Recommended Football Books
Discussion
yeah the Cascarino one has been mentioned - looks a good one that.Just picked up very cheaply "The hidden world of professional football" by "The Secret Player" (the original columnist for 442 magazine before the more well known The Secret Footballer).
Easy to read and well written window into the world of the privileged/talented world of top flight footy. Reads a bit like a script for Footballers Wives at times, just as the TSF did (without the more ridiculous bits) but you can really see why there is such an "us and them" divide these days (and understand why from their POV). No doubt there is a fair bit of detail changing to keep his identity hidden but still an interesting read for a footy fan.
Easy to read and well written window into the world of the privileged/talented world of top flight footy. Reads a bit like a script for Footballers Wives at times, just as the TSF did (without the more ridiculous bits) but you can really see why there is such an "us and them" divide these days (and understand why from their POV). No doubt there is a fair bit of detail changing to keep his identity hidden but still an interesting read for a footy fan.
Edited by Flip Martian on Tuesday 31st October 20:48
As someone mentioned, the Bert Trautmann book is brilliant. It's written in an unusual way for a biography/autobiography as it talks about his life but then about the backdrop which surrounds it. How when he grew up Hitler was coming to power and how the Hitler Youth movement was something so irresistable to join. The final chapter is actually Bert's own words, and he seemed like such a lovely bloke.
"I'm Not Really Here" by Paul Lake, it's a tough read for those who have had injuries which stopped them in sports. I used to box, but had to give it up. So when I read about his depression coming from his knee injury, and how badly Alan Ball treated him, well I found it quite raw. A very interesting book.
Jack Charlton's autobiography from 1996 is fantastic. Talks about how during the summer he went about repainting the Middlesborough stand for example. He also includes a chapter about Bobby Charlton and their relationship, very much a story of "I don't know why we don't speak" type of thing.
Paul McGrath's "Back from the Brink" is also a fantastic book, includes a chapter written by his mother on how he came to be in an orphanage. Dated a doctor from Nigeria in Dublin, got pregnant, he didn't want to know. Moved to London and worked for a Jewish family as a maid, gave birth to Paul and decided it was best to give him up. He also recounts that if he misbehaved he'd be sent to his room without food, and resorted to drinking the water from a flushing toilet as he believed if it was flushing it was safe to drink.
John Hartson's first autobiography is an alright read if you're a Celtic or Wales fan. Not the best written, but I think his second book which talks about his cancer is a better read. It's on my shelf waiting for me to read it, but I lost my own dad to cancer and he was diagnosed around the same time as John, so it's one of those where I have to prepare myself for it.
Niall Quinn's was boring. Jesus that man must have an Amazon rainforest's supply of spliters up his arse with the amount of fence sitting he does, especially on the Roy Keane in Saipan event.
Other than those, there's a book called "On The Brink" which is just released which I got for my birthday, talking about football in the North East and how the Premier League money is putting a strain on those lower league clubs up there.
"I'm Not Really Here" by Paul Lake, it's a tough read for those who have had injuries which stopped them in sports. I used to box, but had to give it up. So when I read about his depression coming from his knee injury, and how badly Alan Ball treated him, well I found it quite raw. A very interesting book.
Jack Charlton's autobiography from 1996 is fantastic. Talks about how during the summer he went about repainting the Middlesborough stand for example. He also includes a chapter about Bobby Charlton and their relationship, very much a story of "I don't know why we don't speak" type of thing.
Paul McGrath's "Back from the Brink" is also a fantastic book, includes a chapter written by his mother on how he came to be in an orphanage. Dated a doctor from Nigeria in Dublin, got pregnant, he didn't want to know. Moved to London and worked for a Jewish family as a maid, gave birth to Paul and decided it was best to give him up. He also recounts that if he misbehaved he'd be sent to his room without food, and resorted to drinking the water from a flushing toilet as he believed if it was flushing it was safe to drink.
John Hartson's first autobiography is an alright read if you're a Celtic or Wales fan. Not the best written, but I think his second book which talks about his cancer is a better read. It's on my shelf waiting for me to read it, but I lost my own dad to cancer and he was diagnosed around the same time as John, so it's one of those where I have to prepare myself for it.
