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There's Only One Stevie Bacon: My Life Watching West Ham Through a Camera Lens
by Steve BaconHe has never scored a goal, lifted a trophy, worn the captain's armband or even played for the club, but Steve Bacon is considered a genuine Hammers legend. As West Ham United's official photographer for more than thirty years, Steve has become a cult hero at Upton Park - he has appeared on Sky's Soccer AM, featured in a fanzine comic strip and even had a burger named after him. From his privileged position as part of the club's backroom team, Steve has enjoyed unlimited access behind the scenes and established close friendships with many managers and players. John Lyall, Lou Macari, Billy Bonds, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Roeder, Alan Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce have all found themselves the focus of Bacon's candid camera, while Trevor Brooking, Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Julian Dicks, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Paolo Di Canio and Scott Parker are just a few of the star players who have welcomed him into their world. Packed with terrific tales, amusing anecdotes and controversial characters, and illustrated with the very best of Steve's photographs, There's Only One Stevie Bacon offers an intriguing insight into life at the Boleyn Ground and one that no West Ham United fan will want to miss.
The Blogfather: The Best of Iain Dale's Diary
by Iain Dale"Iain Dale's Diary caught the beginning of the great blog wave and rode it until Twitter became the dominant form of digital communication. Dale was key in transforming British political comment - melding political convictions, personal views, gossip and emotional honesty. His diary of the Westminster Village quickly built up hundreds of thousands of readers and became a must for those on the inside and those on the outside as well. Dale had something for everyone and not just political geeks: chance encounters, domestic dramas, the travails of supporting West Ham, and even the joys of walking the dog. We miss it. Read all about it in The Blogfather, an offer you shouldn't refuse." - Adam Boulton
Just a Simple Belfast Boy
by Brian MawhinneyThis simple Belfast boy was to find himself at the centre of politics during some of the most tumultuous events of recent British history - the peace process in Ireland, Britain in Europe, Thatcher versus Major. This momentous autobiography is full of the acerbic wit and outspoken opinion that characterises Brian Mawhinney - the man and the politician. This long-awaited memoir is a major work of enduring historical significance, packed with untold stories.
From the Links: Golf's Most Memorable Moments
by Joshua ShifrinA golf hall of fame, shame, and arcane. From the Links showcases golf's greatest moments, taking us from the ancient links of Scotland in the 1800s to the sins of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus's youngestever Grand Slam. Whimsical tales of the game's giants sit alongside ditties about less stellar toilers. Stories of triumph, holes-in-one, hilarious gaffes, heart-racing final rounds, trailblazing careers, monumental breakdowns and other incredible events no reader will ever forget: the moment when Jack 'The Golden Bear' Nicklaus and Gary 'The Black Knight' Player were attacked by killer bees; the heart-warming victory of Babe Zaharias in the 1954 US Women's Open Championship, just one month after cancer surgery; the incredible sight of four holes-in-one on the same hole in under two hours in the 1989 US Open. Golf has a singular capacity to bring out the very best and the very worst in its many enthusiasts, with all sorts of mishaps and high jinks colouring the space between tee and green. In From the Links, Joshua Shifrin affectionately guides us through the rich tapestry of golfing history with tale after notorious, infamous and beloved golfing tale.
Skirting the Boundary: A History of Women's Cricket
by Isabelle DuncanFor too long, women have been kept beyond the boundary. Now, they are storming the field. This is their story. Cricket is a sport noted for the richness of its literature, yet despite all that has been written on the great game there remains a yawning gap - where are all the women? This omission may have been understandable in the early and middle part of the last century, when women's cricket existed in a twilight world, regarded as a sport for ladies who could perhaps be most tactfully described as 'unconventional'. But times have changed, and Izzy Duncan's groundbreaking book comes on the scene not a moment too soon. We begin in the late eighteenth century, when ladies made their first mark on cricket amid frantic betting and rowdy crowds. Then on to the highs and lows of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, culminating in the contemporary superstars dominating world cricket and on the cusp of going professional. Tracing the history of the ladies' game, delving into its sometimes murky past and revealing its recent explosion in popularity, Skirting the Boundary is a humorous, affectionate and charming portrayal of one of the fastest-growing global sports.
