View Full Version : Best Football Book?
WeAreRovers
20/12/2006, 1:08 PM
Also heard 'we are rovers is excellent'
Goes without saying really. ;)
UK - The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: Robin Friday Story
Robin Friday is a legend. Book is co-written by Oasis' old drummer Guigsey and self-regarding mod spoofer Paolo Hewitt.
KOH
Calcio Jack
20/12/2006, 1:22 PM
UK - The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: Robin Friday Story
Synopsis
Robin Friday was a footballer bent on self-destruction. Always in trouble with the referee, in and out of prison, owner of a drug habit, he never fulfilled his potential, and died in 1990. This book provides a full appreciation of the football genius of Robin Friday.[/QUOTE]
Spot on Oriel...even if you never read the book...if you see it in a book shop make sure you take a look at the photos.... there one of him just after scoring.... having rounded the keeper and stroked the ball into the net ... he's seen (Friday sported jet black 70's long hair and a pair of side burns to die for) sneering distainfully at the keeper lying on the ground and giving him a classic two fingers Harvey Smith... 100% pure rock 'n' roll
My own favorites include the above, the recent fiction work about Leeds/Clough "The Unforgiven" , Cascarinos biog...and Dylan's "Chronicles" which I know has nothing to do with footie but is just brill !!
Also heard 'we are rovers is excellent'
ha ha just re-read my typo
joking aside is there much in this book about the league in general or is it 100% srfc as the title suggests ?
Drumcondra Red
20/12/2006, 3:08 PM
http://icwalescards.icwales.co.uk/images/robin-friday.jpg
http://www.khdl19192.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stavros/images/kits4.jpg
Raheny Red
21/12/2006, 6:49 PM
Was in Waterstone's today and after hearing that Football Against The Enemy was a goo read I decided to get it - it better be worth it :cool:
Only book I've ever read associated to football was Shaun Tordoff's book on the City Psychos - Hull's firm.
CollegeTillIDie
22/12/2006, 5:02 PM
One I read recently was 'How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization' by Franklin Foer.
Doesnt explain the world per say, but parrallels sociological themes with footie. Rangers are racism, Hungarian football is anti-semeitism, Red Star Belgrade and Arkan are mafia etc. Not a bad read.
Football against the enemy is a craker as is the Triumph and Tragedy in Nazi-Occupied Kiev about the Dynamo v Nazis game during WW2.
We are Rovers is advised for any EL fan
Read the Franklin Foer.. a good one.
Simon Kuper's is good but overrated.
We Are Rovers is not bad.
My particular favourite of recent times is " Behind The Curtain" by Jonathan Wilson, it's a travelogue about visits to Eastern European Countries and football in those countries and gives a low down on what some clubs are about and what goes on there since the Iron Curtain came down. Better than Kuper's offering, largely due to being a bit more up to date.
CollegeTillIDie
22/12/2006, 5:05 PM
I think my favourite would be Jonathan Wilson's "Behind the Curtain" - full of corruption and mystery and perfect for anyone who was fascinated with teams from Eastern Europe when they were growing up.
"Singing the Blues" is probably only of interest to Waterford fans, but it's a great chronicle of life as a Blues fan and has researched our early days excellently. Could be interesting for people who like reading about Irish football history too.
Where is "Singing The Blues" available boy? ;)
"Red Army General" by Tony O'Neill.
Just finished reading it about a month ago.
Synopsis
Tony O'Neill has for thirty years been one of the most famous faces in the biggest soccer crew in England. Tarred by the police as the ringleader of Manchester United's massive hooligan following the notorious Red Army, he is a true legend of the terraces. This is his 1st book about the biggest football firm in Britain. Charting his rise though the ranks during the 70's and how he had to adapt to the new casuals movement of the 80's after spending a few years in jail.
My verdict
A decent read if your into hooligan books especially if your a united fan. Will get his 2nd book "The Men in Black" at some stage
SligoBrewer
22/12/2006, 9:29 PM
UK - The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: Robin Friday Story
Synopsis
Robin Friday was a footballer bent on self-destruction. Always in trouble with the referee, in and out of prison, owner of a drug habit, he never fulfilled his potential, and died in 1990. This book provides a full appreciation of the football genius of Robin Friday.
