Sport
-
A Love Letter to Football: From the Terraces to a Transplant and Back Again – The Perfect Stocking Filler for Football Fans this Christmas
“Profoundly moving, brilliantly written and beautifully observed, this is a Fever Pitch for our times, a wonderful antidote to the ills of modern football and a reminder of the power for good the game still wields.” — Oliver Holt, Chief Sports Writer, The Mail on SundayA Love Letter to Football is the story of how the beautiful game, from the litter-strewn pitches of the grassroots to packed stadiums at the top of the sport, can help carry us through our darkest days.
In 2016, Mark Davies was diagnosed with a rare and incurable blood cancer. A lifelong supporter of Middlesbrough Football Club, his devotion to the club and passion for a game so cherished by billions of people has been essential in helping him navigate the uncertainty of diagnosis and treatment. It’s been a fundamental part of his life in other ways too, from dealing with depression to fatherhood, not to mention some of the trials and tribulations of life’s broader challenges.
This honest, funny and entertaining account of a life-changing experience, love for a football club and the way the game has been a bedrock throughout his life underlines that football may not be more important than life and death, but the joy and ecstasy it can bring – even for a Middlesbrough fan – really can help when times are hard.
Read more
£10.10£12.30 -
Accidental Ironman: How Triathlon Ruined My Life
Having spent 10 years scaling the lower echelons of the sport, the time has come for one of Britain’s least successful athletes to reveal all about how he got involved in all this nonsense in the first place. Marvel as he reveals: His sporting history – how being last pick at school football in the 1970s set him on course for a lifetime of being rubbish at team games.How he took up triathlons in the first place (for a bet, and the cow who made it with him never paid up).How he overcame a crippling lack of talent and a chorus of complete indifference from his family to complete 10 Ironmans, all outside the top 500 finishers.The many triathlon adventures he has experienced over the past 10 years (cow pats, Ironmans, incontinence, driving bans, broken bones, public nudity, spending entire redundancy payments on a new bike, Belgian portaloos, German knocking shops, sunburnt bum cheeks, channel swimming, fights with chavs, obsessions with weather and the nutritional value of jaffa cakes, 3 hour marathons, chronic dehydration and so on).The many and varied idiots he’s got to know as a result of taking up the sport (aka his mates).The typical training (hell) he goes through to take part in a race given he has absolutely no ability whatsoever.How triathlons ultimately caused him to sell his Mercedes, give away his expensive suit, chuck in his job in the City and become, as his father put it, a “god-damned hippy” (A cycle path designer who owns a camper van).Read more
£6.80£10.40Accidental Ironman: How Triathlon Ruined My Life
£6.80£10.40 -
Around the World in 80 Minutes: In Search of Rugby Greatness
A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 – SPORT
‘A mesmerising, unforgettable journey around world rugby. ‘
Donald McRae – Twice Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year‘Magnificent. a hugely intelligent and entertaining.’
Stuart Barnes, Sunday Times‘Really enjoyed it.’
Will Carling‘An absolutely marvellous book. Recommended heartily.’
Jonathan Drennan, Sydney Morning HeraldCONTRASTING CHARACTERS, COLLIDING CULTURES, THE SAME OVAL-SHAPED BALL. A JOURNEY TO FIND THE RUGBY’S MOST REMARKABLE PEOPLE, TEAMS AND PLACES.
What makes rugby special? Which individuals and teams have defined the modern game? Around the World in 80 Minutes charts the ‘golden era’ of global rugby union between 1973 and 2023 and goes in search of the sport’s most influential trailblazers.
Robert Kitson, the Guardian’s long-time rugby union correspondent, assesses the game’s current health, tracks down the battered gladiators of yesteryear and asks some pertinent questions. Does rugby retain its old rugged charm? What does its future look like? And what, ultimately, constitutes rugby ‘greatness’?
Observant, amusing and thought-provoking, the journey takes in some of the game’s more prominent names – including David Campese, Brian O’Driscoll, Maggie Alphonsi, Sean Fitzpatrick, Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward – to reflect on rugby’s intangible shared joy.
Millions of fans continue to find rugby maddeningly irresistible and endlessly compelling. This book is for them, and for anyone else wondering where the appeal lies.
Read more
£15.20£19.00 -
Behind the Dragon: Playing Rugby for Wales (Behind the Jersey Series)
SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2020 – RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR
This is a complete history of the Welsh rugby union team – told by the players themselves.
Based on a combination of painstaking research into the early years of the Wales team to interviews with a vast array of Test match players and coaches from the Second World War to the present day, Ross Harries delves to the very heart of what it means to play for Wales, painting a unique and utterly compelling picture of the game in the only words that can truly do so: the players’ own.
Behind the Dragon lifts the lid on what it is to pull on the famous red shirt – the trials and tribulations behind the scenes, the glory, the drama and the honour on the field, and the heart-warming tales of friendship and humour off it.
Absorbing and illuminating, this is the ultimate history of Welsh rugby – told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it.
Read more
£14.20£16.10 -
Behind the Mask: Winner of the Telegraph Sports Book of the Year
AS SEEN ON NETFLIX’S AT HOME WITH THE FURYS
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
** TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR **
DOUBLE WINNER: BEST AUTOBIOGRAPHY & BEST OVERALL SPORTS BOOK OF 2020________________________________
‘Incredible stories… you don’t have to be a boxing fan to enjoy it’ SCOTT MILLS, BBC RADIO 1
‘One of sport’s most heart-warming stories’ SUNDAY TIMES, SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
‘A must-read for any boxing fan.’ WORLD BOXING NEWS
‘If you know someone who is a fan of the People’s Champion then they’ll love this.’ TALKSPORT XMAS GIFT GUIDEThe extraordinary story of the rise and fall and rise again of Tyson Fury…
THE GYPSY KING.