Biteback Dictionary of Humorous Sporting Quotations (Biteback Dictionaries Of Humorous Quotations Ser.)
by Fred MetcalfPlaying sport, watching it and commentating on it have all provoked endless mirth and some unforgettable rhetorical flourishes, the best and most enduring of which can be found here in the sparkling Biteback Dictionary of Humorous Sporting Quotations. Fred Metcalf has collected these laugh-out-loud funny contributions from the world of (mostly) athletic competition. Sardonic observations and unintended gaffes connected by a love (and sometimes hate) of anything from Cricket to Climbing and Fishing to Football make this book an essential companion for anyone with even a passing interest in the hobbies and games that we call 'sports'.
Court Confidential: Inside the World of Tennis
by Neil HarmanTennis has never before been blessed with such an array of talented stars doing battle for the sport's most coveted titles. Games featuring Murray, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova are among the most thrilling matches in the history of the game - and Neil Harman has witnessed them all. He is so close to the beating heart of tennis that he has become a confidant to many of the game's stars and administrators, even at one stage mentoring Victoria Azarenka to help her handle the media pressure at the top of the women's game. In short, Neil enjoys a privileged access that is unmatched elsewhere in the sport. Here he shares tennis's most intimate secrets in a book replete with personality, excitement, drama and intrigue. Featuring frank, in-depth interviews with all the leading players, their coaching staff, their agents and managers, Harman presents the game from an insider's perspective and offers the fresh insights and strong personal views for which he is celebrated. Court Confidential recounts a defining time for modern-day tennis: from Wimbledon to the Olympic Games, from Serena Williams's battle with illness to Andy Murray's historic grand slam victory, this is a book for tennis fans everywhere.
The Wit and Wisdom of Sir Alex Ferguson
by Chris RileyWhen Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United in 2013 he called time on the most successful career in football history. During his twenty-seven years at the helm of the world's most famous club, he has shown himself to be a paragon of leadership, an incomparable man-manager and an unparalleled wielder of the notorious hairdryer. Commentating on the game, its characters and its components, Sir Alex is the complete football philosopher. From dealing with narcissistic footballers to demolishing the overinflated egos of opposition managers, this is The Wit and Wisdom of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Bradman's War: How the 1948 Invincibles Turned the Cricket Pitch into a Battle Field
by Malcolm KnoxHailed as one of the greatest cricket teams of all time, the 1948 'Invincibles' are the only Australians to complete an Ashes tour undefeated. Their crushing victories under Sir Donald Bradman's captaincy created history, even if the Don himself, on his final tour, was left stranded for ever with a Test batting average of 99.94 after his duck in the fifth Test. Yet the mixed feelings about the manner in which these feats were achieved are often forgotten. In his fascinating account of the legendary tour, Malcolm Knox exposes the rift between those players with experience of the horrors of active duty, epitomised by the fiery but sporting RAAF pilot Keith Miller, and those without, such as the invalid Bradman. Knox reveals unease among the fans, commentators and players - from both teams - about Bradman's resolute tactics, both on the field and in the pavilion. Bradman's ruthlessness, even against war-ravaged veterans at the county clubs, dashed hopes that the legacy of Bodyline would finally be laid to rest and the postwar game resume in a more congenial spirit. While Bradman's War celebrates the talents of the likes of Ray Lindwall, Sid Barnes, Lindsay Hassett, Bill Johnston, Arthur Morris and, of course, their incomparable captain, it also questions our appreciation of sporting entertainment when rivalries escalate - and competition verges on hostility. If the spoils are to the victor, what is there for lovers of the game?
Weirwolf: My Story
by David WeirDavid Weir was born without the use of his legs, and not only learned from an early age to cope with his disability, but defied his limitations to become a great wheelchair racer and national hero. Here he sheds light on his journey from frustrated schoolboy to Paralympic athlete and champion, and reveals how instrumental the 2012 Paralympics were in transforming attitudes towards disability - not only in Britain but around the world. Weirwolf is the extraordinary inside story of the man who won a total of six gold medals at the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games, and who is six-time winner of the London Marathon. It is an inspirational tale of the fight against discrimination and the desire to change the face of sport.
Fan-tastic Sporting Stories: 300 True Tales of Fans Who Stole the Limelight
by Graham SharpeFor some fans, a ringside seat just isn't close enough to the action. Stretching from the benign to the malign, from the entertaining to the insane, and from the sublime to the ridiculous, this compelling compendium contains over 300 true tales of fanatical fans who stole the spotlight from their sporting heroes. This is the good, the bad and the ugly side of spectator intervention - from streakers to rioters, and beyond. We've all felt the thrill of cheering on our sporting heroes, but there's a fine line between the mere fan and the true fanatic and this absorbing new book from Graham Sharpe well and truly crosses it. With its weird and wild tales of fan participation, Fan-tastic Sporting Stories! is essential reading for fans of any and every sport. Whatever your team, whatever your game, you won't help but find this collection absolutely fan-tastic!
