while massive debts pushed them to the brink of extinction. But the Blues bounced back with the birth of Eddie McCreadie's brash, young and exciting side, led by the precociously talented Ray 'Butch' Wilkins. McCreadie guided the club back to the First Division only to leave acrimoniously in bizarre circumstances - a golden opportunity spurned by the club's owners. A Deeper Shade of Blue is the eagerly awaited sequel to Neil Fitzsimon's Rhapsody in Blue. It reveals how the author made the difficult transition from adolescence to adulthood as a Chelsea supporter during those turbulent times. We discover how the innocence of youth was replaced by the harsh experience of growing up in 1970s England.
£12.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd 90 Minutes from Europe: Walsall's Greatest Cup
Book SynopsisIt was the summer of 1983. Walsall were preparing for another season in the Third Division when British Airways' advertising people got in touch. The airline were embarking on an innovative promotional campaign and needed the club's help. To show how quickly continental cities could be reached from regional airports, they wanted to feature the team beneath the banner, 'They're only 90minutes away from a place in Europe'. Walsall were the only league club in the West Midlands never to have taken part in a European competition, and even their most ardent supporters didn't expect that to change any time soon. As the new season started, Walsall looked set for relegation, but they soon embarked on a League Cup campaign that saw them defeat Arsenal, stun Liverpool and come closer to reaching Europe than anyone would have dared imagine. Based on interviews with the players and management team from that fondly remembered side, 90 Minutes from Europe is an underdog story to lift the spirits and inspire us all.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Only Place For Us: An A-Z History of Elland
Book SynopsisLeeds United's Elland Road home is full of intrigue, character and formidable acoustics, yet it started life as a barren and featureless patch of land surrounded by coalfields. The Only Place For Us is the fascinating history of the stadium and its changing local environment, revealing the background stories behind Elland Road's most famous features and characters, and the astonishing events it has witnessed. Along the way there have been fires and gypsy curses mixed with cherished memories including the diamond floodlights, the West Stand facade and escapee pantomime horses. Using forensic research, insiders' insights, archive photographs and fans' memories, Jon Howe retraces a historical journey full of tragedy, nostalgia and improbable innovation, to show how Elland Road became one of Europe's most feared football grounds. Through triumph and adversity, neglect and redevelopment, Elland Road has emerged as a prominent, modern stadium that's still alive with history. This is its unique story.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Sixty Years a Red and Counting!: A Lifetime's
Book SynopsisSixty Years a Red... and Counting! is a unique, affectionate, fun and frank account of Liverpool FC over 60 years from the perspective of a dedicated fan and informed observer of Anfield life. From attending his first game at Anfield in 1961, to watching the Kop sing and sway as the Reds plotted a triumphant course through the 1960s and early 70s under Bill Shankly, to league title glory with Bob Paisley and lifting the European Cup three times, Brian Barwick saw it all. In his role as the FA's chief executive, he was in Istanbul for that unforgettable Champions League final. And like thousands of others he punched the air in his front room when the Reds finally lifted the Premier League trophy in 2020. As a journalist and broadcaster, he gained special insight into Liverpool's triumphs while building a rapport with some of the club's top personalities. This book takes you behind the scenes at Anfield to tell the story of Liverpool's rise from Second Division mediocrity to becoming one of the most recognisable names in world sport.
£15.29
Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of Wrexham AFC: Over 170 Red Dragon facts & quotes!
Welcome to Wrexham! Everyone in the world is talking about Wrexham AFC – the Red Dragons are on fire. In 2023, the team achieved their fairy-tale dream of promotion after 15 agonising years of languishing at the very bottom of the lowest league. They did it, in part, thanks to two Hollywood superstars, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who purchased the club in 2020, and promptly took the team on a superhero-inspired adventure back to the top of the turf.This provincial Welsh football club has now been catapulted onto the world's stage, thanks to the hit Disney+ documentary that followed the celebrities' acquisition, the mega-watt signings, and the dramatic twists and turns that felt straight out of a Hollywood script."I love every second of hating it. Wrexham AFC is the greatest drug on earth." Ryan ReynoldsFounded in 1864, the same year Abraham Lincoln was re-elected as president amidst America's Civil War, Wrexham is the oldest football club in Wales.
