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The amazing underdog story of how Hellas Verona conquered the giants of Italian football to become Serie A champions. Published to mark the 40th anniversary of Verona’s achievement, this authentic footballing fairy tale is brought to life through exclusive interviews with players, journalists and fans.By Richard Hough, an experienced writer and historian who has been immersed in Italian life and football for more than a decade.Read and discover how:International stars such as Platini, Maradona, Rummenigge, Sócrates, Júnior, Laudrup, Souness, Hateley and Wilkins were drawn to the peninsula that season, making Serie A the most competitive and prestigious league in the worldInnovative new managers, such as Sven-Göran Eriksson, competed with veterans like Giovanni Trapattoni to get their hands on the coveted Albo d''oro del campionato Italiano di calcio, or ‘il Scudetto’ as it is commonly knownVerona’s idiosyncratic manager Osvaldo Bagnoli patiently assembled a tight-knit squad of accomplished but unspectacular homegrown players, plus two astute foreign signings: the former German pentathlete Hans-Peter Briegel and the mercurial but underachieving Dane, Preben Elkjar LarsenEighties Italian culture forms a compelling backdrop to the storyThe team’s monumental triumph still resonates in the city todayPerfect for any football fan with an interest in the game’s history – plus anyone who enjoys an underdog story – this gripping book uncovers how a team came from nowhere to shock the footballing world with one of the most remarkable sporting achievements of all time.

A local legend with a national cult-following, former Premier League striker Dean Windass tackles retirement and the challenges it brings. Going from 20,000 people singing your name, week in, week out, to nothing. Just silence. A silence which nearly killed him.Deano explains how football defined him. A terrier, a goalscorer, he played with a smile on his face during a career that took him north and south of the border with Aberdeen and Oxford United, Sheffield United and Wednesday, Middlesbrough and Bradford City. Popular wherever he played, his career is crystallised by one very special goal for his local club.Thousands of fans travelled from his hometown of Hull to Wembley and saw their hero score the L30m goal. Typical of Deano, it was no ordinary goal, but a stunning volley. It secured Hull City’s promotion to the top flight for the first time since. ‘Genuine Roy of The Rovers stuff'' said the BBC… but what happens at the end of a career spanning more than 800 games and 200 goals, once the boots are hung up and the phone stops ringing? That''s another challenge altogether.Highs, lows, drink, divorce, despair, collapse. And then reinvention, positive mental health and learning how to live again. "If it helps one more person than me, then I''m happy," says Deano, with that warmth and authenticity that won the hearts of fans at each of the clubs he represented. A proud and straight-talking Yorkshireman, he pulls no punches, to tell it all in Beyond the Final Whistle – and shows once the final whistle blows retirement from the game comes with its own wins and losses.

The engaging and richly researched story of a turbulent period in the intense world of Sunderland AFC and North East football. Set amid a fascinating late-1970s backdrop, the book features first-hand accounts and authentic dialogue.Written by David Snowdon, winner of the prestigious British Society of Sports History Lord Aberdare Literary Prize and author of the acclaimed Give Us Tomorrow Now, this enthralling book:Explores the fluctuating fortunes of Sunderland in the late 1970s, chronicling a period brimming with an intoxicating mix of hope, excitement, disappointment and tragedyFeatures a contribution from former Sunderland ace Gary RowellAnalyses the decline of ‘Messiah’ Bob Stokoe and the long-lasting fallout from the club’s lost opportunity to appoint former son Brian CloughCharts the struggle and failure of Jimmy Adamson to satisfy the expectations of a fanatical fan baseIncludes tales of the club’s wonderfully wacky searches for a ‘big name’ manager and proven strikerSpotlights a plethora of North East connections, interweaving a bountiful blend of characters and subjects (clubs, managers, players, sport, popular culture and politics) Perfect for all Sunderland supporters and North East football fans, this book will also appeal to anyone interested in the fascinating wider milieu of 1970s Britain.

