Search results for ""Pitch Publishing""

The funny, heart-warming tale of Adam Carroll-Smith's enduring love of sport on the radio - a uniquely personal collection of memories with the power to generate a shared, nostalgic sense of deja vu. From furtively listening to Premier League matches under his duvet as a boy, to secretly following Ashes Tests and Wimbledon championships when he should have been working, all the way to sleep-deprived nocturnal sessions with the Super Bowl and the Ryder Cup, The Pictures are Better on the Radio tells the story of how one fan fell in love with sport on the wireless. Full of acute observations, touching anecdotes and Adam's customary mix of deadpan and absurdist humour, the memoir effortlessly gets to the heart of what it means to be a sports obsessive, and explores why radio continues to be such a cherished medium for fans across the world.

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An Ode to Four Four Two: Football's Simplest and Finest Formation examines how coaches in Europe, and particularly England, settled on the 4-4-2 formation to build iconic teams which would dominate both domestically and in Europe. Formations have continually evolved since the birth of the game in the mid-19th century. From teams playing with four or five forwards, to the modern era of teams with just the one, arguably the greatest formation has been 4-4-2. Some of the greatest teams have lined up in this multi-functional system. Flick through the football history books and it is filled with teams like AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Leeds United and Barcelona, all enjoying glorious eras playing 4-4-2. But it isn't just the elite of world football. Who can forget Leicester City, led by Claudio Ranieri, reviving the system against all odds to outperform the Premier League's big six to claim a historic title in 2016? Author John McNicoll looks at how and why these teams used the formation to such effect. How they dominated in their era to stand out from the rest. It is the story of how teams, both big and small in status, have played the system to perfection.

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Sixteen Stoke City legends tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Potters fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the red-and-white stripes...Terry Conroy recounts scoring in the 1972 League Cup Final, and Mark Stein remembers another Wembley win in the 1992 Autoglass Trophy. Denis Smith recalls when Stoke took on the best that Europe had to offer, and came so close to defeating mighty Ajax, while Peter Fox takes the unusual step of selecting a game in which he only played for half an hour - the 4-4 draw with Luton in 1982. Victoria Ground legends Dennis Herod, Tony Allen and Mark Chamberlain also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for the Potters.

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Manchester 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 Red Devils history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian foundation as Newton Heath through to their emergence as one of the world's most successful clubs, United's rollercoaster history takes in winding-up orders, the Munich air disaster and the joys of United's first European Cup triumph, all crowned by the drama of winning the first ever Treble. Pivotal historic events such as the club's first ever trophy win, the 1960s rebirth and Sir Alex Ferguson's arrival form a backdrop against which Old Trafford heroes - Duncan Edwards, George Best and Bobby Charlton, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Billy Meredith - all loom larger than life.

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All-India and Down Under is the dramatic story of two cricket tours undertaken in the aftermath of the Second World War. For seven years the war had put the careers of England’s cricketers on hold. Then, in 1946, England played three Tests against ‘All-India’. However, it proved to be the last such tour: by mid-1947, Indian partition had cut the country in two, a process that was violent and bloody. While the tourists were in England, struggling in a cold, wet summer, their own country was in turmoil. As that tour drew to a close in September, the MCC sent a party of war-weary cricketers to Australia to play the first Ashes series since 1938. The English were ill-prepared, some scarcely out of uniform, while others carried the physical and mental scars of the war years. For the aging captain, Walter Hammond, it would prove a tour too far. The book follows the cricketing drama of both tours amid the political uncertainty of the time, with a Labour government struggling to disentangle Britain from its Empire.

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The Racing Post Desk Calendar is the perfect office accessory. It is a tent-folded, wiro-bound desk calendar featuring one month to view with the most up to date race meeting information in the UK and Ireland at the time of publication - jumps, flat and the all-weather. It also includes the principal races and bloodstock sales dates.

