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Details: BRIAN O'DRISCOLL
is one of the greatest
outside centres in
history, not just in
Ireland, but throughout
the world. He is Ireland
s most capped player of
all time and has led the
team as captain in a
staggering 83 tests,
including leading Ireland
to their first Grand Slam
in 60 years when they won
it in 2009. Voted Player
of the Decade by Rugby
World in 2010 Brian
O'Driscoll is, quite
simply, the most
celebrated player in the
sport today. Ever since
his first match for
Leinster in 1999 he would
go on to make his debut
for Ireland that very
same year O'Driscoll has
shown the explosive
strength, poise and
guile that has led him to
the top of the game.
Despite this, he has had
his low moments, most
notably when in 2005 he
had to be carried off of
the field in the opening
minutes of the first test
of the Lions tour of New
Zealand after a spear
tackle from Umaga and
Mealamu. Fully updated to
include Leinster's
thrilling victory over
Ulster in the 2012
Heineken Cup, his
marriage to Threesome
actress Amy Huberman,
the birth of their first
child, Sadie and the
2013 Lions tour, this is
the definitive book on
O'Driscoll's career.
Ideal for: Fans of Brian
O'Driscoll, Rugby and
the Irish Rugby Team.
This paperback has 488
pages and measures: 19.7
x 12.8 x 3.2cm
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Double Olympic gold-medal
winner, James Cracknell.
His story before and
after his life-changing
accident. In October 2011
James Cracknell,
two-time Olympic
gold-medal rower and one
of the greatest endurance
athletes the world has
ever known, suffered a
seizure at home as his
young son looked on in
horror. A man who had
known no limits, a man
who had practically
achieved the impossible,
was now struggling to
master life's simple
challenges. A year
earlier, as James
undertook yet another
endurance challenge in
Arizona, he was knocked
off his bike by the wing
mirror of a petrol
tanker. It had smashed
into the back of his head
at high speed, causing
severe frontal lobe
damage. The doctors
weren't sure if he would
recover and, if he did,
whether he would ever be
the same again. "Touching
Distance" is an
extraordinary, honest
and powerful account as
James and his wife Bev
confront for the first
time the lasting effects
that the accident has had
on their lives. It is the
story of a marriage, of
a family and of one man's
fight back to be the best
husband and father he can
be.
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One of the biggest stars
in tennis, Serena
Williams has captured
every major title. From
growing up in the tough
neighborhood of Compton,
California, to being
trained by her father on
courts littered with
broken glass and drug
paraphernalia, to
becoming the top women's
player in the world,
Serena has proven to be
an inspiration to her
legions of fans. Her
accomplishments have not
been won without
struggle. She has been
derailed by injury,
criticized for her
unorthodox approach to
tennis, and was
devastated by the tragic
shooting of her older
sister. Yet somehow
Serena always manages to
prevail, both on and off
the court. She's applied
the same strength and
determination that helped
her to become a champion
to her successful
pursuits in philanthropy,
fashion, television,
and film. In this
compelling and poignant
memoir, Serena takes an
empowering look at her
extraordinary life and
what is still to come.
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The secrets in a woman's
heart are deeper than the
ocean...For May Smith,
travelling with her
husband and baby girl
Ellen, stepping foot on
the Titanic marks the
start of an incredible
journey, one which is
destined to take her from
the back streets of
Bolton to the land of
opportunity: the United
States. But when the
'unsinkable' Titanic hits
an iceberg one cold dark
night, May's dreams are
instantly shattered.
Jumping from the sinking
ship at the last minute,
May loses sight of Joe
and Ellen. Distraught,
she is pulled into a
lifeboat. Minutes later,
the real-life Captain
Smith swims to the
lifeboat and hands May a
baby swaddled in
blankets. Beside herself,
and in virtual darkness,
May believes the baby to
be Ellen. This rescue is
witnessed by fellow
survivor, Celeste
Parkes, married to an
American industrialist
who is on her way back to
Ohio after her mother's
funeral. In horror, they
both watch the death
throes of the mighty
ship; May traumatised,
knowing her husband has
drowned, Celeste wishing
her bully of a husband
had been on board and out
of her life. As the dawn
comes up, and the two
women are rescued by the
Carpathia, a friendship
is formed, one which is
destined to transcend the
Atlantic and social
differences between them
and last a lifetime. Then
May makes a shocking
discovery and a
split-second decision
which will change the
lives of so many.
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Details: HE S HUNG UP HIS
BOOTS AND NOW A
KNIGHTHOOD BECKONS. THIS
IS THE INCREDIBLE STORY
OF DAVID BECKHAM
FOOTBALLER, FASHION
ICON, ENTREPRENEUR AND
PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS
MAN IN THE WORLD. David
Beckham is Britain s best
loved sporting son. His
dazzling career has seen
him win domestic league
titles in four countries,
making his trophy
cabinet one of the most
impressive in modern
football. Awarded an OBE
in 2003, the journey
Beckham has taken is
scarcely believable. His
iconic goals live on in
the memory, from the way
he announced himself to
the world as Manchester
United s golden boy by
scoring from inside his
own half, to the
spectacular injury-time
free kick against Greece
which secured England s
2002 World Cup
qualification. But at the
heart of public affection
for Golden Balls, there
is more than just an
appreciation of his
football skills. An
ambassador for UNICEF,
Beckham was instrumental
in promoting London s
2012 Olympic Games bid
and his starring role in
the opening ceremony was
a fitting reward for
tireless hard work.
Moreover, he pledged his
entire 2013 salary from
Paris Saint-Germain to a
children s charity. Now
that he has finally
retired from football,
the time is right to tell
the definitive story of
the ultimate East End boy
made good. This is the
inspiring account of how
David Beckham sports
star, global icon and
loving family man has
taken the world by storm.
Ideal for: The perfect
gift for David Beckham
fanatics. This paperback
book has 313 pages and
measures: 19.7 x 12.9 x
2.1cm
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When Andy Murray finally
overcame Novak Djokovic
in a five-set thriller to
secure the 2012 US Open,
it was a dream fulfilled
for the man from
Dunblane. After four
previous defeats in Grand
Slam finals, Murray had
finally achieved what no
British man had managed
since the 1930s. But the
story of how he got there
was just as compelling as
the final itself, with
as many twists and turns
along the way. Writer
Mark Hodgkinson has been
covering that story since
the start - he was
actually the first person
to interview Murray for a
national newspaper back
in 2004, and has worked
closely with Judy Murray
in the past. In Andy
Murray: Champion,
Hodgkinson explains how
Murray first emerged as a
tennis player of true
quality, and how his
rivalry with his brother
Jamie spurred him on. He
looks at the close
relationship Murray has
with his mother, and the
various coaches who haved
worked with him to assess
their influence on his
game. In a hugely
competitive era of
tennis, with Federer,
Nadal and Djokovic all
counted to be among the
greatest tennis players
of all time, Murray has
earned the right to be
ranked alongside them all
- and this book explains
how and why he has done
so, becoming a true
national sporting icon in
the process.
