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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Ball games
England. 1966. The World Cup. Duncan Hamilton watched England beat West Germany as an eight-year-old boy in the company of his father and grandfather. He recalls 'Wembley, spread out in the sun; the waving flags; the delirious, joy-of-all-joys moment of the final whistle; the trophy sparkling in the late afternoon light'. But, seeing the whole game again during the misery of the first Covid lockdown, finally made him realise what Alf Ramsey and his players had no inkling of, which was what came next for them. How, for many of those boys of summer, almost everything after that shimmering moment amounted to an anti-climax or a setback. How '66 was not a beginning, a guaranteed path towards more success, but a slow decline and fall, and also a disproportionate number of disappointments. And how the triumph of '66 was dulled through constant repetition, the same images always flashed before us. Hamilton recognised, too, how many myths and misconceptions had grown around the match. He decided to revisit '66, tracing the very roots of a story - as well as the hidden figures within it - that really began during the era of post-War austerity. Answered Prayers provides, at last, a full account of English football's greatest achievement and the failures that followed it. We see the institutional inability to appreciate Ramsey and his players, who were taken for granted; the political machinations of the blazered fools who ran the Football Association; the short-sighted blunderers of the Football League. With his matchless insight and descriptive power, Hamilton tells history afresh and shows us, for the first time, the scale of what was won and what was lost. PRAISE FOR DUNCAN HAMILTON 'Hamilton has a perceptively humane understanding of men for whom football was never just a game' Guardian 'A marriage of prose and detail so fine and fastidious that it takes the breath away' Independent 'Justifiably prize-winning' Mail on Sunday
Bristol Rovers programme editor Keith Brookman has collaborated with former club photographer Alan Marshall to look back at a decade in the life of Bristol's oldest professional football club. So much happened during those 10 years and the photos contained within these pages offer only a tantalising glimpse of some of the players and events that are now consigned to the club's illustrious past. Keith has researched and added detailed descriptions of all the images to produce a document that charts the highs and lows of life at Bristol Rovers from 1991-2001. A decade that began with the departure of Gerry Francis as manager saw so many changes, not least the move back from Bath to Bristol and, eventually a home they could call their own. Managers and players came and went, there were two relegations and another trip to Wembley and some memorable football along the way.
The ideal gift for football fans to read between matches during the 2022 Qatar World Cup Pairing epic sports photography with articles from The Times and The Sunday Times archive, this volume brings together 100 of the most iconic moments from World Cup history. With striking, full-colour photography, rarely seen archival images and sensational reporting on the action, The Times World Cup Moments tells the unofficial story of the world's largest single sporting event as it unfolded on - and off - the pitch. Featuring the greatest goals, most historic line-ups, heroic players and unforgettable controversies, these split-second moments have changed the course of World Cup history and generated a global sensation along the way. The perfect Christmas gift for any football fan, some of the best moments from this book include: * The first World Cup, Uruguay 1930 * North Korea's fairy tale, England 1966 * David Beckham's perfect free-kick, France 1998 * Brazil's golden line-up, Mexico 1970 * The infamous Hand of God, Mexico 1986 * Roger Milla's celebration, Italy 1990 * Zinedine Zidane's chipped Panenka penalty, Germany 2006 * Germany's humiliation of the hosts, Brazil 2014 * Cristiano Ronaldo's spectacular hat-trick, South Korea 2018
The Bronx Is Burning "meets Chuck Klosterman in this wild pop-culture history of baseball's most colorful and controversial decade "The Major Leagues witnessed more dramatic stories and changes
in the '70s than in any other era. The American popular culture and
counterculture collided head-on with the national pastime, rocking
the once-conservative sport to its very foundations. Outspoken
players embraced free agency, openly advocated drug use, and even
swapped wives. Controversial owners such as Charlie Finley, Bill
Veeck, and Ted Turner introduced Astroturf, prime-time World
Series, garish polyester uniforms, and outlandish promotions such
as Disco Demolition Night. Hank Aaron and Lou Brock set new heights
in power and speed while Reggie Jackson and Carlton Fisk emerged as
October heroes and All-Star characters like Mark "The Bird" Fidrych
became pop icons. For the millions of fans who grew up during this
time, and especially those who cared just as much about Oscar
Gamble's afro as they did about his average, this book serves up a
delicious, Technicolor trip down memory lane.