That guy is supposed to be an absolute legend by what ive heard,must get that book..
El Diego by Diego Maradona is a fantastic read but honestly, the best book that ive ever read has 2 go there's only one red army by eamonn sweeney
Fivesilver
26/12/2006, 8:52 PM
"Red Army General" by Tony O'Neill.
one of the most famous faces in the biggest soccer crew in England ... a true legend of the terraces ... the biggest football firm in Britain ... rise though the ranks ... how he had to adapt to the new casuals movement
This sounds like a sad, sad pile of slurry written by a self-indulgent neanderthal. What in the name of all that's sacred is there to like about a bloke writing about wandering around smashing things up and attacking people for no particular reason? The blurb above makes it sound like this was some kind of achievement, instead of just some sad-arsed overgrown toddler stroking off over tales of his "heroics".
pineapple stu
26/12/2006, 9:04 PM
Also heard 'we are rovers is excellent'
joking aside is there much in this book about the league in general or is it 100% srfc as the title suggests ?
It's basically a history of Shamrock Rovers, with the "plot" (for want of a better word) being alternately moved along by the author (Eoghan Rice) and then by quotes from players, managers, fans, etc of the time. Other clubs only really feature when they play Rovers in an important match (which is understandable, obviously). A very enjoyable read though.
OneRedArmy
28/12/2006, 12:26 PM
Read the book about the New York Cosmos "Once in a Lifetime" over Christmas. Reasonably enjoyable, particularly in setting in context why the Yanks don't get soccer (and continue not to get it) but were absolutely captivated by Pele.
Currently going through Jimmy Burns Barca, (which I am enjoying immensely, but more from a historical and political sense and his writing style can be hard going) and have McGraths book, Brilliant Orange, Calcio, Morbo and the Behind the European Curtain one still to go.
Of the others I've read, Castel del Sangro and A Season with Verona were both good reads, Forza Italia was just about bearable.
I've been meaning to get that New York Cosmos one. Cheers for the reminder
This sounds like a sad, sad pile of slurry written by a self-indulgent neanderthal. What in the name of all that's sacred is there to like about a bloke writing about wandering around smashing things up and attacking people for no particular reason? The blurb above makes it sound like this was some kind of achievement, instead of just some sad-arsed overgrown toddler stroking off over tales of his "heroics".
I didn't write the synopsis, simply coppied and pasted it off a website. If you read the book you wil find that the guy hated firms and people who attacked any innocent supporters and also hatted firms that used blades or lots of weapons to attack people. I'm not try to glorify the guy just adding the book, which I found enjoyable to the ones already listed which does include several other hooligan books.
gypsydownunder
29/12/2006, 12:52 AM
Cascarino [with Kimmage]
Keane [with Dunphy]
Quinn [surprized me, this one and had the great Whiteside/Pele story]
Fever Pitch
Castre Di Sangro
McGrath [the first book - Ohh Ahh PMcG]
Robin Friday is a legend. Book is co-written by Oasis' old drummer Guigsey and self-regarding mod spoofer Paolo Hewitt.
There is no bandwagon that Oasis hangers on won't get on, in this case the Super Furry Animals who had him on the cover of The Man Don't Give A F**k. :D
Got My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes for Christmas. So far so excellent.
Really, really, really hated The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro. Fever Pitch is the story of a part timer and was lucky to fit the time imo (that's not to take away from some of his other stuff like High Fidelty which I thought was excellent).
The Tony O'Neill book is good for that genre, and does correct a lot of lies that have been doing the rounds since the hoolie books started. At least I know he walked the walk. Not sure I'll get the follow up given his attitude to FCUM, but probably will at some point as it'll be coming round to my era.
My personal favourites would be:
1) A Strange Kind of Glory - Dunphy's biog of Busby
2) Betrayal of a Legend - Michael Crick & David Smith, (disgusted that I couldn't find my copy at me mam's place on my last visit)
Too many contenders for 3rd place tbh, but so far the Imlach book would be right up there.
