Must read football books

[CFC]

What football books have you read that you would recommend? I recently read Maradonas official autobiography and it was disappointing tbh. It was rambling, Fever Pitch is superb really captures the obsessive nature of football fans and I can recommend "All played out" by pete davis, a great book on Italia 90. Which would you recommend?

[--------]

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What football books have you read that you would recommend? I recently read Maradonas official autobiography and it was disappointing tbh. It was rambling, Fever Pitch is superb really captures the obsessive nature of football fans and I can recommend "All played out" by pete davis, a great book on Italia 90. Which would you recommend?

Probably the most riveting book about football I've read is "Dynamo - Defending the Honour of Kiev" by Andy Dougan, about the Dynamo Kiev team and the games they played against German teams during the Second World War.

It's just recently come out in paperback, and you can get it from Amazon UK.

I'd recommend it 100%.

[YehButNoBut]

The Damned Utd, a largely fictional book based on the author's interpretation of Brian Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United

[Del Boy]

Damned united, miracle of castel Di sangro are excellent

[goosano]

A Season With Verona by Tim Parks-he follows Hellas Verona round the country for a season. Brilliant descriptions of the hard core supporters of Verona and travels to away games.

[Cocaine&Caviar]

All Played Out - Pete Davies, great account of Italia '90 for England, only half way but very enjoyable thus far.

[YehButNoBut]

3 other good ones are below: -

Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. Fever Pitch is not a typical memoir–there are no chapters, just a series of match reports falling into three time frames (childhood, young adulthood, manhood). While watching the May 2, 1972, Reading v. Arsenal match, it became embarrassingly obvious to the then 15-year-old that his white, suburban, middle-class roots made him a wimp with no sense of identity: “Yorkshire men, Lancastrians, Scots, the Irish, blacks, the rich, the poor, even Americans and Australians have something they can sit in pubs and bars and weep about.” But a boy from Maidenhead could only dream of coming from a place with “its own tube station and West Indian community and terrible, insoluble social problems.”

Seeing Red by Graham Poll. A Premier League and international referee with 26 years of combined experience, Graham Poll handled some of the toughest games in soccer history—in total more than 1,500 matches—before his retirement in 2007. In this brilliant, no-holds-barred autobiography, Poll reveals what really goes on between the players in the tunnel before a match and in the dressing room after, and unveils the true nature behind the nicest and the nastiest figures in the game. Poll also shares private conversations with the likes of Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Sepp Blatter, and Steve McClaren, and the inside story behind controversial incidents involving Roy Keane, David Beckham, Patrick Vieira, and current England captain John Terry, among others. The infamous 2006 World Cup match—during which he failed to send off a Croatian player after he earned three yellow cards—that brought Poll home early in disgrace and nearly ruined his career is covered as well. Honest and eye-opening, this is a gripping behind the scenes look from one of the beautiful game’s most noted figures.

Among The Thugs by Bill Buford. The American-born editor of the British literary magazine Granta presents a horrifying, searing account of the young British men who turn soccer matches at home and abroad into battlegrounds and slaughterhouses. Buford, resident in England for the last 15 years, set out to get acquainted with these football supporters–as their fellow Britons call them in more measured moments–to learn what motivates their behavior. He discovered a group of violent, furiously nationalistic, xenophobic and racist young men, many employed in high-paying blue-collar jobs, who actively enjoy destroying property and hurting people, finding “absolute completeness” in the havoc they wreak. He also discerned strong elements of latent homosexuality in this destructive male bonding. Following his subjects from local matches to contests in Italy, Germany and Sardinia, Buford shows that they are the same wherever they go: pillaging soldiers fighting a self-created war.

[McD]

The Ripple Effect, by Dominic Holland (I think ), very funny book which revolves around a lower league club in England.

[Liberal Hibby]

Addicted by Tony Adams.

[The Keeper]

Provided You Don't Kiss Me (20 Years With Brian Clough) by Duncan Hamilton.
Just one of the best books about football ever. It was the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2007.

