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.

The name 'Everton' has a kind of mystical quality that you just don't get with any other team. The club embodies a fantastic footballing tradition: since 1878, Everton have played more top-flight league games than any other English team and have won the League title nine times. Great players like Dixie Dean, Alex Young, Alan Ball and Howard Kendall have all sworn allegiance and taken Everton to their hearts. For those who know their history, no club compares to Everton.

The 10th Anniversary edition of this best-selling and critically acclaimed book includes a brand new introduction and the opening chapter from the author's new book - The Smell of Football 2. When Mick Rathbone signed for Birmingham City as a 16 year-old apprentice he was living every schoolboy's dream. But when he discovered he was so nervous he was unable to speak, let alone pass the ball, in the presence of his boyhood hero and City star Trevor Francis, he realised that a career in football might not be everything he had imagined. The Smell of Football is the brutally honest and utterly unputdownable story of how 'Baz' conquered his personal demons to build a life in the game - from the terrified teenager who purposely tried to get injured in training rather than get picked for the first team, to the experienced pro who became Head of Medicine at Premier League Everton FC in charge of the treatment of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and Tim Cahill. Brilliantly written and packed with hilarious tales featuring a football 'who's who' cast of characters - from Sir Alf Ramsey and 'Big Sam' Allardyce to David Moyes, Duncan Ferguson and Rooney himself - The Smell of Football is an engrossing and moving memoir that covers every aspect of the professional game and gives an unprecedented insight into what life is really like at football's coalface.

A remarkable story of turning heartbreak into hope Life as we know it can change in an instant, in the blink of an eye. And it did for Martina Cox and her family in 2018. On an ordinary day in April of that year, Sean Cox travelled to Anfield to watch his beloved Liverpool play. But he never made it to the match. A vicious, unprovoked attack left him with a severe brain injury, unable to walk or talk. Here, Martina tells their remarkable story. It is a story of inner strength and determination, of dedication and commitment. By not taking no for an answer and with the help of their family, their community, the Liverpool spirit, and tens of thousands of people across the world who were touched by Sean's story, they have achieved what was thought to be impossible. With Hope in Your Heart brings Sean's story right to the present day, as he moved back to his family home for the first time in two years just as the coronavirus lockdown took hold. At its heart, this is a love story - the kind of love that conquers all. The book includes a foreword by Jurgen Klopp. 'Both a love story and a deeply moving, powerful account of how they have tried to piece their lives back together.' The Athletic 'Phenomenal book' Tommy Bowe, Ireland AM, Virgin Media Television 'Martina's strength is inspiring' Laura Woods, Ireland AM, Virgin Media Television 'Excellent book ... brilliant, uplifting and highly recommended.' Ryan Tubridy 'I'm a grown man, but there were tears falling on the pages ... absolutely brilliant ... wonderful, wonderful book.' Pat Kenny 'An extraordinary book' Matt Cooper, The Last Word 'Powerful and unflinchingly honest' Jennifer O'Connell, The Irish Times

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.

After a record 36 years stuck in the bottom division of the Football League, Rochdale AFC finally won promotion in 2009/10. This is a wry look at that season by a lifelong fan and acclaimed broadsheet journalist.

Celebrate the stunning diversity of Britain's football landscape with this eye-catching calendar 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, this calendar transports 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 Aldershot Town, Fulham, Garw, Clapton Community, Crook Town, Halesowen Town, Burnley, Portsmouth, Brechin City, St Albans City, Matlock Town and Hereford. This outstanding collection of images, taken by acclaimed sports photographers, is sure to leave you planning a future football pilgrimage.

Celebrate the stunning diversity of Britain's football landscape with this eye-catching calendar of specially selected photos from Mike Bayly's best-selling book, British Football's Greatest Grounds. From grounds sited in idyllic countryside to those nestled next to the ocean or amid a bustling metropolis, this calendar transports 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 Bacup Borough, Everton, Abertillery Bluebirds, Exeter City, Peterborough United, Fraserburgh, Treharris, Greenock, Boston United, Gresley, Blaenrhonnda and Hitchin Town. This outstanding collection of images, taken by acclaimed sports photographers, is sure to leave you planning a future football pilgrimage.

'England 'Til I Die' tells many stories - supplied by the full spectrum of England supporters. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cry, but all will give readers an insight into what it really means to follow a national team home and away.

