clippedgull
Hotdogs, extra onions
A book yet to be written;
They did it my way ( Fans liaison ) - Paul Barber
They did it my way ( Fans liaison ) - Paul Barber
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Whats the best FOOTBALL book you have ever read ?
- Thread starter Easy 10
- Start date
I picked this up recently
Before you close the thread and report me, its actually a truly marvelous account by a USA journalist (Chuck Culpepper) who grew bored and weary of the NFL / MLB / NBA. So he flies to England, picks a PL team (at the time P#@*#y), and follows them for a whole season. To hear an american's take on our game is (I think) genuinely fascinating. This chap is a wonderful wordsmith and has a fantastic turn of phrase.
Among the highlights for me is when he goes to Villa Park when they play Birmingham, and he is utterly agog at the chant "cheer up Stevie Bruce, oh what can it mean to a fat geordie bastad and a shit football team". Hearing football fans adapt "Cheer Up Sleepy Jean" to an abusive football chant simply blew his mind. Its nothing to us, but its lovely to see how alien our fans behaviour is to an american.
Massively entertaining read.
I have a book by him called 'Bloody Confused' - not sure if it's the same book under a different title for some reason, but it's bloody funny.
el punal
Well-known member
The Big Book of Football Champions (1951). Everyone looked like they were in their forties even though some only twenty or so. Spurs beat Newcastle 7-0 at White Hart Lane in front of over 60,000 fans. The Geordies won the FA Cup beating Blackpool. England played a number of Festival of Britain internationals at various venues including Goodison Park and White Hart Lane.
The Albion finished 13th in Division 3 (South) with 43 points, and having scored 71 goals!
The Albion finished 13th in Division 3 (South) with 43 points, and having scored 71 goals!
aolstudios
Well-known member
'the Secret Footballer'
All of them...
All of them...
LANGDON SEAGULL
Well-known member
Stamping Grounds: Liechtensteins quest for the World Cup by Charlie Connelly
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
redoubtable seagull
Well-known member
- Oct 27, 2004
- 2,530
Ones I can recall that I've enjoyed are:
Football against the enemy by Simon Kuper; probably a classic.
Inverting the pyramid by Jonathan Wilson about the history of football tactics
A season with Verona by Tim Parks about the author's travels to away games with a small band of Hellas Verona fans
A life too short, a brilliant book about the sad tale of Robert Enke a German player who committed suicide
I also enjoyed My Father and Other Tales.
Soccernomics and nowhere men were enjoyable reads that I picked up last year.
Football against the enemy by Simon Kuper; probably a classic.
Inverting the pyramid by Jonathan Wilson about the history of football tactics
A season with Verona by Tim Parks about the author's travels to away games with a small band of Hellas Verona fans
A life too short, a brilliant book about the sad tale of Robert Enke a German player who committed suicide
I also enjoyed My Father and Other Tales.
Soccernomics and nowhere men were enjoyable reads that I picked up last year.
Gordon Bennett
Active member
- Sep 7, 2010
- 384
'Playground of the Gods' by Ian Stafford.
In 9 months in 1998 he managed to spend a week training with Flamego in Brazil, played squash against Jansher Khan, managed a weeks high altitude training with Moses Kiptanui and Daniel Komen, a week training with the Springboks, a challenge race at Henley and training with the Australian one day cricket team before then appearing as 12th man in a match against New Zealand. If that wasn't gruelling enough the culmination of his adventure was three rounds with Roy Jones!
In 9 months in 1998 he managed to spend a week training with Flamego in Brazil, played squash against Jansher Khan, managed a weeks high altitude training with Moses Kiptanui and Daniel Komen, a week training with the Springboks, a challenge race at Henley and training with the Australian one day cricket team before then appearing as 12th man in a match against New Zealand. If that wasn't gruelling enough the culmination of his adventure was three rounds with Roy Jones!
Arthur
Well-known member
Great read.
Not sure it counts as a football book but Playing the Moldovan's at Tennis by Tony Hawk (who is from Brighton and I believe an Albion fan) is a great read.
Algernon
Well-known member
Took a day off work to attend his book signing in WH Smiths Churchill Square.
Best football book? The only football book I've read, I think!
Best football book? The only football book I've read, I think!
Yes Chef
Well-known member
'There's a Golden Sky' by Ian Ridley, is excellent.
I like the idea of Bill Bryson writing a book on football hooligans - a lighthearted look at knives, slashing and footstomping along the quaint backwaters of English football. Sadly, Among the Thugs was by Bill Buford.
A lot of faves have been mentioned already, particularly the Garry Nelson two. I'll mention two more - Arthur Hopcraft's The Football Man and David Peace's Damned Utd - a work of fiction that's probably not too far from the truth.
The one I'd like to read and haven't got round to it yet is How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F.A.Cup ... maybe this year
AZ Gull
@SeagullsAcademy Threads: @bhafcacademy
I thought this was an excellent biography, written by our very own Spencer Vignes:-
Cheeky Monkey
Well-known member
- Jul 17, 2003
- 23,033
Brilliant!
Some good recommendations on here, have ordered Up Pompey and the 20 Years with Clough one from my local lending library (use them or lose them).
An Irrational Hatred of Luton by Robert Banks (BHA get a mention or two)
Not Andy Naylor
Well-known member
This is definitely not the best football book I've read but the writer is a splendid chap and would appreciate it very much if you'd all buy it and make him rich. Well, slightly less poor.
http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/pulp-football
http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/pulp-football
studio150
Well-known member
The ugly game
The investigation into Qatar buying the world cup.
The investigation into Qatar buying the world cup.
Ernest
Stupid IDIOT
Dick Tights book for ME
Not Andy Naylor
Well-known member
Bill Bryson's father was a sports writer and I imagine he'd do a great job on football. I know from a mutual friend that he was planning a baseball book.
Farehamseagull
Solly March Fan Club
Both of Nelson's and Steve Claridge's are long time favourite's of mine.
Recently really enjoyed Michael Calvin's Living on the Volcano about life as a manager.
Recently really enjoyed Michael Calvin's Living on the Volcano about life as a manager.