Search results for ""Pitch Publishing Ltd""

Racing Post's Unforgettable Moments Wall Calendar 2024 features stunning and evocative racing photos from the Racing Post archives taken by their award-winning photographers. These full-colour images will stir up memories from racing’s history for all fans of the sport.The calendar features one month to view and includes the most up-to-date race meeting information in the UK and Ireland at the time of publication, and highlights the key races each month.

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Batting for Time: The Fight to Keep English Cricket Alive is the exploration of a sport in existential crisis. In a rapidly changing sporting and social landscape, county cricket - an institution whose history spans more than 150 years - finds itself confronted with the most uncertain period in its long history. The proliferation of lucrative global franchise leagues has threatened to leave behind a member-owned English structure deep-rooted in the Victorian era. Pitting traditionalists against modernisers, and romantics against pragmatists, the need for change has sparked a host of civil wars, creating deep divisions among those who care for the English game.Using the 2023 season as a backdrop, Batting for Time explores the precarious state of English cricket, asking what it is we expect from our domestic game, who it primarily exists for and where things might go in the future. What must English cricket do to survive?

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Formula One On This Day revisits the sport's most magical and memorable moments, mixing in a maelstrom of anecdotes and characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary with an entry for every day of the year. Revisit the day in 1955 when Alberto Ascari took an unplanned dip in Monaco harbour along with his Lancia, the race that saw Taki Inoue tangling with the course marshal's car, and Nigel Mansell's unlikely first win for Ferrari! Chock-full of events that will make you laugh, cry or shake your head in disbelief, Formula One On This Day has been painstakingly researched. It features a treasure trove of original stories and titbits that create a snapshot of the diverse and often bizarre world of top-class motor racing. This book is a must for every motorsport fan. So, strap in and get set for a high-octane ride through F1 history.

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We''re Going to Wembley is the fascinating tale of how a team that was written off after failing to qualify for USA 94 came roaring back to restore Scotland's football credibility by reaching the Euro 96 finals.Having earned plaudits for their efforts at Euro 92 in Sweden, Scotland went into decline during the next 18 months, culminating in the disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign for USA 94, which saw manager Andy Roxburgh depart and the gradual break-up of the squad.Roxburgh's assistant, Craig Brown, took the hotseat, plus the daunting task of rebuilding faith in the side. Although the squad no longer possessed genuine world-class talents such as Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness, they had a remarkable team spirit that would carry them to the finals, and provide a dream ticket to Wembley to face the Auld Enemy.We''re Going to Wembley is the inside story of that rollercoaster ride, told through interviews with Brown, his players, jou

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In 1894 a group of friends had an idea and it led to the creation of Ajax, a football club for the people of Amsterdam. More than one hundred years later and that club has become an institution for youth development, a school of ideas that underpins the modern game and a club synonymous with the Total Football ideal.The Dutch superpower created a way of playing that is now accepted as the norm by European titans AC Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United - as well as a host of national teams.The Ajax Way tells the full history of the club while looking at the reaches of Total Football: the way of playing perfected by Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. It traces the club''s rise as a social hub for the people of Amsterdam to the creation of a team that would win three consecutive European Cups in the early 1970s; and added a fourth in 1995 under Louis Van Gaal.It reveals a host of footballing greats -

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One sporting image stands out as the most divisive and controversial in English football history: the sight of the England team making the Nazi salute in Berlin on 14 May 1938. This book examines how and why England''s footballers made a gesture that would haunt them for the rest of their days.To Hitler, England''s Nazi salute in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin, was a political victory. For the British government, it was passed off as a mere act of sporting courtesy.Salute explores botched British diplomacy, using sport as propaganda during the 1930s while pretending to do the opposite. Fascist dictators worked as overt and clinical propagandists. The book charts the political flashpoints of the 1930s, as English football established international relations with the fascist states of Italy and Germany. But it includes a tale of redemption: how one of the England players making the Nazi salute then rescued one of the fans watching him, a teenage German-Jewish

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Euro 1984 tells the fascinating story of perhaps the greatest of all European Championships: one that was barely covered on UK television, after none of the home nations qualified. It was a footballing summer that thrilled so many with wonderful displays of attacking football and iconic matches, featuring majestic players.The story begins with a wealth of captivating stories which emerged through the qualifying stage: dramatic tales of success, failure and controversy which all combine to add to the allure of this greatest of tournaments.The finals played out in France, at a time when the European Championship was still in its infancy as an eight-team tournament. It proved a watershed for the competition, as great games in wonderful stadiums captured the imagination across the continent; at a time when idealism still prevailed over pragmatism, when adventurous football was rewarded.Euro 1984 r