Remember when Zinedine Zidane steered France to their first World Cup title in 1998? Kylian Mbappe doesn't. The absurdly gifted young forward wasn't even born when the French team lifted the trophy for the first time. But it was Mbappe's pace, energy and fearlessness that helped put France back at the summit of world football in 2018, erasing years of failure, rancour and shame. The two crowning achievements of French football made Les Bleus the envy of the world, yet the road between these two events was blighted by bitterly painful lows. Zidane's infamous headbutt; a humiliating players' strike; infighting and recriminations; even sex scandals and blackmail. And this was a turbulent time for French society too, as the promise of racial harmony in 1998 gave way to rising tensions and riots in the country's combustible suburbs. Mbappe was a witness to it all, honing his prodigious talent in the neglected banlieues of Paris as both the national team and nation itself threatened to implode. In many ways, his story is the story of France's journey from disaster to triumph; football's hottest new property growing up in a troubled neighbourhood and inspiring a divided country both on and off the pitch. Here, sports journalist and broadcaster Matthew Spiro traces the rise, fall and rise again of Les Bleus through the lens of this compelling player and character, who was already a symbol of hope before he turned twenty. Featuring a foreword by Arsene Wenger and interviews with leading figures in French football, including Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires and Olivier Giroud, Spiro's engaging account asks what went wrong for France and what, ultimately, went right.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the match performance and recovery of the athlete. To apply the principles of sports nutrition in football, this book provides nutrition basics as well as insight into the physiological demands of the game itself by looking into what elite players eat and drink. Appropriate food choices and timing are also important for a player to perform hard, avoid illness, and recuperate from injury. This book uses the UEFA 2020 Expert Group Consensus Review on Nutrition in Elite Football to give evidence-based guidelines for optimizing football performance through appropriate nutrition and the latest comprehensive information on nutrition guidelines for professional players-also relevant to the amateur player. Included are the specific needs of female players and match officials and relevant issues such as eating during travel and food hygiene. Finally, the book provides some example meal plans and snacks for training, match, and recovery days. Meal recipes are provided by elite performance chefs, Rachel Muse and Bruno Cirillo, who regularly prepare meals for elite players. The science behind sports nutrition is evolving fast. Knowing what the top professional players are eating and drinking can help amateur players improve their own performance, recovery, and health.

'This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Mes que un book!' - GARY LINEKER From the bestselling co-author of Soccernomics comes the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful football club in the world - and how that envied position now hangs in the balance. Barca is not just the world's most popular sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organisations on the planet. With almost 250 million followers on social media and 4 million visitors to its Camp Nou stadium each year, there's little wonder its motto is 'More than a club'. But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona has transformed from regional team to global powerhouse, becoming a model of sporting excellence and a consistent winner of silverware. Simon Kuper unravels exactly how these transformations took place. He outlines the organisational structure behind the club's business decisions, and details the work of its coaches, medics, data analysts and nutritionists who have revolutionised the sporting world. And, of course, he studies the towering influence of the club's two greatest legends, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi. Like many leading global businesses, FC Barcelona closely guards its secrets, granting few outsiders a view behind the scenes. But, after decades of writing about the sport and the club, Kuper was given unprecedented access to the inner sanctum and to the people who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top. Erudite, personal, and capturing all the latest successes and upheavals, his portrait of this incredible institution goes beyond football to understand Barca as a unique social, cultural, and political phenomenon. "I began my research thinking I was going to be explaining Barca's rise to greatness, and I have, but I've also ended up charting the decline and fall."

Football. Bloody hell.'

The longest serving and most successful manager in British football history shocked the world by finally retiring in May 2013 and instantly created more column inches and twitter mentions that the death of Margaret Thatcher. And he wasn’t just the greatest, but also one of the most outspoken, engaging and witty voices from the game, as this book proves. Here is the history of his supreme verbal sparring during his years at Manchester United - the man in his own words (with a few additional thoughts from those who knew him best and crossed swords with him most).

'There's nothing wrong with losing your temper once in a while if it's for the right reasons'

'If he was an inch taller he’d be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in – I’d check the milkman' On Gary Neville

'He could start a row in an empty house' On Denis Wise

'The list of gentle, naturally retiring men who have been successful in their attempts at running clubs isn't a long one, is it?

A star athlete shares her trailblazing account of triumph in the face of sexism, self-doubt, and injury, gives a remarkable global tour of the women's soccer world, and presents a stirring call-to-action to secure equal pay and conditions. When Susie Petruccelli won a place on Harvard University's soccer team, she felt on top of the world--talented, strong, and worthy. Unfortunately, after sustaining injuries and developing health problems, she felt her worth slip away. In this remarkable memoir, Petruccelli reveals how she battled her way back onto the field and continued to fight even after she hung up her cleats. She distills the significance of not giving up on oneself and inspires players of all sports who've faced injuries to persevere. She also brings to light the inequities and discrimination female athletes face that she's traveled the world to see and document firsthand, and introduces the international athletes and activists fighting for equal pay and conditions. In so doing, she reveals the progress made, as well as the battles ahead and the force of the movement. Raised a Warrior is the winner of the Vikki Orvice Prize and has been praised by a wide range of sports icons from Pele to Billie Jean King.

What is it like to get so close to your dream that you can almost touch it, only to have it torn cruelly away? Anthony Potts knows the answer. He sacrificed everything in an all-consuming pursuit of his dream to become a professional footballer. It was a dream, like many others, seeded in childhood. He was born with some natural talent, but things did not come easy for him. Nevertheless, he persevered and the hard work paid off. He was part of the Tottenham side that won the 1990 FA Youth Cup, and he earned a place in the England youth team. Later, he was a member of Tottenham's first Premier League squad alongside Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker - but he never got to play for the first team in a competitive match. In this tell-all book, Anthony shares the inside story of his time at Spurs, including his friendship with Gazza. It is a story that rarely gets told - the story of a failed footballer. Anthony sacrificed everything in pursuit of his dream. Was it worth it? You be the judge.

When football legend Sir Stanley Matthews described England's 4-1 defeat of the Netherlands in Euro 96 as 'the best England performance I have seen in years', coach Terry Venables knew he had achieved what he had set out to do. It was his most thrilling experience in football, and a moment that brought the nation together. Football had truly come home, and Venables had plotted the route. After more than 50 years at the top of the game, Venables has developed an unparalleled reputation as one of the most innovative coaches this country has ever produced. He recalls his early days as a player making his way in the Swinging Sixties of London, when showbiz and football first began to mix. But he was always destined for a career in management, and there soon followed a golden period of success. He reveals the secrets behind his methods that took him to FA Cup and La Liga triumphs, along the way becoming the founding father of the modern Barcelona. For all the acclaim he received, there has also been controversy as well, and Venables relives that horrible period when he suddenly became front-page news. In the end, there was always the football to return to and the loyal support of his family. For anyone who wants to understand the story of English football, from the days of Alf Ramsey to Roy Hodgson today, this book is an essential read.

The Little Book of Man City is bursting with wit and wisdom of the great characters associated with the club. From managers, such as Malcolm Allison, Kevin Keegan, Roberto Mancini and Pep Guardiola, via garrulous fans such as Radio 1's Mark and Lard and the Gallagher brothers to voluble players such as Francis Lee, Dennis Tueart, Rodney Marsh, Kun Aguero and Vincent Kompany, here are more than 165 funny and biting quotes for the avid fan of 'the only club in Manchester'. As their chaplain once said, 'Imagine where City would be if I hadn't been praying for them all these years'.

Although the popular history of Brazilian football narrates a story of progress toward democracy and inclusion, it does not match the actual historical record. Instead, football can be understood as an invention of early twentieth century middle-class and wealthy Brazilians who called themselves "sportsmen" and nationalists, and used the sport as part of their larger campaigns to shape and reshape the nation. In this cross-cutting cultural history, Gregg Bocketti traces the origins of football in Brazil from its elitist, Eurocentric identity as "foot-ball" at the end of the nineteenth century to its subsequent mythologization as the specifically Brazilian "futebol," o jogo bonito (the beautiful game). Bocketti examines the popular depictions of the sport as having evolved from a white elite pastime to an integral part of Brazil's national identity known for its passion and creativity, and concludes that these mythologized narratives have obscured many of the complexities and the continuities of the history of football and of Brazil. Mining a rich trove of sources, including contemporary sports journalism, archives of Brazilian soccer clubs, and British ministry records, and looking in detail at soccer's effect on all parts of Brazilian society, Bocketti shows how important the sport is to an understanding of Brazilian nationalism and nation building in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.