My Arsenal Life brings you all the highs and lows of the club’s post-war history from a unique insider’s perspective. As a close friend and confidant to Arsenal players and managers from the 1960s to the late 1990s, Martin Wengrow enjoyed the kind of access that would be impossible in today''s game.Foreword by Arsenal legend David O’Leary.In this unique book you’ll discover:Exclusive behind-the-scenes stories, including on the pioneering tactical and coaching work of Dave Sexton and Don Howe Martin’s privileged relationship with manager George Graham, through which he was party to transfer discussions and Graham’s thoughts on the development of his teamA very personal take on the George Graham ‘bung’ scandalHow Martin travelled to away games and European games with the players and stayed at the same hotels as themInsight from the dressing rooms where Martin found himself repeatedly, including after clinching the league title in 1971, then a few days later at Wembley when Arsenal secured the ‘double’, through to the Gunners’ final game of the 1988/89 season at AnfieldDetails of his close friendships with club legends such as Frank McLintock, Peter Storey, John Radford, George Graham and David O’LearyThis extraordinary book captures the lost world of Arsenal’s latter 20th-century history, viewed through the lens of Martin Wengrow, who had privileged access to the club and its stars. This is his Arsenal life!

Cup Finals: The Greatest Football Stories Ever Told captures the magic of the cup, weaving together tales of past and present heroes and villains, glory and tragedy, outrage and joy, thrills and scapegoats, plus ‘David and Goliath’ battles. Bringing you a fan’s-eye view of cup-final highs and lows, this engrossing book:Offers a fresh look at cup finals as crucibles for stories and drama Celebrates some of the most famous games ever played, but also grassroots footballSpotlights players made legends by their cup-final exploitsBlends the stories of cup finals involving major British clubs – including Arsenal, Celtic, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United – with those of European and Latin American giantsBrings bygone cup finals to life with iconic photosIncludes finals from the World Cup, European Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, the Women’s World Cup, Argentina, Bulgaria and more, plus the FA Cup (of course)Some of the stories tell of global superstars in a World Cup Final, others of semi-professionals who are the pride of their village. Messi and Mbappe are here, along with a host of names and games passed down through generations. But who was the schoolboy who played in an FA Cup-winning side? What was the greatest cup final? This book is about passion and spectacle, nostalgia and corporate greed. Whose cup is it?

The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores uncovers the sinister, violent and corrupt goings on that bubble beneath the surface of this famous South American football tournament.By acclaimed Argentine journalist, screenwriter and author Luciano Wernicke, whose books have been published in 30 countries and translated into 18 languages.This gripping book:Delves into the dark side of the most important football club tournament in South AmericaTells of nefarious goings on away from the pitch, including coercion or ''hiring'' of referees, threats to rivals and other measures used to gain an unfair edgeReveals the ingenious tricks, traps and ferocious threats used by sports leaders, drug traffickers and political entities to obtain a sporting resultIs brimming with colourful stories and amusing anecdotes: the footballer sent off twice in the same match wearing two different shirts, the priest who scored a winning goal and the brave midfielder who had a mishap in his shorts when he blocked too hardThe Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores charts the successes and miseries, heroes and villains, laughter and tears, screams and silence that have punctuated the tournament since its inception in 1960.

Pasión journeys into the heart and soul of Spanish football, examining the rich diversity of the country’s footballing culture and how the game unites the nation.Follow-up to Pereira’s widely acclaimed study of Portuguese football, Bring Me That Horizon. If you loved that, you’ll love this!Taking you on a road trip through space and time, this immersive book:Will help you to understand what has made Spain the greatest continental football power so far this centuryBrings you exclusive insider views and insights on Spanish football, from World Cup-winning managers, to elite players, to renowned football writers and journalistsTakes you around dozens of cities and football grounds, presenting Spain as one of the most complex and diverse nations in EuropeTells of the love story between Real Madrid and the Champions League as well as fairy-tale triumphs involving footballing minnowsInvestigates the origins of Iniesta and the political and social struggles that left an imprint on Basque, Galician and Valencian footballExplores the cultural nature of vanguard managers such as Pep Guardiola and the social relevance of Spain’s sporting pressFrom European glory nights to the lower leagues, this compelling book celebrates the diversity of the nation’s cultural and footballing identity.

