Sportsbiografier

The SUNDAY TIMES number 1 bestseller -- the extraordinary life story of the greatest footballer ever to play the game.

Shows how the author faces his growing alienation from the game he was born into, as he revisits key periods in his father's career to build up a picture of his football life and through him a whole era. This book recaptures a lost world and the way it changed, blending the personal and the historical into a soccer story.

At the age of sixteen, Andy Cave followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and became a miner - one of the last recruits into a dying world. Every day he would descend 3,000 feet into Grimethorpe pit. But at weekends Andy escaped from the pithead to a very different world - testing his nerve on the cliffs and mountains around Britain.

Revealing what made him the top man, this book includes the author's thoughts and his memories of the classic years for football fans. With familiar faces presenting their comments, it shows just what it is that makes Bill Gardner unique among the toughest and the greatest of them all.

David Beckham is one of the world's foremost media icons, his popularity transcending sport and cultural divides. This is his own in-depth account of his career to date, for Manchester United and England, and of his childhood, family and personal life.This is Beckham's fascinating life story in his own words. His rise through the ranks at the biggest club side in the world. His complex relationship with United boss Alex Ferguson. The England story, from being vilified by the nation before returning as the prodigal son to eventually captaining his country. His acrimonious falling-out with his manager and departure from Old Trafford in June 2003. And starting a new chapter of his life on foreign soil in the glare of the world's press.Now from Beckham himself, we gain a vivid and eye-opening insight into the family man behind the famous footballer, the international model and fashion leader. He describes how he first met and then married ex-Spice girl Victoria Adams, and the upbringing of their two children Brooklyn and Romeo. How his family's every step is monitored by a posse of newshounds and paparazzi. Also, the influence of his parents, growing up as a shy youngster in the family home, and how their subsequent split affected him.Intimate and soul-searching, this is the real David Beckham like we have never seen before.

Detailing Lance Armstrong's battle with life-threatening testicular cancer and his return to professional cycling, it became a huge bestseller, appealing to fans of cycling as well as cancer survivors inspired by his full and dramatic recovery.

'No one could fail to be gripped by his heartfelt excitement and emotion over what was the adventure of a lifetime' IndependentAt the age of twenty-three, Bear Grylls became one of the youngest Britons to reach the summit of Mount Everest. At extreme altitude youth holds no advantage over experience, and it is generally acknowledged that younger climbers have more difficulty coping with the adverse effects of mountaineering. Nevertheless, only two years after breaking his back in a freefall parachuting accident, Bear Grylls overcame severe weather conditions, fatigue, dehydration and a last-minute illness to stand on top of the world's highest mountain. Facing Up is the story of his adventure, his courage and humour, his friendship and faith.

John McEnroe enjoyed tremendous success at all levels of tennis, and he owns 77 career singles titles, including 7 Grand Slams. He joined the circuit in 1978 and it took him only three years to attain the No. 1 ranking. The 1980 Wimbledon final, between McEnroe and Bjorn Borg, is considered by many tennis experts to be the best match ever, a five-set thriller which McEnroe avenged the following year for his first Wimbledon title.In doubles, McEnroe is recognised as the best player of all time. He was ranked No. 1 for a record 257 weeks and captured a total of 74 titles, including 8 Grand Slams. Still an active player, McEnroe is now an outstanding tennis commentator and broadcaster for the BBC and other national networks. This autobiography, his first, covers an awesome tennis career, marriage to movie star Tatum O'Neal and where arguably the greatest tennis player of all time goes from here.This is SERIOUS.

A classic of mountaineering literature, this is the story of the harrowing first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the most legendary and terrifying climb in history.Heinrich Harrer, author of 'Seven Years in Tibet' and one of the twentieth century's greatest mountaineers, was part of the team that finally conquered the Eiger's fearsome North Face in 1938. It was a landmark expedition that pitted the explorers against treacherous conditions and the limits of human endurance, and which many have since tried - and failed - to emulate.Armed with an intimate knowledge that comes only from first-hand experience of climbing the Eiger, Harrer gives a gripping account of physical daring and mental resilience. A new introduction by Joe Simpson, author of 'Touching the Void', confirms the lasting relevance of this true adventure classic.