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Few fans are aware of the long, vibrant history of soccer in the USA, which dates back as far as the American Civil War. Many wrongly believe that the introduction of the North American Soccer League in the 60s brought about American soccer's debut, while in fact its first golden age came during the Roaring 20s and the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. The NASL did have a huge impact on the popularity of the game, but the instability of the league and its reliance on ageing superstars meant its heyday was over by the mid-80s. This left the door wide open for a third golden age, starting with the introduction of the incredibly successful USWNT, World Cup 1994 and MLS. Having grown for more than 25 years, played and supported by both sexes, soccer is now seen as a viable sport in a country dominated by baseball, basketball and American football. Stateside Soccer shines new light on the rich history of a sport still too often mistaken as a relatively recent import to the United States.

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From late September 1973 until the winter of 1974, British football's most controversial figure penned a regular column in TV Times, the weekly television listings magazine. Wide-ranging, entertaining and remarkably prescient, 'Clough Sounds Off' dates back to a tumultuous time in his managerial career - when Old Big 'Ead went from Derby to the football wilderness via Brighton and Leeds. The columns covered a surprising range of subjects, not only reflecting the game as Brian Clough viewed it at the time but also signposting the direction in which he saw it heading. Sharp and funny, yet always delivered with the brutal honesty for which he was renowned, they highlight exactly what made Clough's voice so compelling. Me and My Big Mouth reproduces many of these opinion pieces for the first time since their original publication, together with the background stories against which they were written. It is a fresh and welcome addition to the library of Clough literature, offering a unique insight into the mind of a most remarkable manager.

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Waddington, Director of a Working Man's Ballet is a biography of the former Stoke City manager, Tony Waddington, one of the most underrated figures in 60s and 70s football. It charts how a man with the appearance of an urbane bank manager belied the stereotype of the hard-nosed football manager as he turned around the fortunes of an ailing club on the brink of going out of business. Instead, Waddington led the Potters to promotion, secured the club's first major trophy and challenged for a league title in a season bedevilled by bad luck, before a financial calamity led to his departure. An advocate of free-flowing football, yet fielding some of the most uncompromising defensive players of his era, he reinvigorated old pros, inspired young players and won the adulation of a generation of fans. Tony Waddington, or 'Waddo' as he was affectionately known to fans and players alike, achieved all this as the director of what he fondly termed 'a working man's ballet'.

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Scotland - 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...

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Charlton Athletic 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 Addicks diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation in 1905 through to the Premier League era, the red-and-white faithful have witnessed record-breaking dramas unfold: the greatest ever recovery in a league match; the first rise from the old Division Three to the old Division One, eventually finishing runners-up; the first ever substitute used; the first retention of a top-tier spot via the playoffs - plus an all-time Wembley classic. Timeless greats such as Derek Hales, Scott Parker, Jimmy Seed, Clive Mendonca, Sam Bartram and Eddie Firmani all loom larger than life in a history capped by a groundbreaking groundshare exile, and a glorious return to The Valley.

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When Andrew Strauss's team seized the world title in the summer of 2011 they finally recovered what had been lost at the Adelaide Oval in 1959. This tale of England's preceding triumph and loss is recounted through the memoirs of many of the star players when England had last been top of the world. Bent Arms and Dodgy Wickets tells the story of English cricket's slow recovery from the Second World War, of its brief time of triumph and of its undignified fall from grace - a tale of fluctuating fortunes reflected upon by great names including Hutton, Compton and Trueman, Lindwall and Miller, McGlew and Weekes. The title refers to the sporting controversies of the time - suspect bowling actions and poor pitches - as Britain declined as an imperial power, and English cricket was hampered by class snobbery, anachronistic fixations and an uncompetitive domestic game.

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A dozen Sheffield United legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Blades fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the red-and-white shirt...Tony Currie recalls scoring the goal of his career in a 1975 victory against West Ham; Alan Kelly recounts his penalty shoot-out heroics which secured an FA Cup semi-final place. Dane Whitehouse waxes lyrical about scoring to beat Wednesday at Hillsborough - while Phil Jagielka takes us back to that joyous Bramall Lane afternoon when United beat Hull to set up promotion back to the Premier League. Blades greats Colin Grainger, Len Badger and cult hero Bob Booker also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for Sheffield United.