The definitive biography of the basketball legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, from the author of Michael Jordan: the Life. Magic Johnson is one of the most beloved, and also controversial, athletes in history. He lifted the dowdy sport of American pro basketball into the global spotlight, a transformation driven by his ability to eviscerate opponents with a grand sense of fun. He was a master entertainer who directed basketball to the heights of both glory and epic excess, all of it driven by his mind-blowing no-look passes and personal charm. At the charismatic height of his power, Johnson shocked the world with his personal story which pushed public awareness of the HIV and AIDs crisis. Through hundreds of interviews with Johnson's coaches, representatives past and present, teammates, opponents, friends and loved ones, including key conversations with Johnson himself, this is the first truly definitive study of the revolutionary player: the man, the icon, Magic Johnson.
A collection of iconic, unbelievable, and intimate stories from baseball history that celebrate the enduring impact of the national pastime. Baseball--rooted as it is in tradition and nostalgia--lends itself to the retelling of its timeless tales. So it is with the stories in Classic Baseball, a collection of articles written by award-winning journalist John Rosengren and originally published by Sports Illustrated, The New Yorker, Sports on Earth, VICE Sports, and other magazines. These are stories about the game's legends--Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, Josh Gibson, Bob Feller, Frank Robinson, Sandy Koufax, Kirby Puckett--and its lesser-knowns with extraordinary stories of their own. They cover some of the game's most famous moments, like Hank Aaron hitting No. 715, and some you've never heard of, like the time the Ku Klux Klan played a game against an all-Black team. Whether it be the story of John Roseboro forgiving Juan Marichal for clubbing him in the head with a bat, Elston Howard breaking down the Yankees' systemic racism to integrate America's team, or the national pastime played on snowshoes during July in a remote Wisconsin town, these are stories meant to be read and read again for their poignancy, their humor, and their celebration of baseball.
Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2022 Craig Bromfield was just 13 years old when Brian Clough, on a whim, took him and his older brother Aaron in. They came from Southwick, a depressed area of Sunderland, where they lived with their abusive stepfather, and from where they longed to escape. After initially meeting Clough while out begging for money, Clough later invited the brothers to stay at his house. From there a relationship formed which would see Craig living with the Cloughs for nine years, where he was a first-hand witness to the many aspects of Clough's character - his gruffness, his humour, his big-heartedness. This is a beautiful, inspirational story, which has never before been told, about Clough's gentleness and capacity for generosity. Discover a very different side to this iconic man, one away from the cameras and the football, which shows him for the person he really was.
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 West Ham quiz book. It s not often that books on football make reference to Inspector Morse, Dostoyevsky, Shredded Wheat, The Everly Brothers, Fawlty Towers, Catch-22 and EastEnders, but this one does! Try these for size: which West Ham United player in the 1980 FA Cup Final had already scored for another club in an earlier FA Cup Final? Which two players with West Ham United connections appeared in 43 games between them for Blackburn Rovers when they won the Premier League in 1994/95? And who is the only man to manage West Ham United in two different centuries? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. This quirky, challenging book is a must for West Ham fans of all ages, and you might not see anything quite like it again.
A look at the early years of the great Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish, one black and one white footballer. It moves from football played with rolled-up old socks on the dusty veldt, to the glamour and passion of the English Premiership and the World Cup.;It traces the struggle for liberation in the township of Diepklooit and the backlash of apartheid Pretoria to the establishment of a democratic state. We follow Mark and Lucas's efforts on behalf of Bafana Bafana, at times heroic, at times controversial, as they steer their national side from African soccer baby to football giant in less than a decade.
Cyrille Regis' story is a compelling one on so many levels. The story of his migration from the French Caribbean to a racially divided West London in the 1960s, his development as a semi-professional footballer and his subsequent move to a top-flight Football League club, followed by national recognition and glory, while still facing racial hatred is a tale in itself. The book begins at Buckingham Palace in 2008, when Cyrille Regis received his MBE, recognition for his services to football and the community. This fascinating autobiography describes the battles Cyrille faced as a child and teenager before he turned professional and achieved great things as a footballer. As well as detailing the glorious moments in his career, it studies the impact that he and his black teammates had on the sociological outlook of football fans. The book concludes with a review of Cyrille Regis' life after he retired as a footballer and his work in the community.