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When Lance Armstrong
fought back from
life-threatening cancer
to win the 1999 Tour de
France - the so-called
"Tour of Renewal"; - it
seemed almost too good to
be true. It was. Sunday
Times journalist David
Walsh was one of a small
group who was prepared to
raise awkward questions
about Armstrong's
seemingly superhuman
feats. And so began a
13-year battle to reveal
the truth that finally
ended in October 2012
when the cyclist was
stripped of his seven
Tour victories and banned
from the sport for life.
Walsh's gripping and
moving personal account
of his struggles is a
revealing insight into
the murkier end of
professional cycling - a
place where having the
right doctor can make all
the difference and where
there existed a
conspiracy of silence. As
he shows, it never was
about the bike. However,
spurred on by a few brave
people who were prepared
to speak out in the hope
of saving the sport they
loved, Walsh continued
to probe, and eventually
he was vindicated when
Armstrong's reputation
was ruined. In this
updated edition,
covering Armstrong's
confession to Oprah,
Seven Deadly Sins takes
the reader into a world
of doping and lies, but
shows that there is
always hope for a better
future.
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The Kinanes - stalwarts
of Irish racing Regarded
by many as the perfect
jockey, Mick Kinane
rounded off his
thirty-four-year career
on a dazzling high with
champion horse Sea The
Stars, winning the 2,
000 Guineas, Epsom
Derby, the Eclipse
Stakes, International
Stakes, Irish Champion
Stakes and Prix de l'Arc
de Triomphe in 2009.
However, Mick is just
one member of several
generations of Kinanes
who have consistently
excelled in professional
horse racing: through
grit, talent and a
legendary work ethic. The
backbone of Irish racing
over the past fifty
years, this is the story
of a clan that includes
National Hunt jockey
Tommy, who won the
Champion Hurdle on
Monksfield and who once
won a race despite a
broken neck, and his
sons Thomas, Jayo, Paul
and of course Mick. The
family has its roots in
simpler and indeed harder
times; this book tracks
their rise to the
pinnacle of their sport
on the world stage.
Illustrated with family
and racing photographs.
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Colin Shindler has
previously written of his
deep love for Manchester
City in the bestselling
Manchester United Ruined
My Life and three other
previous books. Now he
tells the story of his
sorrowful disenchantment
with his home town club
as, on the instruction
of its new foreign
owners, it turns itself
remorselessly into a
global brand. Trophyless
since 1976, in 2011
Manchester City won the
FA Cup and set off on
their quest for the
Premiership and the
Champions League. In
their zeal to win every
competition the new
Manchester City has spent
money with wild abandon,
signing outstandingly
talented players as well
as a few ordinary ones
but in almost every case
at hugely inflated
prices. From the
nail-biting win over
Gillingham in the League
Two Play Off final at
Wembley in 1999 to the
climax of the 2011
season, Shindler watches
his team get steadily
more successful and, to
his own bewilderment,
feels steadily more
alienated from it. This
is the story of a
frustrated romantic who
finds in the glitz and
glamour of the current
media-obsessed game a
helter-skelter of
artificially fabricated
excitement. As he details
how football courses
through his veins
Shindler tells how it
intersects with his own
life, a life that has
been marked by family
tragedy, and how he
finally found personal
redemption even as his
team lost its soul.
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Colin Shindler was dealt
a cruel hand by Fate when
he became a passionate
Manchester City
supporter. In this
brilliant sporting
autobiography he recalls
the great characters of
his youth, like his
eccentric Uncle Laurence,
as well as his
professional heroes.
Threaded through these
sporting events is the
author's own story,
which touches on a
universal nerve, growing
up in a Jewish family,
his childhodd destroyed
by the sudden death of
his mother and his slow
emotional recovery
through his love for
Manchester City. It is a
tale that reveals what it
is like to be on the
outside looking in, with
his nose pressed up
against the sweet shop
window watching the
United supporters take
all the wine gums.
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Bobby Beasley was a
champion jockey, a trait
that ran in this famous
racing family. By age 26,
he had won a Cheltenham
Gold Cup (1959), a
Champion Hurdle (1960)
and a Grand National
(1961). He was destined
for racing greatness. But
when he was 24, Bobby
took his first drink and
soon succumbed to
alcoholism. He abandoned
his glittering career but
turned a corner after his
friend Nicky Rackard
urged him to attend
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Five years later, aged
38, Beasley rode Captain
Christy to an amazing
victory at the Cheltenham
Gold Cup. The horse was a
headstrong brute,
transformed by Pat Taaffe
into one of the most
exciting talents in jump
racing. Still a novice in
the 1974 Gold Cup,
Captain Christy made a
bad mistake at the last
fence but Beasley, a
dynamic and natural
rider, kept his nerve to
drive his horse past the
previous year's winner,
The Dikler. That ride by
Beasley is ranked as one
of the finest in racing
history. Years later
Beasley observed:
'Christy gave me back my
self-respect. He made a
huge difference to my
life and was a hell of a
horse.' After retiring in
1975, Beasley ran a pub
for eight years and then
worked in a vineyard in
Kent. In the history of
unlikely comebacks, that
of Irish jockey Bobby
Beasley is the most
heartwarming - and
unlikely - of them all.
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Tipperary native Paddy
Russell has been one of
the leading referees in
the GAA for the past 30
years. His story is a
remarkable one,
following his rise from
humble beginnings to the
pinnacle of two
All-Ireland finals.
Inspired by the late,
great John Moloney,
Russell took his first
steps in refereeing in
1976. He quickly emerged
as a leading light and
rapidly worked his way to
the top of his
profession. Russell has
enjoyed a successful
career but it is also one
laced with drama, most
notably that arising from
the 1995 All-Ireland
senior football final
between Tyrone and
Dublin.Russell later took
charge of the tempestuous
National Football League
clash between Dublin and
Tyrone in 2006, which
became known as 'The
Battle of Omagh', and
the stormy showdown
between Leinster rivals
Dublin and Meath in April
2008. Just two months
later, Russell was in
charge of the Munster
senior football
championship tie between
All-Ireland champions
Kerry and Clare when
Kerry captain Paul Galvin
slapped the referee's
notebook from his hands,
earning a three-month
suspension. In "Final
Whistle", Russell
reflects on his eventful
journey, including these
controversial matches,
and describes vividly the
stresses and strains of
refereeing modern-day
Gaelic games.
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Ronnie Whelan was a
mainstay of the iconic
1980s Liverpool FC side
that won six League
Championships, two FA
Cups, three League Cups
as well an unforgettable
European Cup. Under the
management of Kenny
Dalglish, Whelan and his
club team mates,
including Alan Hansen,
John Barnes and Bruce
Grobbelaar, formed one
of the finest club sides
in English football
history - a side that is
dear to the hearts of
Liverpool fans to this
day. It was also,
though, a time of great
tragedy; when the twin
disasters of Heysel and
Hillsborough devastated
the club and its
supporters. In this frank
and full-hearted
autobiography, Ronnie
Whelan tells the story of
the good and the bad
times at the club, as
well as his international
career with Ireland.