A Manchester lad from Irish Traveller stock, born three months premature and weighing just a pound at birth, Tyson (named after his father’s boxing hero) grew up to become one of the most unlikely heavyweight champions in history. This ‘dream come true’ soon turned to nightmare, however, as alcohol and cocaine abuse took hold and Tyson was stripped of his titles. What followed was the darkest moment of his life – detailed in this book for the first time – in which he came within seconds of ending everything.
THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION.
Like all the greatest stories, though, there is redemption and Tyson defies all the odds and literally drags himself to his feet. 10 million people around the globe watched Fury fight Wilder in the biggest fight of the boxing calendar. Speaking candidly about his struggles with mental health, this is Tyson Fury as you have never seen him before.
A BRITISH ICON.
________________________________Behind the Mask is an unflinching story from the greatest boxer of our time and a man who has demonstrated strength of a very different kind by conquering his demons.
________________________________‘It’s a great book, if I could read, I’d buy it’ BILLY JOE SAUNDERS, WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion
‘I didn’t believe boxers could be role models, but Tyson Fury has changed my mind… This 30-year-old Mancunian has made us all think twice about the possibilities of redemption.’
SIMON KELNER,INDEPENDENT‘Tyson Fury has become Britain’s most unlikely inspirational figure… the sight of a broken Fury caught a mood with the public. Never was the epithet “People’s Champion” more apt’
RON LEWIS, THE TIMES‘Tyson Fury is an amazing real-life champion’ SYLVESTER STALLONE, star of Rocky
‘You may not have any interest in boxing at all and you will find this story about Tyson’s life fascinating’ BBC RADIO 5 LIVE
‘An unusual, heartening story, nicely told. There is much to amaze and admire’ SUNDAY TIMES
Read more
£6.00£8.50 -
BEYOND THE WHISTLE: THE WAYNE BARNES STORY
“Dive into the captivating world of rugby officiating with ‘Beyond the Whistle: The Wayne Barnes Story.’ This book takes you on an exhilarating journey through Barnes’ remarkable career, from local matches to the grand stages of international tournaments. Explore the defining moments that shaped matches and sparked global conversations about the role of referees. Uncover the layers of Barnes’ story, his influence on rugby union refereeing, and the lasting legacy he leaves on the sport. Don’t miss your chance to experience the drama, controversies, and triumphs that make Wayne Barnes a legendary figure in rugby. Buy now and discover the untold chapters of one of rugby’s most influential personalities!”Read more
£6.10 -
Bob Willis: A Cricketer and a Gentleman: The Sunday Times Bestseller
SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021
‘Verdict on Willis book: a treat’ – Express
‘The book is a gem’ – Mike Atherton
‘It’s a lovely book, containing previously unseen musings from the great man’ – David Lloyd
‘enjoyable and eye-opening… a delight to read’ – The Telegraph
‘A warm, polished recollection.’ – The Guardian
‘It’s such a great read’ – Piers Morgan
‘Willis book will bowl you over’ – Sunday Mirror & The People
A biography celebrating the life of the legendary cricketer Bob Willis, with tributes from key figures in sports and media and a foreword by Sir Ian Botham.
Following his passing in 2019, tributes to Bob came flooding in in every major news outlet and from every major figure in the industry – and outside of it. His career spanned decades, from his days as a cricketer for England to his time as a pundit on Sky TV. This autobiography includes never-before-seen writing from Bob alongside contributions from key figures as well as a detailed account of the great England victory over Australia at Headingly in 1981.
The book, edited by Bob’s brother David, combines a new biography, written by Daily Mail sportswriter Mike Dickson, with a celebration of a truly legendary man. Tributes from some of his many friends in the world of cricket and beyond are accompanied by reflections on highlights from an eventful life, drawing on autobiographical and personal material by Bob himself, contemporary press reports and the accounts of team-mates and opponents.
Read more
£12.70£19.00 -
Born to be a Footballer: My Autobiography
‘A brilliant insight into Liam’s life in football’ Kevin Moran‘Insightful, often joyous, and hugely entertaining’ Roddy Doyle
‘One of our country’s great footballers, and definitely our most beautiful’ – John Giles
The #2 Irish Bestseller
“Being a footballer was my destiny.”
After being expelled from school for playing football for his country, fifteen-year-old Liam Brady travelled to London to join Arsenal, and soon became an indispensable part of their glorious 1970s team. Rightly considered one of the Republic of Ireland’s best-ever footballers, he went on to enjoy successes with Juventus, Sampdoria and West Ham, as well as managing Celtic and Brighton and Hove, and becoming assistant manager of his national team. Today he is best known for his much-respected TV punditry and searingly intelligent insights into the game he adores.
Full of honest insights, amusing anecdotes and recollections of extraordinary times, with Born to be a Footballer Brady delivers a compelling story of a fifty-year career that is unparalleled in Irish sport.
Read more
£17.59£20.00Born to be a Footballer: My Autobiography
£17.59£20.00 -
Born to be a Footballer: My Autobiography
‘A brilliant insight into Liam’s life in football’ Kevin Moran‘Insightful, often joyous, and hugely entertaining’ Roddy Doyle
‘One of our country’s great footballers, and definitely our most beautiful’ – John Giles
The #2 Irish Bestseller
“Being a footballer was my destiny.”
