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Books > Biography > Sport
'Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender. Immortal hero of 1966.
Master of Wembley. Captain extraordinary. Gentleman of all time.'
These are some of the words inscribed beneath the statue of
England's World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, at Wembley
stadium. Since Moore's death, of bowel cancer at just 51, these
accolades represent the accepted view of this national treasure.
But what do we actually know about Bobby Moore as a person? What
about the grit alongside the glory? Moore was undeniably an
extraordinary captain and player. Pele called him the greatest -
and fairest - defender he ever played against. His feats for West
Ham United and England are legendary and his technical mastery of
the game ahead of its time. Few footballers since have come close
to his winning combination of intelligence, skill, temperament and
class. Yet off the pitch, Moore knew scandal, bankruptcy, divorce
and drink. What about the string of failed businesses, whispers of
bad behaviour, links to the East End underworld and turbulent
private life? Ignored by the football world post-retirement, this
great of the game drifted into obscurity and, famously, there was
no knighthood. Acclaimed football writer Matt Dickinson traces the
journey of this Essex boy who became the patron saint of English
football, peeling away the layers of legend and looking at Moore's
life from all sides - in triumph, in failure, in full.
The autobiography on one of cricket's best-loved characters. With
his trademark bow tie, his distinctive rich, plumy voice and his
eccentric observations Henry Blofeld is one of Britain's prized
experts. He has been close to the heart of the game for over 40
years. As a leading commentator on Test Match Special and cricket
writer, at home and abroad, he has informed and entertained wide
audiences with his extensive knowledge and perception of cricket at
the very highest level. Last year Henry Blofeld was forced by major
heart surgery to take stock of his life and here in this
autobiography he offers sharp pictures and vivid memories, a few
sad, and many humorous.
The autobiography of one of the greatest names in mountain
climbing. Joe Brown is one of the greatest names in British
climbing. This book not only describes his many notable climbs, but
reveals a most engaging personality with a highly interesting
approach to his craft. He was born in a Manchester slum, the
youngest of seven children; his father died before he was a year
old. The characteristics he showed as a child - a quite
extraordinary self-reliance and an unexpected love of the
countryside - are reflected throughout his life-story. THE HARD
YEARS is also the story of Joe Brown's climbs up some of the
toughest mountains in the world.
Behind the Silver Fern is a comprehensive history of rugby's most
famous yet enigmatic team, the New Zealand All Blacks, told by the
men who have had the honour of wearing the iconic black jersey.
From the legendary 1905 'Originals' all the way through to the
World Cup team of 2019, this unique history of the All Blacks lifts
the lid on their experiences like never before. Thanks to
exhaustive archival research and exclusive new material garnered
from a vast array of interviews with players and coaches from
across the decades, Tony Johnson and Lynn McConnell unveil the
compelling truth of what it means to play for the most successful
team in the history of sport - all the glory and the drama on the
field, the great friendships off it, and the bonds of a brotherhood
that extend far beyond the bright lights of a Test match. Absorbing
and illuminating, this is the ultimate history of All Black rugby -
told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it.
This readable biography of Lance Armstrong surveys his legendary
cycling career as well as the details of his life outside of
cycling. The son of a single mother and born in a run-down housing
project, American athlete Lance Armstrong emerged from decidedly
modest beginnings. Four decades later, Armstrong has established
himself as not only one of the world's greatest and most successful
athletes, but also as an activist for charitable causes. Through
the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Armstrong supports cancer research
and treatment while he serves as the ultimate inspiration for other
athletes and cancer survivors. Lance Armstrong: A Biography
provides a detailed treatment of Armstrong's life, from the lasting
influences of his boyhood and the early years of his competitive
training, to his battle with cancer, his divorce, and the birth of
his fifth child during his second comeback to professional cycling.
