Foul - by Andrew Jennings. Detailed dossier on just how much FIFA stinks.
Five Ring Circus - by Christopher Shaw. Analysis of just how much benefit the Olympics brings to the host city, based on Vancouver's winter olympics 'experience'
During the Spain pre-season trip read Bloody Confused!: A Clueless American Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccer by Chuck Culpepper. Mainly covers the 2006-07 season but his 'first' game is on
Aug 20th 2005 - Charlton v Wigan but he did not see the game as it took him from 1pm to 4.15pm to get from Barrons Court in west London to The Valley and then we would not let him in so he saw some through a security gate. At the end of the next season he returned to The Valley for our final Premiership home game v Spurs, but once again did not get in as it was "all ticket". In between he decided to follow Portsmouth and there are some great stories about his adventures with a bloke dressed as a blue bear. There is a wonderful bit about Neil Warnock: "whose filter between brain and mouth either had eroded or had come congenitally thin from the get-go. Impolitic thoughts went straight from the mind into the TV microphone and onto the page and in the American sportswriting business, we have two words for managers like him: 'thank' and 'you'."
Recently got back from Spain, I took Chirs Kamara's 'Mr. Unbelieveable' which was a decent light hearted read for holiday, was surprised to find just how much the guy has done over the years.
But the book i'd recommend is Paul Gascoigne ' Being Gazza'. Great read.
Okay, he's a Leeds fan, but apparently he's only missed one game since 1968 (that's home/away. europe and friendlies so you've got to have some respect for him cos that's dedication. Anyway, I read the book on holiday and enjoyed it greatly. I think there may now be a sequel too - it's certainly been made into a play. Oh, I think Gary's a painter by trade hence the title. He won't paint anything red for obvious (to him) reasons.
Football: Left foot forward. The Damned United. Cloughie's autobiography. Only a game. Floodlit Dreams (if non-league floats your boat). Cricket: Penguins stopped play. Rain Men. Cycling: Every second counts. It's not about the bike. (both Lance Armstrong, the latter obviously about his greatest victory)
Awesome book, whether you run or not. Well written, great cast of charactors. An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?
Futebol - a cracking insight into Brazil and Brazilian football. Some bloke called So Crates does the intro and many interviews in it. Financial shennanigins, its popularity in the favelas, design of the shirt, the ground with the centre line on the equator..very wide ranging Available on kindle or paper.
If you are on a late summer holiday, this might be the ticket. Out 31 Aug
Comments
if you want some inspiration it has to be the Lance Armstrong book, what an amazing guy
Five Ring Circus - by Christopher Shaw. Analysis of just how much benefit the Olympics brings to the host city, based on Vancouver's winter olympics 'experience'
The Greatest Footballer ou Never Saw - biography of Robin Friday
The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro
Sportswriter Seeks Solace in English Soccer by Chuck Culpepper. Mainly
covers the 2006-07 season but his 'first' game is on
Aug 20th 2005 - Charlton v Wigan but he did not see the game as it took
him from 1pm to 4.15pm to get from Barrons Court in west London to The
Valley and then we would not let him in so he saw some through a
security gate. At the end of the next season he returned to The Valley
for our final Premiership home game v Spurs, but once again did not get
in as it was "all ticket". In between he decided to follow Portsmouth
and there are some great stories about his adventures with a bloke
dressed as a blue bear. There is a wonderful bit about Neil Warnock:
"whose filter between brain and mouth either had eroded or had come
congenitally thin from the get-go. Impolitic thoughts went straight from
the mind into the TV microphone and onto the page and in the American
sportswriting business, we have two words for managers like him: 'thank'
and 'you'."
Recently got back from Spain, I took Chirs Kamara's 'Mr. Unbelieveable' which was a decent light hearted read for holiday, was surprised to find just how much the guy has done over the years.
But the book i'd recommend is Paul Gascoigne ' Being Gazza'. Great read.
"My Father and other working class football heroes" is the name, as you say Seth, a great book.
Also "Provided you don't kiss me" by Duncan Hamilton is a terrific book about Brian Clough. Both recommended to me by a Forest fan naturally...
Paint It White by Gary Edwards.
Okay, he's a Leeds fan, but apparently he's only missed one game since 1968 (that's home/away. europe and friendlies so you've got to have some respect for him cos that's dedication. Anyway, I read the book on holiday and enjoyed it greatly. I think there may now be a sequel too - it's certainly been made into a play. Oh, I think Gary's a painter by trade hence the title. He won't paint anything red for obvious (to him) reasons.
Lef Foot Forward
My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes
I know Matt Eastley. West Stand season ticket holder/Royal Oak drinker. Journo who recently published a book on FA Cup. Top bloke.
Cascarino book is excellent.
phoenix form the ashes ..mike brearley (large swathes poached from this and stuck into the art of captaincy)
final rounds ...james dodson
view from the boundary ...clr james
few books by harry pearson who is very amusing
The Far Corner is good
Cricket: Penguins stopped play. Rain Men.
Cycling: Every second counts. It's not about the bike. (both Lance Armstrong, the latter obviously about his greatest victory)
CAFC's Charlie Connelly "Stamping Grounds: Exploring Liechtenstein and Its World Cup Dream";
WHU's James Montague "When Friday Comes";
America's Joe McGinnis "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro";
Italy's Filippo Maria Ricci "Elephants, Lions and Eagles";
David Winner's "Brilliant Orange";
Awista Ayub's "However Tall the Mountain";
Marc Bennett's "Football Dynamo: Modern Russia and the People's Game";
Steve Bloomfield's "Africa United";
Jonathan Wilson's "Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football"
Born to Run : Chris McDowell
Awesome book, whether you run or not. Well written, great cast of charactors. An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?
Available on kindle or paper.
If you are on a late summer holiday, this might be the ticket. Out 31 Aug
This one you mean Floyd : - )
Its deja vu all over again!
oops, dont you hate it when that happens?
CRICKCHESSCROQBOWL
Written by a really excitng guy teaching you to play cricke chess croquet and bowles all at once... SOOO FUN!!!