Football books and documentaries [Archive]

CraftyToePoke

20/04/2006, 4:49 PM

brilliant orange is meant to be..........brilliant, gotta admit ive yet to read it though.

i read David Ickes 'its a tough game son' recently and surprsingly enough for a man who went as mad as he did, its not bad read. focuses largely on those in youth academies who dont go on to live the dream and play for a living.

Pat O' Banton

20/04/2006, 6:45 PM

Holland 'A Brilliant Orange', Germany with 'Tor' and Spain; 'Morbo' have all been blessed with excelent books. 'Football against the Enemy' by Simon Kuper is a brilliant look at football and politics around the world. For biographies, the previously mention 'Only a Game' by Dunphy is very good - how come he is such an eejit generally?- and I also like Niall Quinn's book. I try to stay away from hooly books as they tend to be badly written and have little conection with Football, 'Steaming In' bucks this trend (although he is partly responsible for starting it) and finally and predictably Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby has given rise to a sad generation of band wagon jumping middle class gits in Premiership grounds but thats hardly his fault for writting a superb book.

gustavo

20/04/2006, 11:34 PM

"Theres only one Red Army"-Eamonn Sweeney.

Hitman

21/04/2006, 8:09 AM

ciaran76

21/04/2006, 9:59 AM

How They Stole the Game by David Yallop .

Makes you realize the corruption that swirls around FIFA and the likes.
Nearly turns you off football :(

Donadoni

21/04/2006, 10:30 AM

Best football book I've read is 'The Miracle of Castel di Sangro'. A small town's season in Serie B. If Mario Puzo had been a sports writer then this is the sort of book he might have come up with. Cascarino's biography was surprisingly good. I loved reading the book despite ending up with the opinion that Cascarino himself was dislikeable. Best documentary? I don't remember enjoying any documentary as much as I did the Taylor '94 non-qualification one already mentioned above. Haven't seen it it ages though. I also remember enjoying the documentary following our own qualification for the same tournament.

pineapple stu

21/04/2006, 12:54 PM

One not mentioned above is Charlie Connolly's Stamping Grounds - a look at Liechtenstein's attempts to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. Interesting read!

Duffman

21/04/2006, 12:57 PM

Pat Nevins book about 10 years ago was quite good. Different to the usual offering from former players. Something like "On my head son" or along those lines.

Junior

21/04/2006, 1:01 PM

- Jimmy Burns - Hand of God
- A season with Verona, Brilliant Orange both already mentioned.

green army

21/04/2006, 2:04 PM

fever pitch
miricle of castel di sangro
Ajax - the dutch, the war....
a season with verona.

osgood was good

21/04/2006, 3:55 PM

One of the most entertaining books ive ever read was Frank Worthingtons autobiography ''One hump or two '' the title sums it up really . Think its still available .

Frank McAvenny's story was also a great read .

Got a DVD in London recently called ''Trouble on the terraces '' naratted by Sean Bean , rivitting stuff .

Another great doccumentry , if you can get your hands on it was a video i got in Denmark about 6 years ago called ''Dutch Gold '' It focuses on the great Dutch side of 1974 and 1978 . Might be on e bay .

Also , look out for ''Match of the Day '' 60's 70's 80's .

osgood was good

21/04/2006, 3:57 PM

Donadoni, i have a copy of that Taylor doccumentry if your interested.
I can try put it onto a DVD for ya .

el punter

22/04/2006, 10:01 AM

There was a cracking documentary made about Barcelona a few years when the current President Juan Laporte was in the process of ousting the old guard. Jimmy Burns book 'Barca' is good read as is his Maradona book previously mentioned.

Brilliant Orange is the best football book I've ever read though, covesr the entire Dutch mindset and their spectacular failures - hissy fits on the eve of big games etc. References art, architecture, politics and heaps more in a very readable and surprisingly relevant way.

The Kuper book and Morbo are on my 'to read' list

CollegeTillIDie

22/04/2006, 10:14 AM

" Football Explains The World" By Franklin Foerr I think his name is, is great.
I also recently read " Behind The Curtain - Football in Eastern Europe" by Jonathan Wilson,another excellent read even if he ignored the ex-Czechoslovakia.
About to start Simon Kuper's "Football Against The Enemy" and looking forward to that!

TheJamaicanP.M.

22/04/2006, 11:33 AM

There was a decent Channel 4 documentary on the Chelsea youth team years back. Graham Rix was in charge, Jody Morris was the star player, I think Neil Clement was the only other one on the team to make it.

Yea, I'm remember seeing that one. At one point in the documentary, the team were in the dressing room and Rix singled out Jody Morris for praise. He told the squad that Morris would definitely make it in the game. I distinctly remember him saying that Morris had such a good attitude and was so well behaved. How things have changed since then.:D

As mentioned already, the Channel 4 documentary on Graham Taylor was outstanding. I also enjoyed a documentary made by the BBC on the Yugoslavia youth team of the 1980s. It was a team that included the likes of Boban, Savicevic, Mijatovic and Boksic, as well as a number of other players that went on to represent both Yugoslavia and Croatia. One can only imagine what that Yugoslav team may have gone onto achieve in Euro 92 and WC 94.

Best books I've read are those by Niall Quinn, Tony Cas and Johan Cryuff.

John83

22/04/2006, 12:32 PM

Jimmy Burns book 'Barca' is good read as is his Maradona book previously mentioned.
Barca's an interesting read, though it struck me as being very much from the point of view of a Barca fan, rather than an impartial piece of journalism.

One of my favourite football books is Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0747543054/sr=8-1/qid=1145708466/ref=sr_1_1/002-9297758-3424053?%5Fencoding=UTF8). It's fascinating to read Curijff's opinions on football. They're so clear - he gets across in a sentance more than you'll ever hear from most footballers. Some of it is so simple, but it really makes sense. Just as an example, he says that the real indication of a good footballer isn't what he can do when he's got lots of space, it's what he can do with none ["put 'em under pressure" and images of Bergkamp doing things with his first touch that most footballers can't in three come to mind]. He says that a good footballer needs just two things - first touch and passing. Everything else is finesse [think of how the Dutch at their best, or the Brazilians, or Barcelona play - they can all pass a team to death].

It's written by a couple of Dutch journalists. Cruyff wasn't too free with interviews. He would charge for them and rarely did them at all. He trusted the guys who wrote the book though, and they had more access to him than any other journalists. The material in the book comes from interviews with Cruijff over the years, and it makes for a fascinating reading.

el punter

22/04/2006, 2:43 PM

Barca's an interesting read, though it struck me as being very much from the point of view of a Barca fan, rather than an impartial piece of journalism.

I agree with this, but it's not difficult to be swept up in the whole Barca thing....their indifference to Spain, the membership owning the club, the GREAT players....it's all very romantic and satisfying.

CollegeTillIDie

24/04/2006, 8:05 PM

As mentioned already, the Channel 4 documentary on Graham Taylor was outstanding. I also enjoyed a documentary made by the BBC on the Yugoslavia youth team of the 1980s. It was a team that included the likes of Boban, Savicevic, Mijatovic and Boksic, as well as a number of other players that went on to represent both Yugoslavia and Croatia. One can only imagine what that Yugoslav team may have gone onto achieve in Euro 92 and WC 94.

That documentary if it is the same one shown on TG4 a couple of years ago was made by a Dutch film crew. And was excellent.
I believe the Yugoslavs would have won Euro 92 with or without the Croatian players.

monzo

27/04/2006, 4:36 PM

There's Only One Red Army is an excellent read - I recommend it to all LOI fans and even those not into the LOI. Currently reading Patsy McGowan's book which is a great read so far.

Might seek out this Fever Pitch - can anyone outline what it is mainly about (just fight experiences after matches etc.?).

Mad Moose

27/04/2006, 5:28 PM

Cant leave this without mention of the legend that was Brian Clough. 'In his own words' .You'll understand why he was called 'old big ead'. Had the great pleasure of a couple of games in the Brian Clough Stand at the City Ground and travelling the Brian Clough way to Derby. Neither city will forget the man.I grew up with the man piercing my subconscious and you just couldn't help but sit up and take notice. Couple of players at Forest to watch out for in the future, namely Nathan Tyson and Sammy Clingan, signed from Wycombe Wanderers and Wolves respectively.Both deserving of the shirt. We may hear of them in the future.

Brendan

pineapple stu

27/04/2006, 11:11 PM

Just started Pointless by Jeff Connor, about last season with East Stirlingshire. Interesting book so far - just gone past the club background and onto the pre-season.

hamish

28/04/2006, 12:12 AM

Just started Pointless by Jeff Connor, about last season with East Stirlingshire. Interesting book so far - just gone past the club background and onto the pre-season.,

Good on yer for reminding me, PS, had forgotten that book - read a good bit about it in either the Guardian or Observer. Going to Amazon right now.:)

EDIT - have added "Baghdad FC" as well.

geysir

28/04/2006, 12:29 AM

Can't leave this without mention of the legend that was Brian Clough. 'In his own words' That's a good read or rather it feels like you hear the man talking the words.
There was an excellent b/w documentary on Clough's early Managerial days, transmitted on BBC4 just after he died. It included a few interviews with BBC reporters who still spoke with that phoney corny cricket accent.

Junior

28/04/2006, 8:07 AM

Might seek out this Fever Pitch - can anyone outline what it is mainly about (just fight experiences after matches etc.?).