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Shankly, My Dad and Me is the fascinating story of Gordon Milne, one of Bill Shankly’s first and most important Anfield signings, who played a key part in transforming Liverpool into a footballing dynasty. Moulded by his footballing father, Gordon was a successful player, manager and administrator at home and abroad. He played with, for, worked alongside and managed some of football’s most legendary names: Finney, Moore, Mortensen, Greaves and Lineker to name a few. Capped 14 times by Sir Alf Ramsey, he narrowly missed out on selection for the World Cup-winning squad in 1966. But this book is not about games, goals or medals; for Gordon, facts and figures remain secondary. Instead, this enthralling account spans six decades of an incredible journey through the game and his encounters along the way. From Preston to Newcastle via Liverpool, Blackpool, Wigan, Coventry, Leicester, Turkey and Japan, Gordon recounts his tale with honesty, humility and humour – while remaining eternally grateful for a bout of glandular fever! With forewords by Mark Lawrenson and Gary Lineker.

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Filipe d'Avillez takes us on a fascinating journey into the colourful world of the Portuguese Cup. Each year the country's top teams battle it out hoping to reach the cup final held at Jamor: Portugal's equivalent of Wembley Stadium. The book provides a unique window into the footballing culture of a country that lives and breathes the beautiful game. Starting with the away supporters of Graciosa, Filipe then follows the exploits of fans from Casa Pia, Angrense, Tondela, Leixoes and the previous year's winners, Aves, before focusing on the famed Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting - a match which divides the nation, whole families and even couples. Filipe's quest culminates with the Jamor experience. Sited amid a dense forest, the stadium is swamped by fans on cup final day. Hordes of them sing and drink in sweltering heat as pigs roast on skewers and ticketless families picnic around camper vans. One Thousand Miles to Jamor immerses the reader deep within the customs and culture of a truly football-mad country.

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They called Max Baer the 'Clown Prince of Boxing', but trainer Ray Arcel remembered a night in 1933 when he worked Baer's corner in what was probably Max's greatest triumph, the night he smashed Max Schmeling to defeat in ten brutal rounds. That was no clown. A year later, Baer was heavyweight champion of the world. New York loved the handsome Californian. Broadway was his playground and he was never short of playmates; his manager Ancil Hoffman often settling some breach-of-promise suit brought by a leggy blonde showgirl. A natural for Hollywood. Radio and vaudeville engagements brought in $250,000. From a $4 a day foundry worker, Baer's rise was rapid. He bought so many suits he couldn't keep track of them; wore a new hat every week; bought a house like a hotel. Arcel cried like a baby when he read in the New York Times that Max had died from a heart attack in November 1959. Baer was just 50 years old. This is the fascinating story of an iconic boxing figure who achieved so much in a life too short.

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From 1981 to 1986, Pakistani squash great Jahangir Khan went undefeated to herald the longest unbeaten run in world sport until his streak came to an end at the 1986 World Championships. In the 30th anniversary year to mark his unmatched run, Jahangir Khan 555: The Untold Story Behind Squash's Invincible Champion and Sport's Greatest Unbeaten Run dissects his early upbringing, how the then 17-year-old embarked on the five-year run following the tragic death of his brother, the pressure he ultimately faced to succeed from an expectant Pakistani nation and the extent his rivals went to even to win a game off this remarkable squash genius. The book will also reveal the myth behind his magical mark of 555 unbeaten matches, and why the record books will have to be rewritten.

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To Cap It All is the enthralling life story of legendary Port Vale manager John Rudge, providing special behind-the-scenes insight into the ups and downs of six decades of professional football, from the depths of the Division Four re-election zone to the Premier League and Europe. Rudge managed the Valiants for a record 19 years, developing players like Robbie Earle, Mark Bright and Ian Taylor. As Vale slayed giants such as Spurs, Southampton and Everton, Rudge became a style icon famous for his flat cap. He moved to city rivals Stoke in 1999 to become director of football and oversaw the club's revival to reach the Premier League and their first ever FA Cup final. But it wasn't all plain sailing. John describes his volatile relationship with Vale chairman Bill Bell and speaks out about Stoke's Icelandic owners and manager Johan Boskamp, who had Rudge put on garden leave. This hilarious memoir also reveals why a second-hand Lada changed John's life, how he once signed a drag artist and why he ended up in Denis Law's bed!

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The King Takes Over: Liverpool and the Dalglish Years 1985–1991 is a fast-paced and nostalgic account of a time when Liverpool were the best team in the land, and played a brilliant style of football still talked about more than 30 years on. It is the story of how Liverpool’s greatest player became one of its greatest managers. Taking a wistful look back at the glory years of 1985–1991, the book revisits the great games and goals of the Kenny Dalglish era. It examines the circumstances of the Heysel tragedy and how Dalglish became Liverpool’s first player-manager in the darkest period in both the club and the city’s history, amid the chaos wrought by Thatcher’s government. How did the Hillsborough disaster impact Dalglish, the club, players and fans? How did John Barnes, the first black player signed by Liverpool, overcome racism from the terraces to become a legend in red? Why did the Reds not win the championship for 30 years after 1990? What were the real circumstances behind Dalglish’s shock resignation in 1991?

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When the Sky Was Blue celebrates Coventry City’s nine-season adventure in the Premier League, from founder members to relegation, through a compelling array of brand-new interviews with managers, players and other key figures from the time. While not the most glamorous club to have played in the division, few can match the Sky Blues for madcap tales. This book tells those stories through the memories of those who were there. Hear how Bobby Gould’s decision to hold pre-season in an army barracks led to near-death experiences and career-ending injury. Savour the glitz and glamour of Ron Atkinson’s whirlwind spell at Highfield Road. Relive Gordon Strachan making Robbie Keane Britain’s most expensive teenager. Oh, and there’s also those heart-stopping relegation battles, FA Cup heartbreak and the time Coventry City became ‘The Entertainers’.

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Inside Diego is an intimate portrait of the greatest footballer of all time, from the person in football who knew him best. As Diego Maradona's personal trainer, Fernando Signorini spent more than a decade at the superstar's side, witnessing a dizzying array of highs and lows, from helping Diego recuperate from a broken ankle in 1983 to his dramatic exit from the 1994 World Cup after a failed drugs test. Signorini offers a unique perspective on the troubled legend, giving us the lowdown not only on Diego's evolution as an athlete, but on Diego the human being, a far cry from the character we saw on TV screens. He brings us the inside track on Maradona's preparation for three World Cups: Mexico 86, Italia 90 and USA 94. We also get an insider view on his battles with fame, drugs and extramarital paternity, plus his time in charge of the Argentine national team. Brimming with incredible stories and anecdotes, Inside Diego is an intensely personal rollercoaster account of a flawed football genius.

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Got That Lovin’ Feelin’ is the enthralling story of Nottingham Forest’s emotional return to the Premier League under Steve Cooper in 2022. It charts the promotions, relegations, financial problems and missed opportunities that made Forest’s journey back to the big time such a compelling one. Cooper’s side’s thrilling and unexpected promotion campaign put an end to 23 years outside the top flight. In those lean times, Forest frequently became a byword for decline on the pitch and madness in the boardroom. The book features opinions and insights from those who worked on the pitch, in the dugout and in the corridors of power. It also tells the story of Forest’s first season back in the big time, through the eyes of fans, players and pundits – all the while exploring what it means to be connected to this grand, historic and pioneering club. From Frank Clark’s European dreamers to Cooper’s play-off winners, this is Forest’s roller-coaster ride of a story.

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A group of volunteers begged, borrowed and remortgaged a house on their way to convincing FIFA to hand them the keys to the 1994 World Cup. When they got the green light, the USA was tasked with presenting the greatest show on earth to a nation of non-believers, with a press corps just waiting for them to fail. Six years later, the country famed for its glitz, glamour and razzmatazz delivered a glorious summer of memorable kits and billowing goal nets, confounding the doubters as they shattered attendance records and drew fans in their millions. The full-throttle journey to the global phenomenon that football is today had begun. It was a tale of two missed penalties, a car chase, internal politics, triumph and tragedy in equal measure. Heroes were born, dreams were shattered and for many life would never be the same. If Italia 90 unlocked the door to the modern game, then USA 94 kicked it open and nailed it to the wall. The revolution was here, and it was televised.

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A Nation Again is the chaotic tale of the Scotland men's team's return to a major tournament after more than 20 years in the wilderness. Ten major tournaments had come and gone for Scotland since they reached France '98, but the birth of UEFA's Nations League offered a new route to glory. In early 2018, after a long search for Gordon Strachan's replacement, Alex McLeish became manager for a second time. But despite successfully navigating the Nations League group stage, it wasn't plain sailing, and his tenure ended after a shocking defeat at the start of Euro 2020 qualifying. With a play-off semi-final on the horizon, the Scottish FA turned to Steve Clarke, who took on the challenge of inspiring a team rooted in failure, creating a band-of-brothers mentality and figuring out how to organise this incredibly talented group of players. From a couple of the lowest lows came the highest high. With exclusive memories of those who were part of the journey, this is the story of how Scotland finally became a nation again.

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West Ham United: From East End Family to Globalised Fandom is the story of the evolution of West Ham. It charts how a works football team was transformed into a club that represented east London's working classes, only to be transformed again in the late 20th and early 21st centuries into a global brand with supporters in every habitable place on Earth. Starting as the Thames Ironworks Ltd works team, they changed their name to West Ham United in 1900, shortly before moving to the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park. For nearly a century they were supported by local working-class men from across the East End of London until a series of economic, social, cultural, geographical and technological changes brought the club a global fanbase. Through surveying West Ham United fan groups across the world, this book attempts to explain this phenomenon and to get a sense of what the club means to those who originally came from the East End, as well as to those who have no biographical connection to the area.

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How much do you really know about West Ham United? Put your Hammers 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 West Ham greats - from World Cup heroes Moore, Hurst and Peters to Hammers legends Bonds, Brooking and beyond - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Which West Ham manager played in a rock band called Rawbau? Who was West Ham's first non-British manager? A statue erected near the Boleyn Ground, honouring the Hammers' 1966 World Cup heroes, also includes which Everton player? Fan favourite Clyde Best was born in which country? Trivquiz West Ham United holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.

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Real Madrid On This Day revisits the most magical and memorable moments from the club's glorious past, mixing in a maelstrom of anecdotes and characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of one of the world's greatest football institutions - with an entry for every day of the year. From its foundation to the golden era of Di Stefano and Puskas, through the 'hippy years' to their ups and downs on the path to European Cup domination, the modern embodiment of Madridismo, the hard-fought El Clasico derbies against Barcelona and the Galacticos era - it's all here. Revisit 24 July 2000 when Luis Figo infamously joined the club from Barcelona, 4 January 1955 when the stadium changed its name in honour of club president Santiago Bernabeu, and 19 June 1943 when they annihilated Barcelona 11-1 in a Spanish Cup semi-final. With a treasure trove of club history, trivia and facts, this book is a 'must' for all Real Madrid fans.

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In June 2018 Leeds United made an appointment that shocked the footballing world. Despite being stuck in the second tier of English football and tagged the Championship's perennial chokers, they attracted one of the most revered coaches in world football. What followed captivated the hearts and minds of Leeds United's legion of passionate supporters worldwide. Marcelo Bielsa has crafted a team in his image, a team that plays in an almost bewildering attacking style with fluidity across the pitch. Leeds have become synonymous with exciting, attacking, vertical football and this style has seen them promoted back to the Premier League. Professional football analyst Lee Scott explains how, breaking down the tactics that have made Leeds so successful during Bielsa's time. He shows just how they occupy spaces and overload defences; how they press and cut off passing lanes to deny the opposition space to attack in the defensive phase; and more than that, he delves into Bielsa's mindset, to explain what makes the Argentine mastermind tick.

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King Klopp: Rebuilding the Liverpool Dynasty is the story behind Jurgen Klopp's success at Liverpool. Since Klopp's appointment as head coach in October 2015, the club has grown exponentially, swiftly becoming the dominant force in English and European football. But how was the team's rebirth achieved in just a few short years? Experienced football scout and opposition analyst Lee Scott takes an in-depth look at the tactical concepts underpinning Liverpool's success - revealing who does what, how and why. Discover the secrets of the game model developed by Klopp as well as the roles of key players in realising his master plan. Never afraid to experiment, Klopp has refined his game model year on year to the point where Liverpool dominate through their control of space as much as through their pressing and intensity. It's been some ride for Liverpool fans, but beyond the silverware and marquee wins lies an even more intriguing story - the story of a tactical evolution.