After being expelled from school for playing football for his country, fifteen-year-old Liam Brady travelled to London to join Arsenal, and soon became an indispensable part of their glorious 1970s team. Rightly considered one of the Republic of Ireland’s best-ever footballers, he went on to enjoy successes with Juventus, Sampdoria and West Ham, as well as managing Celtic and Brighton and Hove, and becoming assistant manager of his national team. Today he is best known for his much-respected TV punditry and searingly intelligent insights into the game he adores.
Full of honest insights, amusing anecdotes and recollections of extraordinary times, with Born to be a Footballer Brady delivers a compelling story of a fifty-year career that is unparalleled in Irish sport.
Read more
£9.10£19.00Born to be a Footballer: My Autobiography
£9.10£19.00 -
Carl Frampton: My Autobiography
Belfast’s Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton MBE is no ordinary boxer. One of only three fighters from the British Isles to be named the Ring magazine Fighter of the Year, he has headlined sellout world championship bouts on both sides of the Atlantic, winning multiple world titles in the process. His dedicated army of fans have traversed the globe to be ringside throughout it all. But Frampton’s popularity far exceeds the traditional adulation for a sporting icon; he is regarded as a symbol of hope and unity by both sides of the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland. In this captivating autobiography, Frampton reveals the most personal aspects of being a fighter: the fears and doubts, the exhilaration and devastation, the friendships and animosities. He also recounts for the first time his high-profile, acrimonious split with Barry McGuigan in devastating and revealing detail. Frampton speaks openly and passionately, not only about boxing, but about his country, how far it has come and the problems it faces. This is a uniquely intimate account of a true modern-day sporting great and a local hero like no other.Read more
£19.00£20.90Carl Frampton: My Autobiography
£19.00£20.90 -
Carps: The Rugby World Cup’s Father: The Biography of John Kendall-Carpenter
John Kendall-Carpenter was a truly extraordinary man. He captained the England rugby team in the early 1950s, when he was widely regarded as one of the cleverest and most tactically astute players in the world. At the same time he launched out on a career in education which saw him not only hold the headmastership of three well-known public schools but also play a prominent role in the Headmasters’ Conference in its negotiations with the Labour Government in the 1970s to ensure the continued independence of that sector. In addition, the first Rugby World Cup simply would never have happened without him. President of the Rugby Union in 1980, he was then elected as England’s representative on the International Rugby Board where his role was to defend the amateur code which was coming under increasing pressure from professionalism. His conversion to the cause of international rugby and the commercial potential of the Word Cup, with his subsequent passion and energy, was instrumental in getting the first World Cup in 1987 off the ground and also paved the way towards the professional game. He then threw himself into the planning of the next World Cup but sadly died just a year before it started in 1991. John Kendall-Carpenter was remarkable man with many friends – and a few enemies! – not only in sport, but in education, the theatre, among politicians and writers. He is still a legend in Cornwall – his adopted home. This biography will appeal to every dedicated rugby supporter as well as those interested in sport in general and how rugby emerged from the fields of English public schools to the huge commercial sporting event it is today.Read more
£12.20£16.10 -
Casemiro (Ultimate Football Heroes) – Collect Them All!
Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, Casemiro enrolled in the youth academy of Sao Paulo, playing for his country in the Under-17s and Under 20s, and making his senior debut in 2011 against Argentina. Proving himself a highly skilled player, it wasn’t long before he caught the eye of European scouts during his 2012 Copa Sudamericana performance, and earned a loan to Real Madrid and then to Porto. In 2022, Casemiro transferred to Manchester United.Discover how this defensive midfielder from Brazil overcame family struggles, balancing his home life with a burgeoning football career to hone his skills. From playing in the Sao Paulo youth academy and representing Brazil in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup to signing for Manchester United and becoming a crucial member of the Brazil National Team.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
Read more
£5.70£6.60 -
Charlie Faulkner: The 1 and Only
Immortalised in Max Boyce’s ‘The Pontypool Front Row’, Charlie Faulkner was a key member of the 1970s Wales team which dominated Northern Hemisphere rugby, winning all four of the Five Nations Championships he played in, with three Triple Crowns and two Grand Slams. The early days, the glory years with Pontypool, Wales and the 1977 Lions, his time as a coach – in this long-awaited autobiography, Faulkner takes us behind the scenes and tells us in his own words how it was, with his trademark humility and humour. In progress when Faulkner died in early 2023 aged 81, the book has been completed by co-author Greg Lewis with input from teammates, friends and family.Read more
£9.50 -
Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary
John Daniell is a rubgy mercenary. A brutal word for an often brutal game.
In 1996, when Rugby Union turned professional, John emigrated to France where he played for a decade in top competitions. His team ricocheted between fear and ecstasy, as they battled to save the club from relegation and their careers from the scrap heap.
Now he lifts the lid on the dark world of the journeyman player, where losing a home game is considered a crime, coaches and club owners will do anything to win, and agents ruthlessly manipulate players.
His compelling confessions are both shocking and funny, taking you behind the scenes, onto the field and into the very heart of the scrum.
Read more
£11.80£15.20Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary
£11.80£15.20 -
Dan Carter: The Autobiography of an All Blacks Legend
Dan Carter’s last game as an All Black culminated with him declared Man of the Match following the 2015 Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham – an unforgettable ending to the career of the greatest fly-half of all time.
But along with the triumphs of his signature World Cup win, his performance against the Lions in 2005, and an unprecedented run of Bledisloe Cup successes, there was also the pain and doubt he felt during a prolonged period of injury and rehab following the 2011 World Cup.
He watched that victory from the sidelines, as he had the All Blacks’ defeats in two previous tournaments. Indeed, heading into the 2015 World Cup he had never finished the competition on his own terms.
