Football

Pre-order this paperback edition of Tackle! coming MAY 9th 2024 or purchase the Hardback, eBook or audiobook TODAY.

Jilly Cooper is a true fan favourite:

‘Entertaining, witty and a total escape!’
‘Unputdownable and addictive as always’
‘Rupert is back. Still gorgeous. Still naughty. Still wondrous’
‘A delightfully indulgent read . . . twists in the plot and, as always, a charming ending’

Jilly Cooper’s legendary hero returns!

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The quintessential book for Newcastle United fans everywhere, Sky Sports presenter Pete Graves tells the inside story of the Magpies today, using exclusive interviews with Eddie Howe and other club legends.

Welcome to Newcastle United, the most exciting football club in the world right now.

Since joining the team in 2021, Eddie Howe has been determined to transform Newcastle United from a perennial underachiever into one of the biggest teams in not just the Premier League, but Europe as well. With the players, fans and decision-makers finally all working together, and with the pain of the past behind them, the Magpies are ready for a new era to begin…

Telling the story of Newcastle through some of its most competitive moments, including Kevin Keegan and Bobby Robson’s stewardships, as well as touching on some of its trickier times, television presenter and diehard fan Pete Graves recaps the team’s history and goes inside the club to show what is so exciting about this team today.

Featuring interviews with key figures past and present, including Eddie Howe himself, Graves builds a picture of what’s happening with Newcastle, both on and off the pitch, as they climb the league and set their sights on silverware.

With extensive research and unparalleled access, Here to Compete is the incredible story of a team reborn and the man who is on course to build an empire.

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Do you think you know everything there is to know about football?

Have you heard of:

• The referee who lost his teeth mid-game?
• The player who got injured playing scrabble?
• The ladies who changed a nation?
• The one-armed goalkeeper?
• The game of three halves?
• The World Cup team that smuggled Rohypnol onto the pitch?
• The craziest superstitions in the sport?
• The seagull that scored a goal?

DISCOVER THE STORIES OF SOME OF FOOTBALL’S MOST ICONIC MOMENTS – From the heart-warming story of a player whose dying daughter asked him to leave the cancer ward to play in a European final, to the hilarious tale of a national team almost getting arrested for misunderstanding a word in English.

Whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just enjoy a good story, The Beautiful Game is sure to keep you entertained. From Maradona’s hand goal to Zidane’s headbutt, and a lot more lesser-known stories in between, there’s something for everyone in this book.

With 90 fascinating stories, you’ll relive the most humorous and inspirational anecdotes to have come out from the Beautiful Game, and in the process you will learn more about the sport than you ever thought!

So, if you’re prepared to be left in awe by some of the craziest tales to have emerged from the sport, scroll up and click the Add to Cart button.

NB: This book is aimed at adults (and children 12+). For a version that caters to readers under 12 years old, please look at the author’s “The Most Amazing Football Stories For Kids”

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Football Weekly — everyone’s favourite football podcast — has decided the time (and the money) is right to finally commit their wisdom to paper. You know what this means: trivia, filler, too much about The Mighty Cambridge United, not enough about [insert your club], and very occasionally an insightful remark.

Expect all the trademark humour of their hugely successful live shows, plus:

Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning’s ‘Blind Date’
Mark Langdon’s ‘World of Meat’
Jonathan Liew’s ‘You Are the PGMOL-Appointed Match Official’
Ben Fisher’s ‘Car Parks of British Football’
A thrilling new board game, ‘Snakes & Blatters’
Philippe Auclair’s shocking FIFA exposé
An exclusive David Squires cartoon
And much, much more!

Edited by Jonathan Wilson, the book will feature the full pod line-up of:
Barry Glendenning — Max Rushden — David Squires — Barney Ronay — Jonathan Liew — John Brewin — Scott Murray — Elis James — Paul Watson – Philippe Auclair – Troy Townsend – Ben Fisher — Jordan Jarrett-Bryan — Sid Lowe — Nicky Bandini — Lars Sivertsen — Robyn Cowen.

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The fun and easy way to master the art of football coaching

Volunteering as a youth football coach can be a great experience, both for you and your squad. But what if you’ve never coached before, or want to improve? Don’t worry! This friendly guide explains football rules, shows you how to approach coaching, and gives you practical pointers on improving team skills and encouraging good sportsmanship.

* Understand football rules
*

Develop a coaching philosophy
*

Teach football fundamentals
*

Run great training sessions
*

Lead your team during a game
*

Communicate effectively with parents

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One of the great untold football miracles of all time.

Hard Shoulder, M62 Eastbound, June 1982…

Britain is on the verge of taking the Falkland Islands back from the Argentine invaders, Margaret Thatcher is three years into her tenure at 10 Downing Street and for the first time since the 1930s, three million people are unemployed – with the nation reeling from recession.