£8.50
Pitch Publishing Ltd When You're Smiling: Life, Love, Leicester City
Book SynopsisWhen You're Smiling is the story of a football team's journey from also-rans to champions and a football fan's journey from boy to man, through laughter, loss and home defeats. Monday, 2 May 2016 was a day Matt Bozeat thought he would never see. It was the day Leicester City, the team he had supported through thin and thinner all his life, were crowned Premier League champions. The story of the 5,000-1 outsiders winning one of European football's top prizes put a smile on the face of millions worldwide. Three days earlier, Matt had experienced an even greater miracle. When You're Smiling is a nostalgia-filled treat brimming with memories of football and the wider world in the 1980s and 90s. It's a book about belonging and thinking your dreams will never come true - and then they do come true.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Reds and Rams: A Story of the East Midlands Derby
Book SynopsisReds and Rams: A Story of the East Midlands Derby is the tale of one of the most fiercely fought football rivalries in the world. Hewed from the Victorian industrial revolution, Nottingham Forest and Derby County have contested league games for 130 years. Ever since the 1898 FA Cup Final, the rivalry has ebbed and flowed, with each club enjoying both periods of sustained success and existential threat. The reasons for this deep-rooted antipathy are numerous, yet ultimately it boils down to two football clubs similar in stature, size, history and geography existing cheek by jowl. In essence, they are like two teenage siblings bickering about anything and everything. Throughout, they have traded managers and players, producing deep and lasting enmity. Derby is renowned for its railways, Nottingham for Robin Hood. Each city has its own proud identity and history. The only thing they have ever agreed on is the genius of Brian Clough.
£21.25
Pitch Publishing Ltd Feeling Leeds: Notes on Loving a Football Club
Book SynopsisFeeling Leeds gazes into the curious world of the dislocated supporter, the football fan not born and bred in the shadow of their club's ground. Raiford Guins is one such fan. His book recounts the highs and lows of supporting a team from afar - from paying $20 to watch Leeds United matches in Florida via dodgy satellite feeds in the early 1990s, to ringing Elland Road when it was the only way to get midweek results before the internet, to working out league tables with out-of-date copies of Shoot!, to celebrating madly while fuelling his car and watching Leeds clinch a late winner against Villa in December 2018 on his iPhone. Trivial to the supporter who can easily walk to their ground, such moments form the backbone of belonging for those with an ocean between themselves and the turnstiles. Feeling Leeds is the story of one supporter's commitment to cultivating an emotional connection to Leeds United for nearly 40 years. It is written by and for supporters worldwide for whom every day is an away day.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd Stanley Park Story: Life, Love and the Merseyside
Book SynopsisStanley Park Story: Life, Love and the Merseyside Derby charts the recent history of the longest continuous running derby game in English football. Liverpool and Everton have now contested the fixture every season since 1962. Using a mixture of fact, fiction and personal experience, Jeff Goulding has crafted a compelling tale spanning three generations of two families, Red and Blue. Their lives become intricately woven together through 50 years of this unique sporting rivalry. The story explores the changing fortunes of each team and the relationship between the two sets of supporters, which evolves over the years. The life and times of Jimmy, a Blue, and Tommy, a Red, form the basis of the drama which unfolds against a backdrop of thrilling sporting encounters, social and political upheaval and catastrophe. Ultimately, the story is one of a love so strong it reaches across the park to forge a timeless bond between the two families.