The story of the renaissance of cash-strapped Worcester City, the club that kicked Liverpool out of the FA Cup. It offers a pitch-side view of a remarkable season that ended in a league championship and the team just a penalty kick away from Wembley.Foreword by former Everton player and ex-Worcester City player and manager John Barton.Told by veteran journalist Chris Bishop, who has followed and written about Worcestershire non-league football for 50 years.Inside this gripping book you’ll discover:A terrace-eye view of the rebirth of a once-proud non-league clubA gripping, funny and raucous story of non-league survival that will resonate with football fans everywhereThe stories of two other teams connected with City for 120 years: Stourbridge, the club that spawned Jude Bellingham, and Kidderminster Harriers, the only professional side in WorcestershireHow all three suffer the same money and ground headaches in these trying times, despite a resurgence of non-league football in the face of Premier League greedA look at how fans are driving a resurgence in the non-league game as they are repelled and priced out of the Premier LeagueThis is a love letter to non-league football where proud communities stand against penury, racism and oblivion, where the wrong moves are taken for the right reason: survival. It’s an unusual world where directors are prepared to put on a nappy and push a pram for miles for the love of their club.

The incredible story of Swindon Town’s rise over a frenetic five-year period under the management of Lou Macari, with exclusive insight and views from Macari himself.Foreword by 1980s Swindon Town hero David Hockaday.When former Manchester United midfielder and Scottish international Macari became the Robins’ player-manager in the summer of 1984, he joined a club in the doldrums. But his arrival changed everything. Under Macari, Football League and club records were set, promotion campaigns became almost routine and a feel-good factor gripped the whole town.This compelling book:Charts a magical five years in Swindon Town’s history, highlighting the major matches and key milestones of a period of huge progress and success for the clubTells of promotions, play-off excitement, cup semi-final disappointment and constant progression, as players started successful international careers, and local and national heroes were bornExamines Macari’s career before joining the club, with an appraisal of the position Swindon Town were in before his arrivalReviews key players’ careers after the manager left in 1989, including a look at their international and club achievementsIncludes a diary of events resulting from the Football League’s investigation into the financial dealings of Swindon Town over the course of the 1980sAssesses the position Swindon Town find themselves in today, comparing 1984 with 2024A must for all Swindon Town fans, this is a tale of unprecedented success and unfortunate consequences. Forty years after Macari arrived at the County Ground, his legacy at the club still burns brightly.

A deep dive into the archives that uncovers some of the most important stories from the annals of world football, showcasing those pivotal moments that have shaped the beautiful game.From the author of the widely acclaimed The Social One: Why Jürgen Klopp Was a Perfect Fit for Liverpool.Read and you will discover:How the FA’s decision to ban women’s football in 1921 changed the course of the whole gameHow a wrongly disallowed goal in 1973 catapulted Total Football to the world stageHow Marc-Viven Foe’s death in 2003 led to crucial changes that saved Christian Eriksen’s life 19 years laterHow Frank Lampard’s ‘ghost goal’ against Germany in 2010 galvanised the debate on goal-line technologyAnd much more!From Johan Cruyff and Arrigo Sacchi to David Beckham and David Silva, the book features a parade of some of the greatest football figures of all time, alongside the moments that changed perspectives, altered opinions and ultimately determined the course of world football.

The Scouting Game brings us the inside story of the hidden world of top-level football scouting from a man with 30 years’ experience in the professional game, and more than a decade in the recruitment team at Chelsea FC’s renowned academy.Chris Robinson reveals how scouts work, what they look for and how they report on players, giving practical examples. He sets out the ideal characteristics that scouts search for in every position, and examines scouting at all levels – grassroots, academy, first team and opposition scouting.Chris explains how scouts interact with agents and what parents can expect from scouts and the professional academies, including how trials work and the developing role of data in scouting. He also considers scouting as a career, pointing out the pros and cons and explaining how to get started.With a fascinating insight into one of the hidden corners of the game, this book lifts the lid on the secretive world of top-level talent-spotting.

1978: The Birth of Moneyed Modern Football is the tumultuous yet captivating story of a year when new clashed with old, madness gave way to genius and innovation collided with custom.It’s a story of two remarkable matches – one blackened by violence, the other a landmark victory – but just as importantly of everything that happened in between.Maverick stars, revered trailblazers, famed managers, legendary trophy-winning sides, apocalyptic showdowns and developments that changed the fabric of the game all feature: from Britain’s first black footballing icons, to the signing of World Cup-winning Argentineans, to England’s TV channels fighting for the rights to matches, to the European Economic Community announcing that footballers would have the freedom to play in whichever of the nine member countries they wished.1978 heralded the dawn of a new age, with football plotting a course towards becoming the global behemoth it is today.

