footiemad Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Hi I'm not a huge reader but my wife loves reading so I thought I'd try a bit more-I love my football so I've read a few books and really enjoyed them I read cloughs war by Don Shaw I really enjoyed that and at the moment I'm reading Jinky -Jimmy Johnstone -The biography and it's a really good read -No disresect I don't want to read about Wayne Rooney or Frank Lampard -I want to read about real football characters people like jock stein,Don Revie, Shanks the people who shaped our game and clubs -there's one out there now about bert trautmann -been thinking about buying that-love to hear from anymore footie fans and to hear what you recommend to read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Hello footiemad, and welcome to the forum. I had a look on Amazon, and came up with these few pages that might be what you are looking for. They seem to cover a good range of players, so fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiemad Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Thanks Chrissy I shall have a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Just a quick additional....Nick Hornby's 'Fever Pitch', to throw a bit of footie fiction into the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inver Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Jim Baxter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiemad Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 Thanks I've read that as I'm an arsenal fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiemad Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 Jim Baxter sounds interesting rangers player thnk he played for scotland when they beat england 3-2 in1967while england were still world champions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Butter Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 I tend to steer clear of footballers' biographies and autobiographies. As you say, I don't want to a) read about Ashley Cole or put any of my hard-earned cash into his already-groaning bank account. One that is worth reading, though - and we've discussed it on here before, as I recall - is The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw by Paul McGuigan and Paolo Hewitt. It's the story of Robin Friday, who played for Reading in the 70s and, apart from being a very talented footballer, also led a, shall we say, "wayward" lifestyle. It won't keep you busy for too long, but it's a good read. Every Boy's Dream, by Chris Green, is a (pretty critical) look at the system of youth coaching in this country, and in particular the failings of the Academy system - very relevant, in view of our recent less than stunning performance in South Africa. You'll Win Nothing With Kids, by Jim White, is an account of running a boys' Sunday team, with the usual cast of deluded team managers and aggressive, over-pushy parents. Enjoyable, and the humour's interspersed with some sensible views from the professional coaches that White has access to in his day job as a sports journalist. But the best football book, by far, that I've ever read is The Soccer Syndrome by John Moynihan. Written in the 60s, it's a collection of short essays on all aspects of the game, from parks football to the professional game. Of all the books I've ever read, this is the one which captures most accurately what the game's about (or should be about). It's out of print at the moment, but Amazon seem to have second-hand copies available. Enjoy your reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footiemad Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 Thanks i've heard of him might have a look at getting 1 or 2 of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gax23 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 This straddles the border between fiction and non-fiction but I really enjoyed The Damned United. An intriguing insight into the mind of Brian Clough - even if it's not necessarily deemed accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Thanks I've read that as I'm an arsenal fan. Hi footiemad, another gooner here . Have you read Arsene Wenger's biography - The Professor? Now there is a man who has shaped footie over the last few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gax23 Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Paul Merson's autobiography was very insightful, as was Barry Fry's as a lot of it took place in my home town Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Carson Whit Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 (edited) I'm not a huge reader of this genre but I would imagine people who are, are hugely influenced by the team(s) they follow. I could list 3 or 4 great books from ex-players of my team that would probably bore you to tears One I did enjoy reading though from a high profile 'legend' of the game was Thats the only book in this genre I would recommend for reasons already stated. Though as a Gooner you probably woudnt go near it! Bit of general advice - stay away from anything David Beckham has ever wrote. I picked up his first and it was like a colouring book. Edited July 13, 2010 by Johnny Carson Whit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no-1-book-fan Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 I love football. I get all the Man United Season Annuals every season. They're great. My brother gets the Arsenal ones, yuck. David Beckham autobiographies are also very good. I find him to be one of the more interesting footballers around. Match magazine is wortha read as well imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Books do furnish a room Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 