£12.34
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Rochdale Division: Conversations with Star
Book SynopsisRochdale AFC had occupied the fourth tier of English football for so long that the division was unofficially named after them. In 2006, manager Keith Hill took charge and transformed the unfashionable, cash-strapped club into a side known for flowing football and overachievement. But what about the other Rochdale bosses? Those who sought to rid The Dale of its tiresome fourth-tier anchor? The Rochdale Division is told by the managers and players, who reveal the struggles and joys of life at an out-of-step club in the modern football age. It features managers such as Hill himself, Mick Docherty, Graham Barrow, Paul Simpson, Steve Parkin, Steve Eyre and John Coleman, plus the players they led. The book shares insights from cultured centre-half Alan Reeves, Rochdale's sons Craig Dawson and Matt Gilks, prolific strikers Rickie Lambert and Adam Le Fondre, fleet-footed Will Buckley and Paddy McCourt, plus powerhouse Glenn Murray. Alongside them are cult heroes Steve Whitehall, Shaun Reid, Gary Jones, Calvin Andrew and Ian Henderson.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd England's Calamity?: A New Interpretation of the
Book SynopsisEngland's Calamity? challenges the standard view that England's famous 6-3 loss to Hungary in 1953 kick-started a revolution. The crushing defeat has long been seen as the watershed moment when England cast off its training methods and tactics of the past to embrace new continental practices. Author Chris Jones takes a different view: that the 6-3 trouncing was not a revolutionary moment but one key part of an evolutionary process. The England side of '53 had a fascinating mix of football archetypes - Alf Ramsey (The General), Billy Wright (The Golden Boy), Harry Johnston (The One-Club Man), Stanley Matthews (The Incomparable), Ernie Taylor (The One-Cap Wonder), Jackie Sewell (The Record-Transfer Holder) and Walter Winterbottom (The Boffin). England's Calamity? examines the different voices, arguments, biases, myths, agendas and responsibilities of that England XI, their coach, their observers and commentators to bring you a fresh perspective on an endlessly discussed moment in the history of the England team.Trade Review"In England's Calamity Chris Jones takes the 1953 England v Hungary match as a centre point in development. He cleverly divides things up between how football was before the match, what happened on the day and its future ramifications. An enjoyable read." * Read the League *
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Never Stop: How Ange Postecoglou Brought the Fire
Book SynopsisNever Stop is the story of how Australian manager Ange Postecoglou took Celtic from the edge of despair to the UEFA Champions League, via a domestic double in his debut season. Postecoglou arrived in Glasgow with virtually no reputation on this side of the world, but through his compelling media appearances, enthralling style of football and winning habit, he soon became one of the most iconic Celtic managers since the legendary Jock Stein. Celtic were in crisis on and off the park in the summer of 2021, with numerous key players, including iconic captain Scott Brown, leaving the club after a season that had seen them finish 25 points behind Rangers. As Postecoglou arrived amid the chaos - and brought talent like Kyogo Furuhashi, Josip Juranovic and Jota with him - Celtic fans also returned to the stadium for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Postecoglou, his players and the support formed an unbreakable bond that would lead Celtic to the Premiership title and back to the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Burnley; Champions Again!: The Astonishing
Book SynopsisBurnley, Champions Again! tells the story of the incredible promotion season that Vincent Kompany inspired and organised at Burnley FC. At the end of season 2021/22 the club found themselves relegated and managerless. With players wanting to leave, the club needing to sell them and fans worried the owners might decide to desert a sinking ship, the future looked bleak.But the worries were unfounded. Vincent Kompany was brought in as manager. He spoke of promotion being a three- or four-year project. As existing players left in droves, their replacements were drafted in from the continent – some bought, others joining on loan. But doubts lingered. The newcomers were unknowns, and some of the departing players were big names.The change in playing style was immediate – a transformation – and Burnley fans were wide-eyed with awe at the stunning possession-based football. The start was slow, but as the wins and points stacked up Burnley clinched an inconceivable top-flight return at the end of a magical season.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Swansea City Match of My Life
Book SynopsisSeventeen Swansea City legends tell the stories behind their favourite games for the club - allowing Swans fans of all ages to relive these magical moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing for the white shirt. From Alan Curtis''s jaw-dropping first goal in the First Division to James Thomas''s epic survival hat-trick in 2003, here are the stories from the players that created these moments. Alan Tate recalls his tales of the Championship play-off final, Lee Trundle remembers the 2006 Football League Trophy victory and John Toshack selects a game he watched entirely from the sidelines - the promotion-winning match against Preston North End in 1981. Vetch legends Mel Nurse, Leon Britton, Wyndham Evans and Roger Freestone also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Life for the Swans.
