Search results for ""pitch publishing ltd""
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Working Hands of a Goddess: The Tactics, Culture and Community Behind Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta BC
The Working Hands of a Goddess is the story of how Atalanta BC rose from the lower reaches of Serie A to become Champions League quarter-finalists in just four years. The appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as manager in 2016 changed the club's fortunes forever. Quickly making his mark, he developed a squad that play one of Europe's most scintillating brands of football, and upset the status quo by going toe-to-toe with the giants of the Italian game. The Working Hands of a Goddess analyses and details the tactics and systems that underpin this thrilling team, the stories and backgrounds of the unique players that define it, and the culture and history that not only produced a beautiful football team but a special club and city-wide community. When the pandemic rocked the community, Atalanta became far more than just a football team by uniting a city in strife.
£12.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Games That Made Us: Thirty Years of West Ham United
1992 to 2022 was a period like no other for West Ham United. Taking in the rise of the Premier League, promotion, relegation, European nights and so much more, Daniel Hurley looks at key moments in West Ham's recent history from a fan's perspective, remembering joy and despair in equal measure along his journey as a football supporter from child to adult. The Games That Made Us is the story of an unforgettable period in West Ham's history told through the club's 50 most important matches over the past 30 years, with each game put into context and the consequences examined. From Dicks to Di Canio, Harewood to Antonio, Redknapp to Allardyce, The Games That Made Us tells tales of last-minute winners and last-second heartbreak, of trips to Cardiff, 5-4 victories and 4-2 defeats, plus more matches against Wimbledon than you would expect. Find out how a former manager once gave Daniel a transfer exclusive, why his son's first game was possibly the worst debut in history and why John Hartson ruined his 14th birthday.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Marcelo Bielsa: The Foundation of Success at Leeds United
As Marcelo Bielsa's interpreter, Salim Lamrani was his right-hand man throughout his first season in charge of Leeds United. As a privileged witness to that remarkable 2018/19 campaign, Lamrani tells the inside story of how the club came within a hair's breadth of returning to the Premier League before winning promotion in the very next season to end a 16-year exile. Lamrani lays bare the secrets behind Bielsa's methods, starting with the demands he makes in an intense pre-season, through to the Argentinian tactician's unwavering loyalty to a highly effective style of play - a style based on possession, collective coverage, rapid transitions, changes of tempo and constant attack. For him, beauty is non-negotiable. Thanks to Bielsa, the players of Leeds United were the actors in an unforgettable epic, which made an indelible mark on millions of supporters. Taking us match by match through Bielsa's first year in English football, Lamrani weaves a fascinating narrative and paints an intimate portrait of a unique football genius.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Soul and Glory: English Football, 1950-1989
Soul and Glory takes you on a journey through football history, spanning four unforgettable and unique decades from 1950 to 1989. Using beautiful images, it's a celebration of the game, from the life and soul of the packed-out terraces to the glory and despair on the pitch. The book showcases the diversity and individuality of football going back to an era when things looked very different than now, for better or worse. Whether it's muddy pitches, players celebrating with fans, larger-than-life characters or stadiums packed out an hour before kick-off, Soul and Glory will take you on a nostalgia-filled trip down memory lane. Legends such as George Best, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Paul Gascoigne and Stanley Matthews all feature, as well as a wide selection of teams and stadia. This stunning pictorial celebration of English football is sure to leave you reminiscing about the uniqueness and flamboyance of the nation's football heritage.
£18.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd Scotland's Lost Clubs: Giving the Names You've Heard, the Story They Own
Scotland's Lost Clubs: Giving the Names You've Heard the Story They Own is the gripping, constantly surprising, intrinsically romantic and all too commonly tragic story of some of Scotland's lost football clubs. You'll be taken on a journey across Scotland, from the Highlands to the English border, with tales of some of the most important names in world football and their impact on the modern game. Learn about the picturesque Victorian seaside town that had no fewer than five clubs, and the team that rescued a league rival who was shipwrecked only to sadly disappear the year Celtic won the European Cup. Discover how a mining village of less than 3,000 inhabitants became world champions but folded 36 years later. Football at its most raw and disorganised was a breeding ground for amazing stories, and Scotland's Lost Clubs captures some of the very best of them. It's essential reading for any Scottish football fan.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Fierce Genius: Cruyff's Year at Feyenoord
In 1983, aged 36, Johan Cruyff, one of the world's most iconic football superstars, guided Ajax to a league and cup double. Out of contract, most people, including the player, expected a valedictory final season and a one-year extension. Inexplicably, Ajax let him go. They grossly underestimated the fierce genius of Johan Cruyff. He signed for bitter rivals Feyenoord, leading them to a league and cup double, silencing his critics and thrilling football fans everywhere. Fierce Genius analyses this incredible season, as he evolves from player to coach. It is a fascinating insight into his professional and private life. Imperious on the park, off it, he dealt with kidnappings and bankruptcy after being defrauded by a conman. Bollen gets inside Cruyff's mind, helping the reader understand the mentality which made him a top player and successful coach. Fierce Genius: Cruyff's Year at Feyenoord is compelling, insightful and poignant. Written with a journalistic tone, by an accomplished comedy writer, this is a warm, affectionate and informative portrait of one of world football's greats.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Arsenal FC Minute by Minute: The Gunners' Most Historic Moments
