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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Ball games > Football (Soccer, Association football)
The rise and fall of Manchester City's Young Guvnors mirrored the
government's attempts to get to grips with the escalating violence
at football matches throughout the 1980s. Here Rodney Rhoden, one
of the youngest members of this feared group of supporters, recalls
the police tactics that ended The Young Guvnors reign of terror.
"This is my story". The story of the Young Guvnors. "The Young
Guvnors fought not only on the streets of Manchester against their
fellow hooligans but with other firms up and down the country. We
sought out rival fans to fight - to say it is not a pleasant story
is an understatement. "From our formation in the mid 1980s when
organized football hooliganism was at an all time high its a
vicious account of how we operated our bloody battles with opposing
mobs and ultimately about our demise."
Legends at the Lane is an independent compilation of match worn
shirts from iconic periods, players and games and the long and
illustrious history of Sheffield United football club. Featuring
the iconic jerseys worn by Blades heroes in FA Cup final wins and
semi-final losses, derby-day victories over city rivals Wednesday
and the historic 1970/91 promotion season, Legends at the Lane aims
to capture the literal fabric of Sheffield United. But it is more
than just a history of the colours worn by the great and good of
Bramall Lane history. This impressive, full-colour, hardback,
coffee-table style book - with a foreword from legendary striker
Brian Deane - will bring the shirts to life; capturing and
featuring the stories of some of the most iconic players to have
worn that iconic badge, in some of the most iconic games in the
club's history.
Goooal! Now you can bring all of the fun and excitement of the
soccer pitch to your desktop with this miniature set that you play
with your fingers! * Everything you need to play: Includes soccer
"pitch" mat, 2 goals, 2 pairs of soccer cleats for your fingers, 1
mini soccer ball * Book included: With a brief history and rules of
the sport, profiles of famous players, trivia, and more in this
32-page fully illustrated miniature book * Unique gift: Perfect for
soccer lovers of all ages
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
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
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.
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.
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.
LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE
'Excellent and compellingly honest' Alyson Rudd, The Times In I
Love This Game, the long-awaited autobiography of Patrice Evra, the
former Manchester United and France star looks back on a remarkable
life and career. Having played alongside some of the club's
greatest legends, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Paul
Scholes, in one of United's most successful eras, Evra has now
found a new role as an in-demand pundit and social media star. But,
as he reveals in this frank, often shocking, but always compelling
memoir, beneath the surface things were not so simple, and he had
to fight all the way to get to the top. Initially, it was football
that saved him from being sucked into the gang culture of his tough
neighbourhood of Les Ulis in the suburbs of Paris. Then, once he
achieved his dream of becoming a professional, he had to deal with
racism and a notorious dispute with Luis Suarez; he also became a
central figure in the infamous 'strike' by the France national team
in the 2010 World Cup; and there was the moment he launched an
attack against a Marseille fan while warming up. 'I Love This Game'
has become Evra's catchphrase. Throughout this wonderful book, his
passion for his sport shines through and there are revealing and
entertaining behind-the-scenes insights about the players and
managers he's worked with, from Sir Alex Ferguson to Paul Pogba,
who knows him as Uncle Pat. With infectious enthusiasm and sharp
observation, Evra takes the reader where few football
autobiographies dare to tread.
Always Believe is the gripping autobiography of Chelsea, Arsenal
and France star Olivier Giroud. Join him on a remarkable journey,
from playing for a small club in southern France to achieving
top-flight glory there and in England, before lifting the World Cup
with the French national team. Giroud shot to prominence in 2011/12
as the top scorer in France's Ligue 1, netting 21 goals to help
Montpellier to their first-ever top-flight title. After signing for
Arsenal in 2012, he rewarded the Gunners with 73 goals in 180 games
and helped them to three FA Cup wins. He is also the French
national team's second-highest scorer. Now at Chelsea, Giroud is
still hungry for success. But what about the sacrifices he's made
along the way? The pressures of being under the spotlight and
having to cope with a constant stream of criticism and questions
around his selection for the national side? Usually a private
person, Giroud holds nothing back as he shares all the highs and
lows of a stellar career at the game's top level in this tell-all
book.
Packed full of trivia, facts and stats, The Top 10 of Everything
England covers every aspect of the Three Lions' long and colourful
history in dozens of ranked lists. With a star cast of past and
present internationals, the lists include the most inspirational
skippers, the most prolific goalscorers, the great managers and the
biggest stars in the England Women's team. Among the many memorable
moments revisited are England's most iconic World Cup matches, the
most celebrated wins against arch-rivals Scotland, the finest goals
scored by the likes of Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Wayne
Rooney and the most appreciated own goals gifted by the opposition.
Additionally, a host of miscellaneous categories rank England's
best (and worst!) kits, the funniest fan chants, the most striking
and controversial player tattoos and the bizarre incidents on and
off the pitch that left supporters bewildered. Fun, informative and
thought-provoking, The Top 10 of Everything England is guaranteed
to spark lively debate among football fans everywhere.
The first volume of the popular 101 Youth Football Coaching
Sessions, part of the 101 Drills series and accompanied by 101
Youth Football Coaching Sessions Volume 2. The culmination of years
of experience, this manual outlines comprehensive training sessions
for young footballers, including warm-ups, skills training, games
and final practice drills. Fun, educational and challenging, each
session contains information on equipment needed, space required
and how to organise the players. Ideal for teachers or coaches who
are looking for a fully planned session, this contains everything
you need to build up the skills of young players and ensure they
have fun and remain safe.
Celebrate the stunning diversity of Britain's football landscape
with this limited-edition postcard set of specially selected photos
from Mike Bayly's best-selling book, British Football's Greatest
Grounds. From grounds nestled in idyllic countryside to stadiums
found amid big cities, these postcards transport you to some of the
most scenic, historic and important football landmarks in Britain.
From non-league to the Premier League, you'll see beautiful shots
of the homes of Arthurlie, Ashton United, Aston Villa, Cambridge
United, Great Yarmouth Town, Harwich & Parkeston, Hastings
United, Luton Town, Maidenhead United, Mossley, QPR and
Stourbridge. This outstanding collection of postcard photos, taken
by acclaimed sports photographers, is sure to leave you planning a
future football pilgrimage.
The Conquerors charts the rise, fall and resurgence of AC Milan
across one of the club's most legendary eras. Fresh from a coaching
baptism of fire at either end of the top Italian divisions, former
club favourite Carlo Ancelotti returned to a then-disjointed
Rossoneri dressing room as first-team manager in 2001. Out of
sorts, out of form and out of touch with the standards set by the
side in Ancelotti's day, AC Milan found a much-needed stabilising
influence in the new coach, who helped them through a phase of
transition. Though his impact wasn't immediate, nor without its
share of dissenters, Ancelotti would ultimately return the team to
its former glory. The Conquerors is a homage to one of the greatest
club sides in football history. It's a story of incredible talent,
iconic moments and the kind of improbable redemption usually
reserved for Hollywood movie scripts.
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