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Aston 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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Plymouth Argyle Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Pilgrims. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the 90-year-old director who was registered as a squad member? How about the two London-born midfielders called Lee Hodges who both played for the club? Or the penalty kick that ended up in the hippo pen at Plymouth Zoo, Home Park's 70s neighbour? Do you know which Greens forward let young children swing from his outstretched arms? Which Pilgrim became a saint by saving a baby from drowning? Or how long Sean McCarthy wore his undergarments before celebrating his 200th goal? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of green-and-white history close to their heart.

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Steve Cauthen commenced his 14-year 'English Odyssey' in April 1979. The erstwhile 'Kentucky Kid' had taken American racing by storm. A champion jockey at 17 and a Triple Crown winner at 18, the teenage prodigy became a bona fide celebrity but a slump of 110 consecutive losers saw him cross the Atlantic seeking to resurrect his career. Within weeks of his arrival 'The Kid' won an English Classic, the 2000 Guineas. He'd go on to become the only jockey to win both the Derby and the Kentucky Derby (plus those of Ireland, France and Italy); be the most recent jockey to win an English Triple Crown courtesy of Oh So Sharp in 1985; and secure three jockeys' championships - making him the only man to win titles in both America and England. Moreover, Cauthen was a supreme stylist who transformed English race-riding: his streamlined American toe-in-the-iron seat and clock-in-the-head judgement of pace sparking widespread imitation. The list of household names benefiting from his sublime talents are legion and this most articulate of jockeys recalls every one of them in his own inimitable style along with all the attendant highs and lows in this first complete retelling of his 'English Odyssey'.

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The hugely popular Racing Post Pocket Diary features one week to view, listing the most up-to-date race meeting information in the UK and Ireland at the time of publication – jumps, Flat and all-weather – as well as major sporting fixtures, a wealth of racing statistics, principal race dates and details of the racecourses in Britain and Ireland.

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Jurgen Said to Me is a human-interest story centred around Liverpool FC''s most successful and charismatic leader of recent times. It charts Jurgen Klopp''s impact on Liverpool through the voice of the author and those at the heart of his revival.In October 2015, Klopp took the helm at Liverpool at a time when the famous club were entering a third decade of league-title drought. The German coach had prospered with his brand of ''heavy-metal football'', but little was known about his personality beyond an obvious energy and charisma. He entered a city steeped in personality, history and trauma - a place where the people demand more than a mere coach to lead their clubs.Klopp''s social influence has stretched to matters such as diversity, the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and local history. The book explores the human impact of a man who single-handedly harnessed togetherness and the global unity of millions, while reshaping one of the most fam

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One Shilling: The Football Programme Design Revolution of 1965-85 is the first-ever exploration of this golden era of football programme design, when the humble football programme suddenly boasted a remarkable variety of eye-catching covers and layouts. The football programme has been a staple of the national game since Victorian times. Passionate artists and typesetters designed printed programmes for match goers, but unlike the fashion or music industries, the names behind the artworks for these pocket-money priced matchday publications were often uncredited or ignored. Until now. At its heart, this is the story of John Elvin, the greatest football programme designer, who tore up the formal code of lay-outs and traditional typefaces, and used photos in new and innovative ways. The book also explores the wider cultural and political backstory of British football over a transformative two decades from England’s World Cup victory in 1966, and looking forward, it champions the potential of a new era for programme design.

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Is Gascoigne Going to Have a Crack? tells the story of Spurs in the 1990s, expertly guiding you through this exciting but chaotic time.The 1990s are often seen as an era of misery for Tottenham Hotspur. They were undoubtedly that; at the moment that English football became commercially driven and outwardly focused the club fell in relevance from being one of the unofficial ''Big Five'' in the 80s to mid-table also-rans by the start of the 2000s.However, this is not a fair reflection of the fortunes of the club during the decade. The Gascoigne-inspired run to the 1991 FA Cup victory, the Gallic flair of David Ginola and the incredible excitement generated by the signing of Jurgen Klinsmann produced moments of unbridled joy and excitement.From Sheringham to Sugar and Venables to Vega, this book journeys through a fascinating decade with a season-by-season account that incorporates the views of players and supporters who lived through a decade that co