His autobiography tells of that redemption, and gets you up close and personal with one of the most celebrated sportsmen of our time.
Threaded throughout the book is an intimate diary of his final year as a Crusader and All Black, during which he worked tirelessly to make one last run at that elusive goal: a World Cup victory achieved on the field.
Dan Carter’s autobiography is essential reading for all sports fans.
Read more
£10.70£12.30 -
Dicksy’s Fifty Years in Football: The Autobiography of Alan Dicks
Alan Dicks’ football career spanned the second half of the 20th century.
During those fifty years the game fundamentally changed and Dicksy was there, playing his part, when history was made.
- In Chelsea’s first ever League title win in 1955.
- Double promotion glory alongside Jimmy Hill at Coventry City in the 1960s.
- Boss at Bristol City for thirteen extraordinary years until 1980.
- And managing teams around the world.
At Ashton Gate, he built a side on a shoestring budget and an indestructible spirit, becoming a national figure.
A living legend to Robins’ fans, taking the club up to the top flight after a sixty-five-year wait, it’s part of an amazing football tale of a time when loyalty meant more than money.
Football has waited over thirty years to hear his story. Finally, here it is.
Read more
£19.49£20.00 -
Football Rising Stars 10 Book Box Set (Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho … Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden)
A 10-book box set of inspiring biographies of rising stars in international football!Football Rising Stars dives into the incredible journeys of ten of the world’s best young players. Featuring fresh talents from England, Portugal, Norway, France, Germany and Spain, the series covers their unique rise; from playing football in the park and 5-a-sides to performing in front of capacity crowds on the biggest stage and in the biggest leagues.
This 10 book box set includes:
1. Jadon Sancho
2. João Felix
3. Erling Braut Haaland
4. Trent Alexander-Arnold
5. Marcus Rashford
6. Kylian Mbappe
7. Kai Havertz
8. Phil Foden
9. Ansu Fati
10. Bukayo SakaRead more
£17.10£66.40 -
Fringes: Life on the Edge of Professional Rugby
Updated edition of the #1 Amazon Bestseller
LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020Sports books tend to detail extraordinary achievements, triumphs against the odds or commemorate World Cup winning captains.
This book does not do that.
For many, playing professional sport is the Dream Job. Few manage it, very few make it to the top and for the rest, life is very different. This is their story.
In Fringes, Ben Mercer invites you to witness life at the outer edges of professional rugby. This is a first hand account of what life is like as a journeyman professional athlete. You play, but to the wider public you don’t exist. You earn but you don’t drive a flash car. You sometimes pack out a stadium but sometimes, you play in a deserted park. This is the story for the majority of sports professionals. Only the minority taste the top, only one person gets to lift the cup or win the medal, only 15 get to play for England at any one time. For the rest, that’s not the case.
Ben Mercer is a former professional rugby player who after becoming disillusioned and uninspired plying his trade in the English Second Division, accepted an offer out of the blue to go to France and do something different – help an amateur team turn professional. This is a first hand account of what life is like in the lower reaches of professional sport – where your employment status is as precarious as your health and barely anyone will know your name.
It’s about how it feels to live year to year, with teammates constantly on the move. It’s about how professionalism irreversibly changes the French club Stade Rouennais as they move up the divisions, about the tension between progress and identity in a rugby team. It’s also about how it feels to actually be out there on the field, how it feels to occasionally do something extraordinary and how it feels when this is no longer enough for you to make the sacrifices that you need to make to keep playing.
There’s no ghostwriting, it’s an unmitigated meditation on how it feels and what it means to play rugby for a living, to dedicate yourself to an uncompromising but occasionally beautiful game.
If you’ve wanted to know what life is really like as a professional athlete, on the Fringes, away from the glitz and glamour of the international game then look no further.
Read more
£11.40 -
Gordon’s Game: The hilarious rugby adventure book for children aged 9-12 who love sport
A rugby-mad boy. A huge game. And a chance for an epic win . . . or an epic fail!
Gordon D’Arcy is an ordinary boy, but he’s not so ordinary once he gets a rugby ball in his hands. He’s the star player for Wexford Wanderers and dreams of one day wearing the Ireland jersey. A dream like that means hard work, raw talent and never losing sight of your goals.
But Gordon has a wild streak that often lands him in trouble. Mum and Dad think that if he can just channel his energy, all will be well. Then something utterly mad happens and he gets a chance to live his biggest dream.
Can he stay on his game and do everyone proud? Or will trouble follow him . . . like it usually does?
Gordon’s Game is a funny and inspiring adventure for rugby lovers of all ages!
‘A cracking read . . . which will appeal to all the family’ Irish Country Magazine
Read more
£7.90£8.50 -
Haaland (Ultimate Football Heroes – The No.1 football series): Collect them all!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold!Norwegian international Erling Haaland is the rising star of Europe. Having already smashed Messi, Ronaldo and Harry Kane’s record of quickest player to twenty Champions League goals, ‘The Terminator’ is proving to be a ruthless, efficient, goalscoring machine. At such a young age, the world is his playground. Discover how he’s caught the eye of the footballing world and whether he’ll pip Mbappe to a Ballon d’Or!
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
Read more
£4.80£6.60 -
Hard Men of Rugby
From the author of Rugby’s Greatest Mavericks.The true stories behind 20 of the toughest players to ever play the game, from pre-WWI firebrands to modern-day YouTube sensations. They are shocking, gruesome, often very funny and sometimes tragic, but what unites these men is their total commitment to the sport. Irrespective of size, reputation or opposition, they never took a step back, and many were as lively off the pitch as they were fiery on it. In our era of citing commissioners, slow-motion replays and trial by social media, some of their actions are hard to believe. Featuring exclusive interviews with some of the players themselves, insights from former teammates and a foreword from refereeing legend Nigel Owens, if you love the characters that make rugby great, then this is the book for you.
