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Book name: Barca: A People's Passion
Author: Jimmy Burns
For our full-review of this classic Catalan tale,
click here.
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Book name: Addicted
Author: Tony Adams
An astonishing record of a professional sportsman's descent into alcoholism.
Adams spares us nothing in his account of his battles with alcohol, relationship
problems and time inside. There's also the good stuff about a magnificent career,
and his fortitude in overcoming his problems which emerged to the public following
Euro 96. Comfortable reading it isn't but it ranks as a mighty achievement when
compared to the bone shattering inanities of Cole or Lampard's recent efforts.
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Book name: McIlvanney on Football
Author: Hugh McIlvanney
McIlvanney has been arguably the premier sports writer in the UK of the last
30 years. His work for the Observer and more recently the Sunday Times, has an
eloquence and style that is unique. This is simply a record of his work up to
1996 and the quality doesn't let up.
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Book name: A Strange Kind of Glory
Author: Eamonn Dunphy
Former United player turned Irish pundit / author provides the authoritative
story of the amazing life and career of Sir Matt Busby. From his time as player
with Liverpool and Man City to his epic stint as Old Trafford boss (1945-1969),
Dunphy gets to the heart of an immense football figure who built three great
teams. The chapters scanning the period between the Munich disaster and the
emergence of George Best are arguably the best in the book.
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Book name: All Played Out
Author: Pete Davies
One of the greatest football books ever written. It's the inside story of
England's 1990 World Cup campaign, and much else besides. Davies manages to get
an incredible level of access to the management and squad as he follows the
progress from qualifying to Turin. It's full of very candid interviews with the
likes of Bobby Robson, Terry Butcher and John Barnes and provides an illuminating
view of the football press corps. A must read book for any football supporter.
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Book name: The Beautiful Game? Searching for the Heart and Soul of Football
Author: David Conn
For our full-review of this classic,
click here.
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Book name: Fever Pitch
Author: Nick Hornby
Though the passage of time has allowed this book to become something of a
cliche, it can't be forgotten that Fever Pitch, along with All Played Out,
heralded a new era of superior football writing. Hornby takes us on a very
personal journey through his life as an Arsenal supporter. Though a few of
the opinions rankle (he would happily accept a cull of small clubs in the
name of business efficiency), there's more than enough for true supporters
to enjoy. Superbly written and with great insight.
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Book name: Among The Thugs
Author: Bill Buford
Bill Buford is an intellectual, he was the editor of the literary magazine,
Granta. He is also an American with no previous interest in football. He was,
from the early 1980s to 1990 a football hooligan, creating mayhem with
Manchester United's Red Army and England. This is a stunning journal of a very
intelligent man's descent into the murky world of organised football hooliganism.
Buford writes vividly about a subject which is normally the preserve of semi
literate ex-thugs. With the possible exception of the Football Factory, it's
the only book on the subject worth reading.
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Book name: Back Home
Author: Jeff Dawson
A marvellously evocative account of the greatest football tournament ever
staged, Mexico 1970. Dawson's main focus is Sir Alf's England, trying to hold
onto their crown, but gets across the essence of the competition as a whole.
With a series of excellent interviews with key men from the England squad,
this book acts as both a nostalgic look back for those who are old enough and
a landmark of football history for those that aren't.
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