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Getting Outis the story of how Ukraine''s cricketers helped the people around them to escape from Russia''s invasion in 2022, including first-hand accounts of the war.?Cricket in Ukraine had a surprising and eccentric history. But when the bombings started, these cricketers found themselves in a fight for their lives as they rushed to the front lines to defend their country.Meanwhile, some Ukrainian refugees had an altogether different battle as they began to play cricket in a park in southern Europe, and fought to keep their country's cricketing heritage alive.As well as eyewitness accounts of the first days of the war, the book holds many light-hearted stories from the team where no one wanted to bat or bowl, to the biofuel developer who became Ukraine''s first professional cricketer.It's a story of courage, determination and hope, both on and off the field.

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Blue and Amber Voices: Stories from Leeds Rugby Leagueprovides a collection of first-hand accounts of some of the greatest players to ever pull on the famous blue and amber kit of Leeds rugby league club.Spanning multiple generations and eras, the book charts the ups and downs of one of rugby league''s great clubs. Relive the glory days of the 1960s and 70s with Alan Smith, the big-spending 80s with Gary Schofield, the promise of the 90s with Francis Cummins, the domination of the 2000s with Jamie Peacock and consider the future of the game with Caitlin Beevers.With a plethora of candid and revealing interviews from some of the most explosive and entertaining players of the last 50 years from both the UK and down under, Blue and Amber Voices offers an array of stories and insight rarely seen previously. Packed with anecdotes, triumph and tragedy, the book lifts the lid on what it takes to step on to the famous Headingley pitch for one of the world'

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Chasing Immortality is the story of Manchester City's epic 2022/23 season, when for the first time this century an English side completed the ultimate treble.It was a season like no other, carved into two distinct segments by the insertion of the Qatar World Cup. And for City, also punctuated by the minor distraction of 115 charges from the Premier League relating to alleged financial irregularities.It's the story of a group of elite players of whom the two with the most to prove did so emphatically, one producing the finest debut season ever witnessed in top-flight English football, the other discarding the tag of £100m misfit by delivering a raft of outstanding performances - and celebrating accordingly. It's about a manager who every season strengthens his claim to be the most influential of all time, whose tactical innovation continues to astound. Ultimately, it's the story of a season to be cherished and remembered forever.

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The rip-roaring story of Manchester City's red-hot goalscoring hero Erling Haaland.Unlike his seafaring forefathers, Haaland arrived in England peacefully in 2022. But the result was the same with the Viking running riot before heading to European shores to rampage through even the most stubborn defences.Haaland helped sweep Manchester City to a record-equalling treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory. The Striking Viking smashed home a record-breaking 36 Premier League goals and continued his incredible Champions League record to make it 35 in 29 games.This book is packed with exclusive unpublished material, including the story behind his transfer to England. It features the words of the great man himself, team-mates, opponents and Pep Guardiola. It explores his early career in Norway, and his later successes in Salzburg and Dortmund, before bringing us up to date with his Man City and international heroics.Want to know Haaland the player and the man? This is the book for you.

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Cricket’s Fifty Most Important Moments charts the sport’s long, colourful and sometimes controversial history, delving into its most significant moments on and off the cricket field.Tracing the sport’s development from its early days in the 18th century through to the modern era, the book journeys through more than 275 years of intriguing events. It explores how players, teams and other remarkable individuals have shaped the game. It also assesses the famous matches, tactical changes, new laws and other innovations that have punctuated cricket from its infancy to the present day.From the early teams based in sleepy English villages through to international cricket and the modern franchise game played for a global television audience; from the start of first-class cricket and the birth of the Ashes and Test cricket to World Cups and the phenomenon of T20 cricket, this book showcases the key moments, matches and controversies that have come to define the sport.

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The 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.

