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Alan Ball: The biography of the youngest 1966 World Cup Hero
by David TossellIt is a special footballer who wins the World Cup as a 21-year-old and ends a two-decade career as one of the most revered players in the history of four clubs. Former England captain Alan Ball was such a man: prodigy at Blackpool, youngest hero of 1966, Championship winner at Everton, British-record signing for the second time at Arsenal and veteran schemer for Southampton - not to mention footwear trend-setter. And all after being told he was too small to succeed in the game.Yet his years as a flat-cap wearing manager consisted mostly of relegation and promotion battles, some successful and some not, and plenty of frustration as he fought to produce winners in his own image and emulate the feats of his playing days. His life already touched tragically by the car crash that killed his father and the loss of his beloved wife Lesley to cancer, Ball died, aged only 61, after suffering a heart attack during a garden blaze.A decade on from his death, and drawing on interviews with family, friends and colleagues including Jimmy Armfield, Sir Geoff Hurst, George Cohen, Gordon Banks, Joe Royle, Mick Channon, Lawrie McMenemy, Francis Lee, George Graham, Frank McLintock, Matthew Le Tissier and many more, Alan Ball: The Man in White Boots is the definitive study of one of English football's most enduring figures.
Alan Mullery Autobiography: The Autobiography
by Alan MulleryFearless. Competitive. Controversial. Three words that sum up the football career of Alan Mullery. His passion for football is matched by a stream of anecdotes about the players that have filled his professional life, including Bobby Moore, Pele, Johnny Haynes, Jimmy Greaves and George Best. Here, for the first time, Mullery lets the reader into the secrets he has previously kept hidden: the shame of being sent off for England; the true story behind England's 1970 World Cup quarter-final defeat; how he sold one thousand Cup final tickets on the black market; the bitterness behind the cheers of Spurs' 1972 UEFA Cup victory and the naked blonde in the hotel.In addition, he relates from the heart his darkest moments, brought on by stiffling financial pressure, and how he had to look deep within himself to come through the other end.
Albert Pujols: On the Field with...
by Matt ChristopherAnyone who has ever had the privilege of watching Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals knows the sound of a hit. It's the sound his bat makes when it connects with the ball. It's a sound that's been heard countless times since his 2001 rookie season. That year, he took the league by storm by posting some of the most fantastic offensive stats of any rookie ever-and he's been doing the same ever since, shattering records and helping his team win games, including the 2006 World Series, with clutch hits and amazing home runs. This biography offers an up-close look at this superstar's life and the most memorable moments of his outstanding career to date.
Alchemy: Brian Clough & Peter Taylor at Hartlepools United
by Christopher HullBoxing Day 1962: Sunderland’s star striker Brian Clough suffers a career-ending knee injury when he collides with an outrushing goalkeeper. After a forlorn battle to regain fitness, he retires early and sinks into deep despair.October 1965: Clough persuades ex-’Boro teammate Peter Taylor to join him in managing perennial North-East strugglers Hartlepools United, lying next to bottom of the Fourth Division.A magical football odyssey has begun.Alchemy reveals the bittersweet reality of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor’s first management job together. Lower-league Hartlepools United are penniless, with a meddling chairman, a ramshackle ground and want-away players. Yet the management pair tackle every challenge head-on, forging a winning blueprint that later transforms unfashionable Derby County and Nottingham Forest into League and European Cup champions.Exploiting a wealth of archive newspapers, plus interviews with those present at the creation, Alchemy exposes the humble origins of Clough & Taylor’s meteoric rise to the top of the football tree.
Alchemy of Pushing Hands (PDF)
by Oleg TcherneThe practice of Pushing Hands (Tui Shou) is generally thought of as a means of enhancing the practice of Taiji Quan, but it is also an independent practice in its own right. Pushing Hands develops sensitivity to the body's internal state and can be used to help control the emotions, the circulation of energy and physical balance. This book teaches the reader how to act or react in harmony with any external event without losing their 'balance' or center, enabling them to respond with confidence and flexibility to each situation. Illuminating the principles of body construction, this accessible and practical guide to Pushing Hands explains the eight types of concentration and the six "efforts" required to master them. Taking the reader through the thirteen principles of Pushing Hands and nine keys of movement which enable the proper flow of energy, the author provides a thorough understanding of the various elements of Pushing Hands practice. Exercises for developing concentration and pushing hands techniques are clearly explained and illustrated throughout the book. Whether practising Pushing Hands in conjunction with Taiji Quan or as an independent practice, this book is ideal for practitioners and students of Chinese martial and health arts.
