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Post by Daedalus on Mar 14, 2010 18:02:20 GMT
Outside of supporting the Mighty Saints and watching football, one of my main hobbies is collecting books - yes, I really am a nerdy bibliophile! ;D So, I like to combine the two hobbies and collect books about football! Here is a thread for recommendations / reviews of football books. Some of my favourites (in no particular order): The Ball Is Round by David Goldblatt (this is just incredible, an academic study of football through history, highly recommended and on my shelf as a reference book) Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson (really excellent book on the history of football tactics) Beastly Fury: The Strange Birth of British Football by Richard Saunders Calcio by John Foot Football Memories by Brian Glanville A Season with Verona by Tim Parks The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro by Joe McGinniss Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life by Alex Bellos Coaching the 3-4-1-2 and 4-2-3-1 by Massimo Lucchesi The Rise of Gerry Logan by Brian Glanville There are a lot of others that I can't remember now. My mind seems to have hit a blank. As you can see, I particularly enjoy books about football (and football fan) culture. So what are your favourites?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2010 18:45:42 GMT
+1 for a season with verona, great read damned united. - strictly fictional but we know some of it had an element of truth the Barca: A People's Passion ones good
and of course the glory glory game by hunter davies
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 14, 2010 18:55:11 GMT
I've got The Damned United on my bookshelf and also the film on DVD. Need to read the book before watching the film, obviously!
Will have to check out the other two you mention.
Something I recently bought is a football writing anthology called My Favourite Year edited by Nick Hornby.
One of the chapters is written by a Saints fan. He chose to write about the 1971/72 season. Bit before my time but still an interesting read.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2010 19:38:18 GMT
re The Damned United; i much preferred the film to be honest.
have you tried the Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 14, 2010 20:04:05 GMT
That's another one I bought recently and is on my shelf to be read soon.
I've heard lots of good things about it.
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Post by COYS on Mar 14, 2010 21:30:15 GMT
I've never read many football books to be honest. Strange really. I think I may have to go on some of your recommendations and go out and buy a couple.
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 14, 2010 21:52:14 GMT
Yes, definitely Coys.
I'll have to have a look through my football bookshelf and post up some others I would recommend.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2010 6:09:26 GMT
as an aside; this podcast is essential listening for me anyway www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/wf5 live's World Football Phone-in Expert answers to your questions in World Football: The Phone-in from BBC Radio 5 live's Up All Night programme.
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 15, 2010 9:55:29 GMT
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 15, 2010 10:03:39 GMT
Here are some other books that I recommend: My Favourite Year: A Collection of Football Writing edited by Nick Hornby (with a chapter on St. Albans City! ) Soccer: Modern Tactics by Alessandro Zauli (with contributions by top Italian coaches) Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football by Jonathan Wilson (read this recently and it was awesome) Attacking Soccer: A Tactical Analysis by Massimo Lucchesi
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 15, 2010 10:05:00 GMT
These are some of the books that I haven't got around to reading just yet (waiting on the shelf for me to pick up):
Those Feet: A Sensual History of English Football by David Winner
The Damned United by David Peace
Football Against the Enemy by Simon Kuper
How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalisation by Franklin Foer
Left Foot in the Grave by Garry Nelson
Stamping Grounds: Exploring Liechtenstein and its World Cup Dream by Charlie Connelly
The Bromley Boys by Dave Roberts
The Manager by Barney Ronay
Rafa Benitez by Paco Lloret
Peter Crouch: Walking Tall, My Story
Playing at Home by John Aizlewood
Brilliant Orange by David Winner (still haven't got around to reading this)
Tor! The Story of German Football by Ulrich Hesse-Lichtenberger
Goalkeepers Are Different by Brian Glanville
All Played Out by Pete Davies
England Managers: The Toughest Job in Football by Brian Glanville
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 15, 2010 10:07:25 GMT
Here are some of the books on my 'wishlist': Englischer Fussball: A German View of Our Beautiful Game by Raphael Honigstein Le Foot: The Legends of French Football by Christov Ruhn The Italian Job by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football by Phil Ball The Beautiful Game?: Searching the Soul of Football by David Conn Luton Town: Staring into the Abyss: Minus 30 - the Coldest Place in Football by Rob Hadgraft Luton Town: Through the Trap Door: From Championship to Conference 2004-2009 (Desert Island Football Histories) by Rob Hadgraft Anoraknophobia: The Life and Times of a Football Obsessive by Rob Grillo The Story of the World Cup by Brian Glanville (I have pre-ordered the new edition ) Coaching the 4-3-3 by Massimo Lucchesi Why England Lose: and Other Curious Phenomena Explained by Simon Kuper Teambuilding: The Road to Success by Rinus Michels Football: A Sociology of the Global Game by Richard Giulianotti The Association Game: A History of British Football by Dr Matthew Taylor Left Foot Forward: A Year in the Life of a Journeyman Footballer by Garry Nelson If anyone can tell me anything about these books on my wishlist, then that would be great.
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Post by saintsfan on Mar 15, 2010 12:06:15 GMT
I don't read many football books to be honest.
Has anyone read any good non-League books?
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 15, 2010 13:19:47 GMT
I'm trying to think of some.
I read the Ian Ridley book a while back and that was pretty good. I think it's called Floodlit Dreams.
I recently bought The Bromley Boys (can't remember the author right now) because someone recommended it to me. Haven't started it yet.
I don't know many others. Maybe Gaz will know some.
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Post by joemeek67 on Mar 15, 2010 13:41:49 GMT
how abou favourite football records?
World Cup Willie by the late Lonnie Donegan Spurs are onthere way to wembley [which 3 ex saints sang on that?]