Table of contents: Foreword by Nigel Owens Introduction Paddy Mayne Brian Lima Wayne Shelford Bobby Windsor Colin Meads Jerry Collins Norm Hadley David Bedell-Sivright Scott Gibbs Gérard Cholley Trevor Brennan Wade Dooley Bakkies Botha Tomás Lavanini Jacques Burger Armand Vaquerin Martin Johnson Brian Thomas Sébastien Chabal Weary Dunlop Author acknowledgements Bibliography Notes
It was safer and certainly more fun to read about the Hard Men of Rugby than to play against them! It’s like having a few laughs over beers with them in the bar post-match, rather than what would have taken place on the pitch! – Al Charron, Former Canada Captain & World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee
I couldn’t put the book down. It was great to learn more about some of the hardest men in rugby folklore. And I had the misfortune to play against some of these legends! – Bernard Jackman, Former Ireland & Leinster player, coach and commentator
A cracking read, with some great stories about some guys I played with and against. Plus many more I am relieved I never had to face.- Lee Byrne, Former Wales & Lions player and pundit
I laughed, winced and even found myself moved by this lively and fun rundown of rugby hardmen.- Ben Mercer, Former rugby polayer & author of best-selling ‘Fringes: Life on the edge of professional rugby’
Fresh, entertaining, well-researched and full of really fun nuggets. – Robbie Owen / Squidge, Youtuber, podcaster & writer
Read more
£8.10£9.50Hard Men of Rugby
£8.10£9.50 -
Hard Men of Welsh Rugby
Who are the hardest men of Welsh rugby? Here are stories of twenty of the toughest Welsh rugby union players who fought valiantly for pride and honour in the days prior to the game turning professional in 1995. With profiles of legends such as John Bevan, Graham Price, JPR, Scott Gibbs and many more, this book tells some of the most gory tales from rugby history. Read about the men who carried on playing despite having internal bleeding on their eyes gouged, and the scrums which were an opportunity to chew your opponent s ear… The hard men featured in the book are… John Bevan, Mervyn Davies, Gareth Edwards, Charlie Faulkner, Scott Gibbs, Ray Gravell, Terry Holmes, Garin Jenkins, Courtney Meredith, Dai Morris, Graham Price, Ray Prosser, Delme Thomas, Geoff Wheel, JPR Williams, Bobby WindsorRead more
£7.60Hard Men of Welsh Rugby
£7.60 -
How Not to be a Cricketer
‘Brilliant’ Paul Newman, Daily Mail
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BEST SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEARIn How Not to be a Cricketer, former England international and TV personality Phil Tufnell highlights the many potential pitfalls of a professional cricket career, and provides a hilarious insight into how to avoid them and what happens when, like him, you don’t.
I was the model cricketer – if anyone wanted to know how not to be one. My career included more ups and downs than the big dipper at Margate and more bumps than the dodgems next door. And yet somehow I climbed off the ride unblemished. I survived to walk away on my own terms. For someone who never quite fitted the mould, I was actually pretty good at not being a cricketer.
In his superb new book, Phil Tufnell looks back over his life and career to provide brilliant advice and insights, often learned the hard way, from his own experiences as a cricketer. If you want to learn how to make a good first impression, maybe don’t have your hair cut in a Mohican. And when, after a drunken night on an England Under-19 tour to Barbados, the players were told ‘You cannot be caught coming in at a ridiculous hour and still be drunk in the morning’ most took his wise words on board; Tuffers vowed not to get caught.
Packed with brilliant stories and revealing anecdotes about some of the great players of his time, such as Mike Atherton, Mike Gatting, Graham Gooch and Nasser Hussain, How Not to be a Cricketer is the perfect read for anyone who wants to know more about the potential pitfalls of the game, and how to avoid them.
Read more
£6.60£9.50How Not to be a Cricketer
£6.60£9.50 -
How to Be a Football Manager: Enter the hilarious and crazy world of the gaffer
*** SHORTLISTED FOR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 ***
‘fascinating, frank, funny’ Jim White, Daily Telegraph
‘insightful’ Henry Winter, The Times
‘very entertaining … great stories’ Hawksbee & Jacobs, talkSPORT radio
‘an incredible book’ The Football Show, Sky Sports News
‘Yeah, I’m all that plus a bag of chips’
‘Come round my house and we’ll have a fight on the front lawn’
‘I’m as chuffed as a badger at the start of the mating season’
‘I thought his bum cheeks looked very pert’Football management is like being a potato – you’re never too far from the sack and everyone is constantly chipping away at you. It’s not for the faint-hearted and unless you’ve got skin as thick as rhino and, more importantly, a wicked sense of humour, you’ve no chance of surviving.
Ian Holloway – aka ‘Ollie’ – has all the above and more besides. His press conferences are the stuff of legend. He’s been there, seen it and done it in his 40 years as player and manager, and has been entertaining football fans on and off the pitch for most of his life. He’s been head honcho at clubs in all four divisions in English football, experiencing everything from the giddy heights of taking Blackpool to the Premier League to fighting relegation from the Football League with Grimsby Town. There’s never been a dull moment.
In the joyful How to Be a Football Manager, Holloway weaves a fantastically rich tapestry of hilarious anecdotes to reveal what being the boss is really like. This is not a handbook to tell you when to play a Christmas tree formation or throw on a false nine – it’s about dealing with the ridiculous, fighting your corner and always having a comeback.