Thrilling story of sailing and rescue from international hero, Pete Goss

A revealing and complete biography of doomed hero George Mallory, which includes previously unpublished letters and family papers

Lotte Friis er den bedste danske langdistance-svømmer nogensinde og har vundet medaljer ved både OL, VM og EM.Men selv om hun mange gange har stået øverst på sejrsskamlen, har karrieren også budt på store nedture. I FIGHTEREN fortæller hun bl.a. om at misse kvalifikationen til OL i 2004 – og om at gå helt ned, da hun var medaljefavorit til OL i London i 2012. FIGHTEREN er et anderledes portræt af en verdensstjerne i en sport, der ikke nyder stor bevågenhed i Danmark. Bogen er rigt illustreret.

PASSAGE is the captivating story of the remarkable life of Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, an iconic figure in international equestrian sports. This deeply personal account follows a young woman's relentless pursuit of freedom and finding her own path.At the age of twelve, Cathrine Dufour joined the Danish pony dressage team, winning the Danish Championship that very year. Since then, she has secured dozens of medals at both Danish and European Championships and represented Denmark at the Olympic Games three times. In 2022, she achieved a historic victory, bringing home gold from the World Championship as part of the Danish national dressage team for the first time ever.Her career is full of wins. But Cathrine has also faced defeats and profound personal losses, including losing contact with part of her family.PASSAGE offers an unfiltered glimpse into the sacrifices and challenges endured by Denmark's most celebrated dressage rider to realize the ultimate dream of becoming one of the world’s best. It is also a love story, chronicling how she met show jumper Rasmine Laudrup and became part of Denmark's most well-known sports family. In this book, Cathrine tells her own story, for the very first time.CATHRINE LAUDRUP-DUFOUR was born in 1992 in Denmark. She is married to show jumper Rasmine Laudrup-Dufour. The couple live on a farm, where they run a business together. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour is the most winning Danish dressage rider of all time.BIRGITTE WULFF was born in 1968 in Denmark. Wulff is a journalist and has worked as a crime reporter for many years and authored a series of bestselling crime novels.

Sir Chris Hoy knows better than most how life can change in the blink of an eye.In elite sport, the margin between victory and defeat is miniscule, and the pressure is immense. Chris has built a glittering sporting career on understanding these moments: how to feel for them, how to cope with them, how to make them count.Last year, he faced another life-changing moment. He found out that the ache in his shoulder was in fact a tumour, and that he had Stage 4 cancer. He will be living with this disease for the rest of his life.In this memoir, Chris shares the next phase of his extraordinary life with exceptional bravery. He looks over the challenges he has faced thus far, and the ways he has taken them on. With his wife Sarra and their young children by his side, he shares how he has used these experiences to find ways to focus on the moments that matter, showing us how to do the same.

Boris Johnson, author of the international bestseller The Churchill Factor, explores the most famous British icon: William Shakespeare.

Inspired by the true story of Frankie Lucas, a young black boxer navigating the vibrant yet challenging world of 1970s London.

Out of the Darkness reveals a grittier side of football. Former Leicester and Sunderland winger Matt Piper retired aged 24, after 16 knee operations, and his life soon spiralled out of control. His daily existence became dependent on alcohol and Valium, culminating in an ugly rock bottom. But after the darkness came light.