The book portrays him both as a champion athlete and a family man,
and gives a candid assessment of his career, including Armstrong's
less successful periods. Presents a chronological timeline of
important events in Lance Armstrong's life and a list of the major
awards and races he has won Includes exciting photographs of this
dynamic athlete in action Provides detailed chapter notes and a
bibliographic list of books and magazine articles Includes a
helpful index of people, places, and important cycling races in the
life of Lance Armstrong
Liddell at One Hundred celebrates the life of Liverpool and
Scotland legend Billy Liddell. Born in Fife in 1922, Billy made the
move from Scotland to Liverpool at 16, but the Second World War
delayed his debut. After serving in the RAF as a navigator, he
returned to football and won the league with Liverpool in his first
full season with the club after the war. A diehard Red, Billy spent
his whole career with the club, scoring 228 times in 534
appearances between 1938 and 1961. He remains the oldest goalscorer
in Liverpool's history and their fourth-highest scorer of all time.
Liddell spent a decade playing for Scotland and has the honour -
alongside Stanley Matthews - of being one of only two men to
represent a Great Britain XI more than once. A true sportsman and
consummate professional, he was never booked or sent off in his
entire footballing career. Liddell at One Hundred brings you the
inside story of his life from those who knew him best - friends,
supporters, family members and former team-mates.
In 1983, an unknown 23-year-old from Suffolk called Keith Deller
took the darts world by storm, defying the odds and sporting
conventions to become a most unlikely world champion. Deller was
the diametric opposite of the beer-swigging, chain-smoking,
paunch-bellied darts player fans were used to. He was slim,
well-spoken, athletic and didn't smoke or drink. And he looked like
a boy next to his flabby, middle-aged opponents. A TV audience of
10 million watched transfixed as this angelic newcomer beat world
number-one Eric Bristow in the final. Almost overnight, Keith had
breathed new life into a game whose traditions had been hewn in the
nation's smoky pubs and clubs. Deller was a new breed of darts
player whose appeal transcended this gritty working-class sport,
piquing the interest of intellectuals such as Martin Amis and
Stephen Fry. In 138, Keith takes the reader on an intimate journey
as we relive his rapid rise from complete obscurity to lifting the
game's greatest prize as one of the youngest world champions in
history.
The phenomenal Sunday Times bestseller Kevin Keegan is one of the
greatest players in English football history, famed for his style
on the pitch, his relentless ambition and passion for the game.
'And I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love
it!!!' Kevin Keegan, 1996 In My Life in Football Keegan tells the
story of his remarkable rise through the sport, from the Peglers
Brass Works reserve team in Doncaster to helping Liverpool become
the kings of Europe, winning a Bundesliga title with Hamburg and
captaining England. Keegan was recognised around the world as one
of the sport's genuine superstars and remains the only Englishman
to win the Ballon d'Or twice. As a manager, Keegan's five-year
spell in charge at Newcastle is now legendary; he led the club from
the depths of the old Second Division to the brink of the Premier
League title with a breathtaking vision and flamboyant style that
saw his team dubbed 'The Entertainers'. Fifty years since making
his professional debut, Keegan tells the full story of the
exhilarating highs and excruciating lows, from that epic battle
with Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United in the 1995-6 season,
as well as the pain of managing England and, finally, the
shattering truth about his unhappy return to Newcastle in the
controversial Mike Ashley era. Brilliant, funny, passionate, deeply
moving and incredibly honest, My Life in Football is the story of
the miner's son from Doncaster who became a superstar and was known
to his adoring fans as 'King Kev'.
The 125 greatest chess games of all time, selected, analysed,
re-evaluated and explained by a team of British experts and
illustrated with over 1,000 chess diagrams. Join the authors in
studying these games, the cream of two centuries of international
chess, and develop your own chess-playing skills - whatever your
current standard. Instructive points at the end of each game
highlight the lessons to be learned. First published in 1998, a
second edition of The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess
Games in 2004 included an additional 12 games. This edition
includes a further 13 games as well as some significant revisions
to the analysis and information regarding other games in earlier
editions of the book, facilitated by the use of a variety of chess
software.
Jerry West is one of the most revered and enigmatic sports icons of
all time, but beneath the surface lies a complicated man who shares
his true story with unflinching candor.
WEST BY WEST recounts West's difficult journey from an abusive
childhood in West Virginia (and the loss of a beloved brother to
war) to his All-American success at West Virginia University, and
his brilliant 40-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He speaks
openly for the first time about his lifelong battle with
depression, low self-esteem, and his complex relationships with NBA
legends Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar, Pat Riley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant, with
owners Jack Kent Cooke and Jerry Buss, coach Phil Jackson, and many
more. Unsparing in its self-assessment, WEST BY WEST is a profound
confession and a magnificent inspiration, a book that generated
much discussion when it was published last year and is sure to be
talked about for years to come.
