What's the best football book of all time?

[Pam]

I have a book token and believe it or not, I was thinking of purchasing a book with it. What's the best non fiction book to buy? Not the ones about City 'cos I've already read these.

 

[WARD21]

thats a good question. I'd like to read a good book on football.

The best (auto)biography I read was Back from the Brink by (tin hat firmly fastened on) one time Rag, all-time villa and Ireland legend Paul McGrath. Very hard life, struggles with mental problems, racism and addiction. Great insight into the game, brutally honest... at times very depressing and at times very funny.

I recommend it, great read.

 

[bluenova]

Three of my faves:

The Glory Game (Hunter Davies) is brilliant - a writer was allowed total access to the Spurs team of the early seventies. Wonderful behind the scenes stuff from a time when footballers were still relatively normal people.

Full Time: Tony Cascarino's biog is a great read - a real book that goes well beyond the usual footballer story.

Inverting the Pyramid (Jonathan Wilson) is fascinating - an in-depth history of tactics. Makes you realise that not even the daftest manager would ever "send out the eleven best players and let them get on with it"

 

[LongsightM13]

Someone on the last book you read thread recommended a book about the history of Spanish football called Morbo

 

[barney10]

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/dec/16/featuresreviews.guardianreview9" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/de ... ianreview9</a>

The Ball is Round by David Goldblatt. Everyone should read it absolutely brillant.

 

[Billy City]

Alright Pam growing up at school the best manager of all time imo Brian Clough what he did with Derby and Forest was amazing i love his books a few here if your intrested ?


<a class="postlink" href="http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?searchtype=bookall&searchstring=brian+clough&page=search&pa=search" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.play.com/Search.aspx?searcht ... &pa=search</a>

 

[melman]

this

is brilliant imo.

from the origins of the kit (they ran a national competition) to why players with long names got the shorter sobriquets, and plenty plenty more.

proper interesting. it's a paul 'macca' mccartney style 2 thumbs up from me.

 

[Bilston Blue]

A Season With Verona by Tim Parks. An Italian based British writer who decides to follow one of the Verona teams (can't remember if it's Hellas or Chievo) for the season. A great insight into the culture of Italian football fans and the sport in Italy in general. Some funny moments spent on 18 hour bus rides with a group of ultras singing about shagging the drivers daughter... but seriously a good read.

Failing that Paddy Agnew's Forza Italia: A Journey in Search of Italy and it's Football.

Or if you're a Motson wannabe get Chris Freddi's Complete Book of the World Cup, updated before each world cup so there should be one out early next year.

 

[Anonymous]

Anything by Ed Glinert.
Preferably wet through after he and the book have been slowly dredged from the ship canal.

 

[bluemoon27]

shoot

 

[shinpads]

the big book of city by gary james

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Book-City-Gary-James/dp/0955812720" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Book-City-G ... 0955812720</a>

 

[bezer57]

this simple game by ken barnes, great book .all about city !!

 

[Joycee Banercheck]

Another shout for Gary James' book, but also that "Down and out with the dead men at Manchester City" which reports on our fall to Div 2. Fantastic book that sums up a lot and keeps you chuckling about our plight, which we all did.

 

[Billy City]

Another shout for Gary James' book, but also that "Down and out with the dead men at Manchester City" which reports on our fall to Div 2. Fantastic book that sums up a lot and keeps you chuckling about our plight, which we all did.

At the time in the old Dv 3 i was crying not chuckling, we can look back now and think how lucky we are Dickov's last gasp goal and Weavers pen saves, i really thought in 98/99 season the club i love at died.

 

[Prophet of Doom]

Broken Dreams by Tom Bower. Brilliant book which lifts the lid on corruption in football.

If you want to learn the truth about the dodgy dealings of the likes of Venables and Twitcher then this book is a must read. Unbelievable what some of these people have got away with in the past.

Best football book I have read by a mile !

 

[cant spell-dont care]

I would deffinatly say the best football book of all time is Govnors by Micky Frances *tries to keep strait face*
searuisly the best i have read would either be kicked in to toach by fred ire, or jeff winters book. thers also a good one by a football jurnalist but i cant remember his name

 

[kippaxwarrior]

All Played Out by Pete Davis

He was given unlimited access to the England team during World Cup 90
Real warts all all stuff(something which wouldnt happen now) great stories on Barnes, Waddle and of course Gazza and the late Sir Bobby
Its brilliant

 

[Pam]

That's for your recommendations, all. I might take a pre-match trip to Waterstones.

 

[Joycee Banercheck]

Another shout for Gary James' book, but also that "Down and out with the dead men at Manchester City" which reports on our fall to Div 2. Fantastic book that sums up a lot and keeps you chuckling about our plight, which we all did.

At the time in the old Dv 3 i was crying not chuckling, we can look back now and think how lucky we are Dickov's last gasp goal and Weavers pen saves, i really thought in 98/99 season the club i love at died.

Amen to that, brother. It was the worst of times. It was the best of times.

 

[bluemoonrising]

Not the best but a good insight into the club.