Search results for ""pitch publishing ltd""

Rangers 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!

Read more less

If the wider, football-conscious world is aware of just two things about Scottish football, they are surely as follows: firstly, that there is a virulent rivalry in Glasgow between the city's two great teams, Rangers and Celtic, based on a religious divide; and secondly, that Rangers recently suffered a catastrophic financial collapse, which ultimately led to the club's insolvency. Split into two separate, but closely linked, sections, Tangled Up in Blue: The Rise and Fall of Rangers FC gives the full account of both of these stories. Stephen O'Donnell explores how Rangers first became associated with hard-line Protestantism, dominating Scottish football for decades without ever knowingly signing a Catholic footballer, until the feted arrival of Maurice Johnston at Ibrox in 1989. He then switches focus to the club's financial affairs, as Rangers' unsustainable spending brought the club to the brink of collapse and, despite the hidden benefits of an illegal tax avoidance scheme, resulted in its liquidation.

Read more less

The inspirational story of respected football talent scout, Rui Marques. Instead of continuing on the rather dull career path of an economist, Rui transformed his destiny by winning major Fantasy Football competitions in two different countries, and carving his own unique path into the real world of football. From early childhood Rui developed a great passion for football, yet only years later came to recognise his gift of being able to spot raw sporting talent. After completing an economics degree, Rui entered a Daily Mirror Fantasy Football competition - and won the first prize of GBP75,000. This was followed with another Fantasy first place in Germany, scooping Bild's EURO100,000 prize. As a result he earned his first scouting job at a Portuguese club, but after only two seasons became European scout at Sporting Kansas City, helping his team to win trophies before taking on a challenging new role as European scout with Polish champions Legia Warsaw. The Unknown Champion is the ultimate proof that if we follow our dreams, they can come true.

Read more less

Trailing George Best: The Manchester Haunts of United's Greatest takes a forensic look back at the locations in and around Manchester where George Best worked, rested, partied and played during the Swinging 60s and the dubiously stylish 70s. Despite the questionable fashions, it was the best of times. George Best lived in the city for nearly 15 years and this book chronicles, with numerous images, the places where he lived, the avenues and alleyways he explored, the boutiques he managed, the nightclubs he both frequented and helped to run, and of course the football grounds where he ran amok. Having tracked down the people who knew George best during this period - people who lived with Best, the pals he hung out with, colleagues who worked with him, his business partners and personal managers - lifelong Manchester United supporters Stuart Bolton and Paul Collier unearth the stories that other writers could not reach.

Read more less

Villeneuve sheds new light on the Formula 1 legend through 48 illuminating interviews with his contemporaries and a stunning array of action and behind-the-scenes photographs, many previously unseen. Gilles Villeneuve, F1's last cavalier, lives on in the memories of his fans - his heritage all the more colourful thanks to Karoly Mehes' vivid tribute. Villeneuve's Formula 1 career only lasted for 67 grands prix between 1977 and 1982, yet he made an indelible impression as a driver who raced without limits. Having debuted for McLaren, the daredevil Canadian soon switched to F1's most charismatic team: Enzo Ferrari was Villeneuve's biggest fan. After his tragic death in May 1982, Villeneuve's legend has continued to grow globally. Karoly Mehes has interviewed Villeneuve's Ferrari team-mates, his opponents and journalists - as well as Gilles' widow, Joann, and son, Jacques (world champion of 1997). Nearly 40 years on, they speak about the incandescent star of Formula 1 - a man who gave everything for his beloved sport, ultimately his life.

Read more less

Ronnie O'Sullivan's status as one of snooker's all-time greats was cemented in 2017 by adding to his five world titles, a seventh Masters and sixth UK, thus equalling Stephen Hendry's 18 'triple crown' triumphs. Now is the perfect time for his story to be told by Clive Everton - 'The Voice of Snooker'. Simply the Best traces Ronnie's course from carefree junior prodigy to deeply troubled and depressed adult, and so to maturity and self-knowledge. Along the way, he emerges as instinctively warm-hearted, the most loyal of sons and a true sportsman in his acceptance of defeat. Even so, full consideration is given to Ronnie's mistakes in a rounded portrait of one of snooker's most fascinating, complicated and successful characters.