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Matt Riley takes us on a fascinating and bizarre behind-the-scenes journey into the weird and wonderful world of Thai football. Working as an English Media Officer in Thailand, Riley was given unique access, seldom granted to foreigners, to the country's most powerful clubs. Thai Football Tales: Beautiful Madness is a report on his time inside the Thai football bubble. From spending the afternoon with Bryan Robson in the Manchester United team hotel, to persuading a player stopping off in Bangkok on the way to sign for an A League club to abandon his journey and play in Thailand, no two days were ever the same. At a meeting in the northern city of Chiang Mai when helping a friend secure a coaching contract, the chairman Matt was negotiating with jumped into a cage to wrestle a tiger. And after interviewing the ‘King of Buriram’, Riley found his every move was being watched – and filmed! Thai Football Tales is a jaw-dropping first-hand account of a Westerner's experiences in a unique and colourful footballing culture.

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Brave Enough Not to Quit is the extraordinary and moving story of Millie Farrow, a footballer who has battled major injuries and mental-health problems in pursuit of her career. Millie dreamt of being a footballer from a young age and signed her first professional contract at 19. She has played for top clubs in England and America, but the road to realising her girlhood dream has not been a smooth one. Four major injuries in her teens and early 20s threatened to derail her career, alongside her battles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. But Millie was brave enough not to quit. She remains determined to succeed and wants to use her experiences to help others overcome their own setbacks. In Brave Enough Not to Quit, Millie speaks from the heart about her mental-health issues and injuries, while her friends, England stars Fran Kirby and Emile Heskey, share their experiences in highly personal interviews with Millie. This is an inspirational story of fighting back from rock bottom and finding strength in adversity.

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A Love Letter to Football is the story of how the beautiful game, from the litter-strewn pitches of the grassroots to packed stadiums at the top of the sport, can help carry us through our darkest days. In 2016, Mark Davies was diagnosed with a rare and incurable blood cancer. A lifelong supporter of Middlesbrough Football Club, his devotion to the club and passion for a game so cherished by billions of people has been essential in helping him navigate the uncertainty of diagnosis and treatment. It’s been a fundamental part of his life in other ways too, from dealing with depression to fatherhood, not to mention some of the trials and tribulations of life’s broader challenges.This honest, funny and entertaining account of a life-changing experience, love for a football club and the way the game has been a bedrock throughout his life underlines that football may not be more important than life and death, but the joy and ecstasy it can bring – even for a Middlesbrough fan – really can help when times are hard.

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When Dave Went Up is the fairy-tale story of Wimbledon's famous 1988 FA Cup win over Liverpool, and how a small team overcame the giants of English football. More than just a recollection of the final itself, the book takes us through the tournament round by round, from the third round to the semi-final, and everything in between. We all know that Lawrie Sanchez got the winning goal, but did you know he was in the wrong place for the free kick? The story shows what great team spirit and sheer hard work can achieve. With tales from the key players in the side, the staff, the fans, plus some of the opposition, this is the definitive account of how Wimbledon FC won the FA Cup. Along the way you'll discover how the Dons fell in love with the competition, with background info on their run in the 1974/75 season, when Dickie Guy become a household name overnight after saving a penalty against Leeds United. If you don't know about the Dons' connection with the famous old cup, you certainly will after reading this fascinating book.

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Golden Generations: The Story of the 2006 FIFA Men's World Cup tells the tale of one of the most action-packed international tournaments in recent memory. From Philipp Lahm's extraordinary goal just six minutes in, to Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt, it was a World Cup that had it all. With all six confederations represented for the first time since 1982, there was a truly global feel to this World Cup. There were subplots attached to almost every nation at the tournament. Germany were in the midst of a rebuild, the Italians had the cloud of Calciopoli hanging over them and France and England were nearing the end of an era with their talented squads. Even the debutant nations were filled with household names, from the Touré brothers and Didier Drogba with the Ivory Coast to Dwight Yorke dropping into midfield to captain Trinidad and Tobago. Golden Generations explores the plots and subplots that defined the 2006 World Cup, from the tournament's beginnings to the legacy it left behind.