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A Life Behind the Lens is a collection of the very best work of Richard `Dickie' Pelham, the multi award-winning chief sports photographer of The Sun for the past 30 years. He has covered six Olympic Games, six World Cups, any number of Test matches and many championship boxing bouts, capturing the moments of triumph and despair, the great goals, the knockout punches, the key wickets and the gold-medal glory. He has been trackside, ringside, pitchside and poolside as well as in the studio and on the training grounds with the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Andy Murray, Paul Gascoigne, David Beckham, Tom Daley, Lennox Lewis and Anthony Joshua. His pictures have featured on memorable front and back pages and centre spreads. The images are accompanied by Dickie's own recounting of the human stories behind the pictures and the technical secrets of a master of his trade.

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In the early 80s, 20 black West Indian cricketers were paid more than $100,000 each to take part in rebel tours of apartheid South Africa. Some, such as Lawrence Rowe and Alvin Kallicharran, were household names in the Caribbean and around the world, while others were fringe players seeking a short cut out of poverty. All would be condemned by the international cricketing fraternity. Accused of pocketing 'blood money' in order to prop up a regime that systematically discriminated against people of their own colour, they were banned for life from playing the sport they loved. In many cases, they were shunned by their fellow countrymen. A few turned to drugs and gangs, some turned to God - and others found themselves begging on the streets and dealing with mental illness. Forgotten and neglected for close to four decades, The Unforgiven tells their often-tragic stories through face-to-face interviews that explore the human cost of an onerous decision made early in these young men's lives.

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The 1970s saw a change in the fortunes of the Scottish national side. After a gap of 16 years World Cup qualification was achieved for the finals in West Germany in 1974. Credited as the only undefeated side at the tournament, the sobering trip to Argentina four years later prompted more realistic future expectations. In a decade in which the SFA celebrated its centenary, the scandal of the Copenhagen Five and a breakdown in relations between the press and players were significant events - while, on the park, players of the calibre of Dalglish, Hartford, Jordan, Souness and McQueen replaced the old guard. Scotland in the 70s looks beyond the decade's 89 matches, examining the role of the managers - Brown, Docherty, Ormond, MacLeod, Stein - and the circumstances surrounding the many memorable games. Extensive newspaper and video archive research is complemented by the memories of star contributors including Bobby Brown, Archie MacPherson, Asa Hartford, Eddie Gray, Willie Morgan, Willie Johnston, Lou Macari, Bobby Clark, Jimmy Bone and John Blackley.

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At 34 years of age, Gregory Howe quit teaching in London to chase his childhood dream of becoming a world-ranked tennis professional. He started his year-long journey in the minor leagues, playing across four continents, as far afield as Bangkok, Kampala and Lahore, initially struggling against younger, fitter aspiring pros. Breaking through to the elite ATP tour, he got within volleying distance of some of the greats of the modern game. Eventually, he managed to juggle competing on the ATP tour with holding down a nine-to-five job. Along the way he encountered almost everything the tennis world has to offer, from rising stars racing to the top, to players whose hopes are slowly being shattered. Chasing Points: A Season on the Men's Pro Tennis Circuit offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a touring tennis professional from the perspective of a real 'underdog'.

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From the controversy that surrounded Aberdeen FC's first cup semi-final, through the triumphant European golden era of the 80s to their long-awaited return to glory with their League Cup win in 2014, here are 50 of the club's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all. Aberdeen's isolation as a northerly football outpost has helped to forge their own remarkable story, as reflected in the games covered in this book. The Dons have a rich 115-year history that has been defined by their achievements on foreign shores rather than by battling local rivals. An irresistible cast list of club legends - manager Alex Ferguson, Gordon Strachan and Joe Harper, Willie Miller, Jim Leighton and Duncan Shearer - comes to life in these thrilling tales of goalscoring feats, Hampden glory and triumphs on foreign fields. As the club enters a new era, with relocation from their spiritual home of Pittodrie edging ever closer, Aberdeen Greatest Games reflects on unforgettable moments in the club's history that are guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

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Sociedad Deportiva Eibar is the Basque side from a passionate football town one-third the size of the Camp Nou. Eibar the Brave tells the amazing Cinderella story of La Liga's smallest club, which has seen Barcelona and Real Madrid playing top-tier football at Ipurua, the 5000-capacity stadium that Eibar calls home. Promotion-party pitch invasions are not uncommon; but the night of 25 May 2014 saw a promotion with a difference, involving a wildly unorthodox club. There weren't enough fans to cover the pitch. The celebration was 45 minutes after the final whistle. The team was wearing their away kit despite having played at home. And Eibar could still potentially be relegated! Having followed Eibar and witnessed the madness first-hand, Euan McTear documents the club's first season in La Liga and discusses all the pieces put into place over the years to make 2014/15 a season like no other.