£15.29
Bonnier Books Ltd There is a Bonny Fitba Team: Fifty Years on the
Book Synopsis"There Is A Bonny Fitba Team" is the story of one fan's journey as he follows Hibernian FC through the highs and lows of fifty years on the Hibee highway. The story starts in April 1958 when eleven-year-old Ted Brack left Hampden in tears after Hibs had lost the Scottish Cup Final. Between that day and watching Hibs win the CIS Cup nearly fifty years later, Ted Brack has been to over 1,000 games and has dedicated a major part of his life to the club. During that time he got to know many of the club's legendary players, its officials and supporters and was a regular contributor to the Hibs fanzine. "There Is A Bonny Fitba Team" is a funny, affectionate and honest account of the trials and tribulations of a devoted Hibs fan as well as a history of the club over the last fifty years and a must-read book for all the fans who have lived through good times and bad with Hibernian FC.
£10.79
Bonnier Books Ltd Keeping in Paradise: My Autobiography
Book SynopsisJohn Fallon remains one of Celtic's great characters and is a lifelong supporter of the club. Now, for the first time, this Celtic legend tells the fascinating inside story of his career in football and his years with the club. Fallon joined Celtic in the late 1950s when the club was struggling, saw a fair amount of the desperate days of 1963 and 1964 but was there at the start of the glory years when Celtic won the Scottish Cup in 1965. He shared in good and bad times with the club, was the substitute goalkeeper at the European Cup Final in Lisbon in 1967, and was suddenly called into action in South America when Ronnie Simpson was felled by a missile - and performed brilliantly. He hit a low point in 1968 after one bad game against Rangers at the New Year, but fought back gloriously to play his part in the incredible month of April 1969 when Celtic won all three Scottish domestic trophies in one calendar month. It is a career he is rightly proud of and now John Fallon reveals the inside story and some brand new insights into his relationship with Jock Stein and other members of the Lisbon Lions, which were not always straightforward.There are accounts of his dealings with opponents, the clashes with Rangers and with European opposition in what was a fantastic era for the game in Scotland.He also shares his opinions on the art of goalkeeping, the state of Celtic at the moment and the future of the game in Scotland.
£999.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Rangers Cult Heroes: The Gers' Greatest Icons
Book SynopsisRangers FC Cult Heroes is devoted to 20 players who, over the years, have won a special place in the hearts of the Ibrox faithful - not necessarily the greatest footballers, but a unique brotherhood of mavericks and stalwarts, local lads and big signings. The cast list alone is enough to stir up the memories and tug at the heartstrings of any Gers fan - McMinn, Laudrup and Baxter, Johnston, McPhail and McCoist - recalling how these charismatic personalities used to ignite passion on the terraces. Find out which Light Blue icon Pele wished had hailed from Rio instead of Fife. Who warned young players against becoming 'the most underpaid of all public entertainers'. And which hero refused to play for Scotland on the day of Princess Diana's funeral. Discover and delight in the magical qualities of these 20 mere mortals elevated to cult status by the blue half of Glasgow.
£14.23
Pitch Publishing Ltd Stoke City Greatest Games: 50 Fantastic Matches
Book SynopsisFrom the thousands of matches ever played by Stoke City, stretching from the club's Victorian foundation across more than 150 years to the Premier League era, here are 50 of the Potters' most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Stoke City Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in Wembley victories, promotion parties and famous triumphs, as well as a wealth of fantastic stories from less 'glamorous' victories down the leagues. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Stanley Matthews, Tom Slaney and Jimmy Greenhoff, Mark Stein, Gordon Banks and Jimmy Broad - springs to life in these thrilling tales of goalscoring feats, great comebacks, last-ditch survival efforts and the odd glorious yet crushing disappointment. In all, a journey through the highlights of Potters history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.