Read more
£4.70£12.30 -
I love rugby! But I don’t understand the rules…
The rules of rugby explained in simple terms. At last, a book that everyone can read to learn and understand the sometimes complicated rules of rugby. From offside to scrum and tackling, everything you need to know about rugby is explained in this book in a simple and understandable way. Dive into the world of rugby and become unbeatable about the rules.
All explanations are backed by diagrams and illustrations.Read more
£11.40 -
Iconic Women in Sport: A Celebration of 38 Inspirational Sporting Icons
An illustrated compendium of kickass women in sport, from around the world and throughout history, including legends like Billie Jean King and modern-day superstars like Simone Biles and Dina Asher-Smith. The perfect book to inspire any sports fan.
Meet your new superheroes
Discover the fascinating stories behind 38 iconic and internationally renowned women in sport, all of them record-breakers, trailblazers and game-changers. Whether from the world of soccer, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, boxing or skiing, every one of these women has been a ground-breaker in her field. It’s time these individuals took centre stage and had their achievements celebrated the world over.
Be empowered and inspired by their extraordinary stories, their awesome achievements and their wonder-words of wisdom with this pocketbook of remarkable women from across the globe and throughout history. Among others, you will learn about the incredible lives and achievements of:
– Simone Biles
– Serena Williams
– Dina Asher-Smith
– Rachael Heyhoe Flint
– Jessica Ennis-Hill
– Nicola Adams
– Danica Patrick
– Paula Radcliffe
– Michelle Kwan
– Megan Rapinoe
– Ellen MacArthur
– Ibtihaj Muhammad
– Ronda RouseyEach inspiring profile also features a bespoke illustration.
Read more
£6.20£6.60 -
Jason Leonard: Full Time the Autobiography of a Rugby Legend
Leonard’s story starts as rugby started – in the amateur days, when the Cockney Carpenter began playing for Barking and Saracens in the days before multi-million pound business owners and sponsorship deals. His big break came when he was invited to join the England squad for their tour to Argentina in 1990 and has been capped 100 times.
It was a tour that precipitated one of the greatest periods in the history of the British game, and Leonard provides a compelling insight into life behind the international scenes with England and the Lions, as well as the domestic game through his time at Saracens and Harlequins.
Once told that he would never walk again after undergoing life-saving surgery on his neck, Leonard describes the torment he went through during this period – both physical and financial – and how he fought against all the odds to re-establish himself on the international stage. With 100 Test caps won to date, and a career in rugby union spanning two decades, there is no more experienced player in the modern game.
Leonard has plenty to tell about the people he has met during his career – Rob Andrew, Will Carling, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian Moore, Dick Best and Clive Woodward all feature – and with nicknames like ‘The Fun Bus’ and ‘The Scourge of the Barking Barmaids’ the stories are as colourful and controversial as the man himself.
All is revealed in this fascinating portrait of an English rugby legend who also reflects upon England’s 2002 Six Nations campaign, his hopes for his international future and a tough year for Quins.
Read more
£11.40 -
Kelly Holmes: Unique – A Memoir
In national treasure Dame Kelly Holmes’ most personal book yet, she tells the true story behind her extraordinary life from army recruit to Olympic hero and much-loved TV personality.
Last year, Dame Kelly came out publicly as being gay and revealed that for the first 52 years of her life she’d been living a LIFE OF FEAR. Now in a heart-rending and inspirational new memoir she tells of her journey from hiding her sexuality as a young soldier at a time when being gay in the military was illegal, to her fears of being outed as she stood on the podium at the Athens Olympics, the games which catapulted her to fame as a double-gold medallist.
Dame Kelly tells how she has managed to find happiness and inner peace as she has opened herself to a world where she’s finally free to be herself, and proud. In the last year she has become an unofficial ambassador for the LGBT community and has become one of the best- loved faces of daytime TV, joining the regular panel of ITV’s Loose Women.
This honest memoir is a tale of self-discovery, overcoming struggles and learning to be true to yourself.
This honest memoir is a tale of self-discovery, overcoming struggles and learning to be true to yourself. Dame Kelly says: “80,000 people were chanting my name as I stood on top of a double-decker bus and did a victory lap of my hometown. I’d won two Olympic gold medals, the first woman the UK to ever do that, and I should have been on top of the world at my homecoming parade but even in that magical moment I had this deep fear that someone was going to go to the media and out me for being gay.
“All my life I lived with that fear and anxiety of not being accepted if I lived publicly as my true self. But 18 years later I was standing on stage in Trafalgar Square at London Pride, and people were chanting for me again, this time for the person I have become and I was finally free to be me. Nothing is perfect, the journey continues and I’m learning every day about the community I’m now proud to be part of. But I’m being true to myself and that means everything.”
Read more
£9.50£20.90Kelly Holmes: Unique – A Memoir
£9.50£20.90 -
Killing the Image: Faith, Hope, and Giving Back to Build a Better World: A Champion’s Journey of Faith, Fighting, and Forgiveness
In this inspiring memoir, undefeated five-time world champion boxer Andre Ward–aka “Son of God”–shares the gripping narrative of his unforgettable career, his rock-solid faith, and why boxing was never the biggest fight of his life.
Andre Ward was the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion of the world when he walked away from the ring and did not look back. Now that he has taken off his gloves for the final time, the Olympic gold medalist is ready to share the heartbreaking and uplifting stories of his formative years and unprecedented boxing career. Motivational, faith-building, and utterly compelling, this memoir offers
- an inspiring story of overcoming a broken childhood
- behind-the-scenes drama from Andre’s epic championship bouts, complicated relationships with managers and promoters, and shocking decision to retire at the top of his game
- insight into breaking destructive generational bonds, forgiving those who have hurt us, and moving toward hope
- a challenge to live out our faith without compromise
Rich with colorful characters, fascinating detail, and biblical truths, this is the story of a man known for his integrity outside the ring, his warrior’s instinct inside it, and his unrelenting bond with the God who called him to the greatest victory of all.