Arsenal FC Minute by Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Gunners' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From Arsenal's early beginnings to the days of domestic dominance, the book covers everything from the great Herbert Chapman era to the Tom Whittaker glory years, Bertie Mee's exciting side of the late 1960s and early 1970s, George Graham's Gunners teams and Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles'. Revisit Arsenal's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's glorious past. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Highbury, The Emirates and around the world, Arsenal FC Minute by Minute is packed with memorable moments. With goals from Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Cliff Bastin, Charlie George and hundreds of others - the book is filled with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Redemption: From Iron Bars to Ironman
Redemption: From Iron Bars to Ironman is the fascinating, frightening and inspirational autobiography of former career criminal, now world-record holder and endurance athlete John McAvoy. Born into a notorious London crime family, his uncle Micky was one of the key players in the legendary Brinks-Mat gold bullion caper. John bought his first gun at 16 and carved out a lucrative career in armed robbery. At one point he was one of Britain's most-wanted men. It took two spells in prison and the death of a friend on a botched heist to change his path. During his second stint in jail he discovered a miraculous natural talent while serving life in the Belmarsh high security unit - where fellow inmates included Abu Hamza, the hook-handed extremist cleric, and the 7/7 bombers. John broke three world rowing records while still an inmate and since his release has become one of the UK's leading Ironman competitors. Redemption is the ultimate story of sporting salvation.
£12.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd A Corner of Every Foreign Field: Cricket's Journey from English Game to Global Sport
A Corner of Every Foreign Field is an innovative and thought-provoking take on the history of cricket, looking beyond the scorecards to the pivotal issues of class, politics and imperialism that have shaped the game today. It charts how cricket has vied with football for power, commercial muscle and global reach, growing from a simple boys' game in England to a modern worldwide sport. In exploring cricket's evolution, Tim Brooks calls on the views and anecdotes of greats like W. G. Grace, Don Bradman, Viv Richards and Virat Kohli. Along the way, he peers deep into the game's soul and poses questions on behalf of every cricket fan. Is cricket truly global? Why did the game take root in some countries but not in others? What are the threats and opportunities for the sport? Who are the next cricket superpowers? How do you strike a balance between honouring tradition and reforming to capture the imagination of future generations? Written by an expert in the global development of cricket, the book sets out a unique vision for the future.
£12.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Next Big Thing: How Football's Wonderkids Lose Their Way
The Next Big Thing tells the stories of 15 footballers who were tipped for the top as youngsters yet were unable to fulfil their potential. With each player exclusively interviewed and insight provided by former team-mates, coaches and expert journalists, Ryan Baldi explores the pitfalls facing young players and what happens when plans go awry. The players featured share much in common, having played for some of the world's biggest clubs - such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Internazionale and Ajax - represented their country at various levels and been tipped for the very top. They all fell desperately short of expectations, but the reasons for their struggles differ greatly. Myriad factors can prevent gifted young footballers from fulfilling their true potential, from catastrophic injuries to issues of addiction and temptation, from managerial misunderstandings to bad advice and bad decisions. The Next Big Thing uncovers what becomes of football's wonderkids when the stars fail to align.
£12.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Seoul Glow: The Story Behind Britain's 1988 Olympic Hockey Gold
Seoul Glow tells the story of the Great Britain men's hockey team who won gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Little to the team's knowledge, the final caught the British public's imagination as they beat rivals West Germany in the gold-medal match. After Sean Kerly's semi-final heroics and Imran Sherwani's double in the final, BBC commentator Barry Davies uttered the now infamous line: 'Where were the Germans? But, frankly, who cares?' Victory, for a team of amateurs, who had either quit their jobs or taken holiday to play in Seoul, propelled the team to celebratory heights on their return to British shores; it was GB's first hockey gold in the post-war era and followed an eight-year plan for a major title. The story also reveals how the team was inspirationally led by the late Roger Self, the manager who gelled his players into Olympic title holders.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Bottled: English Football's Boozy Story
Bottled tells the story of English football's complicated relationship with booze through the experiences of the players who found themselves in crisis when they could no longer put it down - from George Best and Paul Gascoigne to Tony Adams and Paul Merson, as well as many others who escaped the headlines. Footballers play under intense pressure in the unforgiving glare of the media spotlight. But what do their stories tell us about ourselves? Are some challenges they face specific to a player's lifestyle? With insights from those at the sharp end, here is an examination of footballers in need and the help available from the industry. Untangling the complex web of links between alcohol and the beautiful game, Bottled explores the stories that characterised the origins of many of England's clubs, as churches and breweries vied for the souls of young men. From trashed hotel rooms to the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous via the China Jump club, Bottled navigates the journey from the stars to the gutter and, sometimes, back again.
