Pitch Publishing Ltd

Sbornaya takes you on an evocative journey through the Soviet Union’s final decade – politically, economically and culturally unravelling – as seen through the lens of its football world. The book explores the history, politics and geopolitical dimensions of the game: how it began, how it evolved and how it became the country’s greatest sporting passion. It reveals how political machinations and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring disrupted a World Cup squad mid-tournament; how two brilliant scientific minds came together to pioneer technological and scientific breakthroughs at a football club; and the recurring story of the USSR’s underachievement on the world stage despite its vast resources and talent. All of this unfolds under the shadow of a political system that sought to control, manipulate and micro-manage the game at every level. It is a football story like no other.

The Unseen Sir Alf tears up the traditional narrative of Sir Alf Ramsey’s life and career. Using new evidence to tell Alf’s story afresh, it changes everything we thought we knew about the World Cup-winning manager. Rooting around in an archive several years ago, the author uncovered a secret chapter in Alf’s story. More digging showed history had got Ramsey wrong. Saddled with a racist nickname, rumoured to be a ‘gypsy’ and forced to play banned ‘Sunday football’, Alf only turned professional aged 26. His learning about football was obsessive. He thought of little else, and may have hidden his neurodiversity. As a player with Spurs, then a manager at Ipswich and England, Ramsey won trophies through relentless practice, observation and planning. He despised most journalists, was kind to fans, often rude to his FA employer and loved his players. Ramsey looked conformist but was really a radical. This odd, complex character became a national hero after England’s 1966 World Cup win. So, who really was Alf Ramsey, and what might modern England learn from him? This book holds all the answers.

Echoes from a God is the untold story of Diego Maradona’s post-playing life and turbulent years as a manager, explored through vivid storytelling, deep research and an unflinching emotional lens. It captures the tactical chaos, the moments of tenderness, the defiant press conferences, the collapses and recoveries, and the health scares that paralysed a nation each time his name appeared beside the word ‘emergency’. This was a man who could no longer conjure miracles with his left foot, but could still command devotion with a glance, a hug or a whispered word to a young player who’d grown up idolising him. This is not a story of trophies – there were none – but one of survival; of a man who needed football as oxygen; of a global icon who found meaning, family and purpose not in winning titles, but in remaining on the grass, in front of the people who adored him. Echoes from a God offers an intimate, moving and often breathtaking portrait of Maradona’s final act – flawed, fragile, ferocious and unforgettable. It is the Diego story the world has not yet heard.

Man on a Mission is the inside story of David Sheepshanks’ time leading both Ipswich Town and the Football League, and how his drive to build the FA’s St George’s Park is enabling England to be winners again. There were ecstatic highs, like finally winning promotion at Wembley after three successive play-off defeats, finishing fifth in the Premier League and beating Inter Milan; but also the painful lows of the realities of life in the Championship caused by the ever-widening financial gulf between the top two flights. Packed with anecdotes and a cast ranging from Bobby Robson and Alex Ferguson to Elton John and Mark Knopfler, this book lifts the lid on what really happened when Ipswich was sold to Marcus Evans, and follows Sheepshanks on his fascinating journey through nearly a quarter of a century in leadership roles in the corridors of football power.

Sports Knight uncovers the life stories behind the nation’s sporting knights and dames, offering a compelling alternative history of British sport and society across the past century. Why were these sporting greats held up as national role models? And what does this say about our priorities and values? Inevitably, the book features more men than women, more rich than poor and more white people than black people. That, in itself, is revealing. For no matter what we think of the selection process (‘an utter crapshoot’ is the view of one national newspaper), the stories of the sporting heroes whom the government has chosen to honour with a title tell us much about the history of British sport and society. The six-time Olympic champion Chris Hoy once said, ‘To become a knight from riding a bike – it’s mad!’ And he’s right: it is mad. But, as Sports Knight shows, there is method in the madness.