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 15, 2010 14:56:58 GMT
Can't beat a John Barnes rap, can you? ;D
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Post by EFMTFTV on Mar 17, 2010 10:20:00 GMT
My mate reckons Verona could be like the Italian us
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Post by Dr Saint on Mar 17, 2010 10:26:11 GMT
Ian Ridley's book, Floodlit Dreams, is a wonderful read and also an insight into the running of a non-league club, its boardroom troubles and Ian's efforts to save the club he has loved and supported since a young boy. It's straight from the heart as at times it touches on his personal life and feelings. I found it a "cant put it down book" and recommend it a very good read to all into non-league football. (JG?) DS
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 17, 2010 11:29:04 GMT
I enjoyed reading Ian Ridley's book too DrSaint. Very genuine and open, and he wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the book. Plus the insight it gives in to what goes on behind the scenes at a non-League club was fascinating to me.
Any other recommendations for non-League books anyone?
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 23, 2010 13:07:13 GMT
I finished my second reading of Inverting the Pyramid recently and I have now started on The Bromley Boys, which is going to be a very quick and funny read I think.
Shame that there is no official or unofficial St Albans City history book. I wonder if the club historian (Mr Tavener?) might ever attempt to write one? Plenty of non-League clubs have them and I imagine City's would make interesting reading.
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Post by Mick the Mike on Mar 25, 2010 10:31:29 GMT
Simon Inglis' Football League Grounds of Great Britain is much thumbed through as is The Non League Football Grounds of Great Britain.
I grew up in Sarf London and Charlton and Millwall were my local teams. Charlton's Gary Nelson's move to Torquay and his two books about his times there, were of great interest.
Eamomn Dunphy is a journalist with the Irish Times. He played for Manchester United, Millwall and York City among others and during his time at the Den, wrote a book titled Only a Game? (the question mark was part of the title).
He had set out to create the book in almost diary form over a season, detailing the players' daily activities and their reaction to matches, how the press reported each of those matches and also how the fans perceived those same matches.
He quickly realised that in many cases, each group perceived the same match in a different way and that his plans for the book would have resulted in a very large tome being produced. Instead, he concentrated on events from the players' perspective, gave less emphasis to the press reports and scant mentions of the fans reactions. The outcome in many cases was the strong contrasting views of the players who thought that they were unlucky in particular matches while the press and fans were less than complimentary about the teams' performance in those same matches.
The style of writing in this book was very much that of a fledgling author but Dunphy was to be forgiven for that as he provided a unique insight into the life and times of a journeyman footballer. After retiring from football he became a broadcaster and journalist and his polished style of writing contrasted very much with his first efforts in Only a Game?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 11:18:13 GMT
+1 for Inglis book
Archibald Leitch; there's a fella
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 25, 2010 11:34:37 GMT
Good post there MicktheMike. I picked up a copy of one of Garry Nelson's books lately in Oxfam Books in St. Albans. Pretty sure it was Left Foot in the Grave. I think that might be the sequel to his other book? I haven't started reading it yet anyway. I'll keep a look out for the other book you mention by Eamon Dunphy. I see on Amazon that Brian Glanville has called it 'the best and most authentic memoir by a professional footballer' so it definitely sounds worth picking up to me!
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Post by Daedalus on Apr 22, 2010 15:36:25 GMT
Just started reading David Conn's book as reviewed here - www.twohundredpercent.net/?p=1187Excellent opening chapters. Enjoying it so far, although it is making me a little depressed at the state of the game we all love. I've never really been that interested in the business/financial side of football. As I often say, I'm only really in it for the football, but I think this book will capture my imagination and I also think that it will be somewhat of an education for me. It is called The Beautiful Game? Searching For The Soul Of Football. Also, I recently borrowed a book from the library on Capello written by Gabriele Marcotti, which looks interesting. I often enjoy Marcotti's journalistic work, so I'm hoping that this will prove entertaining too. And, finally, I decided to buy The Italian Job co-written by Marcotti and Vialli, which compares Italian and English football, and which I thought looked like it would be a fascinating read.
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Post by Daedalus on May 20, 2010 17:40:54 GMT
I'm about three quarters of the way through the David Conn book now. Extremely depressing reading in parts and some of the stories make me feel so angry about the way that some clubs and their fans have been treated by the irresponsible, corrupt and selfish individuals in charge of their clubs.
It has certainly brought home to me how important the supporters trusts have been at many of these clubs. It makes me proud to be a member of the Saints City Trust and very thankful towards the current Trust officers for setting up the Trust and taking all of the flak from those few individuals who would rather sit back and destroy/criticise rather than contribute. The vast majority of fans are definitely thankful for all of the Trust's hard-work and the truth is that setting up the Trust might even end up being one of the most important and significant things to ever have happened to the club in the long-run.
Anyway, I recommend the book to everyone, although it often doesn't make comfortable reading. It has certainly opened my eyes.
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Post by Daedalus on Dec 18, 2010 13:17:38 GMT
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Post by heggers on Jan 8, 2011 21:10:01 GMT
I've read The Feet of the Chameleon which is the history of African football, a great book but I did struggle through it!
Also in my opinion the greatest football book ever written, mainly because its more than a book about football but a whole life obsession of football. The (so far) unmatched Fever Pitch.
Any suggestions for future reads? Daedalus?
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Post by Daedalus on Jan 8, 2011 22:26:07 GMT
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Post by heggers on Jan 9, 2011 12:28:25 GMT
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Post by brummie on Jan 10, 2011 11:13:44 GMT
I like reading stuff on social history. On the sporting side "Kicking and SCreaming" by Andrew Ward and Rogan Taylor is a good read. It has snippets of interviews with people connected with football (not just players) past and present. They tell what times were like pre the second world war in a social sense. www.amazon.co.uk/Kicking-Screaming-History-Football-England/dp/1861050623
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