Football books

[Ozymandias]

Lads there was a thread on here before about good football books to read. There was a book that a number of people mentioned which had a south american sounding title (Something like Satiago de compostilla)..can anyone remember the book as I am looking for a decent football book to read .

thanks in advance

[DaveyCakes]

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro? A lot of people like it. I thought it was terrible. I recommend "Behind the curtain" by Jonathan Wilson and "Tor - The Story of German Football"

[Ozymandias]

thanks for that davey..what didn't you like about the book..it got good reviews on here at the time

[gaiscíoch]

There is a book on Garrincha out there and it's flipping brilliant. You couldn't help but be touched by the genius that he was. I'll post it to you if you want. Paul Mc Graths is brill, inside sir alex by micheal crick is good as is marradonas.

[Ozymandias]

read mcgraths book..enjoyed it......whats the name of garrinchas book...he was a medical marvel really wasn't he

[The Good Son]

thanks for that davey..what didn't you like about the book..it got good reviews on here at the time

I think the problem with 'Miracle' is that the writer is American and seems to be writing for an American audience, if that makes any sense. I still thought it wasn't a bad read and a good story overall.
Three books on Italian football that I think are better would be, 'A Season With Verona' by Tim Parks, Forza Italia by Paddy Agnew and the best around in my opinion 'Calcio' by John Foot.

[beautifulrock]

The Damned United - David Pearce is about Cloughs time at Leeds, a fantastic read with some amazing incidents. I couldnt put it down and would rank it as one of the best sports book I have ever read.

[seand]

The book on Garrincha is called 'Garrincha', and is one of the best football books out there. A Season with Verona is excellent. The Miracle of Castel di Sangro was very good (despite bring written by an irritating American.) Jimmy Burns's Barca and Hand of God are very good, but a bit heavy going. Futebol, the Brazilian Way of Life is well worth a read.

[Ozymandias]

thanks lads..read forza italia and enjoyed it also hand of god is enjoyable

[Block G Raptor]

Best footie book I've read was "Give a Little Whistle" by 70's refferree Gordan Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Hill_(referee))
he had a great reputation and an unbelievable rapour with the players

[superfrank]

Forza Italia and Calcio are both good reads if you're into Italian football. Calcio is totally about football, not like Forza Italia.

Pelé's bio is a great read too.

[DaveyCakes]

thanks for that davey..what didn't you like about the book..it got good reviews on here at the time


Its years since I read it so I can't remember properly, but I do remember having the distinct impression that the writer appeared to be an arrogant, mouthy ****.

[seand]

One Irish book I'd recommend to any football fan is Eamonn Sweeney's "One Red Army". It's about his support for Sligo Rovers, but it's really well written and goes beyond your average football fan book. It's about football, life, family, drink and Irishness... a great read.

[stojkovic]

Garrincha book is excellent.
Any book by Jimmy Burns.
Any book by Simon Kuper.

[Kingdom]

Currently reading Football against the enemy by Kuper. For the 3rd time. Still captivates. Have a long commute by train now and can only read sport books. I'll have to check out some of the recommendations.
For what its worth McGraths book was excellent.

[SÓC]

Foul by Andrew Jennings is a great read, an essential read for any football fan IMO. Exposé of FIFA and their shocking corruption.

A Season with Verona is great too

[Billy Lord]

Calcio and A Season With Verona both offer a great insight into Italian football, but Paddy Agnew's bitter Forza Italia is poison and should be avoided. An Undividable Glow by Robert Brady and FC United of Manchester - An Unofficial Guide to the North West County Years by Michael Beard are essential.
As a Shamrock Rovers' fan I'd highly recommend We Are Rovers by Eoghan Rice, Dyed in the Wool by Robin Browett and The Hoops by Robert Goggins and Paul Doolin.
Generally, I'd recommend anything written by Brian Glanville, especially his histories of the World and European Cups. Dunphy's bio of Matt Busby, his memoir Only a Game and The Glory Game by Hunter Davies are also worth the effort. Gary Imlach's My Father . . . is another must-read.

[Wolfie]

"Among the Thugs" by Bill Buford. Its an American journalists lived experience and analysis of the culture and psychology of football violence.

"My Favourite Year" - a collection of essays from different writers about the football team they support. Contains Roddy Doyle's "Republic is a beautiful word". Perhaps a bit dated now but there were a few excellent pieces in there.

[jebus]

The Damned United and Season with Verona would be my two recommendations

[osarusan]

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby.

[gustavo]

Agree with The Damned United

very poetic , hard to put down :)

Johnny Giles doesnt come out of it very well:)

[Angus]

Only a game by Dunphy

[Junior]

Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer by David Winner

Just completely different to the footie books id read before, relates the TOTAL football philosophy to the general Dutch mindset, social issues even their architecture!! - I thought it was excellent.

A season with Verona was great I thought, as was Cascarinos book (name escapes me at the moment).

[Metrostars]

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro? A lot of people like it. I thought it was terrible. I recommend "Behind the curtain" by Jonathan Wilson and "Tor - The Story of German Football"

I liked The Miracle of Castel di Sangro and you're right in saying it is written with a US/non-soccer knowledgable person in mind but it is still a good story. Also liked the ones already mentioned Back from the Brink, Fever Pitch and Among the Thugs. Also enjoyed "The Game of Their Lives" about the USA victory over England in the 1950 World Cup. Great read about a bunch of plumbers and dishwashers beating the likes of Finney, Mathews in their prime etc.

[stojkovic]

Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer by David Winner

Just completely different to the footie books id read before, relates the TOTAL football philosophy to the general Dutch mindset, social issues even their architecture!! - I thought it was excellent.

Brilliant Oranje is very good but Ajax, the Dutch, the War by Simon Kuper goes deeper into the Dutch psyche.

[Ozymandias]

thanks lads..started the Damned utd (a damn good read) will pick out a few others from the list as well

[The Good Son]

Looking through my books over the weekend, I came across another two ones I'd forgotten about, Passovotchka: Moscow Dynamo by David Downing and Kicking And Screaming: Oral History Of Football In England by Andrew Ward and Rogan Taylor.
Passovothcka is the story of a 1945 tour of Britain by Dynamo Moscow and Kicking & Screaming was the book of the BBC series of the same name, that was put together around the time of Euro '96.

[rovers77]

I'd recomend Eamon Dunphy's book, Only A Game. It's a very good read.

[Ash]

Verona/Castel di Sangro/Iron Curtain are all excellent reads.
Scum Airways (about touting and corruption) also worth reading
Stamping Grounds is interesting as is Pointless

I just bought Heartfelt (Aidan Smith). A Hibs fan decides to follow
Hearts for a season to see how the other half live. Havent started it yet.

[gaiscíoch]

Verona/Castel di Sangro/Iron Curtain are all excellent reads.
Scum Airways (about touting and corruption) also worth reading
Stamping Grounds is interesting as is Pointless

I just bought Heartfelt (Aidan Smith). A Hibs fan decides to follow
Hearts for a season to see how the other half live. Havent started it yet.

Where is the best place buy books online??

[Ash]

Where is the best place buy books online??

I got a few from Amazon and a few others just from random bookshops
on my travels

[beautifulrock]

Where is the best place buy books online??

play.com is cheaper than Amazon generally and the postage is free

[gaiscíoch]

Thank you all. Just finished George Bests book it's a very good read. A great story, but hence a sad once.