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Details: Perhaps no
football manager has ever
had his personal life
dissected as thoroughly
as Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Yet the man that
monopolized the British
press during five
tumultuous years as
England manager remains
an enigma. Who,
precisely, is Sven?
Here, in his
no-holds-barred
autobiography, the
secretive Swede takes us
on one of the wildest
rides in world football.
Populated by fake
sheikhs, Italian
lawyers, Nottingham
outlaws and, of course,
many of the biggest names
in the game, his is a
40-year-long career that
coincides with the
evolution of football
into a global
multibillion-pound
industry. Most of all,
this is a surprisingly
tender, sometimes
heartbreaking, but never
bitter account of a
simple man with a most
complicated story. A man
who has reached a
crossroads in his life,
who until now has never
stopped to ask himself
the question: was it
worth it? Ideal for: Fans
and followers of
Sven-G?ran Eriksson. This
ahrdback book has 378
pages and measures: 24 x
15.8 x 3.4cm
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The Kinanes - stalwarts
of Irish racing Regarded
by many as the perfect
jockey, Mick Kinane
rounded off his
thirty-four-year career
on a dazzling high with
champion horse Sea The
Stars, winning the 2,
000 Guineas, Epsom
Derby, the Eclipse
Stakes, International
Stakes, Irish Champion
Stakes and Prix de l'Arc
de Triomphe in 2009.
However, Mick is just
one member of several
generations of Kinanes
who have consistently
excelled in professional
horse racing: through
grit, talent and a
legendary work ethic. The
backbone of Irish racing
over the past fifty
years, this is the story
of a clan that includes
National Hunt jockey
Tommy, who won the
Champion Hurdle on
Monksfield and who once
won a race despite a
broken neck, and his
sons Thomas, Jayo, Paul
and of course Mick. The
family has its roots in
simpler and indeed harder
times; this book tracks
their rise to the
pinnacle of their sport
on the world stage.
Illustrated with family
and racing photographs.
Availability: In Stock
£3.99
Available
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From his gold medal at
the 1960 Olympic Games to
his defeat of Sonny
Liston to claim the world
heavyweight championship
in 1964, the
unforgettable 'Thrilla in
Manila' against Joe
Frazier and the 'Rumble
in the Jungle' against
George Foreman, 'The
Greatest of All Time',
Muhammad Ali, has
captured the attention of
the world. His conversion
to Islam, his refusal to
serve in the in the
Vietnam War ('I ain't got
no quarrel with them
Vietcong') and his
speaking tours in the
1960s have all
contributed to his status
as one of the most
revered sporting figures
ever. Here, drawn from
books, specialist
periodicals, newspapers,
college magazines
(covering his speaking
tours) and the work of
major literary figures
such as Norman Mailer and
Thomas Hauser is the
biggest and best
collection ever of
writing on 'The
Greatest'.
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Nicolas Roche has a
famous surname to all
fans of cycling. The son
of legendary Irish and
World Champion Stephen
Roche, Nicolas had to
fight to make it as a
professional and even
harder to make his mark
as his own man in this
toughest of competitive
sports. His rise up the
ranks has been meteoric,
with top 15 finishes in
both the Tour de France
and the Vuelta a Espa?a,
but his attitude to his
chosen profession has
remained undimmed.
Honest, eloquent and
passionate about the
cycling world, Nicolas
gained acclaim and a
devoted fan following for
his Tour diaries
serialised in the Irish
Independent. Now a major
contender for a podium
finish in a grand tour,
in the award-winning
Inside the Peloton
Nicolas tells in full the
story of life as a
professional cyclist and
of the remarkable events
that have brought him
this far. From furious
spats with teammates and
exhilarating races
against the worlds best,
this is a gripping
cycling adventure and
tale of a fiercely
competitive sportsman.
Show More Show Less
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What makes a man the
greatest of all time?
Eddy Merckx is to cycling
what Muhammad Ali is to
boxing or Pel? to
football: quite simply
the best there has ever
been. Merckx was a
machine. It wasn't just
the number of victories
(445); it was his
remorseless domination
that created the legend.
In 1969, while already
comfortably leading the
Tour de France, Merckx
hammered a further
eight-and-a-half minutes
out of his nearest rivals
during an 85-mile solo
break in the Pyrenees. He
didn't just beat his
opponents, he crushed
them. But his triumphs
only tell half a story
that includes horrific
injury, a doping
controversy and tragedy.
He was nicknamed 'The
Cannibal' for his
insatiable appetite for
victory, but the moniker
did scant justice to a
man who was handsome,
sensitive and
surprisingly anxious.
Britain's leading cycling
writer, William
Fotheringham, goes back
to speak to those who
were there at the time
and those who knew him
best to find out what
made Eddy Merckx so
invincible. 'Merckx - a
natural champion who,
famously, never knew
what prize money was,
but regularly rode
himself and others into
agony and glory - is a
fine choice for a writer
of Fotheringham's skill
and cycling knowledge...
A fascinating, often
bleak portrait of a
remarkable athlete and an
unnerving man'
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There's Only Two Tony
Cotteys is an open,
honest account of Tony
Cottey's long and
successful career as a
professional sportsman,
both on the football and
cricket pitches. He looks
back over his time with
Swansea City Football
Club and Glamorgan and
Sussex County Cricket
Clubs, and attempts to
answer the questions so
often asked of him;
What's it like to face a
cricket ball at 90mph?
What's it like to bat
with Viv Richards and
other cricketing greats?
How do you deal with
criticism in the press?
He assesses his successes
and shortcomings both as
a player and a person,
in a book that will make
the reader laugh, smile
and gain an insight into
the highs and lows of a
life in sport.
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Meet THE BEAR - a cat who
carries the weight of the
world on his furry
shoulders, and whose
wise, owl-like eyes seem
to ask, Can you tell me
why I am a cat, please?
Like many intellectuals,
The Bear would prefer a
life of quiet solitude
with plenty of time to
gaze forlornly into space
and contemplate society's
ills. Unfortunately he is
destined to spend his
days surrounded by
felines of a
significantly lower IQ..
. RALPH: handsome,
self-satisfied tabby,
terrified of the clothes
horse. SHIPLEY: mouthy
hooligan and champion
mouser, rendered
insensible by being
turned upside-down.
ROSCOE: fiercely
independent kitten,
tormented by her
doppelganger in the
mirror. And then there's
Tom, writing with his
usual wit and charm about
the unexpected adventures
that go hand in hand with
a life at the beck and
call of four cats... or
three cats and a
sensitive poet who just
happens to be a foot high
and covered in fur.
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Jonny Wilkinson's career
has crossed three decades
and four World Cups. He
has accumulated
phenomenal achievements,
world points records, an
impressive list of broken
body parts, and a drop
goal that will be
remembered for ever. But
the peculiar calmness
with which he played the
game masked a very
different reality. In
JONNY, he reveals the
extraordinary psychology
that he had to tame in
order to be able to
dominate his sport. For
most of his life, he was
driven by a quest for
perfection and an
obsession to be the best
player in the world; here
he shows how these two
facets of his competitive
mind took such a hold of
him that they sent him to
the top of the world,
then swept him up and
dragged him down into a
spiral of despair.
Jonny's career has
spanned the far reaches:
amazing highs and iconic
moments, then a fight
against injury that
culminated in a battle
with depression. Here he
tells of the physical
toll he knew his body was
taking from rugby, even
from his youth; he tells
of how he never wanted to
be a kicking fly-half but
learned to adapt his
natural game to play the
style that Clive Woodward
believed necessary to win
a World Cup, and how he
nearly walked out on
Martin Johnson's England
team 13 years later.
Praise for Jonny
Wilkinson: 'I consider
myself really lucky to
have had him as a player'
Sir Clive Woodward 'I'm
humbled to have played
alongside him' Lewis
Moody 'Jonny has been the
best player to play for
England in any of the
leading ball games this
century. He has been
brilliant, he has been
the rock on which success
was built, he has won
the biggest prize of all
and done so with style
and grace and elegance'
Simon Barnes, The Times
'Exceptional has been a
word commonly associated
with Wilkinson throughout
his career' The Guardian
'Thanks for the memories,
Jonny. English
supporters will never
forget how you made them
feel' Robert Kitson, The
Guardian 'Jonny Wilkinson
was English sport as it
likes to imagine itself:
intrepid, handsome,
physically indomitable
and blessed with grace
under pressure' Paul
Hayward, Daily Telegraph
'There are not many like
him: humble,
self-effacing and utterly
devoted to his cause. He
may not have considered
himself a superstar. But
everyone else did' Mike
Cleary, Daily Telegraph
'No one came close to
squeezing so much from
his God-given talent,
and for that alone,
Wilkinson is worthy of
undying regard' The
Independent
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On 22 July 2012 Chris
Froome made history as
the first African-born
cyclist to stand on the
podium at the Tour de
France. Ten days later at
the London Olympic Games
he won a bronze medal in
the time trial for his
adopted nation in Team GB
colours. Froome s path to
professional cycling,
from mountain biking on
dusty roads in the nature
reserves of Kenya s Great
Rift Valley - alongside
wild animals - to the
giddy heights of the Tour
de France and the
Olympics, has been
unlike any other in the
history of the sport.
Born in Nairobi to
British parents he was
schooled in South Africa
and studied economics at
university. But he
abandoned his degree to
take up the offer of a
professional cycling
contract in Europe. A
fish out of water,
unused to the harsh
northern hemisphere
winters, with no idea of
the tactics, discipline
or etiquette of riding in
the professional peloton,
Froome encountered a
shock entrance into the
rough and tumble world of
top level European bike
racing. But miraculously,
within two years he d
signed for the biggest
professional cycling team
in the world British
Cycling supremo David
Brailsford s Team Sky
finished second overall
in the Tour of Spain by
only 14 seconds and
sacrificed his own
ambitions to help
team-mate Bradley Wiggins
become the first British
cyclist to win the Tour
de France. On the Champs
Elysees in Paris, Froome
stood below Wiggins on
the second step of the
podium.
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Based on exclusive
interviews with 40
celebrated players, past
and present, Legends of
Irish Rugby is a
veritable who's who of
the sport. The top
personalities of the
Irish game take you
behind the scenes to
offer a unique
perspective on their
human and sporting
dramas. Immortals such as
Jack Kyle, Willie John
McBride, Tony Ward,
Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon
D'Arcy and Paul O'Connell
bare their souls to
reveal themselves as men
of vision, passion and
dedication - men who,
through their glories,
disappointments and
dramatic deeds, have
inspired others to
realise their dreams. In
this engrossing and
entertaining account of
the bittersweet history
of Irish rugby, these
powerful personalities
offer startling insights
into some of the sport's
most controversial
moments - from the
assault on Ronan O'Gara
during the 2001 Lions
tour to Gary Ella's
tenure as Leinster coach.
They also express their
opinions on the most
important issues facing
the game today - from
Brian O'Driscoll's hair
to the role of the coach
and the future of the
sport itself. Their take
on the times is often as
comical as it is
insightful. Irish rugby
has produced many
extraordinary characters
and left us with a
treasure trove of funny
stories, most of which
are recalled in this
book, including Peter
Clohessy's visit to the
dentist and his Frank
Sinatra impression; the
curious incident of Mick
Galwey's shorts; Geordan
Murphy's unique insights
into Austin Healey's
recreational activities;
Victor Costello's
experience of crime and
punishment; Keith Wood's
tall tales and much,
much more. Compelling,
informative and above all
humorous, Legends of
Irish Rugby is by far the
most revealing volume yet
on one of the country's
favourite sports.
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Details: Rangers have won
53 League Championships,
more than any other club
in the world. They have
won the Scottish League
Cup 26 times -- more than
any other Scottish club
-- and the Scottish Cup
33 times. In 1961 Rangers
reached the final of the
European Cup Winners'
Cup, becoming the first
British club to reach the
final of a UEFA club
competition. They won the
European Cup Winners' Cup
in 1972, having been the
runners-up in 1961 and
1967, and were
runners-up in the 2008
UEFA Cup Final. Ideal
for: A must for any
Rangers fan. This
hardback book has 308
pages and measures: 24 x
16 x 3cm
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-
James Hunt was a towering
personality with a
commanding presence, a
hugely glamorous public
figure who brought
Formula One motor racing
to the attention of a
whole new audience.
Triumphing against all
odds to become World
Drivers' Champion with
McLaren in 1976, Hunt
sank into a period of
decadence and depression,
only to be rejuvenated
as he found true love for
the first time. With that
came personal contentment
and a renewed zest for
living, so that one of
the most colourful and
controversial figures in
Grand Prix racing is best
remembered by those close
to him as a fun-loving,
caring man who had a
genuinely uplifting
presence - qualities that
shine through in Gerald
Donaldson's compelling
and moving account of his
life.
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Details: Carlisle United:
On This Day chronicles,
in diary form, the major
events in The Cumbrians
long and eventful
history. With individual
entries for every day of
the year, plus multiple
listings for busier
times. It includes all
the club's big matches,
promotions, relegations,
cup runs, important
events, boardroom
struggles and sensational
signings. ideal for: All
fans of Carlisle United.
This hardback book has
204 pages and measures:
19.2 x 12.5 x 2.2cm
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-
Eddy Merckx is to cycling
what Muhammad Ali is to
boxing or Pel? to
football: quite simply,
the best there has ever
been.Throughout his
professional career
Merckx amassed an
astonishing 445
victories. Lance
Armstrong, by
comparison, managed
fewer than 100. Merckx
was a machine. It wasn't
just the number of
victories; it was his
remorseless domination
that created the legend.
In 1969 while already
comfortably leading the
Tour de France, Merckx
hammered a further
eight-and-a-half minutes
out of his nearest rivals
during an 85-mile solo
break in the Pyrenees. He
didn't just beat his
opponents, he crushed
them. But his triumphs
only tell half a story
that includes horrific
injury, a doping
controversy and tragedy.
He was nicknamed 'The
Cannibal' for his
insatiable appetite for
victory, but the moniker
did scant justice to a
man who was handsome,
sensitive and
surprisingly anxious. For
Britain's leading cycling
writer, William
Fotheringham, the
burning question remains,
why? What made Eddy
Merckx so invincible? In
Half Man, Half Bike,
Fotheringham goes back to
speak to those who were
there at the time and
those who knew Merckx
best. The result is this
extraordinary and
definitive story of a man
whose fear of failure
would drive him to reach
the highest pinnacles
before ultimately
destroying him.
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Details: This is the
captivating story of
football's original 'hard
man', Fred Keenor. It
explores the life of the
man who took Cardiff to
the FA Cup Final. You can
discover how Keenor made
it back from the trenches
of World War One to lead
his team to success.
British football has
always had a reputation
for producing hard,
no-nonsense,
inspirational defenders
in the mould of John
Terry, Terry Butcher and
Tony Adams, but how
would the so-called 'hard
men' of the modern game
have fared in the
trenches during World War
One or on a salary of
just GBP 4 a week? Fred
Keenor, captain and
talisman of Cardiff City
and Wales during the
1920s, was the original
football hard man. He had
an unparalleled
reputation for delivering
violent, juggernaut
challenges on the stars
of the day such as Dixie
Dean and Alex James;
however, he was also
regarded as being one of
the country's great
defenders by fans,
players and critics
alike. Not only does he
remain the captain of the
first - and only - team
from outside England to
win the FA Cup, but he
also came within 0.024 of
goal difference from
winning the First
Division title and
captained his country to
three home international
victory shields. Perhaps
the pinnacle of his
international career came
in a game against
Scotland which was
christened 'Keenor and
the Unknowns', such were
his awe-inspiring efforts
to motivate and inspire
his team. All these
achievements came in
spite of the fact that he
was wounded while
fighting in World War
One, and it was felt
that he would never be
able to play the game
again. His fight back to
full fitness from his war
wounds was matched by his
fighting spirit
throughout his football
career. Ideal for: Fans
of Cardiff and Dundee.
For all football fans
especially older fans.
This hardback book has
160 pages and measures:
24 x 16 x 1.7cm
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-
A true-life sporting
memoir of one of the best
batsman in the game who
stunned the cricket world
when he prematurely ended
his own England career.
Trescothick's brave and
soul-baring account of
his mental frailties
opens the way to a better
understanding of the
unique pressures
experienced by modern-day
professional sportsmen.
At 29, Marcus
Trescothick was widely
regarded as one of the
batting greats. With more
than 5, 000 Test runs to
his name and a 2005 Ashes
hero, some were
predicting this gentle
West Country cricket nut
might even surpass Graham
Gooch's record to become
England's highest ever
Test run scorer. But the
next time Trescothick hit
the headlines it was for
reasons no one but a
handful of close friends
and colleagues could have
foreseen. On Saturday 25
February 2006, four days
before leading England
into the first Test
against India in place of
the injured captain
Vaughan, Trescothick was
out for 32 in the second
innings of the final
warm-up match. As he
walked from the field he
fought to calm the
emotional storm that was
raging inside him, at
least to hide it from
prying eyes. In the
dressing room he broke
down in tears,
overwhelmed by a blur of
anguish, uncertainty and
sadness he had been
keeping at bay for longer
than he knew. Within
hours England's best
batsman was on the next
flight home. His
departure was kept secret
until after close of play
when coach Duncan
Fletcher told the stunned
media his acting captain
had quit the tour for
'personal, family
reasons.' Until now, the
full, extraordinary
story of what happened
that day and why, of
what preceded his
breakdown has never been
told. He reveals for the
first time that he almost
flew home from the 2004
tour to South Africa - of
what caused it and of
what followed - his
comeback to the England
side and a second
crushing breakdown nine
months later that left
him unable to continue
the 2006-07 Ashes tour
down under. Coming Back
to Me replaces the myths
and rumours with the
truth as Trescothick
talks with engaging
openness and enthusiasm
about his rise to the top
of international cricket;
and describes with equal
frankness his tortured
descent into private
despair.
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Ireland's Katie Taylor
blew into London 2012
like a summer wind to
claim the first
lightweight Olympic gold
medal in women's boxing
when she beat Russia's
Sofya Ochigava in the
final at the ExCel Arena
in August. One of the
original campaigners to
have women included in
the Olympic boxing
schedule, Taylor, along
with her father and
coach, Pete, has won
everything the sport has
to offer. Her triumph was
a historical first in her
weight division and
fittingly book-ended what
has been a stellar career
to date. In My Olympic
Dream, she explains what
it was that encouraged
her to take up the sport
in the first place and
reveals her delight at
finally being able to box
in the world's biggest
sporting occasion.
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Kauto Star and Denman,
both superstars, have
between them changed the
landscape of jump racing
forever. Stablemates
side-by-side at the
Somerset yard of their
trainer Paul Nicholls,
they are exactly the same
age but hugely different
personalities. Kauto
Star, a handsome bay was
born in France where he
was dubbed
'L'Extraterrestre', has
won the King George VI
chase at Kempton Park on
four consecutive
occasions, matching
Desert Orchid's record,
and the Cheltenham Gold
Cup twice. Some say he is
the leading steeplechaser
of all time. Denman an
indomitable Irish
Chestnut, ruthlessly
efficient and blessed
with great stamina, is
known as 'The Tank'. In
2008 he knocked Kauto
Star into second place in
the Cheltenham Gold Cup,
a result reversed the
next year. As well as
Cheltenham, he has won
the Hennessy Gold Cup
twice. Not since the days
of Arkle has any horse
attracted such attention
from outside racing. The
continuing rivalry
between Kauto Star and
Denman has captured the
imagination of millions
and has been compared to
the classic sporting
contests of Borg against
McEnroe, Ali against
Foreman and Coe against
Ovett. This is the story
of their life and times
and the drama of their
many victories - and
occasional spectacular
failures.
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Villa for England tells
the story of Villa's
contribution to the
national side. All
seventy-one players
picked for England from
Villa have an entry in
the book. As well as
individual's stories,
the overall history of
the club is told. Aston
Villa is one of the great
clubs of world soccer.
From its founding in 1874
Villa rapidly became a
major force. It was the
Villa secretary William
McGregor who set in
motion the Football
League in 1888. Football
was never the same again.