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Henry Armstrong: Boxing's Super Champ is the story of arguably the most incredible fighter in the history of boxing - told by one of the few surviving writers to have been around during Armstrong's unique world championship reign. When Henry had his arm raised on 17 August 1938, after winning a blood-spattered 15-round decision over Lou Ambers, he became the first boxer to simultaneously hold world titles at three different weights - and somehow he managed the feat in an era of just eight weight classes, with no 'junior' or 'super' divisions. He had entered Madison Square Garden as the reigning world feather and welterweight champion, and left with the world lightweight belt strapped around his waist. Now in his 90s, veteran boxing journalist and author John Jarrett looks back on the life and career of this ring hero of his youth: a 5ft 51/2in buzzsaw they nicknamed 'Homicide Hank'. In the 85 years that have passed since then, nobody has matched Armstrong's amazing triple-championship feat. It's likely no one ever will.

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England's emphatic victory at the 2022 women's Euros has been called a watershed moment both for the team and for women's football. But can this talented side prove their mettle on the biggest stage of all and achieve World Cup glory in 2023? Tactical writer Abdullah Abdullah once again lifts the lid on a women's footballing institution, this time through an international lens - deconstructing match tactics, analysing player performances and assessing the key improvements made in Sarina Wiegman's time in charge. Abdullah explores the standout tactical profiles from the current generation, including Fran Kirby and Lucy Bronze as well as the future crop, like Leah Williamson and wunderkind Lauren Hemp. This book dives into the specifics of how this iteration of the Lionesses can perform at the 2023 Women's World Cup. Will this be the moment they shed their status as perennial challengers and prove they are the best team in the world?

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The Natural: The Story of Patsy Houlihan, the Greatest Snooker Player You Never Saw is the compelling story of a man who potted balls fast and potted them hard. South Londoner Patsy Houlihan was one of the top amateurs of the 1950s and 60s as well as the greatest hustler of all time. He should have been a major player on the world stage, but the professional game was a closed shop and the likes of Patsy weren't welcome. However, in the smoke-filled snooker halls of the backstreets of working-class Britain, populated by tough men seeking to make a quick buck from the game they loved, Patsy was a folk hero and an inspiration to a generation of players, including his close friend Jimmy White. This is the story of the greatest snooker player who never reached the big time, but whose exploits, adventures and skills guaranteed him immortality in the minds and imaginations of those lucky enough to have seen him play. The Natural brings to life the story of a forgotten snooker pioneer and master entertainer.

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For more than 50 years the Formula Ford Festival has been the proving ground for ambitious racing drivers looking to make their mark. The Brands Hatch meeting was where the likes of Johnny Herbert, Damon Hill and Jenson Button first made their names, while both Michael Schumacher and Nigel Mansell never made it out of their heats. Now a club meeting, in its heyday the Festival was one of the UK's biggest motor sport events, drawing tens of thousands of spectators, and enjoying more than a decade of prime coverage on the BBC's Grandstand. From humble beginnings at a cold Snetterton, the move to Brands Hatch, the peak of the 1980s followed by a gentle decline, this book tells the story of the Festival. Drawing on exclusive contributions from some of the event's legends and prestigious alumni, it covers all the on-track action together with off-track intrigue and controversies.

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The Working Hands of a Goddess is the story of how Atalanta BC rose from the lower reaches of Serie A to become Champions League quarter-finalists in just four years. The appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as manager in 2016 changed the club's fortunes forever. Quickly making his mark, he developed a squad that play one of Europe's most scintillating brands of football, and upset the status quo by going toe-to-toe with the giants of the Italian game. The Working Hands of a Goddess analyses and details the tactics and systems that underpin this thrilling team, the stories and backgrounds of the unique players that define it, and the culture and history that not only produced a beautiful football team but a special club and city-wide community. When the pandemic rocked the community, Atalanta became far more than just a football team by uniting a city in strife.

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1992 to 2022 was a period like no other for West Ham United. Taking in the rise of the Premier League, promotion, relegation, European nights and so much more, Daniel Hurley looks at key moments in West Ham's recent history from a fan's perspective, remembering joy and despair in equal measure along his journey as a football supporter from child to adult. The Games That Made Us is the story of an unforgettable period in West Ham's history told through the club's 50 most important matches over the past 30 years, with each game put into context and the consequences examined. From Dicks to Di Canio, Harewood to Antonio, Redknapp to Allardyce, The Games That Made Us tells tales of last-minute winners and last-second heartbreak, of trips to Cardiff, 5-4 victories and 4-2 defeats, plus more matches against Wimbledon than you would expect. Find out how a former manager once gave Daniel a transfer exclusive, why his son's first game was possibly the worst debut in history and why John Hartson ruined his 14th birthday.