Today, seeing Black footballers playing the game at the very
highest level is considered very normal. This, certainly, was not
the case one hundred and forty years ago, and this is what makes
the story of Andrew Watson so remarkable. It seems hard to imagine
that a Guyanese-born Black man could head the Scottish national
football team in 1881 in a game against England. Not only was he
captain, but he also led them to a 6-1 victory in London - an
achievement that still ranks as England's heaviest ever defeat on
home soil.
The North Face of the Eiger was long notorious as the most
dangerous climb in the Swiss Alps, one that had claimed the lives
of numerous mountaineers. In February 1966, two teams - one German,
the other British-American - aimed to climb it by a new direct
route. Astonishingly, the two teams knew almost nothing about each
other's attempt until both arrived at the foot of the face. The
race was on. John Harlin led the four-man British-American team and
intended to make an Alpine-style dash for the summit as soon as
weather conditions allowed. The Germans, with an eight-man team,
planned a relentless Himalayan-style ascent, whatever the weather.
The authors were key participants as the dramatic events unfolded.
Award-winning writer Peter Gillman, then twenty-three, was
reporting for the Telegraph, talking to the climbers by radio and
watching their monumental struggles from telescopes at the Kleine
Scheidegg hotel. Renowned Scottish climber Dougal Haston was a
member of Harlin's team, forging the way up crucial pitches on the
storm-battered mountain. Chris Bonington began as official
photographer but then played a vital role in the ascent. Eiger
Direct, first published in 1966, is a story of risk and resilience
as the climbers face storms, frostbite and tragedy in their quest
to reach the summit. This edition features a new introduction by
Peter Gillman.
Award-winning writer JD Morvan and renowned photographer Abbas'
stunning graphic novel masterpiece which uses iconic photos to
uniquely illustrate the historical 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing
match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. "The drawings and
photos allow us to revel in the imagery and history of that
unforgettable night, and the torrid pace of the storytelling, the
many flashbacks allow us to see the full context of the fight" -
The Ring Award-winning writer JD Morvan and renowned photographer
Abbas' stunning graphic novel masterpiece which uses iconic photos
to uniquely illustrate the historical 'Rumble in the Jungle' boxing
match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. On the 30 th October
1974, the most famous boxing match of the 20 th Century took place.
Nicknamed the "Rumble in the Jungle", it pitted Muhammad Ali,
desperate to win back his world champion belt, and George Foreman,
the current holder, against each other. Foreman had just KO'd the
only two boxers to have ever beaten Ali. By his own admission, Ali
was terrified of facing him in the ring... Now, the photojournalist
Abbas immortalises this legendary meeting, having kept his photos
in his personal archives for 36 years before unveiling them to the
world. In a cross between a documentary, photo report and graphic
novel, this book reveals the context of the most powerful
photographs taken by one of the greatest photographers of the
Magnum Photos agency. Enriched by the testimony of Abbas himself,
Jean-David Morvan's script is rigorously brought to life by artist
Rafael Ortiz.
'A lovely kind of nostalgia, which colourises the black and white
of yesteryear' - The Oldie Review 'He writes about them all with
wonderful precision and a powerful evocation' - Radio Times 'Like
my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching
of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by
providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve
and temper' For Michael Parkinson it was never really in doubt that
he would spend his life in sport. His father, a fearsome fast
bowler himself, indoctrinated young Michael from an early age into
the Yorkshire cricket tradition and supporting Barnsley FC. All he
ever wanted was to play cricket for Yorkshire and England. He rose
through the ranks of Barnsley cricket along with his friends Dickie
Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on
the field, he spent the next few decades watching, writing and
talking about sport. My Sporting Life is Sir Michael's love letter
to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the
characters of the international games he watched and wrote about,
and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm humorous anecdotes
about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and
Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his
life writing about his one great passion.
A collection of humorous, touching and uplifting stories about life, rugby and everything else by one of South Africa’s true rugby legends...
