Recommended Football Books
Discussion
Clearly this may be a bad question to ask on a site populated by powerfully built company director types who doubtless all played Rugger...BUT, just in case any of the footy fans on the forum see this... 
Have any of you any recommendations for good books about football? Decent biogs, or books generally. For example, Broken Dreams by Tom Bower about the politics and machinations of the FA and managers generally is really interesting, I thought, as was Pete Davies' All Played Out about Italia '90. Quite enjoyed Stuart Pearce's and Graeme Le Saux's autobiogs a lot although the latter did moan a lot.
So any recommendations? Recent or old (not averse to old stuff - I've just found a book by Tommy Lawton from the 1950s!). I'm a Liverpool supporter and have quite a few LFC related books (feel free to include those in suggestions though) but will read any really.
Have any of you any recommendations for good books about football? Decent biogs, or books generally. For example, Broken Dreams by Tom Bower about the politics and machinations of the FA and managers generally is really interesting, I thought, as was Pete Davies' All Played Out about Italia '90. Quite enjoyed Stuart Pearce's and Graeme Le Saux's autobiogs a lot although the latter did moan a lot.
So any recommendations? Recent or old (not averse to old stuff - I've just found a book by Tommy Lawton from the 1950s!). I'm a Liverpool supporter and have quite a few LFC related books (feel free to include those in suggestions though) but will read any really.
All good suggestions, ta - keep 'em coming!
The Damned Utd was a good read - different style of writing but it worked really well. There's another book related to that called "We Are The Damned United" by Phil Rostron which tells the same story with contributions from the players - so a bit more factual. Fascinating to read them both.
The Damned Utd was a good read - different style of writing but it worked really well. There's another book related to that called "We Are The Damned United" by Phil Rostron which tells the same story with contributions from the players - so a bit more factual. Fascinating to read them both.
Turquoise said:
The only football book I've read is An Epic Swindle about LFC and it made me so angry that I think it's best I don't know about the incompetence behind the scenes of the club I love.
Ta for putting that in there. Yeah I read it too - I honestly found it fascinating and it answered so many "wtf is going on?" questions from that time. Finance bores me to death but its a great breakdown of just what the hell was going on. Never again, hopefully.Flip Martian said:
Turquoise said:
The only football book I've read is An Epic Swindle about LFC and it made me so angry that I think it's best I don't know about the incompetence behind the scenes of the club I love.
Ta for putting that in there. Yeah I read it too - I honestly found it fascinating and it answered so many "wtf is going on?" questions from that time. Finance bores me to death but its a great breakdown of just what the hell was going on. Never again, hopefully.To be hours away from administration just boggles the mind.
As you say, never again, hopefully.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greatest-Footballer-You-N...
The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: The Robin Friday Story. Honestly, it's a great read.
The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: The Robin Friday Story. Honestly, it's a great read.
+1 on the Robin Friday story, it is an excellent read.
I also enjoyed this book, mainly because when Frank played for Huddersfield Town in the 60's my parents knew a fellow Terriers player, so my Dad went out on a few post-match drinking sessions with a few of the players. The game was soemwhat different then, as you would expect this is all birds, booze and cars, but it's an entertaining read all the same.
I also enjoyed this book, mainly because when Frank played for Huddersfield Town in the 60's my parents knew a fellow Terriers player, so my Dad went out on a few post-match drinking sessions with a few of the players. The game was soemwhat different then, as you would expect this is all birds, booze and cars, but it's an entertaining read all the same.
selym said:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greatest-Footballer-You-N...
The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: The Robin Friday Story. Honestly, it's a great read.
I was a youngster on the terraces at Elm Park in the 70's and Robin was the best player I ever saw! Such wasted talent, he should have played for England and his self destruction was a tragedy. I bought the book when it first came out, one of the writers was the bass player in Oasis. They were supposed to be making a movie based on it?The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: The Robin Friday Story. Honestly, it's a great read.
unrepentant said:
I was a youngster on the terraces at Elm Park in the 70's and Robin was the best player I ever saw! Such wasted talent, he should have played for England and his self destruction was a tragedy. I bought the book when it first came out, one of the writers was the bass player in Oasis. They were supposed to be making a movie based on it?
Yeah they were - last I can find on that was dated May last year when they named the actor playing him. Nothing since. The other writer of the book, Paolo Hewitt, wrote the script.Worthington and Friday. What a pairing they'd have made!. They could be part of a pure entertainment X1;
1. Peter Schmeichel
2. Denis Law
3. Stuart Pearce
4. Alan Hudson
5. Dave McKay
6. Bobby Moore
7. Matt Le Tissier
8. Rodney Marsh
9. Robin Friday
10. George Best
11. Frank Worthington
Bench
12. Stan Bowles
13. Jimmy Greaves
14. Glen Hoddle
I'm playing Denis Law at right back because he could play anywhere and I can't think of a right back.
1. Peter Schmeichel
2. Denis Law
3. Stuart Pearce
4. Alan Hudson
5. Dave McKay
6. Bobby Moore
7. Matt Le Tissier
8. Rodney Marsh
9. Robin Friday
10. George Best
11. Frank Worthington
Bench
12. Stan Bowles
13. Jimmy Greaves
14. Glen Hoddle
I'm playing Denis Law at right back because he could play anywhere and I can't think of a right back.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Left Foot In The Grave - Garry Nelson
Fever Pitch - Nick Hornby.
I also really enjoyed "We Don't Know What We're Doing" by Adrian Childs.
The Garry Nelson is excellent - I must pick up a copy of that. I borrowed it years ago from the library. I have Fever Pitch. Interesting recommendation on Childs - I've seen that in shops and umm'ed and ah'ed about getting it. The other 2 are good, so will have a look, ta.Fever Pitch - Nick Hornby.
I also really enjoyed "We Don't Know What We're Doing" by Adrian Childs.
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