Read more less

More 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.

Read more less

Booked! The Gospel According to our Football Heroes is a funny, fascinating digest of over 120 footballer autobiographies. Authors John Smith and Dan Trelfer have forensically examined the life stories of legends, hard-cases, cult heroes and one or two players they vaguely remember playing for Portsmouth - so you don't have to. Along the way, they discovered answers to questions they never knew they needed to know. Which coach has a tattoo inked by Mickey Rourke? Which maverick witnessed his gaffer murder an animal in a team talk? Yes, the revelations from this Pandora's Box may melt the reader's face, like at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. But they also offer an insight into the strange world that footballers inhabit, using their very own words. What drives star players apart? And what binds them together, beyond an almost universal love of Rod Stewart? Booked! investigates a unique world full of sex, booze, cash, fights, glory, bitterness, fame - and incessant, relentless banter.

Read more less

The definitive history of Manchester United's rise from being an 'ordinary' side in the 30s to a force in post-war English football. Discover the story of Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and the birth of the 'Babes' - the players, the games, the Building of the Dynasty. Having had the foresight to appoint an untried manager in Busby, the former Manchester City star overcame the challenge of having no home ground and cobbled together a United side to win the league and FA Cup. A lack of financial power saw the club embark on a youth development scheme under Murphy. Crowned First Division champions again in 1956, Busby took his youngsters to compete against the great sides in the fledgling European Cup; but it was a determination that was to prove fatal in Munich in 1958, on the homeward journey from a quarter-final tie in Belgrade. The unfulfilled dream had become a nightmare.

Read more less

Sinner and Saint is the inspirational story of Martin Murray, St Helens' flawed yet favourite son. A promising amateur teenage boxer, Murray was drawn into a life fuelled with drugs, alcohol and street fighting. By the age of 24, he had completed four jail sentences, one of them in a notorious Cypriot prison. He still managed to win the ABA welterweight title in 2004 - while on the run! The reintroduction of boxing back into his life and a settled family life proved to be his saviour. Turning pro in 2007, Murray went on to win the Commonwealth and British middleweight titles, and challenged for the world title on no fewer than four occasions. Murray pulls no punches as he recounts his story in the most intimate and vivid way - a rollercoaster life ultimately redeemed through his success in boxing.

Read more less

When Great Britain failed to qualify for the women's hockey competition at the 2004 Athens Olympics, the sport was at its lowest point. Sliding down the world rankings, in-fighting and discord within the squad, no funding and very little prospect of a bright future. Three players - Crista Cullen, Helen Richardson and Kate Walsh - were junior members of that team, and would have been forgiven for walking away at that point. Fast forward 12 years and the same three players were at the heart of the greatest moment in Great Britain women's hockey, standing on the podium in Rio de Janeiro with Olympic gold medals proudly hanging around their necks. During those intervening years, the team had undergone a transformation. It was no easy journey, but a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows, triumphs and disasters - with casualties along the way. The History Makers is more than an account of a famous victory. It is the story of how a team changed its culture and its attitude and transformed a sport barely worth a mention in the press into the provider of an Olympic moment that gripped the nation.

Read more less

Dundee FC On This Day is a journey, in diary form, through the history of the famous Dark Blues. All the major events are covered in detail to give the reader a feel for the ups and downs experienced by The Dee since its formation in 1893. With individual entries for every day, the book includes all the club's big matches - from the joy of title wins and cup runs to the pain of relegations and administrations. Dundee FC has enjoyed a long, rich history and the book records the five major trophy wins, the runs to two European semi-finals, the Dee-Fiant season, the promotions, significant events, sensational signings and memorable derby wins over Dundee United. The Scottish League championship win in 1962 and the Scottish and League Cup victories are countered by the turmoil of relegations, missed promotions and the two administration periods which almost saw the Dens Park doors closed for good. Being a Dundee fan is a rollercoaster journey, and Dundee FC On This Day perfectly captures the thrill of the ride.

