Tag Archives: Sports & Recreation

The Molineux Encyclopedia: An A-Z of Wolverhampton Wanderers

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The Molineux Encyclopedia: An A-Z of Wolverhampton Wanderers The Molineux Encyclopedia: An A-Z of Wolverhampton Wanderers View on Amazon

One of the founder members of the Football League, the early history of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC was relatively undistinguished. However, the club won the championship three times in the space of six seasons in 1953-4, 1957-8 and 1958-9, and were soon considered the most powerful side in the land. As well as League and Cup honors, Molineaux has been home to some of the game's most talented players—men like Stan Cullis, who also managed the club, Billy Wright, Ron Flowers, Peter Broadbent, and John Richards. Covering everything from the players to the managers, this encyclopaedia is the ultimate guide to the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.

Newcastle United’s Worst Ever Players

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Newcastle United's Worst Ever Players Newcastle United's Worst Ever Players View on Amazon

Did Wayne Fereday ruin your life? Was Silvio Maric directly responsible for your high dentist bills due to the constant gnashing and grinding of your molars? Did Billy Askew’s hair give you nightmares or did the merest mention of Alain Boumsong's name have the same effect as the aftermath of a Vindaloo? Then this is the book you've been waiting for. Relive all your least favourite Newcastle United moments by taking a journey back through the labyrinth of frustration, disillusionment and failure that is Newcastle United’s worst ever players. Grimace, cringe and wince as you take a trip down the derelict end of memory lane, through a history of Newcastle United’s most inept, incompetent and overpaid exponents of the beautiful game. Players who panicked whenever the ball came within twenty yards of them, players who would struggle to make the bench for St. Joseph’s School under 7’s team and players who surprised you by managing to put their boots on the right feet. If you’ve ever watched a Newcastle United player and wondered how they managed to turn professional and you didn’t; if you were left speechless as they were allowed to continue spreading their misery well into the second half or dumbfounded at the fact they’d managed to convince someone to pay them a wage to stumble around the field and offer nothing more to the cause than the corner flag, you’ll find them all here.

Stoke City Football Club (Images of Sport)

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Stoke City Football Club (Images of Sport) Stoke City Football Club (Images of Sport) View on Amazon

This book is part of the Images of Sport series, which uses old photographs and archived images to show the history of various local sports in Great Britain.

Spurs Greatest Games: Tottenham Hotspur’s 50 Finest Matches

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Spurs Greatest Games: Tottenham Hotspur's 50 Finest Matches Spurs Greatest Games: Tottenham Hotspur's 50 Finest Matches View on Amazon

From games against noisy north London neighbors Arsenal to others against big rivals like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur is a club founded in 1882 on romance, taking its name from a legendary historical figure immortalized by Shakespeare, a club with a tradition of panache and style. This book reflects these hallmarks through 50 of their finest matches: from the first FA Cup success to the Double and European Cup Winners' Cup triumphs.

Passing Rhythms: Liverpool FC and the Transformation of Football

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Passing Rhythms: Liverpool FC and the Transformation of Football Passing Rhythms: Liverpool FC and the Transformation of Football View on Amazon

Liverpool Football Club, in stark contrast to its competitors, remains locally owned, not a conglomerate or media business. Unlike its main rivals, the Liverpool club has been loathe to pursue global markets for merchandizing – though it attracts a huge fandom around the world – and its ambitions remain resolutely fixed on footballing success. No football club has ever had such an extended period of dominance in the English game, nor extended that dominance to Europe so effectively.

Many of the current crop of top young players are locally born and are a central feature of the city's nightlife, as well as national icons in pop/football/youth culture. But there are fears that the Club's great days have now passed. At the height of its powers in the 1980s, Liverpool FC was the site of two catastrophic crowd disasters, which effectively transformed the sport and added to wounding perceptions about the city's alleged sentimentality, fatalism and irreversible decline. The legacy of the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies continues to shape the self-image of the Club and those who support it. A seething rivalry with nearby corporate giant Manchester United is a constant reminder of football's new order.
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Chelsea FC: The Official Biography: The Definitive Story of the First 100 Years

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Chelsea FC: The Official Biography: The Definitive Story of the First 100 Years Chelsea FC: The Official Biography: The Definitive Story of the First 100 Years View on Amazon

CHELSEA FC: THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY goes to the heart of what gives the club its personality. The author has access to all the key characters, including Mourinho, Abramovich and the star players, plus legendary names of the past. He addresses all the controversies, including: the near suffocation through lack of cash in the 1970s and in 2002; the impact of Abramovich's money; the club and fans' response to racism; how the hooliganism which dogged Chelsea for years has been tackled. On the lighter side, Chelsea is regarded as the country's glamour club, and fashions, good and dreadful, will feature alongside celebrity fans and the worlds of art and music. And then there is the football at the core of it all, creating moments of huge tension and excitement.

West Bromwich Albion Cult Heroes: The Baggies’ Greatest Icons

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West Bromwich Albion Cult Heroes: The Baggies' Greatest Icons West Bromwich Albion Cult Heroes: The Baggies' Greatest Icons View on Amazon

Cult Heroes looks back at the cult figures in each club's history, the players who—regardless of ability, status, or legend—were loved by the fans. Looking back at a raft of household names who have gone down in folklore, it recalls those players' careers and examines just why they gained cult status.

The Stoke City Miscellany

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The Stoke City Miscellany The Stoke City Miscellany View on Amazon

Did you know? Former City stalwart Denis Smith had the misfortune of having five broken legs, four broken noses, a cracked ankle, broken collar bone, chipped spine, most of his fingers and toes broken as well as having over 100 stitches at various times in Stoke colours – that's got to be a record! On 3 February, 1945 Stoke City's Frank Wong Soo was the first player of Chinese extraction to play for England. Stoke have 2 club mascots called Pottermuss and Pottermiss. The Stoke City Miscellany – a book on the club like no other, packed with facts, stats, trivia, stories and legend. Now, with the club tasting previously uncharted highs, look back at what has made this club what it is today – the players and characters that have represented City over the years and the events that have shaped the club. If you want to know the record crowd for a home game, the record appearance holder or longest-serving manager, look no further – this is the book you've been waiting for. From record goal scorers, to record defeats; from The Victoria Ground to Alan Ball, from Mark Chamberlain to Gordon Banks – it's all in The Stoke City Miscellany – can you afford not to own a copy?

Everton FC On This Day: History, Facts & Figures from Every Day of the Year

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Everton FC On This Day: History, Facts & Figures from Every Day of the Year Everton FC On This Day: History, Facts & Figures from Every Day of the Year View on Amazon

Everton FC On This Day recounts, in diary form, major events and magic moments in the Toffees history. With individual entries for each day of the year and multiple entries for busier times, this book covers their ups and downs, domestic and European cup runs, boardroom battles and sensational signings.

Boys Of ’86: The Untold Story of West Ham United’s Greatest-Ever Season (Mainstream Sport)

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Boys Of '86: The Untold Story of West Ham United's Greatest-Ever Season (Mainstream Sport) Boys Of '86: The Untold Story of West Ham United's Greatest-Ever Season (Mainstream Sport) View on Amazon

The highlights have been few and far between for West Ham United's long-suffering fans over the years: three FA Cup wins, a European Cup-Winners' Cup victory, various other cup runs that failed on the verge of success and, of course, the enjoyment of watching great players such as Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Trevor Brooking. Throughout the 47 seasons the East London club has spent in the top flight of English football, the prospect of challenging for the League Championship title has been little more than a pipe dream, with the exception of one season: 1985-86. Little did he know it at the time, but manager John Lyall's summer purchases of young unknown Scottish striker Frank McAvennie from St Mirren and diminutive winger Mark Ward from Oldham Athletic were the final pieces in a jigsaw that fell into place spectacularly to provide West Ham fans with a campaign they would never forget. On the final Saturday of the season, the Hammers faced West Bromwich Albion still holding genuine hopes of finishing as League Champions. With Liverpool playing at Chelsea that day, Lyall's men knew that if they beat the Baggies and the Blues triumphed at Stamford Bridge, they only needed a victory against Everton two days later to secure their first-ever league title. Despite victory at the Hawthorns, though, news filtered through that Liverpool player-manager Kenny Dalglish had hit a winner against Chelsea to ensure that the Reds couldn't be caught. Eighteen years on, this book reflects in detail on the one and only season in which the claret-and-blue army were really able to chant We're gonna win the league.” This volume includes exclusive interviews with the management and players who recount exclusive stories and anecdotes from this record-breaking season.