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As Marcelo Bielsa's interpreter, Salim Lamrani was his right-hand man throughout his first season in charge of Leeds United. As a privileged witness to that remarkable 2018/19 campaign, Lamrani tells the inside story of how the club came within a hair's breadth of returning to the Premier League before winning promotion in the very next season to end a 16-year exile. Lamrani lays bare the secrets behind Bielsa's methods, starting with the demands he makes in an intense pre-season, through to the Argentinian tactician's unwavering loyalty to a highly effective style of play - a style based on possession, collective coverage, rapid transitions, changes of tempo and constant attack. For him, beauty is non-negotiable. Thanks to Bielsa, the players of Leeds United were the actors in an unforgettable epic, which made an indelible mark on millions of supporters. Taking us match by match through Bielsa's first year in English football, Lamrani weaves a fascinating narrative and paints an intimate portrait of a unique football genius.

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Soul and Glory takes you on a journey through football history, spanning four unforgettable and unique decades from 1950 to 1989. Using beautiful images, it's a celebration of the game, from the life and soul of the packed-out terraces to the glory and despair on the pitch. The book showcases the diversity and individuality of football going back to an era when things looked very different than now, for better or worse. Whether it's muddy pitches, players celebrating with fans, larger-than-life characters or stadiums packed out an hour before kick-off, Soul and Glory will take you on a nostalgia-filled trip down memory lane. Legends such as George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Paul Gascoigne and Stanley Matthews all feature, as well as a wide selection of teams and stadia. This stunning pictorial celebration of English football is sure to leave you reminiscing about the uniqueness and flamboyance of the nation's football heritage.

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Scotland's Lost Clubs: Giving the Names You've Heard the Story They Own is the gripping, constantly surprising, intrinsically romantic and all too commonly tragic story of some of Scotland's lost football clubs. You'll be taken on a journey across Scotland, from the Highlands to the English border, with tales of some of the most important names in world football and their impact on the modern game. Learn about the picturesque Victorian seaside town that had no fewer than five clubs, and the team that rescued a league rival who was shipwrecked only to sadly disappear the year Celtic won the European Cup. Discover how a mining village of less than 3,000 inhabitants became world champions but folded 36 years later. Football at its most raw and disorganised was a breeding ground for amazing stories, and Scotland's Lost Clubs captures some of the very best of them. It's essential reading for any Scottish football fan.

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In 1983, aged 36, Johan Cruyff, one of the world's most iconic football superstars, guided Ajax to a league and cup double. Out of contract, most people, including the player, expected a valedictory final season and a one-year extension. Inexplicably, Ajax let him go. They grossly underestimated the fierce genius of Johan Cruyff. He signed for bitter rivals Feyenoord, leading them to a league and cup double, silencing his critics and thrilling football fans everywhere. Fierce Genius analyses this incredible season, as he evolves from player to coach. It is a fascinating insight into his professional and private life. Imperious on the park, off it, he dealt with kidnappings and bankruptcy after being defrauded by a conman. Bollen gets inside Cruyff's mind, helping the reader understand the mentality which made him a top player and successful coach. Fierce Genius: Cruyff's Year at Feyenoord is compelling, insightful and poignant. Written with a journalistic tone, by an accomplished comedy writer, this is a warm, affectionate and informative portrait of one of world football's greats.

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Arsenal FC Minute by Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Gunners' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From Arsenal's early beginnings to the days of domestic dominance, the book covers everything from the great Herbert Chapman era to the Tom Whittaker glory years, Bertie Mee's exciting side of the late 1960s and early 1970s, George Graham's Gunners teams and Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles'. Revisit Arsenal's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's glorious past. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Highbury, The Emirates and around the world, Arsenal FC Minute by Minute is packed with memorable moments. With goals from Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Cliff Bastin, Charlie George and hundreds of others - the book is filled with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle.

