Recommended Football Books
Discussion
I got my copy of Michael McIndoe's Wildling on Friday and finished it yesterday.
Obviously it'll be more interesting to supporters of clubs for whom he played but it's worth a look regardless. His Edinburgh gang activities in his youth were pretty eventful and his version of the widely-reported fraud allegations that followed his playing career (although he was saying over the weekend that he's looking to get back into the game) make for interesting reading.
For a self-penned, self-published book it's a bloody good read.
Obviously it'll be more interesting to supporters of clubs for whom he played but it's worth a look regardless. His Edinburgh gang activities in his youth were pretty eventful and his version of the widely-reported fraud allegations that followed his playing career (although he was saying over the weekend that he's looking to get back into the game) make for interesting reading.
For a self-penned, self-published book it's a bloody good read.
Fane said:
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.DRFC1879 said:
I got my copy of Michael McIndoe's Wildling on Friday and finished it yesterday.
Obviously it'll be more interesting to supporters of clubs for whom he played but it's worth a look regardless. His Edinburgh gang activities in his youth were pretty eventful and his version of the widely-reported fraud allegations that followed his playing career (although he was saying over the weekend that he's looking to get back into the game) make for interesting reading.
For a self-penned, self-published book it's a bloody good read.
He was one of our apprentices in a car dealership briefly before he went to Luton town I think.Obviously it'll be more interesting to supporters of clubs for whom he played but it's worth a look regardless. His Edinburgh gang activities in his youth were pretty eventful and his version of the widely-reported fraud allegations that followed his playing career (although he was saying over the weekend that he's looking to get back into the game) make for interesting reading.
For a self-penned, self-published book it's a bloody good read.
Going off on a slightly different tangent. I moving (hopefully) next month and just started packing up and emptying cupboards and bookcases.
In doing so, i discovered a book i was given by my father when I was just a boy that I had forgotten about. I credit this book with getting me into football and capturing the highs and lows of the sport I am now utterly in love with.
It was a great read and certainly different to modern day books and for me at least, a great trip down memory lane.
I present Goalkeepers Are Different.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goalkeepers-Different-Puf...
In doing so, i discovered a book i was given by my father when I was just a boy that I had forgotten about. I credit this book with getting me into football and capturing the highs and lows of the sport I am now utterly in love with.
It was a great read and certainly different to modern day books and for me at least, a great trip down memory lane.
I present Goalkeepers Are Different.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goalkeepers-Different-Puf...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brief-History-Mine-Mark-T...
This is a good book about a non league player who won FA vase and started with MND shortly after. His brother in law is an old team mate of mine. Also all proceeds go to MND charity so it a good read and a good cause.
This is a good book about a non league player who won FA vase and started with MND shortly after. His brother in law is an old team mate of mine. Also all proceeds go to MND charity so it a good read and a good cause.
Holy thread resurrection...
Read a few early PL referee autobiogs so I thought I'd note them here for future reference.
David Elleray's "The Man In The Middle" was fascinating, although it's been a year or 3 since I read it now - but I enjoyed reading it and found the behind the scenes stuff fascinating. And having more respect for him than when I started it.
Jeff Winter's "Who's the b
d In The Black?" - A former football hooligan who turned into a PL referee. A fairly pedestrian trundle through his life and career though, really. The only interesting stuff really was about how cliquey the professional refs were in his time, and how some didn't like others - he in particular seems to have hated Graham Poll, although it did come across like jealousy much of the time.
Graham Poll's "Seeing Red" - after reading the above, I had this on my shelf for years so knew I should read it next. Written a year or 2 after Winter's book and without naming him once in his book, he does seem to be responding to those allegations part of the time. I didn't expect to like Poll based on Winter's description but actually...I did. He doesn't hold back criticising the FA for how they allowed abuse of referees to ramp up over the years. And continued to, given how few are becoming referees now. He has a few interesting tales about some of the managers and players of his time too, good and bad. And the press. And incidents with fans over the years. You leave the book realising just how much refs put up with and thinking "wtf?!".
Howard Webb - his book is the same title as David Elleray's. I read this a while back and again, found the goings on behind the scenes quite an eye opener. I also felt after finishing the book that it was a shame he'd retired and left the English game altogether (at the time of writing). So I thought it was a positive step when he was announced as the new head of the professional PL referees late last year. He genuinely seems to want to have more consistency and clarity over decisions - if he succeeds then the game will be the better for it.