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Popular tent-folded, wiro-bound desk calendar featuring one month to view with every race meeting in the UK and Ireland – Jumps, Flat and the All-Weather. Also includes principal race and bloodstock sales dates. Every month is illustrated with a superb colour photograph the Racing Post’s award-winning photographer Edward Whitaker.

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Edinburgh On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the city's fascinating history, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Edinburgh diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From the important decisions that have moulded the city's very appearance to the 'white elephants' that promised much but faded into obscurity; from famous events and sporting triumphs to near-farcical court cases - here are the people, crimes, pollution, crises, murders, battles, strikes, pubs, tragedies, scandals, newspapers, bands, footballers, politicians and royals that have shaped this incredible city's history. Edinburgh is a city of culture, music and innovation, a city of sport and new beginnings, a city of education and spirituality. Read Edinburgh On This Day, and you'll discover hundreds of things you never knew you needed to know about Scotland's historical, mysterious and inspirational capital.

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Burnley's league title victory of 1960 remains one of the most remarkable feats in the history of English football, the club the smallest ever to win its premier title, on a relatively modest budget. Never Had It So Good reveals how Burnley's amazing title triumph was achieved - and how very different life was for a footballer in those bygone days.

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Wings of Steel tells of Iain Paterson's quest to uncover the story of his great uncle, a football star before World War I with Motherwell, Sheffield Wednesday and Scotland - once described as the best outside-left in Britain. Among the treasured mementoes inherited from his late grandmother was a shoebox full of photographs of family and friends long departed - the most fascinating being those of an unknown young man in vintage football kit sporting a Scottish cap dated 1910. As Iain discovered, his mother's older brother was Motherwell's first international player, the man responsible for Sheffield Wednesday becoming known as the Owls - and the figure at the heart of a mysterious riot following an international match in politically sensitive 1913 Dublin. Wings of Steel aims to set the record straight on many inaccuracies attached to George's story over the years, and to discover where George finally ended his days.

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Football fans love nothing more than faded Polaroids of crumbling grounds, distant players toiling in mud and fences topped with razor-sharp spikes - all snapped from the terraces in the belief that the results would prove worthy of the back page when they arrived back from the developers. At least, that's certainly true of fans of a certain vintage. When '70s and '80s snapshots taken from the stands and terraces were posted on the Got, Not Got blog, traffic tripled overnight and floods of snaps were mailed in from all over Britain. The artistic value of the pics is hilariously mixed, featuring the overexposed back of many a feather cut. But for the kids pictured here in full kit in their back gardens - now grown men - these blurred images of star wingers, knitwear, floodlights and inflatables offer an evocative window into a Lost World of Football - from a fans' eye view.

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Return to The Lost World of Football through this Aladdin's cave of memories and memorabilia, guaranteed to whisk you back to the magical atmosphere of a more innocent era of football. If you were one of the army of obsessive soccer kids at any time from England's World Cup win to the dawn of the Premiership, you'll be relieved to hear that the cool kits and tabletop games, the mud, mavericks and Melchester Rovers are back and here to stay. Flankers with triangular sideboards, petrol freebies and gluey sticker albums will soon once again be flickering past your senses like your long-lost videos of the Sunday soccer highlights. But there's more to The Lost World of Football than a giant Kays catalogue of unforgettable football culture, clutter and wistful yearning. Here are countless tried-and-tested methods to leave the 21st century behind and revisit your own football Golden Age!

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Glamorgan CCC Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Dragons. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the opposing vicar who scored a hundred, the game when Glamorgan only had five fielders, or the side that were all born in Wales? How about the times when a number 11 was top scorer for the county, or when a batsman was dismissed twice in the space of a minute? Do you know who was keeping wicket when Glamorgan won the 1969 Championship? Who took a wicket with his first-ever ball? Or who was the club's tallest ever player? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Dragons fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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From great triumphs to great escapes Everton FC On This Day recounts, in diary form, major events and magic moments in the club's history. A club which was a founder member of both the Football League and the Premier League; a club which has spent more seasons in England's top flight than any other; and a club which has been Champions nine times alongside the glories of five FA Cup wins and European successes, to boot. With entries for every day of the year to document the history of a global name in football, it records everything from the birth of Everton FC and the club's very early days as Victorian pioneers, to the emergence of Wayne Rooney as the latest stellar name to graduate from the Everton youth ranks in the early 21st Century. It tells the story of Dixie Dean, with his 60 league goals in a single season and his 37 Everton hat-tricks. Featuring the likes of Tommy Lawton, Joe Mercer, the 'Golden Vision' Alex Young and the 1960s 'Holy Trinity' of Colin Harvey, Howard Kendall and Alan Ball. It includes Everton's famous number nines: not only Dean, Lawton and Young but also Hickson, Royle and Latchford; Sharp, Gray and Ferguson. It recounts the highs of League Championship-winning teams and the historic comeback from 2-0 down to win the 1966 FA Cup Final. It reveals a club which broke British transfer records, which set standards for progress on and off the pitch and which became renowned worldwide for the football produced at the 'School Of Science'. Everton On This Day covers the ups and downs of a famous football club, and will tell readers why, as the Evertonians sing: "It's a grand old team to play for, it's a grand old team to support".