Fever Pitch is the story of a part timer and was lucky to fit the time imo (that's not to take away from some of his other stuff like High Fidelty which I thought was excellent)
Fever Pitch is a brilliant novel and if it wasn't deemed by many as the quintessential guide to a football fanatic, I'm pretty sure every football would love it. But the fact he's a part timer means I barely even class it as a football book. Brilliant read though, just like everything else Hornby's written
Got You are the Ref (http://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Are-Ref-Trevillions-Classic/dp/0852650698) for my brother & tempted to get version for myself. Amazing football art & good test of football laws. Highly recommended.
Got this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Match-Day-Programmes-Paul-Kelly/dp/0955006147/sr=1-1/qid=1167748212/ref=sr_1_1/202-2746237-4660612?ie=UTF8&s=books) in return & interesting too.
greatbleddyman
02/01/2007, 2:53 PM
I am really interested to see that noone rates McGrath's new one. I have noticed a few little errors but thats understandable.
I have only about a chapter to go but I have found it to be an incredible book.
I am really interested to see that noone rates McGrath's new one. I have noticed a few little errors but thats understandable.
I have only about a chapter to go but I have found it to be an incredible book.
Just finished it and I thought it was a good read.
I am really interested to see that noone rates McGrath's new one. I have noticed a few little errors but thats understandable.
I have only about a chapter to go but I have found it to be an incredible book.
I don't think that it's the case that most people don't rate it bleddyman (If I may make so bold...). I reckon that loads of us got it for Christmas and haven't finished it, or even started it, yet is all.
I'm near the end now and think it's a great book, one of the best footie biogs I've ever read.
OneRedArmy
03/01/2007, 1:44 PM
I got the McGrath book but haven't started it yet. Somehow I thought that Christmas wasn't exactly the best time to start it given the subject matter.
Much better to read it now when I've started my annual abstemious streak(fortnight).
OneRedArmy
09/01/2007, 9:53 PM
Just finishing Brilliant Orange (almost too obtuse and try hard intellectual for its own good, but short enough to plough through) and Only a Game by Dunphy, which is a very short sharp read but as others have said above is way ahead of its time in many ways. Given he was 28 when he wrote it makes it even more remarkable, although even then he was suffering from bouts of know-it-all syndrome.
Dr.Nightdub
09/01/2007, 11:49 PM
It wouldn't be in my top three or anything, but there's some good essays in "My Favourite Year", edited by Nick Hornby. It leans more to the obsessional devotee side of things, with pieces contributed by long-standing, long-suffering fans of Watford, Raith Rovers and the like.
It starts off with a piece by Roddy Doyle on Ireland in Italia 90 which, though not bad in general terms, utterly fails to draw the connection between O'Leary's peno in the afternoon and the most bizarrely inappropriate party atmosphere on a Free The Birmingham 6 march in Dublin later that night. :D
onenilgameover
15/01/2007, 7:22 AM
who stole our game is very good and I highly recommend it...proper book..i'm also trying to get through football against the enemy...
Mental Man
15/01/2007, 7:45 AM
Have to admit i have just finished "singing the Blues" by Bryan Kennedy and its the best footie book i have read in ages, it starts off with a local blues head contemplating suicide cos the girl he was with took him for all he worth and he still wanted her back so the author started bringing him to blues matches to recover ,lol, an amazing read, the editions have all sold out locally and brian has had to order e re-run such is the demand for it down here.
It starts off with a piece by Roddy Doyle on Ireland in Italia 90 which, though not bad in general terms, utterly fails to draw the connection between O'Leary's peno in the afternoon and the most bizarrely inappropriate party atmosphere on a Free The Birmingham 6 march in Dublin later that night. :D
The only non club piece in the book. His favourite football year ever is based on 4 draws and a defeat...
Just to stoke up that debate again. ;)
Not sure I'll get the follow up given his attitude to FCUM, but probably will at some point as it'll be coming round to my era.
OT, but has there really been serious falling-out over FCUM? I was over for a game a while back, heard stuff, saw anti Glazer stuff and also "anti-splitter" stuff, but thought it was all just talk. Beneath the "splitter ****s" lark is there not still sympathy for FCUM?
Raheny Red
15/01/2007, 4:08 PM
who stole our game is very good and I highly recommend it...proper book..i'm also trying to get through football against the enemy...
Just started Who Stole Our Game? today, and from what I got through it looks interesting! Also, Football Against Enemy is up next for me too!
Lim till i die
15/01/2007, 4:27 PM
Can't recommed Calcio by John Foot highly enough. Excellent book with quite a big look at the fan culture over there for those of you into that sort of thing.
Steer clear of Agnew. Haven't read it but the fact that he implies in the pictures in the centre that Livorno fans are facist :eek: (They look like Roma jerseys to me Paddy) says it all about that tome :rolleyes:
WeAreRovers
15/01/2007, 4:31 PM
OT, but has there really been serious falling-out over FCUM? I was over for a game a while back, heard stuff, saw anti Glazer stuff and also "anti-splitter" stuff, but thought it was all just talk. Beneath the "splitter ****s" lark is there not still sympathy for FCUM?
Big split, it's pretty rough around Salford these days, lots of rows in pubs etc. Tony O'Neill and the Men in Black lot have taken to attacking Salford Reds who follow FCUM. TBH the split is more between hoolies than anything else. The old school (Salford Reds) against the MIB.
KOH
Have to say that Who Stole Our Game? is very poor. Who Stole Our Game (In Dublin)? would be more accurate, but even then it wouldn't accurately reflect the content.
Fans of Bohs, Pat's, and co. should be almost as incensed as those from around the country by it's almost total concentration on Rovers and Drumcondra.
First line in the book, after a sepia-tinted 'those were the days' quote: "It's hard to believe it now, but many of us were brought up on tales like these of the glory days of the League of Ireland. Those days when soccer had a unique hold on the city." :eek: :mad:
That sets a trend that persists through-out the book.
For example, there is a quote from Peter Thomas about when he realised that attendances were dwindling, but despite being put in as if to suggest it's from the early sixties, it is in fact undated, and is more probably from the early 70s. Certainly down this way the golden age didn't end until then.
Another part has the author examining how the GAA overtook the FAI in terms of attracting crowds, and it's all about Kevin Heffernan's Dubs! Really, really poorly concieved and executed, and a waste of a great idea.
And another thing, it's not Shay Brennan's fault that there have been hardly any LoI players selected for Ireland in the last 40 years!
OneRedArmy
15/01/2007, 9:08 PM
it's pretty rough around Salford these days, lots of rows in pubs etc. was it ever any other way in Salford? :D
Its so rough they play tiddlyiwinks with manhole covers there....
OT, but has there really been serious falling-out over FCUM? I was over for a game a while back, heard stuff, saw anti Glazer stuff and also "anti-splitter" stuff, but thought it was all just talk. Beneath the "splitter ****s" lark is there not still sympathy for FCUM?
As WAR says, it's mainly between the hoolies. It doesn't exactly suit some to have an upstart club taking away their customers for euro travel, CD's etc. Amongst the general supporters there doesn't seem to be aggro, a lot of people go to both.
Back to the books. Finished My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes last night. Excellent book and recommend it to anyone. At the moment in my top three, although probably too soon for proper judgement as it knocked me sideways a bit reading about the same cancer my dad died of.
WeAreRovers
16/01/2007, 10:54 AM
was it ever any other way in Salford? :D
Touché. ;)
Stann - Your criticism of Who Stole Our Game because it concentrates on Rovers and Drums is a wee bit much. Without stirring it, Bohs and Pats don't really play a big part in the history of Dublin football. One is essentially a grown-up junior club and the other was quite happily amateur until modern times.
KOH
Dodge
16/01/2007, 10:59 AM
Plus the book focuses on the negative.
