Jack Beresford was the first British Olympian to win medals of any colour in five consecutive Olympic Games. His record of 3 Gold and 2 silver medals at the 5 Olympic Games held between 1920 and 1936 remained until Sir Steve Redgrave won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. Historically, men have had two great chances to prove their mettle; in battle and in sport. While many are aware that Jack Beresford was one of Britain's greatest oarsmen, this affectionate but unsentimental tribute by his son, John, reveals what few know, that Beresford served his country with distinction in war as well as in peace, and both with a modesty that is usually indicative of true merit. It is commonly said, show me the boy and I'll show you the man, and this work reveals that Jack the schoolboy, the soldier and the sportsman was driven by the same strict principals of duty and hard work throughout his life. This is, says John, the story that his Father never wrote. It is also a story with a delicious (if vicious) irony; the German bullet that wounded 19-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Beresford in 1918 led to him abandoning rugby and taking up rowing. Eighteen years later, the German favourites to win the Olympic Double Sculls paid the price of Jack's change of sport as, in the final's last 100 metres, Dick Southwood and Jack Beresford rowed them to a standstill to win Olympic Gold.

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.