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Seventeen Manchester United legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Red Devils 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 shirt...Lee Martin recalls the 1990 FA Cup Final; hat-trick hero Alex Dawson describes the eight-goal semi-final thriller which landed United in the Cup Final so soon after the Munich air disaster. Ever the crowd pleaser, Dwight Yorke waxes lyrical on winning the Treble that unforgettable night in Barcelona - while Gary Pallister basks in the memory of sinking Liverpool at Anfield as United closed in on the 1997 Premier League title. Old Trafford greats Bryan Robson, Martin Buchan and Paul Scholes also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for United.

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Sunderland AFC Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Black Cats. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the goalie who complained the two goals were different sizes? How about the member of the 1973 FA Cup winning team who stood for Parliament? Or the great-grandson of the title-winning Sunderland manager who later played guitar for The Four Tops? Do you know which Sunderland striker once employed Cliff Richard? Which international goalkeeper was taught by HG Wells? And who was the 'singing winger' who appeared with The Beatles? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any Sunderland fan who holds the riches of the club's history close to their heart.

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Football used to be better in the past - and here's the proof. Got, Not Got focuses on British football's apparent lost Utopia of the '60s, '70s and '80s - the fondly remembered 'Golden Age' of mudbaths and cloggers, of miniature, carpet-level games and imaginary, comic-fuelled worlds. It evokes the feel and smell of football past, its rituals and relics. But there's more to the agreeably grumpy authors' vision than a hilarious, heartstring-tugging celebration of everything we miss in modern football. Here are hundreds of beautiful images of a lost football culture, pin-sharp observations and memories shared by generations of fans - in all, an ideal blueprint to help restore the game to its former glories! This Aladdin's cave of memorabilia brings back the magic of league ladders and dogs on the pitch, sock tags and the magic sponge - and was runner-up in the BSBA Book of the Year Awards 2012.

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Rugby On This Day revisits many of the sport's most magical and memorable moments which might otherwise have slipped under the radar. Here are over 700 unusual and hilarious highlights, all mixed in with a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable rugby union diary - with an entry for every day of the year. Apart from the usual rousing title wins and stupendous tries, every fan has their favourite rugby memories, be they moments of inspiration on the pitch, streakers or 20-man brawls. As well as recalling events that will make you laugh, cry, or shake your head in disbelief, Rugby On This Day also benefits from brilliant research which delves deep into the game's history, gathering together so many original stories and tit-bits to create a snapshot of the diverse and often bizarre world of rugby union.

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West Ham United On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's distinguished past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of claret-and-blue history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian formation through to the Premier League era, the Upton Park faithful have witnessed championships and and relegations, hard-fought derbies, Cup triumphs and unforgettable European nights - all featured here. All-time greats including Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking, Paolo di Canio, Tony Cottee and Billy Bonds all loom larger than life. Revisit 19th May 1965, when West Ham beat TSV Munich 2-0 in the European Cup Winners' Cup Final. 3rd May 1975, when Alan Taylor won the 'Cockney Cup Final' against Fulham, starring Bobby Moore. Or 4th August 1963: The Iron win the American Soccer League, despite an hour-long pitch invasion!

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"The Definitive Guide to Betting on Football" is a distillation of "Racing Post" expert Kevin Pullein's extensive knowledge on how to make money when betting on football. His weekly column in the "Post" is hugely popular with sports betting fans. In this masterwork Pullein explains how you can work out what is likely to happen during a football match and how you might be able to exploit this knowledge profitably by betting. In each chapter there will be both theory and practice, in separate but complementary sections. The theory will always be simply explained and illustrated, and will satisfy both the more-specialist and the less-experienced reader alike, each of whom will be able to get out of it want they want most - as well as a lot of other things beside. Topics include first and second half betting, corners, first goalscorer, final result, bookings, spread betting, betting exchanges and ante post.