Alex Ferguson: A Football Legend! (Real-life Stories #9)
by Sarah EasonUntil his retirement in 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson was the most famous football manager in the world. During his time at Manchester United, the club won the Premier League 13 times and the FA Cup five times, as well as numerous other titles and trophies. No other football manager has come close to equalling Fergie's record. Real-life Stories: Alex Ferguson gives you the story behind this incredible man - from his upbringing in a tough part of Glasgow, through his career as a football player in Scotland, to his 26 years in charge of one of the most famous and successful football clubs in the world. It focuses on his management techniques and his star players, from David Beckham to Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, and explains how he transformed Man Utd into a global phenomenon - the club every footballer wanted to play for. Biographical information, and Alex Ferguson quotes, support the narrative. Punchy, fact-filled text make this a fantastic resource for biography based project work for children aged seven and above; a full glossary and index are included. Each title in the Real-life Stories series looks at a celebrity who is at the top of their game and the height of their career. We take a look at how they got to where they are today, what their daily life is like and where they are going next. If you've enjoyed reading about Alex Ferguson, why not try finding out about Adele, Banksy, the Duchess of Cambridge, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, Brian Cox, Gary Barlow, Will.i.am, Stella McCartney, David Walliams, Malorie Blackman, Kylie Minogue or Steve Backshall, in other titles in the series?
Alex Ferguson: A Light in the North
by Alex FergusonWidely hailed as Scotland’s most successful football manager since Jock Stein, Alex Ferguson’s achievements with Aberdeen are unparalleled, creating and consolidating a new force in British and European football. Since joining the Dons in 1978, the ambitious, hard-driving and controversial ‘Fergie’ has seen his side capture eight major trophies – The European Cup-Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup, three Scottish Premier League titles and three Scottish Cups. In A Light in the North, Alex Ferguson tells for the first time the story the fans have been waiting for.
Alex Ferguson: 6 Years at United
by Alex FergusonAlex Ferguson, once king of Scottish football, gave up the easy life in Aberdeen to follow in the famous footsteps of Sir Matt Busby. Others had flickered and then faded in the shadow cast by the legendary Busby but Ferguson couldn’t resist the call. ‘Football is a strange obsession. Winning is a drug and when I got the invitation to manage Manchester United I simply could not resist,’ he says. For nearly six years he has chased the end of the rainbow and spent millions of pounds to bring the coveted championship to Old Trafford for the first time in 25 years. Now he feels it is time to tell the inside story of the best-supported club in Britain and his struggle to fulfil the title dream of thousands of supporters. He found the famous club in disarray and he admits he came close to the sack himself. ‘No manager is prepared for the job at Old Trafford. The legend is huge. It’s different from any other club with its traditions and expectations. It took me three or four years to understand the particular politics and demands. Only through success can a manager get control of his destiny.’Ferguson fought his battles and won the trophies which slowly but surely see him now established as a manager who has laid the old ghosts to rest and created a new vision. Winning the FA cup in 1990 bought him valuable time, and success in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, beating Barcelona in a memorable final in Rotterdam, gave him the right platform for the most convincing championship challenge since the days of Busby.After seven years at Aberdeen, Ferguson wrote A Light in the North, an account of how he broke the Glasgow stranglehold on Scottish football. Now comes the sequel of how he conquered English football at the helm of their greatest club.
ALEX FERGUSON My Autobiography: The autobiography of the legendary Manchester United manager
by Alex FergusonSir Alex Ferguson's compelling story is always honest and revealing he reflects on his managerial career that embraced unprecedented European success for Aberdeen and 26 triumphant seasons with Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson's best-selling autobiography has now been updated to offer reflections on events at Manchester United since his retirement as well as his teachings at the Harvard Business School, a night at the Oscars and a boat tour round the Hebrides, where he passed unrecognised.The extra material adds fresh insights and detail on his final years as United's manager. Both the psychology of management and the detail of football strategy at the top level can be complex matters but no-one has explained them in a more interesting and accessible way for the general reader than Sir Alex does here. MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY is revealing, endlessly entertaining and above all inspirational.
The Alex Ferguson Quote Book: The Greatest Manager in His Own Words
by Ebury Press'Football. Bloody hell.'The longest serving and most successful manager in British football history shocked the world by finally retiring in May 2013 and instantly created more column inches and twitter mentions that the death of Margaret Thatcher. And he wasn’t just the greatest, but also one of the most outspoken, engaging and witty voices from the game, as this book proves. Here is the history of his supreme verbal sparring during his years at Manchester United - the man in his own words (with a few additional thoughts from those who knew him best and crossed swords with him most).'There's nothing wrong with losing your temper once in a while if it's for the right reasons''If he was an inch taller he’d be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in – I’d check the milkman'On Gary Neville'He could start a row in an empty house'On Denis Wise'The list of gentle, naturally retiring men who have been successful in their attempts at running clubs isn't a long one, is it?'