Patsy Hendren: A Different Kind of English Hero is the fascinating story of a unique sportsman who made his mark in both football and cricket. A prolific batsman for Middlesex and a superb fielder, Hendren appeared 51 times for England and was in two Ashes-winning sides. A fast and tricky winger, he also played more than 400 games for Brentford in the lower divisions. When Hendren retired at 48, only Jack Hobbs and Frank Woolley had scored more runs, only Hobbs more centuries, and probably only Hobbs had earned more money from cricket. Too often Hendren has been seen simply as a comic figure, but there was so much more. Born into a poor Irish-heritage background and orphaned at 14, he was a devout Catholic who devoted much time to good causes. He was no typical inter-war sporting hero. He was not a stylish batsman like Hobbs, and had none of the glamour of Percy Chapman, or the polish of Herbert Sutcliffe. He was, however, a true one-off who deserves to be known by all sports lovers.

Funny Old Game is a compelling collection of more than 200 hilarious football stories from Britain and around the world – from the origins of the game right up to the present day. Filled with fun anecdotes, bizarre records and tons of trivia, the book uncovers the weirder side of the beautiful game. With forgotten history, reports of the most famous – and infamous – matches, plus plenty of obscure and silly ‘funny haha’ and ‘funny peculiar’ moments, it’s guaranteed to amuse. Along the way we meet maverick players, bad referees, mischievous ball boys and unruly mascots. From the goalkeeper sent off for handling the ball in the area, to the overly enthusiastic police dog that saved a club from relegation, it brings you the good, the bad and the ugly of the most played, watched and talked-about sport on the planet. Easy to read and unputdownable, this is a book for all football fans.

Sgt Wilko’s Defending Champions follows the fortunes (or misfortunes) of Leeds United in the inaugural season of the Premier League, a transformative period that also saw the launch of the UEFA Champions League, the back-pass rule and Sky TV’s ‘whole new ball game’. The season began with lifting silverware and included an extraordinary European campaign as Howard Wilkinson’s champions continued to thrive at the impenetrable fortress of Elland Road. But the controversial sale of Eric Cantona to their arch-rivals and a mystifying drought of away wins turned hopes of retaining the title into fears for Premier League survival. Written as a retrospective, match-by-match diary of the author’s first year as a season-ticket holder, this is the story of a young boy dealing with the trials and tribulations of falling in love with a football club, a nostalgic and entertaining account of what went wrong for Wilko’s men and an ode to the beautiful game, back when it was still a thing of beauty.

Into the Big Time is a glorious celebration of Bristol City FC’s greatest team and most iconic season – the season when they reached the summit of English football. The Robins have never set the English football world alight. Yet in the 1975/76 campaign a side fashioned from the club’s youth team ended the 65-year wait for top-flight football and launched them into the promised land of the First Division. Their stay at the top lasted only four years, but that unforgettable promotion season, set against the backdrop of 1970s culture, would live forever in the hearts and minds of City fans. This fascinating nostalgia-filled book captures the highs and lows of that incredible season, with reports of every match, plus player memories of their individual battles as they drove themselves towards promotion. Filled with rare interviews, stories and pictures from everyone involved, this definitive account celebrates the 50th anniversary in style.

Get Ready For This: The Remarkable Rumbelows League Cup Era tells the story of one of English football’s most bizarre chapters, through fresh stories and conversations with those who lived it. Between Italia ’90 and the birth of the Premier League, the game was in transition. Optimism was back after years of decline, yet the glossy era of Sky and all-seater stadiums was still to come. In that short window, the League Cup – sponsored by high-street electronics chain Rumbelows – became a stage for chaos and spectacle. There were sprint races between players, television giveaways and the most infamous cup draw of all time, conducted live from Trump Tower. Through conversations with players, former ITV broadcasters and representatives of both the Football League and Rumbelows, this book reveals how a domestic cup briefly became the wildest show in English football. Brimming with eccentric tales, giant-killings and record goals, this is football at its most entertaining and unpredictable.

If I Hadn’t Seen Such Riches chronicles Manchester United’s dramatic 1990/91 European Cup Winners’ Cup adventure, weaving in the culture, economics and vibrant music scene of the time. After the Three Lions’ heroics at Italia 90 captured the nation’s hearts, it was time for English clubs to return to European competition after five years in the wilderness. In the wake of an era marred by rampant hooliganism, dwindling attendances and crumbling facilities, English football boomed. FA Cup success in 1990 bought Alex Ferguson time, but it was by no means a given that he would become the legendary figure and knight we know today. United, pioneers of European football in the late 50s, once more flew the flag for England. The intrepid Reds, competing in the quirky and much-loved Cup Winners’ Cup, travelled to Hungary, Wales, France and Poland en route to an unforgettable rain-soaked night in Rotterdam. This is the definitive account of a pivotal campaign that laid the foundations for unprecedented success.