Theuns Stofberg’s illustrious rugby career spanned from 1976 to 1985, and he is commonly considered one of the all-time Springbok greats. As the 36th captain of the Springboks, one of only 56 players to be given this honour, he was tough and uncompromising on the field but a true gentleman and great raconteur off it, which he proves with the anecdotes collected in this book.
In Stories from the Touchline, he takes the reader behind the scenes, from his childhood days as a schoolboy rugby player to the 1981 flour-bomb tour of New Zealand and winning the Currie Cup for three different provinces – a feat unmatched to this day. He also writes about what it was like playing with legends such as Morné du Plessis, Gerrie Germishuys, Schalk Burger Sr and Gysie Pienaar, marvels at the fans' odd and often colourful behaviour, and affords readers a fascinating glimpse into the amateur days of rugby in South Africa. He also shares his personal struggles with a speech impediment and ill health, and coping with family tragedy, in his own inimitable way. By turns deeply personal, amusing and nostalgic, this book will be treasured by each and every South African rugby fan.
'He's here, he's there, he's every-f*cking-where, Gerry Gow, Gerry
Gow' was an anthem that could often be heard reverberating around
Ashton Gate in the 1970s as Bristol City climbed towards the first
division. Gow was one of football's original cult heroes that
emerged throughout the seventies and eighties; often sporting long
hair and bushy moustaches. Gow pulled off both with style during
spells at Bristol City and Manchester City. Written with the help
of the Gow family, He's Here, He's There: The Gerry Gow Story
celebrates the career of the Ashton Gate 'Enforcer'. It provides a
fascinating insight into a player that fans of a certain vintage
consider the greatest to wear the red of Bristol City. With fresh
insight from Gerry's family, friends, team-mates and opponents,
including the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Peter Reid and Chris
Kamara, this is a captivating insight into a cult hero, a football
hardman, a Bristolian icon; but also Gerry the man, and a man
sorely missed but still loved by so many.
'Poignant and compelling, an equine Bridget Jones.' Racing Post
Being a stable lass is probably one of the hardest jobs in the
country, and yet for Gemma Hogg it is the most rewarding. She works
in the beautiful Yorkshire market town of Middleham and if her
colleagues are occasionally challenging, then the horses are
downright astonishing. Now, in Stable Lass, she takes us into the
closed world of a top racing yard, from the elation of having
several winners in one day to the almost indescribable grief of
losing a horse. Like most stable lads and lasses, Gemma arrived in
her yard as a teenager fresh out of racing college and had to cope
with living away from home for the first time, as well as adapting
to the brutal long hours, backbreaking work and often treacherous
weather. She describes falling in love with Polo Venture, the first
racehorse in her care, the pure exhilaration of riding him on
Middleham Gallops for the first time and what happens when a horse
takes against you, from the growling gelding Valiant Warrior to the
potentially lethal Broadway Boy. She brings to life the characters
around the yard, from straight-talking boss Micky Hammond to the
jockeys starving themselves to make weight, the wealthy owners and
the other stable lads and lasses who come from a range of different
places and backgrounds. Stable Lass by Gemma Hogg is a unique look
into the world of horse racing filled with heart-warming stories
and amazing thoroughbreds - some loveable, some cantankerous, all
impressive.
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More Power
(Paperback)
Hugh Matheson, Christopher Dodd
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R262
Discovery Miles 2 620
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Ships in 12 - 19 working days
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Arguably the greatest coach in British sporting history.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS Jurgen Grobler's
Olympic coaching career is one of legend, yet the man himself has
remained resolutely out of the spotlight. Over the last twenty
years he has masterminded British Rowing's incomparable success.
And when the difference between gold and silver can mean mere
fractions of a second, Jurgen Grobler has consistently delivered
Olympic gold through various boat classes and with an ever-changing
group of athletes. Arguably the greatest coach in British sporting
history, Grobler's unparalleled record outstrips many much better
known records and stories; building champions such as Sir Steve
Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell to name but few.
