Cricket is a very old game in Scotland - far older than football, a sport which sometimes exercises a baleful, obsessive and deleterious effect on the national psyche. Cricket goes back at least as far as the Jacobite rebellions and their sometimes vicious aftermaths. It is often felt that Scottish cricket underplays itself. It has been portrayed as in some ways an English sport, a "softies" sport, and a sport that has a very limited interest among the general population of Scotland. This is emphatically not true, and this book is in part an attempt to prove that this is a misconception. Sixty-one games (it was going to be just 60, but one turned up at the last minute!) have been chosen from the past 250 years to show that cricket does indeed influence a substantial part of the nation. The matches have been selected at all levels, from Scotland against visiting Australian teams all the way down to a Fife school fixture. These naturally reflect the life, experience and geographical whereabouts of the author. The games are quirky sometimes, (and quirkily chosen) with an emphasis on important events in the broader history of this country, notably the imminence of wars and resumptions at the end of these conflicts. But the important thing is that every single cricket contest does mean an awful lot to some people.

When Argentinian World Cup winners Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles were unveiled as Tottenham Hotspur's new signings in the summer of 1978 it was one of the most sensational transfer coups English football had ever seen. The pair were an instant success. Ossie claimed the limelight with his wonderful control and comedy English, but when Ricky dribbled his way round half the Manchester City team to score the greatest FA Cup final goal ever in 1981 he swerved his way into the hearts of the nation and a permanent place in English football folklore. Never truly comfortable speaking in English, for the first time - with the help of co-author and translator Federico Ardiles (Ossie's son) - Ricky Villa is able to tell his story. From his childhood growing up on a farm in rural Argentina, playing alongside teenage sensation Diego Maradona for Argentina, to the dark early days after arriving in London when he was unable to communicate and suffered serious depression, through to the elation of scoring that wonder goal at Wembley. Ricky also talks about the pain of being caught between two countries he loved during the Falklands conflict as well as his experiences as a member of Argentina's 1978 World Cup squad which won a tournament tainted ever since with allegations of bribery and intimidation by Argentina's ruling military Junta.

Red Sox MVP Pedroia tells this feel-good story about his love of baseball, overcoming the naysayers, and winning a World Series in his first season.

Formerly reserved for the elite, tennis has become a popular sport over the years. And even if you don't play yourself, the tennis lifestyle exerts a certain fascination. It's not uncommon at Grand Slams like Wimbledon to find it more interesting who's watching from the stands than who's down on the court. However, famous tennis personalities are also a source of conversation - just remember John McEnroe's infamous outbursts. This, the ultimate tennis book is dedicated to the stories on and off the court, it explains the history of the sport, shows the most important courts and tournaments, the most exciting competitions and legendary athletes. Tennis fashion and equipment are also covered, and who knows, maybe after reading this entertaining tennis compendium you will feel the need to pick up a racket. Text in English and German.

Pulisic s rise from his childhood in Hershey, PA, to captain of the US national team and Champions League glory is ultimately a story about a life-long determination to realise a dream. Growing up in an area without role models Pulisic would look to Portuguese midfielder Figo for inspiration and European soccer as his ultimate goal. He talks candidly about his journey so far sharing experiences from behind the scenes playing for club and country; his most memorable career moments; the challenges of moving to a new country (without knowing the language); training drills he s used over the years to hone his skills; and his daily life as a soccer player. Photographs from his family albums and from some of the world s best sports photographers document Pulisic s path from his first visit to Chelsea at age 7 to signing for the club for a record transfer fee when he turned 20 to his defence of the Champions League title and preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Featuring dressing room anecdotes and heart-warming stories, this fascinating look into the world of a quiet American turned soccer star is the perfect book for anyone with a passion for the beautiful game.

This collection of rugby humour is perfect for anyone who lives and breathes the glorious game. Packed with the very best quips and quotes for lovers of the oval-shaped ball, it guarantees laughs and lots of celebratory fist pumps. Scrum down and prepare yourself for a full-on tour of the game through the eyes of iconic players, pithy commentators and dumbfounded celebrities. It'll reveal whether rugby really is a game that requires all brawn and little brain, explore the divisive history between the Union and League and celebrate the legends of the sport. Up until the final whistle, the quotes in this book will have you on the edge of your seat. Offering an amusing look at the lives of rugby stars on and off the pitch, it'll have you cheering for more and make you even more nuts for the honourable and always beautiful game than you already are.

On 15 April 1989, ninety-six spectators lost their lives at Sheffield's Hillsborough Stadium as they gathered for an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The events of that spring afternoon sparked a controversy that continues to reverberate through British football and policing to this day.Norman Bettison, a Chief Inspector in the South Yorkshire Police at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, witnessed the tragedy as a spectator at the match. Since then, he has found himself one of the focal points of outrage over the actions of the police. Comments he made in the wake of the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012 stoked further criticism in the press and in Parliament and, in October 2012, he resigned from his job as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.This personal account describes how the Hillsborough disaster unfolded, provides an insight into what was happening at South Yorkshire Police headquarters in the aftermath, and gives an objective and compassionate account of the bereaved families' long struggle for justice, all the while charting the author's journey from innocent bystander to a symbol of a perceived criminal conspiracy.