I would agree that The Damned United is one of the best books written about football. I also rate Fever Pitch. I've ploughed through a few biographies and its like reading about paint drying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no-1-book-fan Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 Jeff Stelling has a great football book out at the moment that I have just purchased. I would advise Jellyman's Thrown A Wobbly to anyone interested in him as a person, football or watching Sky Sports News. It is lighthearted, genius entertainment. May I ask whether anyone has read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Preece Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 (edited) I enjoyed both of Bobby Robson's books, but I did find Bobby Charlton's book hard going. This was a pitty as I was a big fan of his as a kid. Personally, I'm a Hartlepool United fan.......well, it is my home town. Steve Edited September 6, 2011 by Steven Preece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawn Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 I have to say anything by Brian Clough is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bel-ami Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I have heard that Tony Cascarino's autobiography is one of the best. Also Frank Worthington's (if you can find a copy) is supposed to be very entertaining - a classic 70s playboy. I've read neither of those, but have read and would recommend Paolo di Canio's autobiography - not just football - also a snapshot of life and politics in Rome. It's fascinating, he's 'barking' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian. Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 One of the best football books I've read is 'Braca: A People's Passion' by Jimmy Burns. It goes right back into the history of the club and all the political problems it had during the Spanish Civil War. I read it many years ago before they started to win the league again so no doubt you can pick up an updated version which includes this latest incarnation of the team. Gazza's 2 books are heart wrenching reads, I used to think he was a bit of a fool but reading the books changed my mind completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I'd agree with Brian's recommendation of Barca. Others I'd suggest, depending on specific interests: A Season with Verona by Tim Parks Tim Parks travels round Italy in support of his local team. Forza Italia by Paddy Agnew A broader perspective on Italian football, if still from a very personal viewpoint, culminating in the World Cup and match-fixing scandals. Football Nation by Andrew Ward A look at the history of British football since WW2, and its influence on our national identity. One I've not read in its entirety, but enjoyed dipping into is: The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football by David Goldblatt Does what it says on the tin - aa big history of football. Looks to be worth reading if you've got the time and are sufficiently a fan of football. I'm not a fan of football (rather the opposite), but have enjoyed these books a lot as they go beyond a straightforward interest in the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReggieRebel Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Some great suggestions in this thread I'll add Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff - A biography of Johann Cruyff Captain of Hungary - Ferenc Puskas - The Galloping Major's autobiography Behind the Curtain - Travels in Eastern European Football - Jonathan Wilson Brilliant Orange - looking at Dutch football Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo MInderbinder Posted January 15, 2012 Share Posted January 15, 2012 Hi FM Two of the best that I have read: The Boss by Michael Crick. An excellent Biography of Alex Ferguson. Crick is the editor of the Newsnight programme. He's a Red but as a journalist he details the good and the bad about Ferguson. Its an inspiring read re: Fergusons management style, but on the other side of the coin Ferguson tried to get an injunction against the books publication because of some of its content about certain darker dealings. No matter what your opinion of Alex Ferguson, this is a cracker of a biography. Futebol by Alex Bellos. A great insightful look at Brazilian football. From the history of the game in Brazil through to the politics of it and interviews with some of the movers and shakers including the late great Socrates. Its as good a travelogue as it is a sports book. I found it facsinating. I always thought the Brazilians were nuts about footall but reading is believing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveScaffardi Posted November 18, 2012 Share Posted November 18, 2012 I find the 'old school' football biographies are the best. I read Graeme Sharps book recenty and that was a decent read, but perhaps I'm a wee bit biased being an Everton fan. I also read Gazza's book, and although I enjoyed it, I did find myself getting angry because it reminds you of what a wasted talent he is. Fever Pitch - as you know - is a great book, and I'm told the Damned United is also a really good read but I am yet to get round to that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmeagain Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I found My favourite year, a football writing compilation from 1993, for 25p in RSPCA shop last week , it is so good really. It lists the favourite season, in some depth, of the contributors, who include Ed Horton and Harry Pearson. Excellent find it was too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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