Read more less

The son of a poor butcher, John Gully rose to the height of Victorian respectability, whose death in ripe old age was mourned by all classes from paupers to princes. It's the story of an extraordinarily varied life - a bare knuckle fighter and champion of England, a publican, a hugely successful gambler, bookmaker, racehorse and colliery owner, and finally a Member of Parliament. Set at a time when fortunes were won and lost on the turn of a dice, Gully saw the greed and corruption, the rogues and rascals. Remarkable sporting characters of the age feature, such as William Crockford, the Betting Shark; the chivalrous prize fighter Henry Pearce; the mighty Tom Cribb, bare knuckle champion of the world; and Colonel Mellish, prolific gambler and finest of the Corinthians. Enemies saw Gully as a cunning man, a schemer who corrupted the betting world. To others he was a man with impeccable judgement and integrity, to whom royalty would trust their fortunes. The Stakes Were High is the fascinating story of his life.

Read more less

Roy Race was Melchester Rovers' super striker, and later manager and chairman; he is known everywhere simply as 'Roy of the Rovers'. Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff is the inside story of his life with Melchester, told by the man who knows him better than anyone: editor Barrie Tomlinson, the man who helped turn him from comic-book hero to a national institution. From the 1950s, millions of children grew up reading about his footballing adventures in Tiger and Roy of the Rovers. Now they can relive all the memorable moments from Roy's illustrious footballing career. From his debut as a fresh-faced teen in the comic Tiger, Roy became the hero of his own football comic; with league titles, cup finals, Wembley wins and much more; how he survived near-death experiences, became the first boys' hero to get married and just why the saying 'Real Roy of the Rovers stuff!' became a stock phrase for football commentators everywhere. Packed with photos from Roy's life, the book tells how he became a top celebrity of his day, how Sir Alf Ramsey was convinced to be Melchester manager, Geoffrey Boycott became chairman and even how the Duke of Edinburgh once came to write for Roy's comic!

Read more less

"Willie Leroy Rosenior - better known as Leroy Rosenior - is a former professional footballer, manager and now media commentator. Leroy's parents were born and raised in Sierra Leone before settling in Britain in the early 1950s and his story cuts across three generations of the Rosenior family. It's the story of an extrovert father who dealt with the racism - both everyday and life-threatening - with wit and charm; of a son who learned that keeping your head down was the best option for a black player in English professional football in the early Eighties when racism was rife; and his son Liam, who has followed his father into football and carved out a successful Premier League career. Laced with humorous anecdotes from Leroy's varied life and career, this book offers a deeply personal insight into the damaging effects of racism in football and in British society as a whole. At a time when football's administrators continue to fumble the ball on issues of discrimination, Leroy draws on his own experience - and that of other high-profile football personalities - to offer practical solutions.

Read more less

The 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.

Read more less

The 1960s heralded a golden age of players who wore the dark blue of Scotland. Law, Gilzean, Baxter, Greig and Johnstone are just some of the names still familiar to supporters today. Bookended by heavy defeats against the Auld Enemy, the decade witnessed just one other defeat in the annual fixture against England and contained both the most-celebrated and horrific of Wembley encounters. The '60s also included a brief spell with Jock Stein as manager and the only Scotland international to date to be decided in extra time. Valiant but ultimately failed World Cup campaigns included memorable matches against Italy, West Germany and Czechoslovakia; an embarrassing loss to the amateurs of Norway was offset by a six-goal spree in Spain a matter of days later. Set against the backdrop of the Swinging Sixties, Scotland in the 60s looks at each of the 64 matches played by the national side during the period and the consequences of those results. Extensive newspaper and video archive research is complemented by the memories of the players who took part and the reminiscences of supporters and journalists who were there.

Read more less

66 on 66 provides a unique perspective on what, 50 years on, remains the greatest occasion in English sporting history. Countless words have been written and spoken about this extraordinary match which made national heroes of the team and its manager. Yet this book eschews those men who sported the Three Lions that day and, instead, talks to dozens of other people who were present. For the first time, one book collects together the fans, the journalists, the celebrities, the musicians, the police officers, the ball boys and the officials who all witnessed that famous, wonderful match. Their stories are accompanied by newly-taken, world-class photographs making 66 on 66 the definitive record of England's World Cup glory.

Read more less

Glasgow Rangers began the year in the doldrums - and they stayed there for a good few months, struggling to make fifth spot in a ten-team league. That was until the dramatic events of Tuesday, 8 April 1986. From that day forward, Glasgow Rangers changed forever; Graeme Souness saw to that. Fresh from Serie A - which at that time was almost certainly the toughest league in the world - Souness came home to Scotland to become Rangers' player/manager; he took the club by the scruff of the neck and didn't stop shaking until he'd made them the best team in Scotland - and by some distance. He reversed the trend of the best Scottish players heading south to ply their trade in England, and encouraged the English trio of Terry Butcher, Chris Woods and Graham Roberts to head to Ibrox. It was the year Souness gave Rangers supporters back their swagger. With new insightful interviews with the key players, chief protagonists and those who were at the heart of the turnaround, 1986: The Rangers Revolution tells the full story of what happened at Ibrox in 1986, quite a year to be a Ranger!

Read more less

Drink, drugs, depression, sex scandals, financial meltdowns and serious health issues are just some of the fights British boxers have faced once they've quit the ring. A Champion's Last Fight examines just why and exactly how some of Britain's greatest boxers have self-destructed in retirement. It tells the stories of former world champions who have struggled in life away from the spotlights and the glare that comes with boxing success; delving into the post-boxing lives and tribulations of Benny Lynch, Randolph Turpin, Freddie Mills, Ken Buchanan, John Conteh, Alan Minter, Charlie Magri, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Naseem Hamed, Scott Harrison, Herbie Hide, Joe Calzaghe and Ricky Hatton. With interviews and new revelations, A Champion's Last Fight is an emotional journey through boxing history that examines the struggles many former champions experience after hanging up the gloves - and asks what, if anything, can be done to help the nation's boxing greats adjust to life away from the ring?

Read more less

Born in Dublin but raised in London, Alan Dunne spent nearly a quarter of a century with what became his home-town club of Millwall - and after almost 400 senior games left as a legend. Joining the youth set-up at the age of eight, he rose through the ranks to eventually become a player who epitomised the club, as his wholehearted approach resonated with the fans at the Den. Dunne It the Hard Way is a frank and honest insight into his life with the Lions, from making the worst of first impressions on a manager, to the heartbreak of being told he was no longer wanted in 2015, and plenty of highs and lows in between - including a broken promise ahead of Millwall's only ever appearance in the FA Cup Final. He also explains why his dad told him to leave home to save his career; why he was left to pay a team-mate's dental bills; how he was caught posing with a naked model holding a plate of toast; how the penny finally dropped, before it was too late; how he turned around a career which almost hit the skids to become such a firm favourite of the crowd that he was nearly immortalised in statue form; and he tells the story behind each of his record number of red cards!

Read more less

Swansea City Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Swans. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the Swans striker who was sent off after zero seconds? How about the keeper who played a full game up front? Or why Swansea City have a strange link with a bustling New York neighbourhood? Did you know that the Swans broke the record for the longest Premier League match ever? Which legendary manager penned his own book of sports-influenced poetry? And what a great fantasy team you can make up from all the Joneses that have played for the club? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Swans fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

Read more less

Got, Not Got: The Lost World of Tottenham Hotspur is an Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to White Hart Lane's fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mud and magic - as well as a Spurs-mad childhood of miniature tabletop games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. The book recalls a more innocent era of football, lingering longingly over relics from the good old days - Spurs stickers and petrol freebies, league ladders, big-match programmes and much more - revisiting lost football culture, treasures and pleasures that are 100 per cent Tottenham Hotspur. If you're a lifelong Spurs fan, one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from the Bill Nicholson era to the early days of the Premier League, then this is the book to recall the mavericks - Gascoigne, Greaves and Archibald; Hoddle, Mullery and Ardiles - and the marvels of the lost world of football.

Read more less

The Rugby World Cup has only been in existence since 1987, yet already it is established as the sport's premier competition - six weeks of frenzied action which entrances all the rugby-playing nations. The tournament has thrown up countless memorable matches, introduced us to amazing players and witnessed some incredible scores - from Michael Jones scoring the first World Cup try to the legendary All Blacks regaining the trophy in a titanic struggle with France 24 years later. In between we have witnessed two triumphs each for Australia and South Africa, and of course England's sole victory for a Northern Hemisphere side. To date. Relive France's spectacular wins over Australia and New Zealand; Argentina's repeated upsetting of the world order; last-minute drop goals by Joel Stransky and Jonny Wilkinson, and the sheer exuberance of the Pacific Islanders - in a Rugby World Cup history which will appeal to fans of every nation.

Read more less

How much do you really know about Manchester City? Put your Blues knowledge to the test with this bumper book of brainteaser quizzes and fascinating facts, beautifully illustrated by one of the world's leading sports artists. It's packed with trivia on all the Man City greats - from Meredith and Trautmann to Summerbee and Bell, from Mercer to Mancini and on to the Guardiola glory years - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Mike Summerbee once owned a fashion boutique with which Manchester United star? Can you name City's first Ukrainian-born player? Which former City striker voiced an ugly sister in Spanish versions of the Shrek movies? Whose '23' City squad number was retired following his death on international duty? Which goalkeeper broke a finger in a game against Bury, played on at centre-forward and scored? Trivquiz Manchester City holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.

Read more less

Ron Saunders is the one manager in over a century to guide Aston Villa to English football's summit. The Odd Man Out is an exhaustive account of how he did so. How he took the Midlanders to promotion from the old Division Two in his first season. How he created and dismantled arguably the most exciting Villa side of modern times - one that inflicted Liverpool's heaviest defeat of the entire 1970s. How he achieved two League Cup triumphs in three years, including a three-game final with Everton that will remain the longest in history. How he battled with 'Deadly' Doug Ellis - and won! Then, how he fell out with and ultimately sold fans' favourite Andy Gray and replaced him with a journeyman striker in Peter Withe, before steering the club to its first league title in 71 years. It also explores the mystery of his sudden resignation with Villa on the brink of European Cup glory, joining their bitterest rivals only nine days later. Saunders's tough-guy reputation has overshadowed his achievements. The Odd Man Out casts a whole lot more light upon them.

Read more less

The Football Fans Quizbook is the ultimate test of all-round football knowledge. With over 1000 questions covering domestic, international, Continental, and world competition, some questions are straightforward, some are hard and others cunningly cryptic. Ideal for family, friends, or fellow fans on that tension-filled journey to a crucial away game, The Football Fans Quizbook will always give fans' brains a taxing workout!

Read more less

Ipswich Town On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the Tractor Boys' illustrious past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable blue-and-white diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From Town's Victorian formation through to the Premier League era, the Portman Road faithful have witnessed promotions and relegations, League and Cup triumphs, hard-fought derbies and unforgettable European nights - all featured here. All-time greats including John Wark and Ray Crawford, Billy Baxter, Arnold Muhren and Mick Mills all loom larger than life. Revisit 18 January 1969: Bobby Robson's first game in charge, a 2-2 draw away at Everton. 30 October 1926: Barclays Bank beat Town 3-1 at Portman Road, the game being held up to clear an invasion of rats. Or 20 May 1981: The night that Town won the Uefa Cup in Amsterdam!

Read more less

1966 legend Sir Geoff Hurst is the only footballer in history to score a World Cup final hat-trick. To mark his 80th birthday, he has named the 80 sportsmen who most inspired and motivated him throughout his life. Sir Geoff, who scored 24 goals in 49 England games, also had a talent for cricket, and has an in-depth knowledge of all the major sports. His A to Z of sporting heroes covers multiple sports and decades, from Muhammad Ali to Zinedine Zidane. The book is filled with surprising facts, and Sir Geoff challenges you to count how many times you exclaim, 'I didn't know that!' when reading his entertaining and enlightening breakdown on his sporting idols. Writing in collaboration with renowned sports historian Norman Giller, who reported Sir Geoff's West Ham debut in 1960, Hurst personalises each profile with anecdotes that offer a unique insight into the individual. Pitch Publishing are planning a similar book on the greatest post-war sportswomen, but for now enjoy Sir Geoff Hurst discussing his 80 greatest sportsmen.