This authoritative account of Grobler's career straddles the Iron
Curtain, beginning in the German Democratic Republic, where
systemic state-funded doping was an open secret, before crossing to
Britain following the fall of the Berlin Wall. And whilst culture
and sport have shifted dramatically over the last half century,
Grobler's pursuit of greatness has never faltered. Written by
Olympic medallist, Hugh Matheson, and rowing historian, Christopher
Dodd, More Power is the unmissable story of one man's quest for
glory, and sets out to unlock the secrets of Jurgen Grobler: the
finest coach Olympic sport has ever seen.
Graham Jarvis has been at the peak of off-road motorcycling for the
best part of twenty-five years and has won the fabled and
ridiculously perilous Erzberg Rodeo a record-equalling five times.
Since moving into the high-octane world of Hard Enduro in 2011,
Graham has won its five major races - the Erzberg Rodeo, the Red
Bull Sea to Sky, the Red Bull Romaniacs, the Tough One and Hell's
Gate - no fewer than twenty-six times. It has made him one of
motorsport's most successful riders. In CONQUERING THE IRON GIANT,
Graham takes us from his early years in Canterbury, where he
started out on an old BMX bike that his dad had rescued from the
tip, to competing against up to 1,800 riders in races where dozens
are often airlifted to hospital, and only three or four finish . .
. with Graham usually at the head of the field.
'When a man is conscious of the urge to explore, not all the
arduous journeyings, the troubles that will beset him and the lack
of material gains from his investigations will stop him.' Nanda
Devi is one of the most inaccessible mountains in the Himalaya. It
is surrounded by a huge ring of peaks, among them some of the
highest mountains in the Indian Himalaya. For fifty years the
finest mountaineers of the early twentieth century had repeatedly
tried and failed to reach the foot of the mountain. Then, in 1934,
Eric Shipton and H. W. Tilman found a way in. Their 1934 expedition
is regarded as the epitome of adventurous mountain exploration.
With their three tough and enthusiastic Sherpa companions
Angtharkay, Kusang and Pasang, they solved the problem of access to
the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. They crossed difficult cols, made first
ascents and explored remote, uninhabited valleys, all of which is
recounted in Shipton's wonderfully vivid Nanda Devi - a true
evocation of Shipton's enduring spirit of adventure and one of the
most inspirational travel books ever written.
This is the story of an activist, a fighter for justice, an
inspiration to young people and, most of all, one of the best
soccer players South Africa has ever produced. He played in many
countries around the world. Steve Mokone was born in South Africa
during the apartheid era –yet played internationally for top clubs.
He was also a son, a brother, an excellent student, a teammate, and
a reciepent of several awards. Much has been said about this
extraordinary athlete in newspapers, magazines, books and
documentaries. This book pulls it all together as a record of his
achievements. The story begins when he played barefoot with a
tennis ball in townships streets. It ends when he walked away from
the lights of the football grounds, leaving behind a great legacy.
‘It is my hope,’ Louise Mokone says, ‘that people will read this
book and believe that they too can achieve their goals and not
allow others to determine their destiny.’
John Gill: Master of Rock is a captivating look into the life,
achievements and ethos of boulderer John Gill. This new edition of
the classic title is complete with photographs, personal
impressions of Gill from climbers such as Yvon Chouinard, and an
enlightening interview with Gill himself. Hailed the father of
modern bouldering, John Gill is an awe-inspiring climber with
enigmatic talent. His techniques have been likened to poetry and
are almost 'spiritual' in nature. Famous for his dynamic approach
to bouldering and his impressive physical accomplishments, such as
the one-arm front lever, Gill is an inspiration to climbers around
the world. Written by Gill's friend and fellow climber, Pat Ament,
John Gill: Master of Rock pays homage to this influence. Delving
deeply into not only the fascinating life of Gill, but the very raw
essence of what it means to boulder, this intimate biography is
both intriguing and informative. 'Bouldering is the poetry of
mountaineering ... As with good poetry, good bouldering comes from
within. It is derived from an inner eye, then refined.' At its
core, John Gill: Master of Rock illustrates the humbling
relationship between Gill and those who admire him - as Ament
details first-hand, Gill is never egotistical, nor elitist; instead
he is approachable, passionate and refreshingly independent. This
staple climbing read is a real must-have for those with an interest
in pioneers of the bouldering scene. The exploits and adventures
contained within will appeal to devotees of the sport and to anyone
seeking insight into the triumphs of a master.
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