Told in detail for the first time and based on exclusive interviews, get the inside story on the legendary rivalry between two of the greatest NASCAR drivers ever.The battle for NASCAR dominance was never more pronounced than when Richard Petty and David Pearson met on the track. In head-to-head competition beginning in 1960, they finished one-two an astounding 63 times (Pearson won 33, Petty 30). Petty vs. Pearson is the only book to examine this storied relationship, beginning with their pre-Winston Cup careers. Along the way, author and award-winning motorsports journalist Mike Hembree leaves no stone unturned, detailing:The drivers’ respective backgrounds—Petty earning his way up through a racing dynasty led by his father Lee; Pearson honing his chops as a DIY racer on local South Carolina dirt tracks The Carolinians’ first meeting in a Cup event in 1960The memorable battles between the two drivers, including their legendary wild finish at the 1976 Daytona 500Parallel careers that coincided with seismic changes to NASCAR, including: the advent of superspeedways, the “aero wars,” the injection of corporate money, and the arrival of a new generation of star drivers in the 1980sWhile their rivalry produced amazing finishes and tense moments, Petty and Pearson remained friends throughout. Petty vs. Pearsonexamines all aspects of the relationship, from their salad days in the sport to their respective retirements in 1986 (Pearson) and 1994 (Petty) and their lives in NASCAR beyond the driver’s seat. Throughout the riveting text, Hembree draws on original interviews with both drivers (including interviews conducted with Petty in early 2024), those who were there to witness the rivalry, and NASCAR figures who came later. The result is an entertaining and essential account of a storied rivalry—and friendship—that bridged the divide between NASCAR’s rollicking early years and the entertainment behemoth it is today.Featuring a foreword by Terry Labonte, a legendary NASCAR driver in his own right, Petty vs. Pearson is a must-have for every NASCAR fan’s collection.

The inside story of legendary golfer Tiger Wood's magnificent run, when he won all four major tournaments in a single calendar year, becoming the greatest player of his generation-a show of unparalleled dominance in the sport with which he has become synonymous. In the annals of golf, one achievement towers above all others-the Tiger Slam. A quarter century ago, between 2000 and 2001, Tiger Woods accomplished a feat so extraordinary, it may never be replicated. Published in time for the twenty-fifth anniversary of this remarkable event, The Year of the Tiger transports readers back in time to witness the sheer brilliance and unrelenting determination that propelled Woods to the pinnacle of his game. Through vivid storytelling, meticulous research, and fresh interviews, The Year of the Tiger uncovers new details about the four major championship victories that cemented Tiger's status as an all-time great-while also exposing the cracks in his superstardom that led to his inevitable downfall.

Compiled by award-winning film-maker Alastair Lee, Exposed - Leo Houlding is a large format photographic book presenting the extraordinary life of one of the world's finest climbers, Leo Houlding. Leo's landmark endeavours are captured through breathtaking photography accompanied by the compelling stories behind the imagery.

The Chicken Runs at Midnight is the nearly unbelievable---but completely true---story of a Major League Baseball coach whose dying daughter's unusual encouragement changed his heart and his life...and just maybe the outcome of a World Series.

The definitive story of England's greatest cricket team and their historic Ashes triumph. Winning the Ashes in England is one thing. Winning them in Australia, quite another. Since the Second World War, England have only won five Ashes series in Australia, making their 1954-55 triumph a stand-out performance. And on the pitch was one of England's greatest teams - perhaps the greatest. The names among Len Hutton's 18 players - to include Denis Compton, Brian Statham and Frank Tyson - still resonate today. The overwhelming weight of history was against them: only once had England won an away Ashes series after losing the first Test. But they delivered, winning the series 3-1, a monumental team effort spearheaded by the explosivity of fast-bowler Tyson 'Typhoon'. However, the skill was on both sides of the pitch as the players, both talented cricketers and fascinating men, brought to sport an entirely different perspective to our modern-day uber-professionals. With contemporary sources and players' memories from both sides, read the story of a historic and stirring victory, and of the personalities behind the action on the field. Discover how cricket has changed, how tours have evolved and how the relationship between England and Australia has undergone a revolution.

In 2003-04, the St. Joseph's Hawks became the most unlikely and captivating story in college basketball.

You've heard of David Beckham: the world-famous celebrity, actor, model, entrepreneur, philanthropist and charity ambassador. But what about the footballer behind the brand? Drawing on exclusive interviews with former Beckham team-mates, acclaimed author Wayne Barton explores Beckham's contribution as one of the greatest players of his generation.