Niall Quinn's was boring. Jesus that man must have an Amazon rainforest's supply of spliters up his arse with the amount of fence sitting he does, especially on the Roy Keane in Saipan event.
Other than those, there's a book called "On The Brink" which is just released which I got for my birthday, talking about football in the North East and how the Premier League money is putting a strain on those lower league clubs up there.
vgrey said:
Calico the history of Italian football is very good
Inverting The Pyramid about the evolution of tactics is a great read, as is The Mixer which focuses more on tactics in the premier league.
The Ball is Round by David Goldblatt very thorough general history.
My addiction to footy books is a bit nuts, I probably go through about 20 a year. the autobiography's are easily the most forgettable. Inverting The Pyramid about the evolution of tactics is a great read, as is The Mixer which focuses more on tactics in the premier league.
The Ball is Round by David Goldblatt very thorough general history.
Inverting the Pyramid is a required read for any football fan, as are the two Michael Calvin books "the nowhere men" and "No Hunger in Paradise"
I know Garry Nelson's Left Foot in the Grave has been mentioned but his first one, Left Foot Forward is also excellent.
I'm going to pick up a copy of Michael McIndoe's Wildling soon. As a Donny fan clearly I've got a good reason to get it but his life has been eventful to say the least so it should be a good read.
Others:
DiCanio's autobiography was a good 'un when I read it about twelve years ago.
Terry Venables wrote (or co-wrote) one which I think was called something like The Best Game in the World which was a brilliant read but that's about twenty years ago so not sure how well it's stood the test of time.
Calcio: A history of Italian Football is quite the eye-opener into an unsurprisingly murky world.
Inverting the Pyramid makes the dry subject of the evolution of football tactics into an entertaining read.
For sport in general, including football there's a great book called Can We Have Our Balls Back, Please? subtitled something along the lines of "How the British invented sports and let the world beat us at them".
I'm going to pick up a copy of Michael McIndoe's Wildling soon. As a Donny fan clearly I've got a good reason to get it but his life has been eventful to say the least so it should be a good read.
Others:
DiCanio's autobiography was a good 'un when I read it about twelve years ago.
Terry Venables wrote (or co-wrote) one which I think was called something like The Best Game in the World which was a brilliant read but that's about twenty years ago so not sure how well it's stood the test of time.
Calcio: A history of Italian Football is quite the eye-opener into an unsurprisingly murky world.
Inverting the Pyramid makes the dry subject of the evolution of football tactics into an entertaining read.
For sport in general, including football there's a great book called Can We Have Our Balls Back, Please? subtitled something along the lines of "How the British invented sports and let the world beat us at them".
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I have read a lot of Football books over the years.
Joey Barton’s AB was last one I enjoyed.
Roy Keane’s was very good as was Craig Bellamy’s.
Try this blog...
I have read a lot of Football books over the years.
Joey Barton’s AB was last one I enjoyed.
Roy Keane’s was very good as was Craig Bellamy’s.
Ruskie said:
I seem to remember the guy who wrote that posted on here about it when it started.
sgtBerbatov said:
"I'm Not Really Here" by Paul Lake, it's a tough read for those who have had injuries which stopped them in sports. I used to box, but had to give it up. So when I read about his depression coming from his knee injury, and how badly Alan Ball treated him, well I found it quite raw. A very interesting book.
It's a tough read for those who haven't had an injury either. I'm not your stereotypical PH director etc, but I cried when he described the moment he got injured for the final time and knew that he wouldn't play again. Highly recommended from me.Ruskie said:
This is the best book I have read about a footballer. It’s a tough read, doesn’t have a happy ending and for me it was very close to the bone. To play top level international football and suffer the way he did was incredible.
Flip Martian said:
Ruskie said:
This is the best book I have read about a footballer. It’s a tough read, doesn’t have a happy ending and for me it was very close to the bone. To play top level international football and suffer the way he did was incredible.
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