£13.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Cardiff City Miscellany: Bluebirds History,
Book SynopsisCardiff City Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Bluebirds. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the striker who bought a round of drinks for the City directors, and cheekily put it on the club's bill? How about the time the first team worked as labourers on a Ninian Park stand? Or the three brothers who appeared in the same City squad? Do you know which City keeper let in 32 goals in a month? When a fan walked to away matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle? Or how a Cup tie came against Bristol City lasted 202 minutes? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of Bluebirds history close to their heart.Table of ContentsFull of facts, figures, trivia, stats, stories and anecdotes all relating to the long and colourful history of Cardiff City Football Club. From the club's most memorable matches and the men who matter; to the more gruesome games and the unsung heroes. Written by respected club historian Richard Shepherd, this book tells the tales which have shaped the football club into the force it is today.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Saints Miscellany: History, Trivia, Facts and
Book SynopsisThe Saints Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about Southampton FC. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the TV pundit who vowed to appear naked if Richard Dryden was a success? How about the Saints player who was less important to his manager than a pot of yoghurt? Or the new signing who arrived at the club in a battered brickie's van? Do you know which Saint gained a medal in the 1950 World Cup final? Which player was sent off on a stretcher? Or which coach who has been sacked three times by the club? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia, essential for any Saints fan who holds the riches of red-and-white history close to their heart.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Saints On This Day (Southampton FC): History, Trivia, Facts and Stats from Every Day of the Year
Book SynopsisSaints On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from Southampton's rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable red-and-white diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian formation as St Mary's Church of England Young Men's Association through to the Premier League era, the Saints faithful have witnessed promotions, relegations and Great Escapes, breathtaking Cup runs and triumphs - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Ron Davies, Matt Le Tissier and Mike Channon, Bill Rawlings, George O'Brien and Terry Paine all loom larger than life. Revisit 23rd March 1898, and a controversial, blizzard-hit Cup semi at the old Crystal Palace. 1st May 1976: Saints 1-0 Man U in the FA Cup Final. Or 6th August 2005, when Theo Walcott became the Saints' youngest ever player, forgetting his shirt in the excitement!
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd West Ham United FC On This Day: Hammers History,
Book SynopsisWest Ham United 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 claret-and-blue history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian formation through to the Premier League era, the Upton Park faithful have witnessed championships and and relegations, hard-fought derbies, Cup triumphs and unforgettable European nights - all featured here. All-time greats including Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking, Paolo di Canio, Tony Cottee and Billy Bonds all loom larger than life. Revisit 19th May 1965, when West Ham beat TSV Munich 2-0 in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final. 3rd May 1975, when Alan Taylor won the 'Cockney Cup Final' against Fulham, starring Bobby Moore. Or 4th August 1963: The Iron win the American Soccer League, despite an hour-long pitch invasion!
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Aberdeen FC On This Day: History, Facts and
Book SynopsisAberdeen FC On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the Dons' distinguished past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of Reds history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Edwardian formation through to the SPL era, the Pittodrie faithful have witnessed Scottish League, Cup and League Cup triumphs, unforgettable European nights and American summers - all featured here. All-time greats including Willie Miller and Jim Leighton, Joe Harper, Gordon Strachan and Lachlan McMillan(!) all loom larger than life. Revisit 11 April 1970: The Dons claim their second Scottish Cup with a shock 3-1 win over Celtic. 18 November 1931: 'The Great Mystery' betting scandal sees five first-teamers axed. Or 11 May 1983: The European Cup Winners' Cup is won in rainy Gothenburg with a sensational 2-1 victory over Real Madrid.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Plymouth Argyle On This Day: History, Facts and
Book SynopsisPlymouth Argyle 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 Pilgrims diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian foundation as Argyle FC through to the 21st century, the green-and-white faithful have witnessed League Cup and FA Cup semi-finals, Second and Third Division titles, play-off thrills and relegation battles - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Paul Mariner, Kevin Hodges and Sammy Black, Jack Chisholm, Tommy Tynan and Mickey Evans all loom larger than life. Revisit 16th May 1963, when a record crowd of 100,000 watched Argyle play Legia Warsaw in Poland. 14th April 1984: the Pilgrims take on Watford looking to book a date at Wembley. Or 3rd May 1930, when Third Division (South) title celebrations involved a giant pasty!
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Arsenal Companion: Gunners Annecdotes,
Book SynopsisThe Arsenal Companion collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about Arsenal FC. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the glam rock single, 'A Love Song For My Lady', recorded by Charlie George as 'Charlie Gorgeous'? How about the linesman's injury that led to commentator Jimmy Hill running the line at Highbury? Do you know which former full-back managed the club for the shortest ever spell? Which 80s star advertised fitted kitchens and a white leather suit for Top Man? Or which 60s stopper was known as 'Sponge' due to his ability to soak up pressure? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia, essential for any fan who holds the riches of red-and-white history close to their heart. Featuring a foreword by Frank McLintock.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Ipswich Town Miscellany: Blues Trivia, History,
Book SynopsisIpswich Town Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Tractor Boys. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the Town striker whose shot cleared the stand and hit a horse ploughing a field, creating the fastest furrow on record? How about the Cubs pack who made tea in the Portman Road centre circle? Or the World Cup where six Town players starred? Do you know which legendary Town manager is statistically the club's most successful? Who only comes third on the list? Or when the club's first ever programme was produced, for a game that only drew 2,000 fans? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of blue-and-white history close to their heart.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Albion On This Day: Baggies History, Facts
Book SynopsisThe Albion On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from West Brom's illustrious history, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Baggies diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation in 1878 as West Bromwich Strollers to the Premier League era, Albion fans have witnessed League and Cup triumphs, promotions and relegations, hard times and hard-fought local derbies - all featured here. Timeless greats such as John Wile and Bob Taylor, Cyrille Regis, Jeff Astle and Bryan Robson all loom larger than life. Revisit 25th April 1931, when the Throstles won Division Two to take a unique FA Cup and promotion Double. 18th April 1952: the appointment of manager Jesse Carver, architect of the 'Team of the Century'. Or 6th March 1977: the signing of Laurie Cunningham, first of the 'Three Degrees'!
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd Oxford United On This Day: History, Facts and
Book SynopsisOxford United 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 U's diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation as Headington in 1893 through to more recent flirtations with the First Division and the Conference, the United faithful have witnessed promotions and relegations, breathtaking Cup runs and Wembley triumph - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Ron and Graham Atkinson, John Aldridge, Maurice Kyle and Dean Saunders all loom larger than life. Revisit 20th April 1986, when Oxford won the Milk Cup final. 2nd June 1962, when the Yellows were elected into the Football League. Or 8th February 1975, when the U's beat Man U in front of 16,000 fans, plus thousands more on that evening's Match of the Day.
£9.49
Pitch Publishing Ltd England On This Day football
Book SynopsisEngland On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the national side''s rollercoaster past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Lions diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the first ever international match in 1872 to the Premier League era, England''s faithful fans have witnessed decades of world domination and tragicomic failures, grudge matches, World Cup heroics, bizarre goals, fouls and metatarsals - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Paul Gascoigne, Steve Bloomer, David Beckham and Stanley Matthews all loom larger than life. Revisit May 12 1971, when England beat Malta 5-0 and Gordon Banks only got four touches - all backpasses! September 1 2001: Germany 1-5 England! Or July 12 1966, when the England team took a morale-boosting trip to the set of You Only Live Twice...
£9.49