Even before the League,
Villa began to supply
internationals. Two
players were capped for
England in 1882, Howard
Vaughton and Arthur
Brown. Vaughton became
the first player to score
five goals in an
international match. He
was the first of a
legendary line of Villa
England strikers, going
through Harry Hampton,
Billy Walker and Gerry
Hitchens to Gabby
Agbonlahor and Darren
Bent today. Villa have
supplied England with top
players in every
position, with
goalkeepers like Sam
Hardy and Nigel Spink,
defenders like Howard
Spencer, Gareth
Southgate and Stephen
Warnock, attacking
players like Charlie
Athersmith, Eric
Houghton, Gordon Cowans,
David Platt, Brian
Little, Steve Hodge,
Darius Vassell, Ashley
Young and Stewart Downing
showing that Villa have
always encouraged
attacking flair.
Seventy-one players have
been picked for England
while wearing the
claret-and-blue shirt
with the Lion badge - the
highest total for any
club. Their stories are
told in this book with an
entry for every single
player. The great names
are picked out for
detailed treatment in a
Pantheon section. And the
individual stories are
set against the overall
history of this famous
club. Villa's history has
been a roller coaster
ride. The massive success
before World War One led
to high expectations
which were not matched by
performance in the middle
years of the 20th
century. Since returning
to the top level, Villa
players have been chosen
for England sides and
World Cup squads. England
managers have found Villa
Park a rich source of
talent, with Fabio
Capello following this
tradition. "Villa for
England" tells the story
of Villa's contribution
to the national side.
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Published to great
acclaim in 2006, this
magnificent illustrated
biography of Barry Sheene
is now available in
paperback. One of
history's great
motorcycle racers,
Sheene proved his skill
with 19 Grand Prix wins
and two World
Championships. He added
ambition, intelligence
and vision to his Cockney
charm - and it made him
formidable. Starring in
high-profile ad campaigns
and in London's fast
social set, he played
the media to charm the
public, and his personal
courage in facing serious
injury made them love him
more. Even after
retirement Sheene
remained famous - he was
racing's first two-wheel
superstar.
Availability: In Stock
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Details: The day had gone
badly: Celtic had just
lost to their Old Firm
rivals Rangers in the
1999 Scottish Cup final,
and now Alan Stubbs had
to provide a sample for a
random drugs test. Little
did he know, but it
would help save his
life...The results of the
test showed he had
testicular cancer, and
suddenly, at the age of
27 and at the peak of
fitness, he realised
that he had the biggest
battle of his life in
front of him. In this
compelling and moving
memoir, Stubbs recalls
his despair at the time
and explains how, with
the support of family,
friends and fans as well
as terrific doctors, he
pulled through to resume
his career at the top.
And what a career it was.
First he helped Bolton
Wanderers climb up two
divisions to reach the
Premier League in 1995.
The following season, he
moved to Celtic for a
record fee, helping them
to break the stranglehold
on the league title held
by Rangers. After
recovering from cancer,
he moved to Everton, his
hometown club, where he
would spend most of the
rest of his playing
career, lining up
alongside (among others)
an ageing Paul Gascoigne
and an emerging Wayne
Rooney. A knee injury
forced him to retire in
2008, but he is now on
the coaching staff at
Everton. A player who has
seen the game at all
levels, he has also had
to contend with the most
shocking challenges in
life, which makes his
story an unmissable read.
Ideal for: A great read
for Bolton, Celtic,
Everton and all football
fans everywhere. An
inspirational book for
anyone fighting cancer or
with friends or family
who are fighting cancer.
This paperback book has
264 pages and measures:
19.7 x 13 x 2.1cm
Availability: In Stock
£2.99
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David;The Hayemaker; Haye
is the former WBA world
heavyweight champion and
the former undisputed
(WBA, WBC and WBO) world
cruiserweight champion.
Haye is one of British
boxing's most celebrated
and successful ring
champions of the modern
era and has won
twenty-three of
twenty-five professional
fights. He has twice been
shortlisted for BBC
Sports Personality of the
Year and is now
recognised as the face of
British and world boxing.
Haye was involved in the
biggest heavyweight title
clash for nearly a decade
when he fought Wladimir
Klitschko in July 2011,
with the fight televised
live in over 140
countries. Although Haye
ultimately lost his belt,
following a twelve-round
points decision, his
charismatic approach has
reminded fight fans of a
time when the heavyweight
championship was the
greatest prize in sport.
This is the authorised
story of how Haye reached
this point, and details
the ten-year rise of the
boxer from a precocious
World Amateur Champion.
Crafted by close
confidant Elliot Worsell,
Making Haye offers
behind-the-scenes,
never-before-told
insights into some of the
most pivotal ring wars of
David Haye's turbulent,
and at times
controversial,
professional boxing
career.
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A unique insight into the
world of Formula 1 seen
through the eyes of the
drivers, team owners and
key personalities. The
Zoom project is a unique
project with the full
backing of Formula 1 and
in support of Great
Ormond St. Hospital. Over
50 of the huge
personalities in the
Formula 1 circus have
taken a single personal
photo and these have been
compiled to create a
fascinating collection
that will be a must-have
book for enthusiasts of
Formula 1. With a
foreward by Bernie
Ecclestone and profiles
and first person
explanatory text from all
contributors, the book
provides an insight into
the personal world of
every driver on the 2012
Formula 1 grid from Lewis
Hamilton to Bruno Senna,
team bosses such as Frank
Williams and designers
such as Adrian Newey.
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'Elite athletes aren't
born. They're made.'
Michael Johnson From a
living icon of the
Olympic Games - as both
an athlete and now as a
BBC broadcaster - Gold
Rush is a compelling
analysis of the
fascinating combination
of psychological and
personal qualities, as
well as internal and
external factors, that
go to create an Olympic
champion. This exciting
new book is based on
Michael Johnson's own
experiences as an iconic
four-time Olympic
champion, and on the
knowledge he has gleaned
as a top-class coach and
motivational speaker. It
also features, uniquely,
more than a dozen
exclusive and insightful
interviews with Olympic
legends from across
several different sports
who between them have
claimed more than 50 gold
medals over the past 30
years. In essence,
Johnson has assembled his
very own Olympic Hall of
Fame in assessing the DNA
of true champions. Gold
Rush is themed around
chapters in which Johnson
will discuss each of the
key qualities/factors. He
expertly feeds in
fascinating first-person
testimonies from the
Olympic legends. In the
process he builds up a
definitive knowledge bank
of expertise and
experience from athletes
who have been on this
fascinating journey,
encountered the highs and
the lows, but ultimately
reached the summit - an
Olympic gold medal.
Johnson's interviewees
include: Usain Bolt Carl
Lewis Sally Gunnell Seb
Coe Daley Thompson Cathy
Freeman Ian Thorpe
Michael Phelps Rebecca
Adlington Chris Hoy Steve
Redgrave Matthew Pinsent
Lennox Lewis Michael
Jordan
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-
Christopher
Martin-Jenkins, or CMJ
to his many fans as well
as listeners of Test
Match Special, was
perhaps the voice of
cricket; an unparalleled
authority whose insight
and passion for cricket,
as well as his style of
commentary, captured
what it is that makes the
sport so special. In his
many years as a
commentator and
journalist - reporting
for the BBC, The Times
and the Cricketer among
others - CMJ covered some
of the biggest moments in
the sport's history. And
in this memoir he looks
back on a lifetime spent
in service to this most
bizarre and beguiling of
sports and tells the
stories of the players,
coaches and fans he met
along the way. Recounted
with all the warmth and
vigour that has endeared
CMJ to generations of
cricket fans, this
memoir relives the
moments that defined
modern cricket and which
shaped his life in turn.