Twin Tracks: The Autobiography
by Roger BannisterIt was a blustery late spring day in 1954 and a young Oxford medical student flung himself over the line in a mile race. There was an agonising pause, and then the timekeeper announced the record: three minutes, fifty-nine point four seconds. But no one heard anything after that first word - 'three'. One of the most iconic barriers of sport had been broken, and Roger Bannister had become the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. To this day, more men have conquered Mount Everest than have achieved what the slender, unassuming student managed that afternoon. Sixty years on and the letters still arrive on Roger Bannister's doormat, letters testifying to the enduring appeal of the four-minute mile and the example it set for the generation of budding athletes who were inspired to attempt the impossible. In this frank memoir, Sir Roger tells the full story of the talent and dedication that made him not just one of the most celebrated athletes of the last century but also a distinguished doctor, neurologist and one of the nation's best-loved public figures. With characteristically trenchant views on drugs in sport, the nature of modern athletics and record breaking, the extraordinary explosion in running as a leisure activity, and the Olympic legacy, this rare and brilliant autobiography gives a fascinating insight into the life of a man who has lived life to the fullest.
Tennis Maestros: The Twenty Greatest Male Tennis Players of All Time
by John BercowROGER FEDERER. RAFAEL NADAL. NOVAK DJOKOVIC. At the highest echelons of tennis, a few names stand out. Dominating the rankings, these famous big hitters are unarguably among the finest players in the world, with multiple Grand Slams to their credit. But how do today's champions compare with those of earlier eras? From 'Big' Bill Tilden and Pancho Gonzalez to Rod Laver and Pete Sampras, who makes the grade as the greatest male singles player of all time? Better known as the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow has enjoyed a successful dual career in the tennis world as competitive junior player and qualified coach. Ideally placed to argue the merits of the maestros, in this fascinating guide he sets out to determine just who is the greatest of the greats. It is no easy task. Court surfaces and ball speeds have changed, racket technology has revolutionised the game, and trying to distinguish the best from the rest is as challenging as it is enjoyable. Drawing on published records of past glories, and offering his own analysis and reasoning, Bercow describes the accomplishments of twenty all-time tennis heroes and suggests a hall of fame from the unashamed vantage point of the lifelong enthusiast. Let the debate begin...
The 10 Football Matches That Changed the World: And The One That Didn't
by Jim MurphyThe assertion that 'football isn't a matter of life or death, it's much more important than that' has been verified repeatedly throughout modern history. It has bolstered tyrants and helped depose them; contributed to conflict and created ceasefires. It has been an incubator of racism at home and helped bring down a racist regime abroad; shaped cities, changed cultures and inspired resistance. Its impact is as dynamic as the game itself. In this fascinating exploration, Jim Murphy takes us on a journey around the world and through the years, from Franco's Spain to Africa's Alcatraz, Robben Island. Charting the match that sparked a Central American war, the Barcelona team threatened at gunpoint, and the game that helped save Rupert Murdoch's media empire, among much else, Murphy lends a fresh new perspective to some of the most iconic moments in international football. Blending a love of the game with an appreciation of its place in global events, this is an authoritative and often humorous mix of sport and history, featuring fascinating first-hand insights from those most involved in the ten matches that changed the world ... and the one that didn't.
Bobby Moore: The Definitive Biography
by Jeff PowellThe new edition of the bestselling biography. Bobby Moore was the embodiment of all that was great about English football. Captaining England to glory in 1966 and West Ham to victory in several major tournaments, he was loved and respected throughout the world as football's golden boy. This definitive and authorised biography illuminates the extraordinary story of a sporting hero, from exciting accounts of his World Cup triumph to candid memories of his friendships with Beckenbauer, Eusébio and Pelé. It also reveals the inside story of a life beyond football, updated to include fascinating new material on Moore's enduring legacy in the years following his tragically premature death. Award-winning sports writer Jeff Powell, a close friend and confidant to the Moore family, has created a powerful and fitting tribute, honouring the golden era of English football and the exceptional man at its helm.