£12.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd The Power and The Glory: Senna, Prost and F1's Golden Era
Set amid the glamour and bravado of 1980s Formula 1, The Power and the Glory tells the story of a rivalry unsurpassed in motor-racing history. By the mid-80s Alain Prost had firmly established himself as leader of the F1 pack. Winning Grands Prix almost at will, the French ace radiated invincibility. But then came the emergence of Ayrton Senna, sparking a decade-long battle for supremacy out on the track. Although chalk and cheese in terms of character and background, the two men were driven by the same burning desire: to become Formula 1's heavyweight champion of the world, its undisputed king. Senna and Prost would both go on to win multiple world championships in what was a golden era for F1 racing. Their Suzuka showdowns of 1988-90 attracted record worldwide audiences and popularised the sport as never before. An intimate portrait of two unique competitors, The Power and the Glory is a supercharged story of acrimony and sheer ambition.
£17.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Fifty Years of Manchester City: The Best and Worst of Everything
To celebrate 50 years of watching Manchester City, Steve Mingle presents an array of memories spanning the whole period. The Best and Worst of Everything includes heroes and villains, triumphs and disasters, moments of genius and heinous cock-ups. Here are Steve's most memorable games, players and incidents in a weird and wonderful range of categories. There's much to look back on with affection - the best wins at Old Trafford, the Goat's spawniest finishes, Bell's finest goals, the best wins with ten men - but also plenty of pain, as Steve looks back on the worst goalkeeping howlers, City's jinxes and the biggest villains ever to have darkened the club's doorways. Amongst all this, Steve selects his favourite hard men, pie-eaters and comedy moments as well as providing hard statistical input - who have really been City's penalty kings? Who do we wish we could have played every week? It's a fascinating book packed with memories good and bad, full of debating points for City fans of all ages.
£15.29
Pitch Publishing Ltd True Professional: The Clive Sullivan Story
True Professional tells the story of Clive Sullivan, who emerged from one of Cardiff's toughest neighbourhoods to become an icon of rugby league. Overcoming a major childhood injury and a car crash early in his career, he was a ruthless and thrilling presence on the wings of both Hull FC and Hull KR teams for over 20 years, scoring over 300 tries.The first-ever black Briton to captain a British sports team, Sullivan did so with great success, even lifting a World Cup and being awarded an MBE. He was loved by rugby league fans and revered following his untimely and tragic death. Yet the wider sporting public overlooked his achievements at the time and his name is rarely mentioned when discussing Britain's sporting greats. The book is a snapshot of the working class Northern towns that have long been the heartland of rugby league, and the communities that gave them their unique character. It is also a look at how Clive's career developed against the backdrop of a declining fishing industry, the lifeblood of the city of Hull.
£17.09
Pitch Publishing Ltd Glory; Glory Lane: The Extraordinary History of Tottenham Hotspur's Home for 118 Years
Glory, Glory Lane is the life-affirming history - including a momentous last season - of a world-famous football stadium, home to Tottenham Hotspur for 118 years. A Victorian structure turned wraparound 21st-century all-seater, it became a theatre of dreams for supporters all attracted by teams which played the 'Spurs way' to achieve glory. The Lane gave a stage to a conveyor belt of legends from Cameron to Alli via Nicholson, Blanchflower, Greaves, Hoddle and Klinsmann. It provided unforgettable memories in unforgettable atmospheres - heart-lifting, heart-breaking, nerve-racking. Its story veers from founders obsessed by Harry Hotspur to Harry Kane via Harry Redknapp; through matches, personalities, ground developments and threatened closure, all with first-hand accounts. It's hard to imagine how a new GBP750m stadium can ever replace the edifice which shut its gates for the last time after Spurs played Manchester United in May 2017, having created a daunting legacy.
£22.50
Pitch Publishing Ltd Arsenal Greatest Games: The Gunners' Fifty Finest Matches
From the thousands of matches ever played by Arsenal, stretching from a muddy field on the Isle of Dogs in the 19th century to the Premier League era and the pristine perfection of the Emirates Stadium, here are 50 of the club's most glorious, epochal and thrilling games of all! Expertly presented in evocative historical context, and described incident-by-incident in atmospheric detail, Arsenal Greatest Games offers a terrace ticket back in time, taking in their first FA Cup win in 1930, 1930s dominance of domestic football under the great Herbert Chapman, through to the great 1971 double-winning side; on to the exploits under George Graham in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Arsene Wenger's revolution and his all-conquering invincibles of 2004. An irresistible cast list of club legends - Frank McLintock, Charlie George, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp - comes to life in these thrilling tales of goalscoring feats, great comebacks, Wembley glory and the odd glorious yet crushing disappointment. In all, a journey through the highlights of the Gunners' history which is guaranteed to make any fan's heart swell with pride.
£16.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Racing Post Guide to the Jumps 2019-2020
Racing Post Guide to the Jumps includes exclusive, extended trainer interviews, profiles of over 250 horses to run during 2019-20, specialist selections for horses to follow, dark horses unearthed and set to shine and Topspeed and Racing Post Ratings.
£11.69