It is a must-have book
for all devotees of the
sport.
Availability: In Stock
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-
The goalkeeper of Don
Revie's triumphant Leeds
United team of the late
1960s and early '70s,
Gary Sprake made over 500
appearances for the club
in a career that saw him
win domestic and European
honours and make 37
appearances for Wales -
yet for many people he
will always be remembered
as the man who threw the
ball into his own net in
a game against Liverpool.
A handful of high-profile
errors, and the
resultant reputation as
something of a liability,
have taken precedence
over the view held by
many contemporary players
and commentators that he
was one of the best
'keepers of his
generation. His heroics
won many matches for
Leeds, including the
1965 FA Cup semi-final
against Manchester United
and the 1968 Inter-Cities
Fairs Cup final against
Ferencvaros - yet still
the one time 'Hero of
Budapest' is more often
remembered as 'Careless
Hands', his name
associated with the
goalkeeping gaffes and
with the infamous Revie
match-fixing scandal
while teammates have
taken the plaudits for
the side's tremendous
achievements on the
pitch. This fully
authorised biography,
written in conjunction
with Gary himself, at
last gives his side of
the story and reminds us
of the forgotten truth
about this often unfairly
maligned player. Whatever
preconceptions people may
have about Gary Sprake,
they will find here an
honest, balanced account
of what really went on,
and as such this book
should not be missed.
Availability: In Stock
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-
A beautifully assembled
Manchester United history
book using Batsford's
classic Then and Now
format Features the
houses, the stadia, the
training grounds, the
fans, the players and
the dramatic changes to
old Trafford over 100
years A pictorial history
of the Premiership's best
supported club, from the
tragedy of Munich to
their triumphs in Europe.
Manchester United Then
and Now takes a nostalgic
look at the way football
s most charismatic club
has changed over more
than a century. Starting
with its earliest form,
Newton Heath LY&R, the
book traces United s
railwaymen roots,
visiting the previous
stadia in Manchester
where they played before
the major move to Old
Trafford in 1910. Scenes
of past triumphs and
tragedy are revisited and
photographed as they look
today. From the FA cup
celebrations of 1948 to
the dark days of Munich
in 1958, historic photos
are given a new context.
Archive pictures of old
training grounds, long
forgotten digs, players
favourite bowling rinks,
even their old cars are
featured alongside their
modern day counterparts.
There are short histories
of the four United
legends who have statues
outside the ground today,
Sir Matt Busby and the
trinity of Law, Best and
Charlton. Plus there is a
comprehensive visual
history of the evolution
of Old Trafford from the
1920s with a single
stand, through the
bombing devastation of
the second world war,
rapid expansion in the
1960s to its present day
majesty as the Theatre of
Dreams'. Manchester
United Then and Now gives
a unique and fascinating
insight into the history
and heritage of the most
successful English
Premiership club.
Availability: In Stock
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-
Long before Rodney Marsh,
or Derek Dougan, Tim
Coleman invented
football's awkward squad.
At the beginning of the
twentieth century
footballers were poorly
paid wage slaves to the
stern club owners. But
Coleman led the first
players' strike. He was a
joker, a card - perhaps
also the first ever
media-literate footballer
who knew the importance
of a sparky"e in the
right place - but he
would not be taken
advantage of. He stood up
for himself, and for
others. Then, in 1914,
playing for Nottingham
Forest after successful
spells with Arsenal and
Everton, he joined up
with the Footballers'
Battalion, and found
himself on the Western
Front in the run-up to
the Somme. There he won
the Military Medal for
bravery. But he also
participated in some of
the most remarkable
football matches ever
played, when, scratch
teams played on
improvised pitches and
contested the Army Cup -
right alongside the
trenches and shell holes
of the front line. In
later life he quietly
sank into obscurity,
cleaning windows in Kent,
his illustrious past
unknown to those around
him. This is the first
biography of one of
British football's most
remarkable figures: a
virtually unknown
individual who
nevertheless achieved
things beyond the
experience and the
character of most
players. This is the
story of a forgotten
sporting hero to follow
up Aurum's successful
All-Round Genius. This is
the remarkable story of
those who played football
on the Western Front. It
is a contender for the
2009 William Hill. It is
about one of Arsenal's
earliest heroes.
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Engage!' was the last
word Matt Hampson heard
before dislocating his
neck while in rugby
training with other young
England hopefuls. On a
cold, grey, overcast
day in 2005, the cream
of young English rugby
gathered at a Northampton
training ground. Matt
Hampson, 'Hambo' to his
mates, was one of them.
He had dreamt of playing
rugby for England ever
since he had picked up a
rugby ball at school. His
skill, conviction and
dedication had brought
him to the cusp of
realising that dream, in
an England U21 team that
included Olly Morgan,
Toby Flood, Ben Foden
and James Haskell. But as
the two sets of forwards
engaged for a scrum on
the training field, the
scrum collapsed and Matt,
who played tight-head
prop, took the full
force of two opposing
sides. In that moment his
life changed forever.
Paul Kimmage went to
visit Matt as he
recuperated, and wrote a
piece for the Sunday
Times which won him his
third successive SJA
sports interviewer of the
year award. They struck
up a friendship and here,
Paul tells Matt's whole
story, in all its
intimate detail. From the
build-up to the dreadful
day, to Matt's
recuperation, to his
struggle to adjust to
normal life again, to
his family and friends,
to other tragic incidents
on the rugby field, to
the response of the RFU,
this is a story of
terrible sadness yet
unadorned triumph and
joy, of anger yet of
reconciliation and peace.
..of a boy who became a
man.
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Details:
‘My Decade
in the Premier League’
is Wayne’s first hand
account of his 10
years
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In 1998-99, Manchester
United won the Premier
League, the FA Cup and
Champions League - the
only team to accomplish
such a feat in fifty-five
years of trying. Whether
that makes it the finest
of all time is open to
debate, but what is not
is the status of the
season: it is, simply
and incontrovertibly,
the finest ever enjoyed
by an English team. And
yet it's not the success
that's truly
extraordinary, but the
glory. The season
featured astounding
football, exceptional
competition, staggering
determination, ceaseless
dramatic tension and
astonishing plot twists,
performed by a cast of
fascinating, iconic
characters. It
encompassed the entire
gamut of joy and
narrative that makes
football, sport and life
so compelling. 'The
Promised Land' relives
those breathless moments
on a month-by-month
basis, delving into the
training ground, the
dressing room, into the
minds of the players,
management and coaches,
and out onto the pitch
with what was a special
team, and the last of
its type. Comprised of
homegrown players with a
smattering of northern
Europeans, it was the
last to truly represent
and connect with its
support.