The remarkable story of Sheffield United’s astonishing rise from the brink of oblivion, after dropping to the Fourth Division for the first (and only) time in its history, to competing in the inaugural Premier League season.Eagerly awaited sequel to the widely acclaimed Ain''t Got a Barrel of Money: Sheffield United.Inside you will discover:How Lincolnshire businessman Reg Brealey saved United from the abyss and almost certainly going out of businessHow Ian Porterfield started United’s rise back up the divisions, fired by the goals of Keith Edwards and Bob Hatton, assisted by the brilliance of Colin MorrisHow Dave Bassett set about reshaping the team, with the likes of Brian Deane and Tony Agana bringing further promotion for United and a place in the very first Premier League seasonHow Brian Deane became a footballing immortal when he scored the first-ever Premier League goalExclusive anecdotes and interviews with ex-players such as Bob Hatton, Colin Morris, Ray Lewington, Tony Philliskirk, Jamie Hoyland, Mark Todd and moreContributions from fans who cheered and watched United rise from the Fourth Division to the Premier LeagueStatistics and social history moments that serve as the backdrop to United’s revival: from the royal wedding to the miners’ strike, from the Falklands War to the ‘Hand of God’, from Live Aid to the death of Freddie MercuryFrom the doldrums of the early 1980s through to top-flight glory in the 1990s, this is the story of the managers and players who gave the Blades back their pride.

Matt Coughlan steps into the wonderful world of the groundhopper: in short, the collector of football grounds. While taking a light-hearted look at this growing cultural phenomenon, can Coughlan cement his own groundhopping credentials?With the aim of boosting his groundhopping tally to at least 100 grounds, Coughlan sets out on a journey of discovery. Whether foregoing the cultural highlights of Bruges to sit in a concrete stadium, choosing the worst ground in London over watching the World Cup on TV or travelling to various footballing outposts with a vintage grandstand, he does whatever it takes to reach his milestone.Along the way, he ends up doing some opposition scouting, samples corporate hospitality, spends too long reading the FA’s ground-grading regulations and discovers a host of great non-league clubs. He joins a groundhopping weekend to try to enhance his status. But will he fall foul of the unwritten rules of groundhopping?

The extraordinary story of Steve Death, once the shortest goalkeeper in the Football League – at just 5ft 7in. He was good enough to keep Peter Shilton out of the England Schoolboys side, yet spent his career in Divisions Three and Four and became a lower-league legend.This tale of a shy genius, record-breaker and maverick covers:Death’s time as part of the legendary West Ham United academy under Ron Greenwood when he trained and played alongside World Cup-winning trio Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Bobby MooreHow only his lack of height stopped him playing at the highest levelHow he carved out a brilliant career in Divisions Three and Four, playing 537 games for Reading and winning Player of the Year four times, on the first occasion while still on loanHow in 1979 he set a Football League record for the longest run of clean sheets – that record still stands!His modest life outside of football, living quietly with his family in a club house at the old Elm Park groundExclusive first-hand accounts from West Ham and Reading players, journalists, supporters and family membersDescribed on his debut as ‘an insignificantly built bundle of daredevil energy’, Death played without gloves, caught crosses one-handed and saved penalties instinctively. His remarkable story provides a fascinating insight into the lost world of 1970s lower-league football.

Join acclaimed football writer Chris Lee on a journey of discovery around Ireland to learn about one of the world’s oldest soccer cultures. How did Association football – denounced as a ‘foreign game’ by some – fair after the traumatic split of 1921?Who were the pioneering Irish players and coaches that helped spread the game around the world?What is the matchday experience like for groundhoppers?What’s happening in Irish women’s football today?Eager for answers, Chris travels around the island in search of historical stadiums, lost clubs, vibrant fan cultures, symbolic murals and more. From the tifos of Dublin’s oldest derby to George Best’s living room, Chris talks to fans, historians and academics to get the inside track on the Irish football story.Along the way, Chris uncovers a complex tale of politics, identity and division, but also one of hope, reconciliation and glory.