Not sure if you're taking the pi$$ but its about a lifelong Arsenal fan, and his life supporting them up to the year they won the league versus Liverpool at Anfield. Written by Nick Hornby, Film based on the book also with Colin Firth(also an American version based on a Redsox fan!!!)

Great read................

Mad Moose

28/04/2006, 10:43 AM

That's a good read or rather it feels like you hear the man talking the words.
There was an excellent b/w documentary on Clough's early Managerial days, transmitted on BBC4 just after he died. It included a few interviews with BBC reporters who still spoke with that phoney corny cricket accent.

Aye Brian's early days were managing Hartlepool Utd (A club i've had weird dreams about on numerous occasions that meant I had no choice but to visit the ground). 'In his own words' is available on DVD from the Nottingham Forest club shop.

Brendan

trevy

28/04/2006, 11:01 AM

Fever pitch by Nick Hornby as it pointed out the joy/despair and futility of a football fan investing large amounts of time,money and emotional energy of something we have no control over.Also he predicted very well the way football in England was heading even in 1993 with increased ticket prices,all seater stadiums and working class fans and kids priced out of going to games which has happened.
A season with Verona by Tim Parks and Football against the Enemy by Simon kuper are two others that stand out for me.

Mad Moose

28/04/2006, 11:29 AM

A season with Verona by Tim Parks and Football against the Enemy by Simon kuper are two others that stand out for me.

Simon Kuper was interviewed byArdal O'Hanlon as part of last nights 'Leagues Apart'. Is 'Football against the Enenemy' based on any particular club. Great names mentioned here. Would love some of these documentaries as part of my DVD collection. Any recommendations?

Brendan

geysir

28/04/2006, 11:33 AM

Fever pitch, at least there is some evidence of the existance of a literate arsenal fan with a sense of humor.
In Holland when the book was advertised it was one of the lengthy excerpts on Liam Brady that was used as a blurb.
http://www.envb.nl/boekbesprekingen_feverpitch_brady.htm

Junior

28/04/2006, 11:57 AM

Simon Kuper was interviewed byArdal O'Hanlon as part of last nights 'Leagues Apart'. Is 'Football against the Enenemy' based on any particular club?

Brendan

Nope. Covers clubs and football in general from many countries, including eastern europe, barca etc..... Its a look at all the factors that general football fan doesn't get to see, owners, mafia, governments influence etc.....

The Good Son

29/04/2006, 10:01 AM

There's an extract in todays Times from a new book, "Forza Italia" by Paddy Agnew. For those who wouldn't know, Agnew is the Roma correspondent (not a sports journo) for the Times, and in my opinion one of the better journalists around. While hard to judge from a one page extract, there was enough in it to suggest it could be a good read. In the printed extract he compares football reporting from England and Italy.

CollegeTillIDie

29/04/2006, 5:23 PM

"Football Against The Enemy" is about several rivlaries which have political overtones including Holland V Germany and Rangers V Celtic. I have started the book but have only read three chapters thus far.

I have also read " Managing My Life" by Alex Ferguson, the bits about playing in the Scottish League and managing East Fife, Alloa and Aberdeen are worth reading. Borrowed it from a former work colleague who is a ManUre fan.
Also read Clough's "Walking On Water" which is also a good read , both books were clearly compiled from taped interviews because you can almost hear their voices in your head as you read them.

geysir

29/04/2006, 7:55 PM

Also read Clough's "Walking On Water" which is also a good read , both books were clearly compiled from taped interviews because you can almost hear their voices in your head as you read them.
A nice bit of information but it was hardly worth repeating.
See posts 26 and 28.

CollegeTillIDie

30/04/2006, 5:00 PM

geysir

The documentary and the book are not the same project cause the book was published before he died. I was given it while I was in hospital in early December 2002.

Clifford

30/04/2006, 5:13 PM

Paolo Di Canio's autobiography is a cracker. Colina's was weak I thought.

I enjoyed Keane's, Quinns and Cascarinos very much. Stuart Pearce's is all right in that it shows how level headed most pros in football are.

I'm currently reading one about Bert Trautmann, a Man City / German goalkeeper after the war. Superb stuff - he was a POW before taking the German hating English people's hearts. Broke his neck in an FA Cup final and played on :eek: .

CollegeTillIDie

30/04/2006, 5:16 PM

geysir

01/05/2006, 9:58 AM

geysir

The documentary and the book are not the same project cause the book was published before he died. I was given it while I was in hospital in early December 2002.
I was referring to the book, "walking on water" but mistakingly assumed it was called "in his words". We are in agreement.

Clifford

01/05/2006, 11:41 AM

Trautmann was a legend alright. I often wonder how an English player would have done in German football.... had one existed!

Good point, the abuse the guy took seemed to be way above and beyond the call of humanity. His testamonial had every player imaginable lining up to play for free, which at that time was unusual and showed how popular he became against all that adversity. He was treated like a dog by City, one doesn't have to look further than that book to see why they are always left behind.

stojkovic

01/05/2006, 1:42 PM

There's an extract in todays Times from a new book, "Forza Italia" by Paddy Agnew. For those who wouldn't know, Agnew is the Roma correspondent (not a sports journo) for the Times, and in my opinion one of the better journalists around. He is the political/religous correspondent for Rome and jumped on the Serie A bandwagon in the nineties. I dont rate his football knowledge at all and his OTT pronunciation of players names is embarrassing. I think he just reads Gazzetta dello Sport and repeats it in the Irish Times. I wont be buying his book - the title says it all - very imaginative isn't it!

Poor Student

02/05/2006, 12:07 PM

For anyone who has this book on Verona, is there much in there about the origins of the Hellas part of the club's name? I think it had something to do with a Classics professor but I'm just wondering if there's much said on it in there?

Junior

02/05/2006, 12:47 PM

Don't have the book to hand, however found this.....

"Founded in 1903 by a group of university students, the club was named Hellas (the Greek word for Greece), at the request of a professor of Classics. At a time in which football was played seriously only in the larger cities of the Northwest of Italy, most of Verona was indifferent to the growing sport. However, when in 1906 two city teams chose the city's Roman amphitheatre as a venue to showcase the game, crowd enthusiasm and media interest began to rise."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellas_Verona_F.C.

Poor Student

02/05/2006, 12:51 PM

Yeah, that's where I started my trail for info on this Junior, but cheers.:) I'll get the book itself if it has any information on this.

Mad Moose

03/05/2006, 8:39 AM

Thanks for this thread for it has reawakened my interest in books again.There were a couple of years where I spent most of my earned dough on books and that has now transferred to DVD but there are a few there I would like to add to my collection.Most i haven't read but I picked up Tony Cascarino's autobiography from my collection the last night and I'm engrossed in it. Its a fantastic read. Just cant believe I left it so long.

Brendan

OwlsFan

03/05/2006, 9:19 AM

As mentioned already, the Channel 4 documentary on Graham Taylor was outstanding.

Best books I've read are those by Niall Quinn, Tony Cas and Johan Cryuff.

Agreed although didn't real the Cryuff book.

The Channel 4 documentary I still have on tape some place. Phil Neale appears as a right yes man. Taylor turns to him and says "I think I'll bring on Wrighty". Neale "Yes, bring on Wrighty" and numerous more parrot like comments of a similar nature. Also when a goal is given offside, Taylor goes to the linesman and shouts at him "You've cost me my job you know". One of the few things Taylor got right. It's a classic documentary.

Quinn's and Cascarino's book were excellent reads.

NeilMcD

03/05/2006, 9:26 AM

He is the political/religous correspondent for Rome and jumped on the Serie A bandwagon in the nineties. I dont rate his football knowledge at all and his OTT pronunciation of players names is embarrassing. I think he just reads Gazzetta dello Sport and repeats it in the Irish Times. I wont be buying his book - the title says it all - very imaginative isn't it!

I think you are clearly wrong with this. He was the Sports Editor of the Sunday Tribune in the 80s. He then moved to Italy in about 1986 with his wife and became Rome Correspondent for the Irish times. His background was in sport so he contributed regular pieces to the Irish Times and other papers about the Italian League. As he was living in Italy they also asked him to contribute pieces on the Vatican etc. He is living in Italy now 20 years and his daugter is Italian and his pronunciation is the proper Italian way on how to pronounce a players name but its sounds strange to our ears as it is coming from a native English speaker. To be honest I am not sure if your post could be any more ignorant.

Junior

03/05/2006, 2:02 PM

Yeah, that's where I started my trail for info on this Junior, but cheers.:) I'll get the book itself if it has any information on this.

I can't quite recall what exactly it says in the book, but Im sure it covers it to some degree.

Nonetheless the book is a brilliant trip covering the highs and lows of a season with the fans and team but also covering the social issues within Verona and how it is percieved as a place and people within Italy at large.

I'd recommend it regardless!!!

Schumi

03/05/2006, 2:17 PM

Yeah, that's where I started my trail for info on this Junior, but cheers.:) I'll get the book itself if it has any information on this.
Aberdonian Stu has had a copy of it for some time (hint hint :D ). You're more than welcome to borrow it as I doubt he's even started it yet.

Donegalcelt

05/05/2006, 4:59 PM

Almost all the books mentioned here are very good reads- quinn, cas, there's only one red army, brilliant orange, football against the enemy, hand of god, barca, ajax barcelona cryuff etc. i'm reading calcio by john foot at the mo. it's a history of italian soccer. very good insights into corruption,violence, cynacism.............................and football