What's the best football book of all time?

[hallsteve62]

That brings back some happy memories. Sticker book iirc?

 

[The Norfolk Blue]

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby is still for me the best. Better than anything else he has written.

Also, now this is fiction not non fiction, I can’t recommend enough “Panenka” by Ronan Hession. Its a short novel and its fucking brilliant.

Yes, I read that many years ago, an excellent read it is/was too,

Paul Lakes was that good, I promptly read it again and had tears in my eyes on both occasions. David White's came a close 2nd after all he went through.

For stand alone brilliance though I doubt anything will get close to Trautmann's Journey by Catrine Clay. The film (although decent) doesn't do justice what that great man went through, and left me aghast at times.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

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.

My daughter bought me Made in Manchester. It's new this year. And it's all about Manchester. Social and economic history at its best. I've walloped the first fifty pages. The downside, I've not got there yet, is that there will be some Rag shit to wade through - they've got a graphic of The Swamp on the front. Mind, it's only the dust cover so that could be removed and yer could avoid the chapter. Trouble is it might be mixed up with that other team that won FOUR FUCKIN' PL TITLES IN A ROW! NOBODY HAD DONE THAT TILL NOW!

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

Garrincha: The Triumph and Tragedy of Brazil's forgotten football genius.

After reading that he lost his virginity to a goat the book was always going to struggle to maintain it's high level of shock and astonishment

 

[mexico1970]

That brings back some happy memories. Sticker book iirc?

Spot on mate, this is what the inside looks like. Look at the stature of those players mate?

 

[Bluethemaway]

I bought ‘Play Football with Pele’ in the late 70’s when I was 15/16, it would be my most influential football book as well, after reading it my game changed forever, I progressed from a centre back into a number ten, goal scoring play maker, scoring the goals in the last game of the season that won my Sunday team the league and winning many player of the season awards. I have so many great memories of playing and I always put it down to Pele’s book.

 

[hallsteve62]

Spot on mate, this is what the inside looks like. Look at the stature of those players mate?

View attachment 124127

Got any swapsies? lol

 

[Whether or not]

Left Foot Forward by Garry Nelson is certainly the football book I have enjoyed the most. Whether it is the best is obviously subjective, but it is a cracking account of the struggles of a lower league journeyman player.

 

[ballbag]

Lakey's book
and
Blue Moon: Down Among the Dead Men with Manchester City (this just pips it for me). Captures the season in our lowest ever period with all the humour I remember from back then.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I read the City book Teenage Kicks about the 1986 FA Youth Cup winning team.
It was very good.