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From the thousands of matches ever played by Celtic, stretching from the club's very first match in 1898 across more than 120 years to the SPL era, here are 50 of the club's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Celtic's Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in an Edwardian Cup Final hat-trick, the 7-1 hammering of Rangers in 1957, the night that 'Ten Men Won the League in 1979, and many more recent triumphs. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Kenny Dalglish, Jimmy McGrory and Billy McNeill, Sandy McMahon, Jimmy Quinn and Henrik Larsson - springs to life in a thrilling selection of Cup crackers, hard-fought derbies and glorious European nights. In all, a journey through the highlights of Bhoys history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.

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How much do you really know about the club you love? You can find out by exploring the 1,000 questions set out in 100 categories that make up this Tottenham Hotspur quiz book. It's not often that books on football make reference to philosophy, snooker, the Bible, the Falklands War, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Louis Armstrong, Chaucer and EastEnders, but this one does! Call Yourself a Spurs Fan? is a quirky, challenging affair for real Spurs fans who can test themselves or take each other on, with the emphasis on enjoyment and discovery. Try these for size: Which club did Spurs meet ten Boxing Days in a row on the same ground? Which Spurs double winner sounds like a policeman in a forge? Three post-war Spurs managers have been followed in the role by a man whose surname began with the same letter as the departing manager, which six managers are involved here? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. It's a must for Spurs fans of all ages and you might not see anything quite like it again.

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How much do you really know about the club you love? You can find out by exploring the 1,000 questions set out in 100 categories that make up this Wolverhampton Wanderers quiz book. It's not often that books on football make reference to Sherlock Holmes, Led Zeppelin, the Grand National, Donald Trump, The Goon Show, Premium Bonds, Monty Python, golf and Homer Simpson, but this one does! Call Yourself a Wolves Fan? is a quirky, challenging affair for real Wolves fans who can test themselves or take each other on, with the emphasis on enjoyment and discovery. Try these for size: One member of the Wolves side that won the League Cup in 1980 by beating Nottingham Forest had a surname shared with a player on the opposing team, what was it? In this century, Wolves have had two goalkeepers at the same time with the same surname and the same first initial, who were they? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. It's a must for Wolves fans of all ages and you might not see anything quite like it again.

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Successful jump jockeys come from a variety of backgrounds. Their childhoods and upbringings show vast differences. Some originate from families already connected to horses and racing - they were always going to be riders. Yet others have parents who have no equine connections whatsoever, which presents the question: why did these kids become jockeys and how? In her latest book on racing, best-selling author Henrietta Knight - the three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer of the legendary Best Mate – charts the lives of more than 80 jump jockeys in the hope of finding out what inspired them in childhood to take up one of the most dangerous jobs in sport. Among the great and good to be profiled are household names such as Richard Dunwoody, John Francome, Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh, and throughout Starting From Scratch we discover how many of racing's most celebrated individuals opted to take the path they did.

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Punters have never had it so good. In a world of rapidly progressive technology and ever-changing ways to bet, the days of punting solely in the betting shop and on the racecourse are long gone. Since the invention of Betfair in 2000 and the mass move online, bookmakers have never been closer to their customers. Punters are able to place bets at the click of a button - on the move, from the pub and even in the office - and the gambling industry has boomed because of it. Football has taken over as the market leader but horseracing is still hugely popular, while odds on other popular sports have opened them up to a fresh audience - the punters. But in a world of flickering screens and rifling numbers can come confusion. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned bettor, the Racing Post Betting Guide provides a lighter look at betting in the current climate, covering horseracing, football and other major sports such as golf, cricket and tennis. The views of our unparelled team of experts can help shape your thinking. Call on the Racing Post's unrivalled expertise, soak up all the knowledge you can and become a better bettor. Among the chapters to consider are: Ten top tips by Pricewise supremo Tom Segal-Studying the form by tipping judge Paul Kealy-Football accas and in-play by Mark Langdon-Punting at the big festivals by David Jennings-Golf betting and the Majors by Steve Palmer-Betting on the favourites by Richard Birch-Tackling the handicaps by Keith Melrose. Other forms of betting covered are: Betting exchanges, pool betting, multiple bets, ante-post betting, pedigree punting plus betting on NFL, darts, rugby, UFC and cycling plus more!

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