The Final: In Pursuit of Greatness captures the drama of the last European Cup final before the Champions League overhaul: a watershed moment in football. On 18 May 1994, Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ faced Fabio Capello’s injury-hit AC Milan in Athens. What should have been a coronation for Barca turned into one of the most remarkable performances in European football history from their opponent. With stars like Romário, Stoichkov, Maldini and Sav? vi?, the match became a tactical masterclass that stunned fans and rewrote expectations. The book revisits the journey to Athens – from Galatasaray’s infamous ‘Welcome to Hell’ to Milan’s imperious league campaign – before dissecting the final’s pivotal moments. It explores how the outcome shaped both clubs, the careers of their icons, and the wider legacy of 1990s European football. Rich in storytelling and insight, The Final is the definitive account of one night that changed the game forever.

A Long Time Coming tells the inside story of Scotland’s dramatic return to the World Cup after a painful 28-year wait. Following the disappointment of Euro 2024, Steve Clarke’s side faced a daunting Nations League campaign in League A, impressing against superior opposition before a heavy play-off loss to Greece. With Clarke hinting this World Cup qualification campaign might be his last, and with many key players approaching 30, the pressure was on. FIFA’s new format meant six games across ten weeks would decide everything, leaving little margin for error. A favourable qualifying draw and confidence from their Nations League performances offered hope as they lined up in Copenhagen. True to form, Scotland turned a sprint into a gruelling test of endurance, culminating in one of Hampden Park’s greatest nights. Told through exclusive player interviews, this is the story of Scotland’s journey from despair to delirium on the road to their first World Cup since 1998.

Every four years, the planet stops dead for an event like no other. The World Cup captures the global imagination in a way that dwarfs every other sporting competition. Glittering Prize tells the full story of its thrilling century-long arc. Volume II focuses on what many consider the tournament's golden era: Paolo Rossi's surprise eruption to fire Italy to victory in Spain in 1982; Diego Maradona's almighty show of will and skill four years later in Mexico; the unforgettable exploits of Toto Schillaci and Roger Milla at Italia 90; the glitzy extravaganza of USA 94; and France's vivid triumph on home soil in 1998. Brimming with fascinating detail and compelling personalities such as Michel Platini, Lothar Matthäus, Roberto Baggio and Zinedine Zidane, Glittering Prize is a riveting chronicle of the greatest sporting show on earth.

‘The man’s an animal’ – so a furious John Cleland vented to millions of TV viewers after being punted out of the 1992 British Touring Car Championship season finale. In an instant, touring car racing had become box office. Super Touring: When Touring Cars Ruled the World is the story of the explosion of touring car racing in the 1990s – underpinned by regulations that led to highly competitive racing and spectacular cars – an era of unrivalled public and manufacturer interest in the sport. At the apex was the British Touring Car Championship, which enjoyed a winning combination of big personalities, crash and bash racing and increasingly exotic machinery. Super Touring comprehensively revisits and reappraises a spectacular decade of action, bringing to life the stories of the time, together with new and exclusive interviews with those behind the wheel and in the paddock.

Magic Hat celebrates the stunning revolution in playing style at Reading Football Club in the early 1990s. Relive every joyful moment of the club’s extraordinary rise. In late 1990, Reading were in the doldrums. Languishing in the third tier and drowning in debt, the club put their entire squad on the transfer list. But over the next four and a half years, something magical happened. Local businessman John Madejski stepped in to rescue the Royals, hiring Mark McGhee, who took on his first coaching role on the back of a trophy-laden playing career. McGhee set about building a slick passing side on a miniscule budget. Three local lads rose to prominence; a veteran striker had his most prolific season; exotic foreign imports arrived; and journeymen, veterans and kids came together. World-famous Wrexham manager, Phil Parkinson, thundered around the Royals’ midfield. Magic Hat brings you the inside track on that sensational turnaround through interviews with John Madejski, Mark McGhee and most of the Reading squad. It is a deep and affectionate look back at one of the Royals’ most glorious periods.