Alex Higgins: Eye of the Hurricane
by J HennesseyWhen Alex Higgins' first manager, John McLaughlin, bestowed the nickname 'Hurricane Higgins' on the young, feisty snooker player he had no idea just how apt it was to prove over the next thirty years. Eye of the Hurricane details a sad but uplifting story of a man who had everything to play for but now has to play hard for anything he can get. It describes Higgins, sitting fitfully on snooker's sidelines, still has a story to tell, another controversy to spark. Author John Hennessey promises a 'wart and all' account of Alex Higgin's life and that is precisely what he delivers in this thoroughly absorbing book. . . well-told but cautionary tale of how narr ow the line is between genius and insanity 'This first proper account of Higgin's life is all the more clear-eyed for being written without his co-operation.
Alfred and Emily
by Doris LessingDoris Lessing’s first book after winning the Nobel Prize for Literature revisits her childhood in Southern Africa and the lives, both fictional and factual, that her parents led.
Ali on Ali: Why He Said What He Said When He Said It
by Hana AliThe Greatest—in his own unforgettable words. This collection of quotes is accompanied by family photographs and the stories behind the sayings by Ali's daughter and biographer, Hana Ali. A book of inspiration, humor, and Ali&’s inimitable way with words, it&’s a unique look at a unique and beloved person.
Aliens United: Level 5 (Goal! Ser.)
by Tony NormanPlanet Earth meet Aliens United in a crunch match. In this fiction book with beautiful full-colour illustrations, the aliens play dirty. Will the ref stop the game? (No, he doesn't, because in fact it's a computer game!) Themed around the world of football, this fiction story is perfect for struggling readers, to help them develop the basics of reading. With an exciting football-related story and a good range of characters, this book will engage and inspire readers who need a structured, systematic, synthetics phonics-based text.
The Alistair Cook Story
by Oliver BrettSir Alastair Cook, who received a knighthood in the New Year Honours list the first England cricketer to do so since Sir Ian Botham in 2007 is the most prolific Test batsman the country has produced and one of the finest openers to grace the game. Cook turned 34 on Christmas Day 2018, having retired from international cricket in September. His career produced a phenomenal haul of 33 centuries and 12,472 runs in 161 Tests all three landmarks are England records. The tall left-hander, famed for his remarkable powers of concentration, signed off with a century in his final match against India at The Oval but will continue to play for his beloved Essex until the end of the 2021 season. He is the first cricketing knight to receive the accolade while still an active professional. Cook, who showed precocious talent as a schoolboy before signing for Essex, was rushed into the England team aged 21 to answer an injury crisis, and demonstrated his ability and temperament immediately with a debut century in Nagpur, India. He opened for England in 159 consecutive Tests, the longest continuous run of any player, and was the youngest player of any nationality to reach the landmarks of 6,000, 7,000, 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000 and 12,000 runs in Test cricket. He stands fifth on the list of all-time Test run scorers, hitting 3,000 more runs than his nearest England rival, Graham Gooch, his good friend and mentor who happened to be one of his first coaches at Essex. After Cook announced his retirement, Gooch described him as a genuine legend of English cricket.
Alive and Kicking: A Story of Crime, Addiction and Redemption in Glasgow's Gangland
by David BryceFrom running with the infamous Calton Tongs to running Calton Athletic, David Bryce's life story is a remarkable account of crime, violence, alcoholism and drug addiction in Glasgow's gangland.A respected 'hard man', Bryce worked his way through most of HM's prisons in Scotland before an epiphany in 1977 made him realise that he was a hopeless alcoholic who needed help. A five-year battle followed, during which he sank into the abyss of heroin addiction before finally getting clean. In 1985, in an effort to help others who were struggling against substance abuse, Bryce set up Calton Athletic, a football team and social group made up solely of recovering drug addicts. Reformed gangster Jimmy Boyle was one of the first to have faith in Bryce and Calton Athletic, but the club eventually won widespread respect. Gordon Brown, then a young MP, was so impressed that he wrote an article for The Observer which led to a TV film starring Lenny Henry and Robbie Coltrane. In the '90s, Ewan McGregor, Irvine Welsh and the Trainspotting crew sought Bryce's advice and friendship during the making of the internationally acclaimed cult film, while Robbie Williams begged to switch nationality and play for Calton Atheltic in an 'England v. Scotland' celebrity charity match.Bryce's uncompromising belief that the only way to come off drugs is to go cold turkey and stay completely clean saw him clash with government agencies over the 'harm-reduction' policy of recent years. The club's statutory funding was withdrawn in 1998, but today Calton Athletic are still providing an invaluable lifeline while the 'official' drugs policy has become increasingly discredited.Alive and Kicking is an inspirational tale of survival and success against the odds.
Alive and Kicking (Quick Reads)
by Andy LeggIn 2005 Welsh soccer star Andy Legg's life was turned upside down. Forced to retire after finding out that a lump in his neck was cancer, it seemed that his 15-year career, which included playing for Cardiff and Swansea City, was over. But an operation to remove the tumour was successful and the 42-year-old Neath-born star is now back on the field. "Alive and Kicking" is his emotional account of his fears for his career and his life, and his gratitude for the support of his fans which give him the strength to fight on.About the AuthorAndy Legg is a Welsh international footballer and one of a select band to play for South Wales arch rivals Swansea City and Cardiff City.Signed by Swansea City in 1988, he turned professional at the age of 22. An aggressive left sided player, Andy made more than 160 League appearances for the Swans, before moving on to Notts County, Birmingham City, Ipswich and Reading. He joined Cardiff City in 1998. His League career totalled more than 600 appearances; he played six times for Wales and made the Guinness Book of Records for his long throw-in. He's coached at Peterborough, managed Hucknall Town and continues to play for Welsh Premier League side Llanelli.
All-American Murder: The Rise And Fall Of Aaron Hernandez, The Superstar Whose Life Ended On Murderers' Row
by James Patterson‘The man behind the hugely popular Alex Cross series has interviewed those closest to Hernandez to get the full, winding story on the NFL star turned murderer.’ Sun‘Patterson unravels Hernandez’s complicated and troubling story.’ CBS News'This disturbing true-crime thriller is another fast and captivating Patterson read.' USA TodayAaron Hernandez was a college football All-American who became the youngest player in the NFL and later reached the Super Bowl. He was a star on the league-dominant New England Patriots, who extended his contract for a record $40 million. Hernandez’s every move as a professional athlete played out in the headlines, yet he led a secret life – one that ended in a maximum-security prison. What drove him to go so wrong, so fast?Hernandez was the best athlete Connecticut’s Bristol Central High had ever produced. But bythe time he arrived at University of Florida, he was already courting trouble. As his fame grew and he joined the NFL, trouble followed him. Between the summers of 2012 and 2013, Hernandez was linked to a series of violent incidents culminating in the death of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro American football player who dated the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée.All-American Murder is the first book to fully investigate the shocking story of Aaron Hernandez – from his meteoric rise in the world of American football to his first-degree murder conviction and the mystery of his own untimely death. Drawing on original, in-depth reporting, this is an explosive account of a life cut short in the dark shadow of fame.
All For A Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora
by David RensinThere will never be another surfer like Miki 'Da Cat' Dora. For twenty years the dashing and enigmatic dark prince of California surfing dominated the Malibu waves and his peers' imaginations, blazing a trail that would inspire generations to come. But when the sport exploded into the mainstream and surfing changed for ever, Dora's paradise was lost.Outraged at gridlocked swells and a scene that had grown ever more commodified, Dora eventually fled Malibu, seeking empty waves - and anonymity - beyond America. He'd also run afoul of the law, and he led the authorities on a seven-year chase around the globe. Yet, Dora would never give up searching for the spirit of the Malibu he'd lost. Wherever he made his home - New Zealand, South Africa, France - he personified the rebel heart of surfing and became a legend in his own time.This brilliant biography, based on interviews with more than three hundred people who knew Dora, finally uncovers the truth about surfing's most seductive and complicated icon.
All Goalies Are Crazy (Soccer Mad Ser. #Vol. 2)
by Rob ChildsALL GOALIES ARE CRAZY...but some goalies are more crazy than others!After a series of match-losing blunders, can Sanjay prove himself the number one goalie?
All Hands on Deck: Sailing Activity Book
by Lisette VosThis sailing activity book is brimming with ideas and information for young sailors to inspire them to discover, explore and learn about sailing and boats. The book's central character, Sailor Taylor, takes children on an enjoyable sailing excursion: from charting a course to tying knots and studying clouds, as well as completing projects and puzzles. It covers staying safe when you're out on the water and teaches young sailors about sailing rules, facts about parts of the boats and navigation. It will show children how to plot a sailing route, make a paper boat and a wind vane, design their own flag, cook a new on-board recipe, know which way the wind is blowing and much, much more. There activities are combined with lots of sailing facts and information told in a fun, easy-to-understand way.There are plenty of quiet hours on a longer passage (or not so quiet if you have bored kids hanging about the cockpit!) as well as at home in the winter, or on bad-weather weekends. This book is the perfect way to keep children occupied and a great tool for encouraging your kids to discover the many enjoyable things to do on the water.Full of lovely, friendly illustrations, and imaginative and educational ideas for making the most of sailing, it's the ideal sailing companion for children. Hours of fun and adventure guaranteed!
All Hands on Deck: Sailing Activity Book
by Lisette VosThis sailing activity book is brimming with ideas and information for young sailors to inspire them to discover, explore and learn about sailing and boats. The book's central character, Sailor Taylor, takes children on an enjoyable sailing excursion: from charting a course to tying knots and studying clouds, as well as completing projects and puzzles. It covers staying safe when you're out on the water and teaches young sailors about sailing rules, facts about parts of the boats and navigation. It will show children how to plot a sailing route, make a paper boat and a wind vane, design their own flag, cook a new on-board recipe, know which way the wind is blowing and much, much more. There activities are combined with lots of sailing facts and information told in a fun, easy-to-understand way.There are plenty of quiet hours on a longer passage (or not so quiet if you have bored kids hanging about the cockpit!) as well as at home in the winter, or on bad-weather weekends. This book is the perfect way to keep children occupied and a great tool for encouraging your kids to discover the many enjoyable things to do on the water.Full of lovely, friendly illustrations, and imaginative and educational ideas for making the most of sailing, it's the ideal sailing companion for children. Hours of fun and adventure guaranteed!
All In
by Matt Cooper Jamie HeaslipFor almost the duration of his professional career, during which he was a mainstay for Leinster and Ireland, the name Jamie Heaslip was synonymous with the No 8 jersey. An athletic and tireless presence at the base of the pack, outspoken both on and off the field, not to mention a captain for province and country, he was one of the leading lights of a generation that helped propel Irish rugby to previously uncharted heights.Written in partnership with Matt Cooper, All In is the story of Heaslip’s thirteen years at rugby’s frontline, as demanding and uncompromising a place as can be found in professional sport. From the euphoria and disappointment of life on the field to the major relationships that have helped shape the team – for better or worse – it’s the most vivid portrait yet of life behind the scenes at Leinster and Ireland, and a compelling account of what it means to put your body on the line in pursuit of excellence.
All In: The Autobiography of Billie Jean King
by Billie Jean KingAn inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.'A constant role model in my life, Billie Jean King is a leading example of integrity in the face of adversity. The book's powerfully honest and unapologetic candor is a reflection of King's brilliant mark on the world and the glass ceilings she shattered' Serena WilliamsIn this spirited account, Billie Jean King details her life's journey to find her true self. She recounts her groundbreaking tennis career -- six years as the top-ranked woman in the world, twenty Wimbledon championships, thirty-nine grand-slam titles, and her watershed defeat of Bobby Riggs in the famous "Battle of the Sexes." She poignantly recalls the cultural backdrop of those years and the profound impact on her worldview from the women's movement, the assassinations and anti-war protests of the 1960s, the civil rights movement, and, eventually, the LGBTQ+ rights movement.She describes the myriad challenges she's hurdled -- entrenched sexism, an eating disorder, near financial ruin after being outed -- on her path to publicly and unequivocally acknowledging her sexual identity at the age of fifty-one. And she talks about how her life today remains one of indefatigable service. She offers insights and advice on leadership, business, activism, sports, politics, marriage equality, parenting, sexuality, and love. She shows how living honestly and openly has had a transformative effect on her relationships and happiness.Hers is the story of a pathbreaking feminist, a world-class athlete, and an indomitable spirit whose impact has transcended even her spectacular achievements in sports.__________________________'Compelling... a brave and moving book, a must-read for tennis fans and a vivid slice of social history' Melanie Reid, The Times'A terrific read' Constance Craig Smith, Daily Mail'A vivid and detailed account of her rise to sporting greatness and her struggles to attain equal treatment for women in a shockingly discriminatory sport... All In describes a life comprising one epic struggle after another, both on and off court' Fiona Sturges, Guardian'[She] writes candidly about a career that led the way for women's sports as we know them . . . thoughtful, soul-searching' Tim Adams, Observer'This is a fascinating, energising, inspirational book from a woman who continues to set the standard for making a positive difference in the world' Clare Balding