Read more less

Marcelo Bielsa vs The Damned United is a fan's account of two extraordinary seasons at Leeds United, which culminated in the club's return to the Premier League after a 16-year exile. Bielsa, one of the most revered managers in world football, quickly transformed a mediocre group of players into would-be title winners and raced to the top of the Championship.But his biggest foe was the very club he had come to save, a club where controversy and calamity are never far away. The controversial 'Spygate' saga derailed the seasonand the team collapsed at the finish line in heartbreaking and calamitous fashion. The following season Bielsa faced more controversy, more chaos, and just as his team reached the finish line again, along came a global pandemic.This book captures the essence of a unique football genius, and the trials and tribulations of a long-suffering fan base - in love with their manager, electrified by his football and often deranged by a rollercoaster two-year promotion race.

Read more less

During a stellar 20-year career punctuated by the Second World War, such was Tommy Lawton's prowess in front of goal he was a magnet for spectators at a host of top-level clubs. Prior to the war, he served Burnley and Everton with distinction; enlisted to the British army for the war effort, he guested for a host of clubs. After VE Day he maintained his career average of more than one goal every other game - with Everton, Chelsea, Notts County, Brentford, as player manager, and Arsenal; before another spell as player boss at Kettering. In 46 England games either side of the war and including wartime fixtures, he plundered 46 goals. Those impressive stats would surely be even more so but for the war. Deadly in the air or with either foot, and renowned for his sportsmanship - he was never booked throughout his career - Head and Shoulders Above the Rest is an ode to a swashbuckling centre-forward and the man Stanley Matthews described as: 'Quite simply, the greatest header of the ball I ever saw.'

Read more less

Hats, Handwraps and Headaches is the inspiring, surprising and sometimes shocking story of Irish boxing coach Paddy Fitzpatrick, a failed pro boxer who was almost a Foreign Legionary before finding fame as a trainer of world-class fighters. After struggling as a young adult and attempting suicide, Paddy's life was transformed by a chance meeting with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. Paddy moved to LA to learn his trade at Roach's Wild Card gym, working with the likes of world champions James Toney and Laila Ali, and spending time with Laila's legendary father Muhammad Ali. Back in England, Paddy used the things he had learnt to take George Groves to three world title fights, including the return super-fight with Carl Froch, which drew 80,000 fans to Wembley Stadium. Filled with astonishing anecdotes - like the time Paddy took shots from a Heavyweight contender and a near-miss with a grizzly bear - Hats, Handwraps and Headaches is funny and poignant in equal measure, with riveting tales from both sides of the Atlantic.

Read more less

The King of White Hart Lane is the authorised life story of Alan Gilzean, the legendary, world-class Tottenham Hotspur, Dundee and Scotland footballer. Exclusive insights provided by his family, closest friends and colleagues add to the author's own experience to reveal Gilzean, the man and the player. A reserved, charming and intelligent individual who shunned the limelight off the field, Gilzean played with a swagger as a maker and taker of goals, especially alongside Jimmy Greaves at Spurs. We discover how the native of the Perthshire town of Coupar Angus became one of the greatest performers in the history of both his clubs. Gilzean emerged a Scottish folk hero having scored the winning goal against England in front of 133,000 at Hampden Park - and was later welcomed back with open arms by the game after ending a self-imposed exile during which the uninformed conjured often defamatory myths. The elegant striker dubbed 'Nureyev in Boots' left us on Sunday, 8 July 2018. There will never be another like him.

Read more less

From Triumph to Tragedy is the glorious, uplifting but ultimately tragic story of Chapecoense, the small-town Brazilian football club that made worldwide news following their meteoric rise from non-league to continental sensation. Yet the headlines that will be remembered centre on the air disaster en route to what should have been their greatest ever match. Less than ten years after the local mayor had intervened to save the club from liquidation, Associacao Chapecoense de Futebol had become champions of the Santa Catarina State Championship. At the summit of the Brazilian national league structure, they also qualified sensationally for the final of the Copa Sul Americana. The team of rejects and journeymen became heroes not just in their own city, but also to the whole nation. But the final was never to take place, as tragedy struck to render all those triumphant nights insignificant. Could the club now stage one more incredible recovery to allow Era Chape to continue, rather than to accept their fate as the tragic team beloved in fans' memories?