[tony]

Slightly different from all the good choices already mentioned but Inverting The Pyramid by Jonathon Wilson is the best football book i've ever read. Goes through the history of the game through a look at the changing tactics. Sounds a bit dull but is honestly isnt. Great, thrilling book and a mention of the Famous Five.

[Steve-O]

Just read John Burridge's autobiography, actually pretty decent

[Hibernia Na Eir]

Football, violence and Social Identity? interesting final chapter on a certain Edinburgh mob ;)

[joe breezy]

Tim Park's A Season With Verona is really enjoyable especially if you have any interest in Italy, well written and interesting

As much about the culture if travelling fans as it is about kicking a ball about but all the better for that

Edit
Just realised goosano has already mentioned it, all the more reason for checking it out

Personally didn't enjoy Among the Thugs, didn't really understand the culture of casuals and the complexities in football fan culture

[tamig]

Have read loads over the years but for something a bit closer to home, and something that really encapsulates what being a Hibby is all about, I loved Ted Brack's "There is a Bonny Fitba Team." Excellent read.

[ShanksSaidNo]

Heartfelt by Aidan Smith

[bigwheel]

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Damned united, miracle of castel Di sangro are excellent

Miracle of .... Is a stunning football book - superb! Also agree with the Year in Veronica book - two fantastic reads

There is also a Simon Kuper book - think it is football with the enemy - great read

Martin

[Newry Hibs]

'Football against the Enemy' - various stories about football rivalries and why politics should be kept out of sport.

'Pointless' - Jeff Connor. Follows East Stirling for a year (a bit like Heartfelt).

[The_Exile]

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Also agree with the Year in Veronica

I endorse this product, a year in Veronica is something to experience before you die.

[givescotlandfreedom]

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'Football against the Enemy' - various stories about football rivalries and why politics should be kept out of sport.

.

Great read. Shows the heroism and villainy of human culture through true stories in football.

[goosano]

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Miracle of .... Is a stunning football book - superb! Also agree with the Year in Veronica book - two fantastic reads

There is also a Simon Kuper book - think it is football with the enemy - great read

Martin

Well, if you had a year in Veronica then it was probably good

'A Season With Verona' is excellent

[Musselbound]

There's a fictional element to this but it's a very good recent addition:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Countries-Wo...7787727&sr=1-1

[fat freddy]

The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw - The Robin Friday Story....by Paul McGuigan (ex oasis) and Paolo Hewit with an introduction by our very own Irvine Welsh.

a roller coaster story of a talented nutter in the mould of jim baxter, george best ect...only this guy played for reading and cardiff when they were rubbish...but he wasn't...he was blessed with extraordinary skills but as he was a total bampot so no one would take a chance on him...theres a famous picture of a player scoring and giving the goalie the v sign as he runs off laughing...that was Robin Friday....he dies an alky aged 38 in 1990 and his story will make you cry...i promise.

[.Sean.]

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Damned united, miracle of castel Di sangro are excellent

If it's anything like the film, it's more a work of fiction than an autobiographical account, as many of the key occurances did not happen. Good watch nonetheless

[bigwheel]

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Well, if you had a year in Veronica then it was probably good

'A Season With Verona' is excellent

Hahaha. Yes - that was another type of book! :-)

[Winston Ingram]

If you like reading about tactics Inverting the Pyramid & Brilliant Orange

[Stonewall]

Got a number of mentions already but 'A Season with Verona' is the one I've enjoyed most.

[sundo1875]

Being the best in the world by emile heskey

[gackohibs]

Just finished "Last Minute Reilly" by the man himself. Cracking.

Also read Turnbulls "Having A Ball" both brilliant!

I also recommend "Heartfelt" By Aidan Smith.

[erin go bragh]

Sunshine on leith

A book which some of our finest players tell what it was like to play for the famous hibernian [with an updated version including latapy and sauzee ]



GGTTH