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Details: West Ham United
began life as a works
team from an Ironworks in
one of the toughest
industrial areas in
Europe - hence their
nickname of "The
Hammers". This is the
well-researched story and
covers the period from
1895 right up to 1960.
Ideal for: Fans of West
ham United and especially
older fans. This hardback
book has 192 pages and
measures: 24 x 15.8 x
1.6cm
Availability: In Stock
£4.99
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-
Paul Scholes is one of
the most revered
footballers of the modern
era, both at home and
internationally. A
one-club player, he has
served Manchester United
for more than sixteen
years, making over 600
appearances in that time
-- the fourth highest
number of appearances by
any player for the club.
He also represented the
England national team for
seven years, winning 66
caps including two World
Cup and two European Cup
campaigns. Throughout
this time, Scholes has
always played a decisive
role in his teams'
fortunes. As well as the
technical brilliance that
makes Paul Scholes such a
breathtaking player to
watch it is the
determination and
integrity which he
demonstrates both on and
off the pitch that means
he is a fascination to
fans of the sport. In an
age of overpaid,
workaday players,
Scholes has become an
icon of professionalism
and club loyalty,
admired by fans
everywhere. Now in this
book for the first time
Paul Scholes shares his
story: from his
beginnings at United
under the tutelage of Sir
Alex Ferguson as part of
the 'golden' youth team,
to the treble-winning
season and twice
capturing European Cup
glory, the importance of
family and friends in
keeping his feet on the
ground, as well as his
many triumphs and
tribulations with
England. This is without
question the sports book
of 2011, from a player
as popular and as revered
as any in the game today.
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The world s greatest
Number 10 casts his
expert eye over the
finest attacking players
to grace the World Cup
the strikers, playmakers
and goalscorers who have
captivated billions with
their footballing prowess
and produced memorable
performances in the world
s most illustrious
sporting competition. As
a three-time World Cup
winner and acclaimed as
the best player in the
sport s history, Pel? is
perfectly placed to run
the rule over an all-star
cast of legendary
footballers through the
decades who have stamped
their unique personality
on the tournament.
Combining a selection of
outstanding photographs
with his perceptive
insight and opinion,
Pel? profiles a 20-man
squad packed with
extraordinary talent:
maestros like Cruyff,
Maradona, Zidane and
Puskas; players such as
Charlton, Garrincha,
Zico and Socrates; who
thrilled with their
dashing forward play;
lethal goalscorers such
as Eusebio, M?ller, and
Ronaldo; and the less
celebrated Number 10s who
may have shone only
briefly, but made a
dramatic impact Hurst,
Rossi, Fontaine, Owen
and Kempes. Reflecting on
his own dazzling career
and sharing a fund of
wonderful World Cup
memories, Pel?
celebrates the men who
have made the World Cup
so special.
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In a society where
unwanted and troublesome
teens are salvaged for
their body parts,
Connor, Risa and Lev
continue to fight against
the system that would
'unwind' them. Thanks to
their high-profile revolt
at the Happy Jack Harvest
Camp, people can no
longer turn a blind eye
to unwinding. Ridding
society of so-called
troublesome teens might
be convenient, but its
morality has finally been
brought into question and
a new law passed.
However, unwinding has
become big business, and
there are powerful
political and corporate
interests, not to
mention the illegal
'Parts Pirates', that
want to see it not only
continue, but expand.
Connor, Risa and Lev
each struggle to rescue
as many AWOL teens as
possible and offer them
sanctuary. But life at
the Graveyard is hard,
rivalries bubble under
the surface and the
cracks are beginning to
show. And then there is
Cam, a teen who does not
exist. Made entirely out
of parts from one hundred
other 'unwinds', Cam is
a 21st century
Frankenstein, a rewound,
struggling to find a
true identity and
meaning, and a place in
society. But when a
sadistic bounty hunter
who takes "trophies" from
all the 'unwinds' he
captures starts to pursue
Connor, Lev and Risa,
Cam finds his own fate
inextricably bound with
theirs...
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In this first full,
critical biography,
Jonathan Wilson draws an
intimate and powerful
portrait of one of
England's greatest
football managers, Brian
Clough, and his
right-hand man, Peter
Taylor. It was in the
unforgiving world of
post-war football where
their identities and
reputations were made - a
world where, as Clough
and Taylor's mentor Harry
Storer once said,
'Nobody ever says thank
you.' Nonetheless,
Clough brought the gleam
of silverware to the
depressed East Midlands
of the 1970s. Initial
triumph at Derby was
followed by a sudden
departure and a traumatic
44 days at Leeds. By the
end of a frazzled 1974,
Clough was set up for
life financially, but
also hardened to the
realities of football. By
the time he was at
Forest, Clough's mask
was almost permanently
donned: a persona based
on brashness and
conflict. Drink fuelled
the controversies and the
colourful character; it
heightened the
razor-sharp wit and was a
salve for the highs of
football that never
lasted long enough, and
for the lows that
inevitably followed.
Wilson's account is the
definitive portrait of
this complex and enduring
man.
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Described by Sir Bobby
Robson as the "greatest
midfielder of his
generation" this is the
autobiography of 1980s
football legend John
Wark. It tells the story
of the Scottish
international's
illustrious career and is
packed with funny
bootroom stories. Wark
pulls no punches in
telling the story of his
career with Scotland,
Liverpool, Ipswich and
Middlesbrough, with a
dash of his laconic
Scots' humour. There are
also the more sombre
moments, including
Wark's thoughts on his
appearance in 1985
European Cup Final at
Heysel, and the
harrowing tragedy prior
to kick-off.
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Capped at every level by
Wales, from youth to
full international,
Roger Freestone was
number one goalkeeper at
Chelsea for two years and
competed at the very
highest level. He is
currently at the pinnacle
of his career and last
season broke the Swansea
City club record for the
number of clean sheets as
the Swans raced to the
Division Three
championship with the
best defensive record in
the country.
Availability: In Stock
£5.99
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White Gold is a study of
how and why England, the
biggest and wealthiest
rugby country on the
planet, had never
dominated the game it
invented on a global
scale - until Clive
Woodward took charge from
1997 to 2004. Its a study
of his influences and how
he turned the way the
England team was run,
and the way they played,
on its head, and it
examines how they won
despite a domestic
structure in England that
is counter-intuitive to
the success of the
international team. The
story also examines the
aftermath of the World
Cup victory, from the
collapse of the teams
fortunes, to the
disintegration in the
relationship between
Woodward and the RFU
which led to his
resignation, to his
disastrous reign as head
coach of the 2005 British
& Irish Lions tour to New
Zealand and his
unsuccessful period at
Southampton football
club, before the
rehabilitation of his
reputation as director of
sport of the BOA which
culminated in the huge
success of the London
2012 Olympics. It is a
portrait that has never
before been painted of
the 2003 World Cup
campaign and reveals new
insights into the
fascinating journey that
Woodward and his team
enjoyed.
Availability: In Stock
£6.99
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