Touché. ;)
Stann - Your criticism of Who Stole Our Game because it concentrates on Rovers and Drums is a wee bit much. Without stirring it, Bohs and Pats don't really play a big part in the history of Dublin football. One is essentially a grown-up junior club and the other was quite happily amateur until modern times.
KOH
utterly incorrect
as proven by the massive impact Pats had on their entry to the top flight
ask any old timer - the crowds pats drew for cup runs for example were remarkable - even for the time - and the club drew on a wide part of the real dublin football community
of course that not even going into some of the great names of 50's football who played for pats in that era
NY Hoop
16/01/2007, 11:15 AM
Can't recommed Calcio by John Foot highly enough. Excellent book with quite a big look at the fan culture over there for those of you into that sort of thing.
Steer clear of Agnew. Haven't read it but the fact that he implies in the pictures in the centre that Livorno fans are facist :eek: (They look like Roma jerseys to me Paddy) says it all about that tome :rolleyes:
In fairness you should read the book first. I read it in Germany last summer and enjoyed the Irishman abroad feel to it. And as the title suggests its not just about calcio.
KOH
Lim till i die
16/01/2007, 11:23 AM
In fairness you should read the book first. I read it in Germany last summer and enjoyed the Irishman abroad feel to it. And as the title suggests its not just about calcio.
KOH
Probably was a bit harsh in fairness
But surely you'll admit that's a shocker of an error.
Btw even "Calcio" isn't just about calcio. Such is the nature of the beast that is Italian football that you can't write a football book without delving into society, politics and corruption.
As I'm sure you were already aware :)
NY Hoop
16/01/2007, 11:30 AM
Probably was a bit harsh in fairness
But surely you'll admit that's a shocker of an error.
Btw even "Calcio" isn't just about calcio. Such is the nature of the beast that is Italian football that you can't write a football book without delving into society, politics and corruption.
As I'm sure you were already aware :)
The beast that is Italy! Fascinating country.
KOH
Lim till i die
16/01/2007, 11:34 AM
The beast that is Italy! Fascinating country.
KOH
It's where ultras come from ;) :p
Agreed though it's one place I have to get to in the next few years, preferably for a couple of games
Conor H
16/01/2007, 11:50 AM
Attendances at some of the games over there are less than 5000...that's in Serie A.The league is gone to the wall but a game over there is a must.Tickets are dead handy to by all accounts.
Lim till i die
16/01/2007, 11:56 AM
Attendances at some of the games over there are less than 5000...that's in Serie A.The league is gone to the wall but a game over there is a must.Tickets are dead handy to by all accounts.
I'm well aware of that, people are fed up with all the corruption. Also the lack of a travelling Juventus has hit some of the smaller clubs big time.
The league isn't completely gone to the wall though. The Sicilian teams and Fiorentina regularly draw big crowds, Livorno sell out most weeks (granted the ground only fits 12000), Inter are also drawing crowds understandably enough.
Milan and Nazios crowds have also been hit by the points deductions.
Romas crowds have been crap this year aswell.
I think it's a general apathy at the way things have gone in most places
Stann - Your criticism of Who Stole Our Game because it concentrates on Rovers and Drums is a wee bit much. Without stirring it, Bohs and Pats don't really play a big part in the history of Dublin football. One is essentially a grown-up junior club and the other was quite happily amateur until modern times.
How is it a wee bit much? The subtitle is the fall and fall of Irish Soccer. Now I'm not getting into a debate about the merits of one Dublin side over another, that's for ye lot. :D
But, while Rovers deservedly get the most coverage, I can't see how, objectively, you can say that Pat's and Bohs don't merit much of a mention. But that's for the Dub fans on here to thrash out, as I said. My main gripe is with the coverage of teams outside the metropolis.
A quick look at the index shows this in stark relief:
Waterford probably get more page references than any other non-Dublin club (edit: Dundalk the same amount), but look at Cobh, Kilkenny (as EMFA), Monaghan - one reference each, just to say they were elected to the new expanded league in 1985.
Bray get 2 references, one of which was the above.
Athlone get one reference, ditto Sligo.
Longford, and (criminally) Finn Harps are not to be found in the index at all!!!
