What are you reading? Football related

[ayjaydee]

In an effort to KFOAE a thread to discuss recommend football related books.

A Life Too Short -

Biography of Robert Enke, German international keeper who suffered from severe depression and ended up killing himself. Quite a dark read but, having first hand experience of depression in the family, it provides a good insight into the illness.

Where's Your Caravan? A journey along footballs B roads - Chris Hargreaves

A lighthearted autobiography from a journeyman lower league player who but for a greedy agent would have been a Reading player. Loads of Reading references from hist time at Brentford under Mag Dog and playing alongside Salako, Hunt, Tabb etc.

Steak Diana Ross - David McVay

A 2 season diary of a young footballer trying to make it in the 70's. A cracking read, well written some laugh out loud funny bits. Even if you are too young for the era you can get a feel for the then and now.

Off on my hols soon and could do with a few recommendations of football related poolside reading material.

[dizzynewheights]

Just got this



but wont get round to starting it for a while. Apols for size of pic

[ayjaydee]

^^^

Sounds intriguing, will have a look, cheers.

[RG30]

Three football books read this year:

A Life Too Short - Very much in agreement with ayjaydee tragic story of someone so young and talented. Excellent read.

Prior to that got round to reading Duncan Hamilton's Provided You Don't Kiss Me which is a fantastic insight into Brian Clough, mainly from his Forest days. Both books mentioned were William Hill Sports Book of the Year winners.

The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin which is about life as a football scout. Decent insight into an industry we hear little of. Couple of Reading FC related tales as well.

[floyd__streete]

Currently reading a book on the first ever season of the Football League.

Q: Which two current county cricket grounds hosted Football League matches in that inaugural season?

Best football books I've ever read:

The Far Corner - Harry Pearson. Visits every North East football ground from Newcastle to West Allotment Celtic.

Believe In The Sign - Mark Hodkinson. Endearing book on a man looking back on a lifetime of supporting Rochdale, will strike a chord with all those of us who first attended football with their dad.

Provided You Don't Kiss Me - Duncan Hamilton. A journalists account of covering Nottingham Forest during the Clough years. The chapter on Clough's alcoholism moved me like very few books ever have. Hamilton is a stunningly good writer who also wrote 'A Last English Summer', a splendid personal account of the 2009 english first class cricket season and a biography of Harold Larwood which will be next on my list. You wouldn't get cynical, self-promoting hacks like Ollie Holt writing half as beautifully as understated, quality journalists such as Hamilton

[Maguire]

I don't really like football books as a general rule but Provided You Don't Kiss Me is an excellent tome. Duncan Hamilton was born to write that book, it's definitely worth a read.

[ayjaydee]

I don't really like football books as a general rule but Provided You Don't Kiss Me is an excellent tome. Duncan Hamilton was born to write that book, it's definitely worth a read.

3 recommendations, looks like the first of my holiday reading is sorted.

[Royal Biscuitman]

Just read "I am the Secret Footballer" and now reading "Tales of the Secret Footballer" by anonymous, I'm reading them for the first time and in my head it's Dave Kitson but I'm not sure if it really is - If it is, then he has changed a few details here and there to try and hide his identity.

Nicky Shorey is another player rumoured to be the Secret Footballer, but when he talks about finding interests such as Art and Fine Wines as well as holding quite intelligent conversations, It sounds like Kitson.

[Mr.Swainey]

Michael Calvin has produced some good work:

The Nowhere Men: A look at football scouting.
Family: Life, Death and Football: A Year on the Frontline with a Proper Club - An account of a season with Millwall (behind the scenes access etc), very decent account, you don't have to be Millllllllllllllllllll to read this.

[PieEater]

The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin which is about life as a football scout. Decent insight into an industry we hear little of. Couple of Reading FC related tales as well.

Currently about half way through this and I'm really not sure why I'm reading it. There's not enough juicy gossip, just a load of name dropping about every player or scout. I wouldn't say it gives much insight except it leaves you wondering why they do it for such a pittance.

[From Despair To Where?]

Not reading any football related books at the moment but some oldies but goodies that are particular favourites are:

Gary Imlach - My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes - excellent read about a footballer's (and his familiy's) life in the days of the maximum wage and retain and transfer

Tim Parks - A Season With Verona - part travelogue, part season review. It's almost a cultural and social study of Italian ultras.

[Handsome Man]

This was good: no revelations, no surprises, just a familiar story that we all know well, nicely written and easy to read.

[AthleticoSpizz]

^ just a shame that Ashley Cole was born too late

[Bonzodog]

Would definitely recommend The Far Corner by Harry Pearson the best sporting book I have read bar none. If you like biographies Left Foot Forward by Garry Nelson - former Charlton player is also very good

[KDRF]

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

Literally can't recommend this book enough.

[leon]

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

Literally can't recommend this book enough.

Absolutely. Also another plus one for Provided you don't kiss me.

I got half way through David Peaces Red or Dead but couldn't face anymore. I'm a massive Peace fan but this was too much.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

about to start fever pitch by nick hornby.

[Handsome Man]

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

Literally can't recommend this book enough.

Absolutely. Also another plus one for Provided you don't kiss me.

I got half way through David Peaces Red or Dead but couldn't face anymore. I'm a massive Peace fan but this was too much.

I thought it was extraordinarily good - the best book of last year. The rhythm and the repetition of the early bits sucked me into Shankly's world, so that the last quarter of the book was quite devastating to read.

[Handsome Man]

This is good: the story of a season at Spurs in the early 1970s. Hunter Davies was a brilliant journalist who could get close to his subjects and tell a good story - some of his novels are good as well.

[leon]

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

Literally can't recommend this book enough.

Absolutely. Also another plus one for Provided you don't kiss me.

I got half way through David Peaces Red or Dead but couldn't face anymore. I'm a massive Peace fan but this was too much.

I thought it was extraordinarily good - the best book of last year. The rhythm and the repetition of the early bits sucked me into Shankly's world, so that the last quarter of the book was quite devastating to read.

Hmmm yeah need to try it again. It's not as if I didn't know what I was letting myself into.