What's the best football book of all time?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pam
  • Start date Start date
Stephen230 said:
It probably is an enjoyable read going off the film.

But I think it’s important to realise that it’s a work of fiction based broadly around true events.
Click to expand...
The book is far darker than the film and certainly more controversial as it portrays Clough as an alcoholic with a grudge.
 
CITY
GEORGE BEST AND 21 OTHERS: Colin Schindler.
Forget the title. It's a reflection of the 1964 FA Youth Cup Semi Final when United beat City 8-4 on aggregate, and the subsequent careers of those who featured.
Ironic, comical, and occasionally quite sad.

FOREVER BOYS: James Lawton:
A study of City's late 60s team and how they never quite achieved their potential

NON CITY
ALL PLAYED OUT: Pete Davis
An exhaustive and original account of the 1990 World Cup from the days when journalists were trusted by the England Management Team.

AJAX AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR: Simon Kuper
The author explores the myth surrounding the Dutch and their role in World War Two. It certainly made me look at the Holland 74 team in a slightly different light.

BACK HOME: Jeff Dawson
Using irony and reflective cynicism the author revisits the 1970 World Cup when England were the reigning World Champions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nmc
Scaring Europe to Death said:
The book is far darker than the film and certainly more controversial as it portrays Clough as an alcoholic with a grudge.
Click to expand...

I have a problem with books/ films that mix fiction with real life.

If it’s about William Wallace or some shit, crack on. It was that long ago that no one gives a fuck.

But when it’s about people still alive, or possibly worse, recently dead, either make it as factual as possible or completely make a story up with fictional characters.
 
I don't think it's the best book by any means, but I do think it's entertaining.

Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World's Biggest Sports Scandal​


Really solid read on how the US was so annoyed after losing the WC bid to Qatar they went full bore on FIFA.
 
I’ve got the original steps to Wembley from Bert 1956 signed as well. Probably my Biggest keepsake, .
 
Best football read ever, is the Good the Mad and the Ugly by Andy Morrison. A great story of a deeply troubled man who is one of my all time City heroes. Played with pride in the Jersey and did more to rescue the club from the depths in 98 99 than any other man.
 
Not ghost written. Not by a hugely visible footballer, or about a hugely visible football club. Far from it. But if you want the nitty-gritty, what (really) goes on in the changing room, what a player (really) feels about his team mates, about opposition players, opposition clubs, what a player sometimes feels about the fans, the love and the hate that a player can have for his club and the business of earning his living kicking an inflated sphere around — Only A Game? by Eamon Dunphy. The club was Millwall F.C. The period was the seventies. It's structured around one season, one only, when Millwall felt they had a real chance of going up to the First Division. It's not objective, it's not always balanced and fair-minded, something which Dunphy admits willingly in the foreword he wrote for it. Just life in the trenches, in the mud, as it was lived for that season.
 
Andy Morrisons autobiography is great read.

Non City would be Defending the honour of Kiev, a book about the mainly Dynamo Kiev team playing against a German National Eleven and despite being warned against winning doing just that. Most of them were killed for it.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
CITY
GEORGE BEST AND 21 OTHERS: Colin Schindler.
Forget the title. It's a reflection of the 1964 FA Youth Cup Semi Final when United beat City 8-4 on aggregate, and the subsequent careers of those who featured.
Ironic, comical, and occasionally quite sad.

FOREVER BOYS: James Lawton:
A study of City's late 60s team and how they never quite achieved their potential

NON CITY
ALL PLAYED OUT: Pete Davis
An exhaustive and original account of the 1990 World Cup from the days when journalists were trusted by the England Management Team.

AJAX AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR: Simon Kuper
The author explores the myth surrounding the Dutch and their role in World War Two. It certainly made me look at the Holland 74 team in a slightly different light.

BACK HOME: Jeff Dawson
Using irony and reflective cynicism the author revisits the 1970 World Cup when England were the reigning World Champions.
Click to expand...

Loved back home. Thought it captured the era beautifully when Mexico really was a long way away.
 
nmc said:
Loved back home. Thought it captured the era beautifully when Mexico really was a long way away.
Click to expand...
Yeah it's quite an evocative book and captures the moment perfectly.

It also contains a few subliminal City references such as the 1970 ECWC Final not being televised live, and also Colin Bell warming up on the sidelines when Beckenbauer scores, oblivious to the notion that in years to come, people will start to believe that he was already on the pitch.
 
Not fully football related but picked up "all round genius: the unknown story of Britain's greatest sportsman" in a charity shop years back and I always go back to it - and yes I have played table tennis his way to no avail.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
CITY
GEORGE BEST AND 21 OTHERS: Colin Schindler.
Forget the title. It's a reflection of the 1964 FA Youth Cup Semi Final when United beat City 8-4 on aggregate, and the subsequent careers of those who featured.
Ironic, comical, and occasionally quite sad.

FOREVER BOYS: James Lawton:
A study of City's late 60s team and how they never quite achieved their potential

NON CITY
ALL PLAYED OUT: Pete Davis
An exhaustive and original account of the 1990 World Cup from the days when journalists were trusted by the England Management Team.

AJAX AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR: Simon Kuper
The author explores the myth surrounding the Dutch and their role in World War Two. It certainly made me look at the Holland 74 team in a slightly different light.

BACK HOME: Jeff Dawson
Using irony and reflective cynicism the author revisits the 1970 World Cup when England were the reigning World Champions.
Click to expand...
Glad to see Forever Boys mentioned. Alison's funeral the catalyst for James Lawton a cub reporter covering City in 1968 to track down the 69/70 players. Loved it and reread it. Shared it and they loved it too. Special book about a very special time

George Best & 21 Others is similar approach in following up the City Utd 64 youth Cup semi final.players careers and lives post football every one, those that made the grade and those that didn't and what happened to them after. That said I think 20 of them played first team football for City & utd so not a bad crop.

Two for the FOCs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top