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Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Sport
Meet Marc 'Elvis' Priestley: the former number-one McLaren
mechanic, and the brains behind some of Formula One's greatest ever
drivers. Revealing the most outrageous secrets and fiercest
rivalries, The Mechanic follows Priestley as he travels the world
working in the high-octane atmosphere of the F1 pit lane. While the
spotlight is most often on the superstar drivers, the mechanics are
the guys who make every World Champion, and any mistakes can have
critical consequences. However, these highly skilled engineers
don't just fine-tune machinery and crunch data through high-spec
computers. These boys can seriously let their hair down. Whether
it's partying on luxury yachts or photo opportunites aboard
gravity-defying aeroplanes, this is a world which thrills on and
off the track. This is Formula One, but not like you've seen it
before.
'He appeared, without a word, in the tent's entrance, covered in
ice. He looked like anyone would after spending over twenty-four
hours in a hurricane at over 8,000 metres. In winter. In the
Karakoram. He was so exhausted he couldn't speak.' Of all the games
mountaineers play on the world's high mountains, the hardest - and
cruellest - is climbing the fourteen peaks over 8,000 metres in the
bitter cold of winter. Ferocious winds that can pick you up and
throw you down, freezing temperatures that burn your lungs and numb
your bones, weeks of psychological torment in dark isolation: these
are adventures for those with an iron will and a ruthless
determination. For the first time, award-winning author Bernadette
McDonald tells the story of how Poland's ice warriors made winter
their own, perfecting what they dubbed 'the art of suffering' as
they fought their way to the summit of Everest in the winter of
1980 - the first 8,000-metre peak they climbed this way but by no
means their last. She reveals what it was that inspired the Poles
to take up this brutal game, how increasing numbers of climbers
from other nations were inspired to enter the arena, and how
competition intensified as each remaining peak finally submitted to
leave just one awaiting a winter ascent, the meanest of them all:
K2. Winter 8000 is the story of true adventure at its most
demanding.
1966 legend Sir Geoff Hurst is the only footballer in history to
score a World Cup final hat-trick. To mark his 80th birthday, he
has named the 80 sportsmen who most inspired and motivated him
throughout his life. Sir Geoff, who scored 24 goals in 49 England
games, also had a talent for cricket, and has an in-depth knowledge
of all the major sports. His A to Z of sporting heroes covers
multiple sports and decades, from Muhammad Ali to Zinedine Zidane.
The book is filled with surprising facts, and Sir Geoff challenges
you to count how many times you exclaim, 'I didn't know that!' when
reading his entertaining and enlightening breakdown on his sporting
idols. Writing in collaboration with renowned sports historian
Norman Giller, who reported Sir Geoff's West Ham debut in 1960,
Hurst personalises each profile with anecdotes that offer a unique
insight into the individual. Pitch Publishing are planning a
similar book on the greatest post-war sportswomen, but for now
enjoy Sir Geoff Hurst discussing his 80 greatest sportsmen.
Tony Kelly was football crazy from the age of seven. At sixteen
Nyrere Anthony Kelly was the youngest ever player in the first team
at Bristol City and in his twenties he went professional, playing
for clubs such as Stoke City, Cardiff City, Leyton Orient and Bury
in the second and third divisions of the Football League and
starring in a Swedish side. But his blossoming soccer career was
marred by a series of mishaps and misdeeds which drove him to
disaster. Ruined by an addiction to gambling, he lost his job, his
career, his partner and all his money. Now he has written his story
- as Kelly puts it, to "invite the public, my family and my friends
into my secret hell of racism, despair, depression, stardom,
gambling addiction and ultimately self-destruction". Red Card is a
tragic yet uplifting story of a sportsman's battle with his demons,
on and off the pitch. Published with the kind assistance of the
Professional Footballers' Association
The Sunshine Kids is no ordinary autobiography. Twins Fabio and
Rafael Da Silva have seen it all in football - from the favelas of
Brazil to the height of the European game with Manchester United.
Their performances and contribution to one of the most glittering
periods in the club's history cemented their place in the heart of
every United fan. Theirs is an incredible journey and story - and,
with Wayne Barton ('The pre-eminent writer on Manchester United' -
Martin Edwards) the pair tell all. The sheer personality pours from
the pages as Rafael's energy shines through in tales of fierce
rivalries with Liverpool and Manchester City, and Fabio reveals his
battle with anxiety as he sought to establish himself at Old
Trafford. From the experience of joining the best team in Europe,
to the human aspect and difficulty that comes with it, their
familial relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and their careers
since leaving United - you'll discover just why the twins have been
adored wherever their football careers have taken them.
This is a paperback reprint - back due to popular demand. It
includes analysis of his greatest races and the changing technology
of his bikes. It is an in-depth, richly illustrated biography of
one of motorcycling's best-loved characters. Fourth in a series
intended to cover the careers of the world's greatest motorcycle
racing champions, "Bob McIntyre - The Flying Scot" tells the story
of the man who never actually won a world championship - but
certainly deserved to. In many ways he was the two-wheel equivalent
of car racing driver Stirling Moss, who is seen as one of the
greats in his sport although he never won an official world title.
Well over four decades since his untimely death, following an
accident that occurred while racing his 500cc Manx Norton at Oulton
Park, Cheshire in August 1962, Bob McIntyre's memory lives on. An
annual Bob McIntyre Memorial race meeting held at East Fortune
attracts racing enthusiasts from as far afield as Australia. Not
only was 'Bob Mac' a brilliantly gifted rider and self-taught
mechanic, he was also a man of the people, someone who would always
help a fellow competitor or take the time to sign an autograph or
chat to a fan. He was also honest, loyal and modest; his word was
his bond. Unlike the three riders already covered in this series,
John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini, Bob Mac was very
much a self-made man; someone who started from the very bottom and
reached the very top in his chosen profession. He was the first man
to lap the Isle of Man TT circuit, the most fearsome in the world,
at over 100 mph; and this was just one of his great achievements.
This in-depth account of his career focusses on the bikes and the
races but also provides an insight in Bob's life away from the
track. Lavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished
photographs, it is a must-read for any motorcycling fan.
When Peter Minto first discovered the name of F N S Creek, he began
to unravel a forgotten legend of British football. He soon found
that there was far more to this man than it seemed...When the First
World War broke out, F N S Creek found himself battling in the
squalid trenches of Flanders and soon transferred into the Royal
Flying Corps performing dangerous aerial reconnaissance and bombing
missions behind enemy lines, eventually earning a military cross
for his contributions. Despite the short life expectancy of
aircrew, Creek returned to England to study at Trinity College,
Cambridge, and there he first discovered his talent for football. F
N S Creek quickly grew to celebrity status with his spectacular
scoring ability, earning caps for England and later going on to
coach the Olympic team for sixteen years. Throughout his career he
revolutionised the coaching of football throughout the nation
whilst also becoming a successful cricketer, writer, journalist and
broadcaster. In this extensively-researched biography of a
forgotten legend of English football, Peter Minto presents the
remarkable life of F N S Creek.
The long-awaited autobiography of Howard Webb, the man who refereed the World Cup final.
Webb's first game as a match official came when he was just 18 and his father's verdict was blunt: 'Useless - he doesn't know his arse from his elbow.' It wasn't the last time his performance would come under fire. But Webb progressed through the ranks, and his natural calm authority made a good impression on players and administrators alike, and soon he was being offered the top matches and the toughest fixtures. The former policeman went on to take charge of some of the most important games, including the 2009 FA Cup final, the 2010 Champions League final and - the biggest of the lot - the 2010 World Cup final. Now, in this superb and frank
memoir, Howard Webb reveals what it is like to be at the heart of the action in modern-day football where every decision can be unpicked by television cameras. He explains how he learned to handle some of the game's superstars.
Refereeing is a hard business, but Webb shows just why he enjoyed it so much and provides fascinating insights into how he dealt with the most challenging situations. With his unique perspective, and the characteristic honesty and humour he has displayed as a pundit on BT Sport, Webb has written a book, updated for this edition, that
reveals the game - and the man himself - in a new light.
'My Decade in the Premier League' is Wayne's first hand account of
his 10 years playing at the highest level in English football - and
for the biggest club in the world. This is his inside story of life
on the pitch for Manchester Utd; the League titles, FA Cups, League
Cups and Champions League adventures. A must for any Utd fan. Wayne
Rooney is widely regarded as one of the leading football players of
his generation. A talisman for Manchester United, since his move to
the club in 2004, Rooney is their star player and an all-time great
at the club. In the 10 years since he made his debut as a 16 year
old for Everton, he has acquired trophy after trophy, accolade
after accolade and headline after headline. 'My Decade in the
Premier League' is the inside account of life as a Premier League
footballer from the man every one wants to hear from. This is his
story, in his words. From gracing the ground at Goodison as an
excitable 16 year old to lifting the Champions League trophy with
Manchester United. From the emotional high of scoring the winner
against Manchester City with that overhead bicycle kick to the
crushing low of losing the league title in the last few seconds of
the season. This is a book for the fan who would kill to get just
30 seconds on the pitch at The Theatre of Dreams - to run on the
famous turf and score in front of the Stretford End. 'My Decade in
the Premier League' gives a real insight in to what goes in to
being part of the biggest club in the world; the training pitch,
the dressing room, the manager, the coaches and, most importantly,
the buzz of crossing that white line and hearing the 76,000 strong
crowd chant your name. In intricate, emotional detail Wayne talks
about every season he has spent in the Premier League and how it
feels to be one the most celebrated footballers on the planet.
Dave's story began at his local club Manchester City. His move to
Molinuex, following four and a half years at Maine Road, was
finalised on Boxing Day 1964.And it is from there that his story
truly begins. He was a key figure in the squad, and ever present in
the number 11 shirt when promotion was gained in 1967. He played in
two major finals for Wolves, receiving a runners'-up medal in the
UEFA Cup Final defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in 1972. He eventually
left Molineux for Blackburn Rovers in 1976, but he will always be
regarded as one of the finest wingers to play for Wolves and fondly
remembered for the class and skill he displayed during the 1960s
and 70s. Dave Wagstaffe's autobiography is told with humour and wit
and gives the reader a fascinating glimpse into his unique story.
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