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Redemption: From Iron Bars to Ironman is the fascinating, frightening and inspirational autobiography of former career criminal, now world-record holder and endurance athlete John McAvoy. Born into a notorious London crime family, his uncle Micky was one of the key players in the legendary Brinks-Mat gold bullion caper. John bought his first gun at 16 and carved out a lucrative career in armed robbery. At one point he was one of Britain's most-wanted men. It took two spells in prison and the death of a friend on a botched heist to change his path. During his second stint in jail he discovered a miraculous natural talent while serving life in the Belmarsh high security unit - where fellow inmates included Abu Hamza, the hook-handed extremist cleric, and the 7/7 bombers. John broke three world rowing records while still an inmate and since his release has become one of the UK's leading Ironman competitors. Redemption is the ultimate story of sporting salvation.

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A Corner of Every Foreign Field is an innovative and thought-provoking take on the history of cricket, looking beyond the scorecards to the pivotal issues of class, politics and imperialism that have shaped the game today. It charts how cricket has vied with football for power, commercial muscle and global reach, growing from a simple boys' game in England to a modern worldwide sport. In exploring cricket's evolution, Tim Brooks calls on the views and anecdotes of greats like W. G. Grace, Don Bradman, Viv Richards and Virat Kohli. Along the way, he peers deep into the game's soul and poses questions on behalf of every cricket fan. Is cricket truly global? Why did the game take root in some countries but not in others? What are the threats and opportunities for the sport? Who are the next cricket superpowers? How do you strike a balance between honouring tradition and reforming to capture the imagination of future generations? Written by an expert in the global development of cricket, the book sets out a unique vision for the future.

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The Next Big Thing tells the stories of 15 footballers who were tipped for the top as youngsters yet were unable to fulfil their potential. With each player exclusively interviewed and insight provided by former team-mates, coaches and expert journalists, Ryan Baldi explores the pitfalls facing young players and what happens when plans go awry. The players featured share much in common, having played for some of the world's biggest clubs - such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Internazionale and Ajax - represented their country at various levels and been tipped for the very top. They all fell desperately short of expectations, but the reasons for their struggles differ greatly. Myriad factors can prevent gifted young footballers from fulfilling their true potential, from catastrophic injuries to issues of addiction and temptation, from managerial misunderstandings to bad advice and bad decisions. The Next Big Thing uncovers what becomes of football's wonderkids when the stars fail to align.

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Seoul 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.

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Bottled tells the story of English football's complicated relationship with booze through the experiences of the players who found themselves in crisis when they could no longer put it down - from George Best and Paul Gascoigne to Tony Adams and Paul Merson, as well as many others who escaped the headlines. Footballers play under intense pressure in the unforgiving glare of the media spotlight. But what do their stories tell us about ourselves? Are some challenges they face specific to a player's lifestyle? With insights from those at the sharp end, here is an examination of footballers in need and the help available from the industry. Untangling the complex web of links between alcohol and the beautiful game, Bottled explores the stories that characterised the origins of many of England's clubs, as churches and breweries vied for the souls of young men. From trashed hotel rooms to the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous via the China Jump club, Bottled navigates the journey from the stars to the gutter and, sometimes, back again.

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Set amid the glamour and bravado of 1980s Formula 1, The Power and the Glory tells the story of a rivalry unsurpassed in motor-racing history. By the mid-80s Alain Prost had firmly established himself as leader of the F1 pack. Winning Grands Prix almost at will, the French ace radiated invincibility. But then came the emergence of Ayrton Senna, sparking a decade-long battle for supremacy out on the track. Although chalk and cheese in terms of character and background, the two men were driven by the same burning desire: to become Formula 1's heavyweight champion of the world, its undisputed king. Senna and Prost would both go on to win multiple world championships in what was a golden era for F1 racing. Their Suzuka showdowns of 1988-90 attracted record worldwide audiences and popularised the sport as never before. An intimate portrait of two unique competitors, The Power and the Glory is a supercharged story of acrimony and sheer ambition.

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