Read more less

Michael Knighton is one of the most notable football entrepreneurs of his generation. Thirty years ago he arrived on the scene at Manchester United, bearing the revolutionary gift of ideas for the transformation of the club's fortunes. Visionary tells the inside story of his time at Old Trafford - a crucial, incendiary era in United's history. Knighton is popularly known as the man who very nearly bought Manchester United for the giveaway price of GBP10 million. Ultimately, he spurned the opportunity to complete the purchase, opting instead to join the board and watch as his radical ideas for a commercial revolution were put into action. Visionary argues the case for Knighton as the architect of the richest football club and greatest sporting brand on the planet - and that it was Knighton's unacknowledged axis with Alex Ferguson that enabled a paradigm shift in United's fortunes on the field of play, leading to unparalleled glories. Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph called Michael's tale 'one of the great football stories of our time'.

Read more less

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

Read more less

On 10 February 1981 Coventry City stood 29 minutes from Wembley in the League Cup semi-final second leg at West Ham United's Upton Park. Victories over Manchester United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Cambridge United and Watford had taken Gordon Milne's side to the first semi-final in the club's 97-year history. City's youngsters missed out on a trip to Wembley in the cruellest of circumstances after a fantastic first leg at Highfield Road in front of 36,000 fans. For the first time, the cast of 1981 are reunited to tell their stories. 29 Minutes From Wembley features exclusive interviews with players, management, supporters and opposition stars. Contemporary media reports appear alongside memories and retrospectives to recall a wonderful time in Sky Blue history, the team's age averaging just 21. By the summer of 1983 the majority had left the club; here, they tell their individual stories of their time at Coventry City, a club still close to their hearts after all these years. Just how good could that team have been?

Read more less

In 1962, Jimmy Adamson had the world at his feet: FA Cup finalist, Footballer of the Year and invited to become England manager. But Adamson said 'no'. Having foreseen Burnley as the 'Team of the Seventies', controversy and disillusionment soon saw Adamson turn his back on the game. The story of an enigma, of broken dreams and what might have been.

Read more less

Fifty 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.

Read more less

From the thousands of matches ever played by Manchester United, stretching from their roots as Newton Heath to the present-day colossus that has racked up more league titles and FA Cups to their name than any other club, here are 50 of United's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Manchester United Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in everything from the dark days of Munich to the unmatched League/FA Cup/Champions League Treble. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Tommy Taylor, Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton, George Best, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes - springs to life in a thrilling selection of hard-fought derby matches, landmark European nights, and league and cup exploits. In all, a journey through the highlights of United history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

Read more less

Fourteen Ashes legends come together to tell the stories behind their most thrilling triumphs in the historic series - enabling cricket fans to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men in the middle of the field, playing their hearts out for England and Australia in one of the sporting world's most intense rivalries. All the drama and intrigue of more than half a century of Ashes action is captured, from Sir Donald Bradman in the 1940s via Geoffrey Boycott and Jeff Thomson, Merv Hughes and Mark Taylor and into the new millennium, recreating all the excitement of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath taking on Michael Vaughan's England. Each player winds back the clock to reveal the tension, controversy, sledging, humour and passion involved in pursuit of glory - and the true cricketing greatness which can only ever be grasped within an Ashes series.