Anyway, nobody likes referees! But having read these, you do come away with a far more balanced view of them and some sympathy when they're employed within an industry that often sees them as second class citizens next to the teams in top level footy business.
If anyone has any other recommendations (refs or otherwise), stick 'em in the thread!
Read a few early PL referee autobiogs so I thought I'd note them here for future reference.
David Elleray's "The Man In The Middle" was fascinating, although it's been a year or 3 since I read it now - but I enjoyed reading it and found the behind the scenes stuff fascinating. And having more respect for him than when I started it.
Jeff Winter's "Who's the b
d In The Black?" - A former football hooligan who turned into a PL referee. A fairly pedestrian trundle through his life and career though, really. The only interesting stuff really was about how cliquey the professional refs were in his time, and how some didn't like others - he in particular seems to have hated Graham Poll, although it did come across like jealousy much of the time.Graham Poll's "Seeing Red" - after reading the above, I had this on my shelf for years so knew I should read it next. Written a year or 2 after Winter's book and without naming him once in his book, he does seem to be responding to those allegations part of the time. I didn't expect to like Poll based on Winter's description but actually...I did. He doesn't hold back criticising the FA for how they allowed abuse of referees to ramp up over the years. And continued to, given how few are becoming referees now. He has a few interesting tales about some of the managers and players of his time too, good and bad. And the press. And incidents with fans over the years. You leave the book realising just how much refs put up with and thinking "wtf?!".
Howard Webb - his book is the same title as David Elleray's. I read this a while back and again, found the goings on behind the scenes quite an eye opener. I also felt after finishing the book that it was a shame he'd retired and left the English game altogether (at the time of writing). So I thought it was a positive step when he was announced as the new head of the professional PL referees late last year. He genuinely seems to want to have more consistency and clarity over decisions - if he succeeds then the game will be the better for it.
Anyway, nobody likes referees! But having read these, you do come away with a far more balanced view of them and some sympathy when they're employed within an industry that often sees them as second class citizens next to the teams in top level footy business.
If anyone has any other recommendations (refs or otherwise), stick 'em in the thread!
DRFC1879 said:
I know Garry Nelson's Left Foot in the Grave has been mentioned but his first one, Left Foot Forward is also excellent.
Garry was playing for Charlton when he wrote the first book. Excellent read. I was running Quaser Sports (among other things) at the time and we were the kit supplier. Garry spelled the name wrong. That's the thing that I remember most from the book. 
“Inverting the Pyramid” is a brilliant read if the history of tactics interests you. It’s very dry in places but I enjoyed it
“The Colour of Football” by Steve Stacey is good, he was the first African American to play in the football leagues
“St Pauli - Another football is possible” is another good read, especially if the premierships obsession with Rich owners buying clubs as playthings are leaving you feeling jaded
FIFA - there are quite a few about the corruption at FIFA, “The Ugly Game” is quite well researched
“The Colour of Football” by Steve Stacey is good, he was the first African American to play in the football leagues
“St Pauli - Another football is possible” is another good read, especially if the premierships obsession with Rich owners buying clubs as playthings are leaving you feeling jaded
FIFA - there are quite a few about the corruption at FIFA, “The Ugly Game” is quite well researched
All good suggestions, thanks.
Halfway through Mark Clattenburg's "Whistle Blower" for a more recent refereed read. Starts off with a Jeff Winter sized chip on his shoulder but that tone disappears more quickly and it's a better read once that happens. Like Graham Poll he has very very little positive to say about Mourinho, or Chelsea and the way they conduct themselves.
Halfway through Mark Clattenburg's "Whistle Blower" for a more recent refereed read. Starts off with a Jeff Winter sized chip on his shoulder but that tone disappears more quickly and it's a better read once that happens. Like Graham Poll he has very very little positive to say about Mourinho, or Chelsea and the way they conduct themselves.
ribiero said:
Flip Martian said:
Ruskie said:
I bought that a while ago. As an occasional sufferer with the D word I haven't felt in the right mood to read it yet.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
ribiero said:
Flip Martian said:
Ruskie said:
I bought that a while ago. As an occasional sufferer with the D word I haven't felt in the right mood to read it yet.Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff