I started that and gave up halfway through. Difficult to read, Burns' tone is crude and bitter throughout.Quote:
Originally Posted by stann
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I started that and gave up halfway through. Difficult to read, Burns' tone is crude and bitter throughout.Quote:
Originally Posted by stann
:( Looking forward to it now! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Sheridan
Forgot one, for any goalkeepers on here, Only The Keeper To Beat. Forgot who it's by and ain't going to go looking for it now. Thought it was a bit whingy at first but after years of playing behind crap defences it suddenly made perfect sense.
Quick review of the Irish books I’ve read (that I can remember!)…
The History of Dundalk FC is fantastic, is just crammed full of facts and information, and little gems of anecdotes.
We Are Rovers is very good, specially if you’re a hoop
Dyed in the Wool is one for Rovers fans only really
Strings of My Harps is very interesting
The Rod de Khors autobiog which somebody mentioned is rubbish, theres not enough interesting material to stretch beyond 2 pages, never mind 100.
Eamonn Sweeney’s One Red Army is a great book, highly recommended.
Of the rest of football… A Season with Verona stands out. Parks understands football and paints a picture of Italy in general thru his love of Hellas Verona. Castel di Sangro is a great book and a great story, if you can put up with a football book written by a mad American. Another excellent book is Dynamo, Defending the Honour of Kiev, about the Kiev team that played and beat the occupying Nazis during the War.
Dunphy’s Only A Game is worth a look, way ahead of its time and well written, but delusions of adequacy were evident even back then. Morbo and Futebol the Brazilian Way of Life are both highly entertaining, if not really in-depth. Futebol has some laugh out loud moments. Ajax The Dutch The War (by Simon Kuper, Football Against the Enemy) is fascinating, not really about Ajax though. I thought Agnew’s book was ok.
Starting into Behind the Iron Curtain, looks very good.
Im think im gona buy Calcio is it recommended?
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.
Simon Kuper's "Football Against the Enemy" is class too and would suit a broader spectrum of people. For a novel, I still rate "Fever Pitch" as a really good read.
I only like autobiographies of complete gougers and best of them all is Frank McAvennie's "Scoring". Hilarious stuff on and off the pitch. Collymore's "Tackling my Demons" is a laugh too. Neither of them ever admit that sometimes it was their own fault!
"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.
Hand of God [Jimmy Burns book about Diego]
A season with Verona
Dynamo - Defending the honour of Kiev
Other notable mentions go to
Calcio
Football against the enemy
Forza Italia
Ajax - The Dutch, The War
Not the best-written book in the world but as a young League of Ireland fan at the time I enjoyed it alot.Quote:
Originally Posted by red bellied
Highly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irish Fan
Ireland - 'theres only one red army'
by eamonn sweeney, see also his excellent article written last sunday in the sun indo !!!!!!!!
Also heard 'we are rovers is excellent'
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.
:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Goes without saying really. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Robin Friday is a legend. Book is co-written by Oasis' old drummer Guigsey and self-regarding mod spoofer Paolo Hewitt.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
KOH
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 ?
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.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hooperatzi
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.
Where is "Singing The Blues" available boy? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bluemovie
"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
Quote:
Originally Posted by Calcio Jack
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
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".Quote:
Originally Posted by Neish
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
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
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fivesilver
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.
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]
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. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by WeAreRovers
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 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 writtenQuote:
Originally Posted by Macy
Got You are the Ref for my brother & tempted to get version for myself. Amazing football art & good test of football laws. Highly recommended.
Got this in return & interesting too.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatbleddyman
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatbleddyman
I'm near the end now and think it's a great book, one of the best footie biogs I've ever read.
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).
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.
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
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...
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.
The only non club piece in the book. His favourite football year ever is based on 4 draws and a defeat...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr.Nightdub
Just to stoke up that debate again. ;)
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by Macy
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by onenilgameover
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: