|
Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation
'Magnificent . . . Goldblatt is the doyen of sports historians and
brings to this account his forensic and telling eye for detail'
Mail on Sunday
The epic exploration of society, politics, and economics in the
twenty-first century through the prism of football, by the critically
acclaimed author of The Ball is Round.
'David Goldblatt is not merely the best football historian writing
today, he is possibly the best there has ever been'
Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times
In the twenty-first century football is first. First among sports
themselves, but it now commands the allegiance, interest and engagement
of more people in more places than any other phenomenon. In the three
most populous nations on the earth – China, India and the United States
where just twenty years ago football existed on the periphery of
society – it has now arrived for good. Nations, peoples and
neighbourhoods across the globe imagine and invent themselves through
playing and following the game.
In The Age of Football, David Goldblatt charts football’s global
cultural ascent, its economic transformation and deep politicisation,
taking in prison football in Uganda and amputee football in Angola, the
role of football fans in the Arab Spring, the footballing presidencies
of Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Turkey’s Recep Erdogan, China’s declared
intention to both host and win the World Cup by 2050, and the FIFA
corruption scandal.
Following the intersection of the game with money, power and identity,
like no previous sports historian, Goldblatt’s sweeping story is
remarkable in its scope, breathtaking in its depth of knowledge, and is
a brilliantly original perspective of the twenty-first century. It is
the account of how football has come to define every facet of our
social, economic and cultural lives and at what cost, shaping who we
think we are and who we want to be.
In this illustrated view of the history of Raith Rovers the author
builds up the story of the club by recounting events that happened
on every day of the year, even during the summer months. Triumphs,
disasters, shipwrecks, crazy Board Room decisions, managers (good
and bad), players (brilliant and mediocre) all feature. As do Davie
Morris, who captained Scotland when they beat all three Home
Nations in 1925; the wizardry of Alec James; the command of the
famous half back line of Young, McNaught and Leigh; and the dash
and enthusiasm of the team which won the Scottish League Cup. But
it is not just about the good days. There are bad days, and loads
of mediocre and mundane times too, as well as some accounts of
Raith Rovers in war time. The year as a whole reveals the
undeniable charm of the institution which means so much to so many
- Raith Rovers Football Club - or, as they are referred to in
Kirkcaldy, "the" Rovers.
Guidebook to 32 walks in the hills of Shropshire. The walks, which
are graded easy, moderate or hard, range from 3 miles (5km) to 12
miles (19km) and can be walked in all seasons. The selected routes
take in highlights such as The Wrekin, Wenlock Edge, Long Mynd and
Stiperstones, Castle Ring and Bury Ditches. Many routes start near
delightful towns and villages including Church Stretton, Ludlow and
Bishops Castle. Featuring 1:50K OS mapping (shown at 1:40K for
greater clarity), step-by-step route descriptions, as well as
information on accommodation, getting around, bases for the
Shropshire hills and history of the region, the guide details
everything you need to walk in Shropshire - and more. From
Neolithic standing stones, Bronze Age stone circles, and hilltop
forts dating back to the Iron Age, Shropshire offers more than just
picturesque landscapes and rewarding walking. Discover history on
the hills as well as natural beauty, all within easy driving
distance from Birmingham and Manchester.
This book is about my lifetime of adventure and inside I explain
how I overcame a hand disability from birth to become a British and
Scottish Rally Champion, but my story is not just about motor
sport: I have also worked for a top Hollywood film producer and
shared breakfast with one of the world's top female film stars. I
have also interacted with two US presidents, and met many other
wonderful people. My book also delves into the realms of working
with top world rally constructor as well as major motor
manufacturer. The many and varied characters I have met during my
lifetime has also made my life so much more colourful, and you can
meet many of these characters within the pages of this book. Yes, I
have met all of life's challenges to date.
|
|