Read more less

From the thousands of matches ever played by Wolverhampton Wanderers, stretching from the foundation of the Football League across more than 120 years to the Premier League era, here are 100 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, Wolves' Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in the club's four victorious FA Cup runs, the floodlit games which helped establish European competition and later League Cup wins. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Billy Wright, John Richards and Jackery Jones, Derek Dougan, Steve Bull and Ron Flowers - springs to life in a thrilling selection of hard-fought derby matches, European highs and triumphant seasons in all four English league divisions. In all, a journey through the highlights of Wolves history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

Read more less

Charlton Athletic Miscellany collects together all the most vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Addicks. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts - Heard the one about Edwardian fans brandishing fishes on sticks at 'Haddocks' matches? Or the 'League Liner' away trip whose price included a dolphins' football match between Brighton and Charlton? What about the 1965 match when the referee and captains agreed to mime the toss-up? Do you know when The Valley hosted its record attendance of 75,031? Or a striptease stag night to boost a midfielder's testimonial fund? Or which manager turned down the club to run a sweetshop? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of Charlton Athletic's history close to their heart.

Read more less

Leeds 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 Whites diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's formation from the ruins of Leeds City in 1919 through to the Premier League era, the Elland Road faithful have witnessed League and Cup triumphs, hard-fought grudge matches, European adventures and heartbreak - all featured here. Timeless greats such as Billy Bremner, John Charles and Lucas Radebe, Tony Yeboah, Peter Lorimer and Gordon Strachan all loom larger than life. Revisit 25th April 1963, when Jack Charlton debuted against Doncaster, the first of a record 773 appearances. 28th May 1975: when Leeds took on Bayern Munich and were robbed of European Cup victory. Or 26th April 1992: the first League title in 18 years!

Read more less

Oldham 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 diary of Latics history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian formation through to the Premier League era, the Boundary Park faithful have witnessed championships, promotions and relegations, hard-fought Lancashire derbies, breathtaking Cup runs, a Wembley trip and a re-election saga - all featured here. All-time greats including Eric Gemmell and Andy Ritchie, Bobby Johnstone, Roger Palmer and Andy Goram all loom larger than life. Revisit 10 April 1994, when the Latics were 13 minutes away from winning the League Cup. 24 April 1915: a 2-0 defeat by Liverpool that left Oldham runners-up in the League. Or 25 October 1989, when at one point the scoreboard read Frankie Bunn 6 Scarborough 0!

Read more less

Endorsed by the club, written by Eagles aficionado Neil McSteen, and with a foreword by club legend Geoff Thomas, Crystal Palace On This Day chronicles, in diary form, the major events in the club's history: such as the heady days of the epic FA Cup run in 1990, masterminded by Steve Coppell and spearheaded by Ian Wright and Mark Bright; or the dramas of various promotions to the top flight of English football. With individual entries for every day, and multiple listings for more historic and busier days, the book is a dip-in, dip-out offering and includes all the club's big matches, promotions, cup runs, significant events, and sensational signings. Packed with Palace history, it is a must for all Selhurst Park goers.

Read more less

Packed with essential information and fully updated for 2014, The Golfer's Manual is the perfect reference book to have on the bookshelf or in your golf bag. It includes advice on the rules, on scoring, handicapping and etiquette; there's a hints and tips section, and a glossary of golfing terms. What is your driver's swing weight, and its Coefficient of Restitution? When is it permissible to remove stones near your ball in a bunker? What if your opponent accidentally plays your ball in stroke play? If you don't already know, then it's probably time you found out how a Daytona and a stableford greensome work - as well as how to locate your nearest point of maximum available relief! The Golfer's Manual is a comprehensive and thought-provoking guide aimed at golfers of all levels, but will be particularly helpful to beginners and novices.

Read more less

A 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run make up the Ironman triathlon. It's not for the faint-hearted. What possesses an overweight, thirty-something librarian who can't swim, doesn't own a bike and has two dodgy knees to take on the hardest one-day endurance race in the world? Can't Swim, Can't Ride, Can't Run is the story of Andy Holgate's inspirational, epic and life-changing journey to become an Ironman. Lubricant, alligators, rubber suits, blisters, pirates, extreme weather, Elvis, tragedy, romance, flesh-eating amoebas, crashes, hospital visits and perhaps the most unusual stag weekend in history all play a part in this amusing and moving tale of one normal bloke's quest to arrive at his wedding intact. Oh yeah, that's right, Andy is due to get married seven days after the biggest physical challenge of his life. Will he make it down the aisle in one piece?

Read more less