A head-to-head comparison of the two greatest soccer stars of their generation - and perhaps of all time. One, diminutive and reserved; the other, tall and theatrical. One with six Ballons d'Or, and the other with five. There's no doubt about it - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the best. But which one is better? This lively book compares every aspect of the legendary rivals' careers, to let the reader decide. It compares their stats, including their ten years of matchups in El Clásico, their club trophies, and their individual awards and milestones. It analyses their style of play, and how it has evolved throughout their careers. And, it looks at how their rivalry continues off the field, in terms of endorsement deals, social media followings, and philanthropic endeavors. Packed with colour photos of the champions in action, Messi and Ronaldo will spark discussion among both players' partisans.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Globe-trotting golfer Tom Coyne has finally come home. And he's ready to play all of it. After playing hundreds of courses overseas in the birthplace of golf, Coyne, the bestselling author of A Course Called Ireland and A Course Called Scotland, returns to his own birthplace and delivers a "heartfelt, rollicking ode to golf...[as he] describes playing golf in every state of the union, including Alaska: 295 courses, 5,182 holes, 1.7 million total yards" (The Wall Street Journal). In the span of one unforgettable year, Coyne crisscrosses the country in search of its greatest golf experience, playing every course to ever host a US Open, along with more than two hundred hidden gems and heavyweights, visiting all fifty states to find a better understanding of his home country and countrymen. Coyne's journey begins where the US Open and US Amateur got their start, historic Newport Country Club in Rhode Island. As he travels from the oldest and most elite of links to the newest and most democratic, Coyne finagles his way onto coveted first tees (Shinnecock, Oakmont, Chicago GC) between rounds at off-the-map revelations, like ranch golf in Eastern Oregon and homemade golf in the Navajo Nation. He marvels at the golf miracle hidden in the sand hills of Nebraska and plays an unforgettable midnight game under bright sunshine on the summer solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska. More than just a tour of the best golf the United States has to offer, Coyne's quest connects him with hundreds of American golfers, each from a different background but all with one thing in common: pride in welcoming Coyne to their course. Trading stories and swing tips with caddies, pros, and golf buddies for the day, Coyne adopts the wisdom of one of his hosts in Minnesota: the best courses are the ones you play with the best people. But, in the end, only one stop on Coyne's journey can be ranked the Great American Golf Course. Throughout his travels, he invites golfers to debate and help shape his criteria for judging the quintessential American course. Should it be charmingly traditional or daringly experimental? An architectural showpiece or a natural wonder? Countless conversations and gut instinct lead him to seek out a course that feels bold and idealistic, welcoming yet imperfect, with a little revolutionary spirit and a damn good hot dog at the turn. He discovers his long-awaited answer in the most unlikely of places. Packed with fascinating tales from American golf history, comic road misadventures, illuminating insights into course design, and many a memorable round with local golfers and celebrity guests alike, A Course Called America is "a delightful, entertaining book even nongolfers can enjoy" (Kirkus Reviews).
He is the larger-than-life figure who bounced back from rejection at 16 and graduated from parks pitches to become a Premier League goalkeeper, and later represent his country. Paddy Kenny's career was certainly not straightforward... just like his life. In his autobiography, Kenny lifts the lid on his time on and off the football field - including dressing-room rucks, being beaten for the Premier League's most famous goal and having his eyebrow bitten off in a curry house, just days before he faced Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Manchester United. This is Kenny's story... and the gloves are well and truly off.