Nearly Reach the Sky: A Farewell to Upton Park
by Brian WilliamsSuccess, failure, heroism, stupidity, talent, skulduggery ... Upton Park has seen it all. If supporting his club for fifty years has taught Brian Williams one thing it's that football fans definitely need a sense of humour - how else would they cope with the trials and tribulations that are part and parcel of cheering on their team? In this frank and funny take on the travails of a die-hard football supporter, Williams takes a nostalgic look back at some of the great players, great triumphs and great calamities that have marked West Ham's time at Upton Park, exploring the club's influence on its fans, the East End and football as a whole over the course of a lifetime. A Fever Pitch for the Premier League generation, Nearly Reach the Sky is an anecdotal journey through the seminal goals, games, fouls and finals, told with all the comedy, tragedy and irrationality fans of any team will recognise. This is a witty, fond, passionate and poignant tribute to the end of an era at Upton Park, as well as a universal meditation on the perks and perils of football fandom.
Journeyman: One Man's Odyssey Through the Lower Leagues of English Football
by Ben SmithBEN SMITH: PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER. Recognise the name? Of course you don't. That's because most of Smith's years in the game were spent outside the vaunted, big-money environs of the Premier League - and this sporting memoir is all the more entertaining as a result. 1995: an adolescent Ben arrives at the training ground of one of England's biggest clubs to begin his journey and realise his dream of playing top-flight professional football. Aged just sixteen, he shares pre-season sessions at Arsenal with the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright. Surely this is the start of a stellar career? Instead, the next seventeen years saw the bright young star descend the ranks from Highbury to obscurity. With seasons playing for the likes of Reading, Yeovil, Southend, Hereford, Shrewsbury and Weymouth - and a career including three promotions, one relegation and some very memorable FA Cup games - Ben's story is one of a quintessential journeyman footballer. Candidly describing the negotiations, insecurities, injuries, relocations, personal implications and wet Saturday afternoons playing in front of 500 people, Journeyman offers a unique insight into the unvarnished life of a lower-league player - so far removed from the stories of pampered Premiership stars - as well as documenting the many teammates, opponents, managers and coaches who left an indelible mark on Ben's eclectic career. Refreshingly unsentimental and often hilarious, Smith's story is essential reading for all true fans of the not-always-so-beautiful game.
Pitch Black: The Story of Black British Footballers
by Emy OnuoraWhen Paul Canoville took to the pitch for Chelsea in 1982, he was prepared for abuse. When the monkey chanting and the banana throwing started, he wasn't surprised. He wasn't prepared, however, for the abuse to be coming from his own side. Canoville was the only member of the team whose name was booed instead of cheered, the only player whose kit wasn't sponsored. He received razor blades in the post. He took to waiting two or three hours to leave the ground after a match, fearing for his safety. So minimal was the presence of black players in the game, the few who managed to break through were subjected to the most graphic abuse from all sides. Today, 30 per cent of English professional footballers are black, and amongst their number are some of the biggest heroes of the beautiful game. But just how far have we come? With unprecedented access to current and former players ranging from Viv Anderson to Cyrille Regis to John Barnes, Emy Onuora charts the revolutionary changes that have taken place both on and off the pitch, and argues that the battleground has shifted from the stands to the board room. In this fascinating new book, Onuora critically scrutinises the attitudes of FIFA, the FA and the media over the last half-century, and asks what is being done to combat the subtler forms of racism that undeniably persist even today. Featuring startling revelations from all levels of the footballing fraternity, Pitch Black takes a frank and controversial look at the history of the world's most popular sport - and its future.
Regulating Football: Commodification, Consumption and the Law
by Steve Greenfield Guy OsbornFootball in Europe has undergone massive changes over the last decade. Regulating Football gets behind the headlines to look at the impact of ever increasing commercialisation and the commodification of football.*BR**BR*The essence of the book is football as it is played, refereed, managed, bought, sold and consumed: the authors capture the life and action of the game as seen from the perspective of the numerous participants and place these experiences within a sociological, economic and legal context which reflects the increasing commodification of the sport. *BR**BR*Exploring the ways in which the game is regulated, the authors question whether we have reached the point where commercial issues have superseded the club – and even the game of football itself. The role of players, agents, officials, governing bodies, and the media are all explored. The authors pay attention to levels of violence and racism both on and off the field in both the professional and amateur forms of the game.