Read more
£17.47£18.99 -
Lioness – My Journey to Glory: Winner of the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM EUROS CHAMPION AND BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR BETH MEAD
WINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMESSPORTS BOOK AWARDS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2023
With foreword by Ian Wright & afterword by Jermain Defoe
Beth Mead is one of the world’s most talented footballers – Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament at the UEFA Euro 2022, England Player of the Year 2021-22, Arsenal Player of the Season 2021-22, and runner-up for the 2022 Ballon d’Or. But long before this, Beth was just an ordinary kid from Hinderwell, North Yorkshire who wanted to play football.
From being placed in the local boys’ team as a child because her mum wanted her to run off her boundless energy, to joining Middlesbrough FC’s Centre of Excellence and making her professional debut at Sunderland, Beth and women’s football have come a long way.
Now, Beth shares the challenges that shaped her, what she faced on the journey to the top, and the life events that made her stronger – from being dropped from the England squad and receiving devastating family news, to finding her best form under the guidance of Jonas Eidevall and Sarina Wiegman. Filled with positive lessons and an exclusive account of England’s triumphant Euros campaign, Beth offers readers of all ages a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes look into her remarkable journey to glory.
Empowering, inspirational and honest, this is Beth’s story.
Read more
£10.50£19.00 -
Made for Rugby: The Autobiography
A controversial autobiography by one of rugby league’s most famous players – Barrie McDermottRead more
£16.10 -
Match Annual 2024: The Number One Football Annual for Fans Everywhere
From the makers of MATCH!, the country’s most popular football magazine! Topping Christmas lists across the UK, MATCH! Annual 2024 is a must-have for footy fans.
Inside this year’s edition, you’ll find the ultimate guide to the games ahead, from the UEFA Champions League Final to Euro 2024! Check out the Premier League’s most exciting young talent and discover the all-time legends with the most goals and assists combined!
Also, there’s a wicked Women’s World Cup 2023 scrapbook, tons of brain-busting quizzes, WSL stats special, the chance to colour-in Haaland, footy statue LOLs, an EFL club selector, hilarious cartoons, in-depth profiles on epic entertainers like Bellingham and Saka, and loads more!
Don’t miss it!
Read more
£5.00£9.99 -
Messi (Ultimate Football Heroes – the No. 1 football series): Collect them all!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold. Now with an updated cover and new chapter that includes Messi’s mega move to Paris Saint-Germain.The only player in history to win SEVEN Ballon d’Or trophies.
Lionel Messi is a legend – Barcelona’s star player and the world’s best footballer. But when was young, he was so small that his friends called him ‘Little Leo’ and coaches worried he wasn’t big enough. Yet through bravery, talent and hard work, he proved them wrong. Messi tells the magical story of how the tiniest boy in South America grew up to become the greatest player on earth.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
Read more
£4.80£6.60 -
Messi Rules (Football Superstars)
Is Lionel Messi your number 1 footballer? In this NEWLY REVISED edition, we bring you fully up to date with Messi’s story so far and feature his stats and achievements since he left Barcelona for PSG after 18 glorious seasons, including his epic Copa América win with Argentina in 2021.
Did you know that the living legend Leo has played more than 950 matches, scored more than 750 goals, won 34 club titles including 10 La Liga titles and picked up 76 awards!
Discover how Leo went from being the smallest player on the field (as a young boy he was so tiny all the other players called him ‘Titch’) to being widely known as the ‘Greatest of All Time’ with his incredible runs, ball control and lots and lots of goals!
Football Superstars is a series aimed at building a love of reading from a young age, with fun cartoons, inspirational stories, a simple narrative style and a cast of characters chipping in with quotes, jokes and comments.
Read more
£5.90£6.60Messi Rules (Football Superstars)
£5.90£6.60 -
My Account: The official autobiography
GIVE THE STORY ON EVERYONE’S LIPS THIS CHRISTMAS: COLEEN ROONEY’S OFFICIAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
A candid, intimate, behind the scenes look at the reality of a life lived on social media and under the scrutiny of the public eye.
‘It was the biggest thing that had ever happened to me, and like nothing I’d ever experienced…
Looking back on it now, it still amazes me how inflated it all got, how ridiculous, how serious.
That’s why I need to tell what happened in full…’
——————————————————————————-
Coleen Rooney has always been true to herself.
In My Account, she tells us how her upbringing prepared her for a life in the full glare of public and media scrutiny. In fact, from an early age, she was no stranger to responsibility, having two younger brothers as well as welcoming disabled foster sister Rosie into the family.
At just seventeen, she and boyfriend Wayne left their childhood homes to live together and
in time they had their own young family to care for. But being married to one of the world’s most successful sportsmen has also meant that any private difficulties they faced were inevitably exposed very publicly.And that is no more true than in the now infamous tale of how a casual acquaintance of
Coleen’s ended in an extraordinary deception.Here, she recounts how she first suspected someone was betraying her trust (and how devastated it left her), and then the meticulous steps she took to identify, trap and finally reveal to the world her suspect.
With the consequences playing out around the world and Coleen dragged unwillingly into a devastating court case whose outcome was far from certain, only now can she candidly give us her side of the story.
This, then, is My Account, Coleen Rooney’s tale of what it means to stand up for yourself and your family.