One of those searching for a job is standing at the side of the motorway which links the north of England’s east and west coasts with his thumb out. Newly-retired former Everton, Manchester City and England striker Joe Royle is trying to hitch a lift to Boundary Park for what he thinks is an interview for the post of manager at backwater Oldham Athletic. Behind him, smoke pours from his broken-down car’s engine. After a passing lorry takes him the rest of the way, Royle is told that the job is his – and that he will have to sell a player or the club will go bust. Later that day, bailiffs drop in and eye up his office furniture. That night he is in his own garage, stencilling the initials of players’ names on training kit as the reality of the task in hand hits home.

What happened next is one of the great, untold football miracles of all time as unfancied Oldham emerged from the shadows of their illustrious Manchester neighbours and embarked on a thrilling, white knuckle ride to the summit of the English game.

This is a story that has not been told before. It is a time when the impossible was possible, long before the vast millions in broadcast money arrived and the creation of the Premier League changed football in England forever. A time when an astute manager and wily chairman could scour the big clubs for castoffs and achieve the unachievable. It is something that will never be repeated and, in these times of huge salaries and commercial excess, is a tale of harder and yet often-happier times when small clubs could dream big.

In the 30th anniversary year of Royle’s remarkable revolution, it is the perfect time for This Is How It Feels to hit the book shelves.

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Delve into what our forefathers got up to, from the horse and carts, motorised charabancs, war years, the highs of Lisbon to the histories of over 400 CSCs. Every supporters club has a story to tell. This book brings them to life with some remarkable tales of heroism, prejudice, inventiveness, charity, mayhem and humour.

This book is by the fans, about the fans, for the fans.

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ART AS BIG AS LIVERPOOL…

The modern era has brought an explosion of spectacular street-art celebrating all things Liverpool FC – from current stars to club legends and much-loved campaigners – while for years Anfield’s Spion Kop has been on every supporter’s bucket-list – the sport’s most legendary ‘end’ and a must-see spectacle of colour and passion, its flags and banners transported to major finals at home and abroad.

This beautifully-illustrated book celebrates the talent, devotion and originality of the LFC Family – expressed through new and traditional media – as well as the club’s iconic stadium, statues, prized possessions and memorials. Come with us on a guided tour of the greatest gallery in football.

‘The Art of Liverpool FC’ is a superb collection of the fan art and culture that
shows why the Reds are one of the best supported clubs in the world.

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“A great background spanning almost a hundred years on the men who made everything that followed possible. A must-read for any Manchester United fan.” –Gary Neville, former Manchester United captain

“At a time when money is king in football, this is an important insight into just how humble the beginnings of Manchester United were. These are human football stories but they also provide a slice of Manchester’s social history.” –John Murray, BBC Football Correspondent

The Men Who Made Manchester United brings you the definitive history of Manchester United before Sir Matt Busby’s post-war halcyon days.

Inside are tales that will make you squirm, laugh and cry, including:

• The transfer fee of two freezers of ice cream
• The tragic death of a young footballer and his forgotten family
• The fight for the right to unionise
• Edwardian Cockney Reds
• Severed fingers and the pelting stones of the angry residents of Budapest

As Victorian Britain was gripped by ‘the football craze’, eight men laid the foundations at one of the world’s greatest clubs. These pioneers ranged from miners to brewery owners, fitness fanatics to portly beer drinkers. From Stretford, Ancoats, Birmingham, Bolton, Darlington, Chirk and Crewe, some were rebels, others were leaders. All were grafters.

This is the story behind the club’s name and colours, the building of Old Trafford, the founding of the PFA and the creation of the Academy. It’s filled with tales that will fascinate and entertain, making it the perfect gift for Manchester United fans!

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Discover 100 must-see football grounds across the UK in this stunning hardback edition – featuring full colour photographs and contributions from some of the greatest figures in sport.

Have you ever wanted to visit the most scenic, historic or important football grounds in Britain, but weren’t sure where to start or what to include? In British Football’s Greatest Grounds, Mike Bayly offers a bucket list of places to watch football in England, Wales and Scotland as chosen by fans across the world.

This first-of-its-kind book introduces the reader to a diverse and often breathtaking range of Britain’s football venues. In addition to the oldest, biggest and highest our nation has to offer, it covers lesser-known grounds nestling next to castles, beaches, churches and mountain ranges, as well as modern Premier League stadiums in major cities.

Featuring beautiful images taken by acclaimed sports photographers, along with written contributions from respected industry figures, British Football’s Greatest Grounds is part guide, part love letter to the history, people and places that showcase the best of our unique football landscape. It’s sure to leave you planning a future football trip.

Reviews:

‘Perfect coffee-table relaxer’ – The Sportsman

‘Ideal gift for football fans’ – 5* Reader Review

‘Meticulously researched, beautifully presented…’ – When Saturday Comes Magazine

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