In Foreign Fields: The Politics and Experiences of Transnational Sport Migration (Anthropology, Culture and Society)
by Thomas F. CarterThis book examines the lives, decisions and challenges faced by transnational sport migrants - those professionals working in the sports industry who cross borders as part of their professional lives. *BR**BR*Despite a great deal of romance surrounding international celebrity athletes, the vast majority of transnational sport migrants - players, journalists, coaches, administrators and medical personnel - toil far away from the limelight. Thomas F. Carter traces their lives, routes and experiences, documenting their travels and travails. *BR**BR*He argues that far from the ease of mobility that celebrity sports stars enjoy, the vast majority of transnational sports migrants make huge sacrifices and labour under political restrictions, often enforced by sport's governing bodies.
Globalizing Cricket: Englishness, Empire and Identity (Globalizing Sport Studies)
by Dominic MalcolmGlobalizing Cricket examines the global role of the sport - how it developed and spread around the world. The book explores the origins of cricket in the eighteenth century, its establishment as England's national game in the nineteenth, the successful (Caribbean) and unsuccessful (American) diffusion of cricket as part of the development of the British Empire and its role in structuring contemporary identities amongst and between the English, the British and postcolonial communities.Whilst empirically focused on the sport itself, the book addresses broader issues such as social development, imperialism, race, diaspora and national identities. Tracing the beginnings of cricket as a 'folk game' through to the present, it draws together these different strands to examine the meaning and social significance of the modern game. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the role of sport in both colonial and post-colonial periods; the history and peculiarities of English national identity; or simply intrigued by the game and its history.
Sport for Development and Peace: A Critical Sociology (Globalizing Sport Studies)
by Simon DarnellThe role of sport in development initiatives has grown dramatically over the last five years, now finding a place in the UN's millennium development goals. In Sport and Development for Peace, Simon Darnell outlines the most recent sociological research on the role of sport in development initiatives. The book analyses the relationship between sport and international development and looks at what this reveals about socio-political economy. It addresses a gap in the literature by focusing on issues of politics, power and culture, particularly looking at volunteer experience, mega-sporting events and sporting celebrity in the context of development. Darnell questions the belief that sport can offer a 'solution' to enduring development issues. Drawing on the latest empirical research, the book is a thorough and timely analysis of the social and political implications of tying sport to development.
Japanese Women and Sport: Beyond Baseball and Sumo (Globalizing Sport Studies)
by Robin KietlinskiIn 'Japanese Women and Sport', Robin Kietlinski sets out to problematize the hegemonic image of the delicate Japanese woman, highlighting an overlooked area in the history of modern Japan. Previous studies of gender in the Japanese context do not explore the history of female participation in sport, and recent academic studies of women and sport tend to focus on Western countries. Kietlinski locates the discussion of Japanese women in sport within a larger East Asian context and considers the socio-economic position and history of modern Japan. Reaching from the early 20th century to the present day, Kietlinski traces the progression of Japanese women's participation in sport from the first female school for physical education and the foundations of competitive sport through to their growing presence in the Olympics and international sport.
Global Media Sport: Flows, Forms and Futures (Globalizing Sport Studies)
by David RoweHow has globalization impacted on sports media? What are the economic ramifications? And what is the future of sports media?In order to answer these questions, this book investigates the constituents, dimensions and implications of the flows of media sport from the Global West to the Global East, and in the reverse direction. At an historical moment when the relative stability of the Western media sport order is under challenge, it analyses a range of key structures, practices and issues whose ramifications extend far beyond the fields of play and national contexts in which sport events take place. The book will appraise and analyse the state of sports television, rise of new sports media, emergence of hybrid sport cultural forms, eruption of sport-related political controversies, scandals and power struggles, mutations of forms of global sport fandom, and projections of the future of global media sport. In bringing together the latest research from across a number of disciplines, this book offers an exciting contribution to the emerging field of global sports media.
Globalizing Boxing (Globalizing Sport Studies)
by Kath WoodwardBoxing is a traditional sport in many ways, characterized by continuities in the form of practices and regulations and heavy with legends and heroes reflecting its traditional/historical values. Associations with class, hegemonic masculinity and racialized inclusions/exclusions, however, sit alongside developments such as women's boxing and involvement in Mixed Martial Arts.This book will be the first to use boxing as a vehicle for exploring social, cultural and political change in a global context. It will consider to what degree and in what ways boxing reflects social transformations, and whether and how it contributes to those transformations. In exploring the relationship it will provide new ways of thinking critically about the everyday.