———————————————————————————
Read more
£15.00£22.00My Account: The official autobiography
£15.00£22.00 -
My Life and Rugby: The Autobiography
The Sunday Times bestseller
‘A genuine super-coach’ – Stephen Jones, Sunday Times
Brilliant, honest, combative – Eddie Jones is a gigantic yet enigmatic figure in world rugby and a true legend of the game. In My Life and Rugby he tells his story for the first time, including the full inside story of England’s 2019 World Cup campaign.
Since taking over as head coach of England in 2015, Eddie Jones has orchestrated a complete revival of the national team. He has won the Six Nations Championship back-to-back, including England’s first Grand Slam in a generation and their first-ever whitewash of Australia in their own backyard, as well as taking them on their longest-ever winning streak, matching the world record held by the All Blacks.
Eddie Jones is one of the most experienced and decorated coaches in Rugby Union. His career has spanned four World Cups: from the 2003 final, working with South Africa when they won in 2007, and causing the greatest upset in the history of the game in 2015 when he masterminded the Japanese victory over South Africa. Most recently, he led England on their incredible run at the 2019 World Cup, culminating in a stunning victory against the All Blacks before falling to South Africa in the final.
Learning from the extreme highs and lows of his own playing career – including the numerous successes playing for Randwick and New South Wales but also the painful disappointment of never playing for Australia – he shows what it takes to be the best in the world and how everything he has learned about the game, both on and off the pitch, has gone into plotting England’s route to the top of world rugby.
Written with Donald McRae, twice winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award and three-time Sports Feature Writer of the Year, My Life and Rugby is the story of one of the most compelling and singular figures in rugby. Told with unflinching honesty, this is the ultimate rugby book for all fans of the sport.
Read more
£5.70£19.00My Life and Rugby: The Autobiography
£5.70£19.00 -
My Life, My Football
Ballon d’Or winner. Champions League winner. Serie A winner. Captain of Ukraine at their first-ever World Cup. Andriy Shevchenko conquered the football world. His career featured some of the sport’s greatest characters – from Valerij Lobanovsky, who shaped his early years at Dynamo Kyiv, to Carlo Ancelotti, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka as part of a world-class Milan team. But Shevchenko’s story transcends football. Growing up 150km from the Chernobyl disaster, witnessing the decline of the Soviet Union and its descent into lawlessness, the struggles of his beloved Ukraine to gain independence in 1991 – and then the agony of the Russian invasion of his homeland in 2022. This is a football and human story like no other.Read more
£11.20£12.30My Life, My Football
£11.20£12.30 -
My Name’5 DODDIE: The Autobiography
The extraordinary, life-affirming autobiography of DODDIE WEIR OBERugby legend and MND campaigner Doddie Weir has always lived life to the full. On the pitch, Doddie’s irresistible talent took him to the heart of every team he graced, and brought him 61 caps for his national side. He won fans all over the world with his sportsmanship, humour and boundless energy – especially when on the charge ‘like a mad giraffe’.
Then, in June 2017, Doddie made the announcement that he had been diagnosed with MND. With no cure and almost no treatment of any sort available, Doddie set out to do what he could to change that, tackling the issue head on with his trademark positivity and good humour. Since then, his MY NAME’5 DODDIE Foundation has raised and pledged millions towards research into this dreadful condition and his tireless campaigning has transcended the world of sport.
MY NAME’5 DODDIE is a humbling, courageous and very funny celebration of a remarkable man. And with a brand new update, this is an absolute must-read – rugby fan or not.
Read more
£6.60£9.50My Name’5 DODDIE: The Autobiography
£6.60£9.50 -
Newbon, Bloody Hell: A Life in Sports Broadcasting
Over the past fifty years, Gary Newbon has established himself as an icon of sports broadcasting. He interviewed Sir Alex Ferguson after Manchester United clinched a historic treble in 1999. He was in the ring when Gerald McClellan collapsed after suffering life-changing injuries in his fight with Nigel Benn. Nigel Mansell was his neighbour. This is the tale of a man who has spent his life in close proximity to legends; he interviewed them, befriended them and shared their defining moments until he became part of the DNA of Britain’s sporting history. Many of his interviews are still used in TV shows today.
In his highly anticipated memoir, Newbon tells all. Encompassing a plethora of anecdotes that reveal the depth and wit of figures such as Brian Clough, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King and many others, this book considers how these people felt and thought during the pivotal sporting moments of the past half-century. From the Hand of God goal to the Munich massacre, Gary Newbon was there for it all. This, for the first time, is his story.
Read more
£16.70£19.00Newbon, Bloody Hell: A Life in Sports Broadcasting
£16.70£19.00 -
Newport Rugby Greats
Newport RFC played their first game in 1876, and quickly established themselves as one of the leading clubs in the country. They played a dominant role in Welsh and British rugby, providing the national team with some of its greatest stars. The ‘Black and Ambers’ are one of a select group of teams in world rugby to have beaten the All Blacks, Wallabies and the Springboks. Formed in 2003 as a result of the regionalisation of Welsh rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons started life with a third place finish in the 2003/04 Celtic League. Some notable club highlights include reaching the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup in 2007 and 2015, and reaching the final of the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2011. Like Newport RFC, they play at Rodney Parade, one of Welsh Rugby’s spiritual homes. Peter Jones documents Newport’s most iconic players and managers from the team’s early beginnings to the present day. With unprecedented access to the club’s archives, Newport Rugby Greats provides a history of some of the club’s heroes, complete with facts and figures, along with their most memorable games.Read more
£11.00£16.10Newport Rugby Greats
£11.00£16.10