A history of beloved cricket grounds from around the world. Using a Then and Now format, historic pictures of cricket grounds are paired with their modern-day equivalent to show the dramatic changes that have taken place. Cricket Grounds Then and Now is a history of some of the most famous cricketing venues from around the world, told through the format of Then and Now photos. Author of the bestselling Remarkable Cricket Grounds and Remarkable Village Cricket Grounds, Brian Levison, has assembled a stunning array of vintage photos of the major Test venues such as Lord's, The Oval, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Adelaide and the Sydney Cricket Ground, with which are paired a modern photo from the same viewpoint. There are smaller venues too – Saltaire in Yorkshire with its World Heritage mill as a backdrop; New Road, Worcester, viewed across the River Severn from the Cathedral and Ickwell Village Green with its large oak tree firmly inside the boundary rope. The photos show how some features survived for decades – such as the famous scoreboard on the SCG 'Hill' – or the standing terraces at St.Helens. Some grounds, such as the Central Ground in Hastings, have disappeared altogether. At the larger test venues in Australia, drop-in pitches are now the norm, allowing multiple use of the huge stadia, while in the UK, the county 'outgrounds' have gradually been whittled away. Yorkshire have lost Brammall Lane in Sheffield, Kent have abandoned their occupancy of Dover and Maidstone, while Essex have left Leyton in East London. Cricket Grounds Then and Now is a nostalgic trip around the world's cricketing venues showing both massive changes across a century and occasionally (Cheltenham College) no change at all. Grounds include: Barbados, Berlin, Scarborough, Canterbury, Wellington, Ahmedabad, Ageas Bowl, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, The Gabba, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Hollywood, Tilford, Dublin, Chelmsford, Sydney Cricket Ground, Aigburth, Buxton, Edgbaston, Philadelphia, Worcester, Headingley, Hove, Taunton, Lord's, The Oval, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, Sidmouth and Singapore.
THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR The Sunday Times bestseller is 'brilliant, gripping, beautifully written, real,' says Jonathan Northcroft. So, you think you know Joey Barton. Think again. No Nonsense is a game-changing autobiography which will redefine the most fascinating figure in British football. It is the raw yet redemptive story of a man shaped by rejection and the consequences of his mistakes. He has represented England, and been a pivotal player for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Marseille, Burnley and Glasgow Rangers, but his career has featured recurring controversy. The low point of being sent to prison for assault in 2008 proved to be the catalyst for the re-evaluation of his life. No Nonsense reflects Barton's character - it is candid, challenging, entertaining and intelligent. He does not spare himself, in revealing the formative influences of a tough upbringing in Liverpool, and gives a survivor's insight into a game which, to use his phrase, 'eats people alive'. The book is emotionally driven, and explains how he has redirected his energies since the birth of his children. In addition to dealing with his past, he expands on his plans for the future. In this updated edition he speaks frankly about the gambling addiction that has left him facing a hefty ban. The millions who follow his commentaries on social media, and those who witnessed him on BBC's Question Time, will be given another reason to pause, and look beyond the caricature. 'Compelling' Donald McRae, Guardian 'Brilliant' Matt Lawton, Daily Mail
Nii Lamptey: The Curse of Pelé is the authorised biography of Ghanaian footballer Nii Lamptey, a one-time bright young talent who was hailed as 'the next Pelé' by Pelé himself. By age 16, Lamptey had won the Belgian title with RSC Anderlecht and the world championship with Ghana's under-16s. One year later, he won a bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. After joining Dutch masters PSV Eindhoven on loan in 1993 and scoring 10 times in 22 games that season, Lamptey appeared to have the world at his feet. Spells at Aston Villa and Coventry City followed, but he failed to fulfil Pelé's bold prophecy. Instead, his career became a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when too much pressure is applied to young players. Injuries, lack of schooling, domestic violence, bad agents and a tragic and turbulent personal life pushed Lamptey to the brink of suicide, but thankfully he recovered. In this 'warts and all' account he finally lifts the lid on his incredible story.
JP Duminy (1897-1980) was the only university professor to play cricket for South Africa. He was also the first alumnus of UCT to become Vice Chancellor and the first non-American to be elected a First Vice President of Rotary International. In this book, his son Andrew writes about his life and his distinguished career. Using diaries and private papers in the family's possession, he portryas his father as someone known for his good humour, clear-thinking and fair mindedness. In the words fo a senior academic who knew him well, he thought "dispassionately and fearlessly acted upon what he found to be true and in the best interests of the institution which he served". |
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