Irish Soccer my aras. :mad:
cavan_fan
20/02/2007, 8:57 AM
To revive this am currently reading The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football by David Goldblatt which is an amazing read. Although it sounds impossible it really gives a feel for the devlopment of football around the world.
Seems hard to get hold of but is head and shoulders above other football books I've read.
Read McGrath's book. Decent read, and McGrath is at least honest about some of his antics. Not entirely convinced it's award winning, but well worth a read.
Just finished "The Lost Babes: Manchester United and the Forgotten Victims of Munich" by Jeff Connor. Interesting insight into the lives of the players before and after, but overall let down by the authors reserach. Dismissive of the fans to a certain extent, while letting the Louis and Fartin Martin Edwards way off the hook choosing to concerntrate on the plc, which is obviously a relatively recent development, if certainly not any better. Also has a few basic errors with regard to the fans: he says that the United Calypso is long forgotten when it's been sung as long as I remember, and is still sung by the fans to this day, and that they prefer "Always look out for turks carrying knives" and yet fails to mention the fact that (rightly or wrongly) it was in response to years of "Always look on the runway for ice" by Lids fans. He admits he hasn't gone for decades, and frankly it shows when it comes to the points about supporters attitudes, as he's clearly clueless to the respect that Munich and the players are still held in. Oh, and Chorlton on Medlock was "Little Ireland" not Hulme. Things like this that would be easy to find the right facts always make me cynical about the rest of the research tbh. Overall, probably non United fans would enjoy it more, as they'd enjoy the sly digs rather than get annoyed with them!
NeilMcD
20/02/2007, 9:27 AM
How is it a wee bit much? The subtitle is the fall and fall of Irish Soccer. Now I'm not getting into a debate about the merits of one Dublin side over another, that's for ye lot. :D
But, while Rovers deservedly get the most coverage, I can't see how, objectively, you can say that Pat's and Bohs don't merit much of a mention. But that's for the Dub fans on here to thrash out, as I said. My main gripe is with the coverage of teams outside the metropolis.
A quick look at the index shows this in stark relief:
Waterford probably get more page references than any other non-Dublin club (edit: Dundalk the same amount), but look at Cobh, Kilkenny (as EMFA), Monaghan - one reference each, just to say they were elected to the new expanded league in 1985.
Bray get 2 references, one of which was the above.
Athlone get one reference, ditto Sligo.
Longford, and (criminally) Finn Harps are not to be found in the index at all!!!
Irish Soccer my aras. :mad:
I agree I thought the book was good for one reason only in that it was a noble idea but the execution of it as you say is very poor. The conclusions he draws from certain bits of warped logic are bizarre to say the least and I did notice it concentrated on a certain 2 clubs time and time again. I think th chapter on the 60s is strange because talking to my dad he said attendances were very good at Dalymount during the 60s and I think the demise was more in early 70s with the advent of more and more football on the TV from England.
Larry 'da' Wyse
20/02/2007, 9:38 AM
I too was disapointed in Who stole our game. Can't remember but I think it takes till you get to p.22 before a team outside Dublin is mentioned. Might be wrong on that one but you get the idea.
It also claims Gah thrived in the surburbs while the soccer crowd watched on which is a bit unfair to all the junioir/senior/intermediate clubs.
The style comes across very much of what it is - a journalist writing a book.
Glad I bought it though (2 copies) if nothing else to support literature on LOI
Finished the book about the Brazil 70 team -tracking them down now for interviews. Can't remember the title was enjoyed it a lot.
Dodge
20/03/2008, 11:04 AM
Dragging this up now. Any more recommendations. I read tht NY Cosoms book mentioned. Not great. Good story but poorly written.
Brilliant Orange by david Winner is terrific.
Woody
20/03/2008, 11:31 AM
In no particular order
Football factory
Only one red army
Illustrated history of Luton Town FC
Heartfelt (surpricingly good book about a Hibs fan who decides to follow Hearts for a season)
Who stole our game
Tried to read Burns' Hand of god, but gave up half way through.
I hate player biographies because take away the football they're just brain dead morons.
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