Bøger udgivet af Pitch Publishing Ltd

Divided Cities recounts the good, bad, indifferent but always eventful experience of journeying to 11 of the most prominent same-city derbies in world football. Kevin Pogorzelski enjoys the hospitality of the cities and their residents, while delving into the rich histories of clubs and their unique rivalries, both on and off the pitch.

The Match is the tale of one of the most iconic games in World Cup history: Italy v Brazil at Spain '82. Piero Trellini takes us on a fascinating journey through the 1982 Mundial, exploring the football scene of the day and dishing out fascinating anecdotes on the various historical and sporting links between the two nations.

1923: Life in Football 100 Years Ago takes a deep dive into the matches, personalities and events that lit up the game a century ago. It's also a social history of how fans and footballers lived day to day. From the White Horse Cup Final to the murder of footballer Tommy Ball, it's a unique look at a memorable year in football and beyond.

Forgotten Football Clubs uncovers the stories of clubs that have vanished, revealing their histories, their successes and their ultimate failures. Some of the clubs existed for more than a century, while others only lasted a few years. The book unearths fascinating tales from around the world - from Asia to South America, Europe and Africa.

John Lloyd was the poster boy of British tennis - a former British number one, Grand Slam finalist, Wimbledon mixed-doubles champion and Davis Cup captain. Remarkably, he and his two brothers, David (of leisure club fame) and Tony, all played in the singles championship at Wimbledon in the same year: a testament to the parents who believed in their sons' dreams as the boys batted tennis balls against a garage wall in Essex. Told with humour and honesty, John's autobiography is filled with intimate insight and captivating tales of Hollywood celebrities, tennis icons, broadcasting greats and loves lost - from his marriage to the legendary Chris Evert and dealings with Donald Trump to his sobering battle with cancer and drug addiction at the heart of his family. As the story unfolds, the John of today sends letters of advice to his former self in a yearnful act of 'if I only knew then what I know now'. What we now know for certain is that John Lloyd has lived an extraordinary life.

In the Heat of the Midday Sun is a love letter to the 1986 World Cup. A tournament viewed via the shimmering satellite images of an age before the dawn of high-definition coverage - which was introduced four years later, at Italia '90 - it was the last World Cup where the commentaries sounded like they were broadcast from the surface of the moon. Mexico took on the tournament after Colombia failed to deliver on their host candidature, relinquishing the rights in 1983. With a devastating Mexico City earthquake just eight months before the big kick-off, it was a miracle that the Estadio Azteca was still able to be the venue of Diego Maradona's greatest and most infamous hours. As well as Argentina's most gifted son, Mexico '86 was blessed by the presence of Socrates, Platini, Francescoli, Butragueno, Belanov and Elkjaer to name but a few of the icons on display. This is the story of an evocative World Cup that seemed to be held together by Sellotape.

Philosophy and Football: The PFFC Story is the extraordinary account of how a Sunday League team was transformed through European travel into a club made up of players from 24 countries, united by a love of the beautiful game and a desire to change it. The story is told by two key participants: a British writer and an Italian football journalist.

Goodison Park is one of British sport's most fabled venues: the home of Everton FC since 1892 and one of the last traditional football amphitheatres. It has witnessed highs and lows and been graced by the likes of Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Alan Ball, Bob Latchford, Gary Lineker, Pele and Eusebio. As the Toffees prepare to move to the waterfront, Goodison Memories celebrates that legendary stadium with vivid recollections not from Evertonians, but from opposition players, managers, officials and sports journalists. The result is a collection of candid interviews that capture the essence of Goodison Park. Listen to their tales of the Everton players they remember with fondness, priceless anecdotes and memories of the atmosphere and features of the stadium. Have you ever wondered what it was like for the broadcasters to sit on the TV gantry, the press to work from the press box? What was it like for match officials to take charge of the game and handle the characters on the Goodison turf? Goodison Memories holds all the answers.

With more than 400 appearances, Sammy McIlroy - the last player signed by Sir Matt Busby - is a bona fide Old Trafford legend. McIlroy is a Northern Ireland icon, too, having managed the country and played in two World Cups. Here he tells of his extraordinary life in football, with remarkable candour and emotion, pulling no punches.

Glorious Reinvention is the story of how Ajax rediscovered their mojo to compete again with Europe's best. In November 2010, after Ajax's 2-0 loss in the Champions League group stage to Real Madrid, Johan Cruyff wrote a newspaper column criticising his former club. He believed the side were poorly run, had lost their identity and been left behind by modern football. Cruyff wanted change. He wanted Ajax to rely on their academy as they once had, and he wanted former Ajax players in high positions calling the shots at the club. This was dubbed 'the velvet revolution' - a peaceful coup that would propel Ajax to once more compete with the best. A few years on, with many of the changes in place, the side reached a Europa League final and a Champions League semi-final with an exquisite style of football and methods that Cruyff would have appreciated. Ajax, now run by former club greats such as Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars, combined the techniques of old with modern elements.

Fields of Dreams and Broken Fences lifts the lid on the little-known world of non-league football. From being hours away from folding in the Essex Senior League and turning semi-professional because of YouTube to dropping out of the Football League and trying to find a way back, this book shines a vital spotlight on clubs from various levels of the National League System and shares their stories. The tales include the dramatic null-and-void decision of the 2019/20 season, Chichester City making history in the FA Cup, Leyton Orient and Notts County battling to get back into the Football League, Hashtag United turning semi-professional and Steve Castle, the former professional player, returning to the lower levels to pursue a career in management. Filled with compelling stories from multiple sides of the game, Fields of Dreams and Broken Fences brings non-league football to life as it delves beneath the surface of the lower levels of the English game. This book is written for the love of football.

This is the inside story of non-league football, as told by a player with over a decade's experience in the Conference and National Leagues. A tale of financial struggles and big sacrifices, it explores the dust-ups, bust-ups, backhanders and betting scandals of a world far, far away from the pampered Premier League.

Made in Europe is a celebration of Europe's greatest and most remarkable football talent over more than 60 years. It features 250 of the best and most colourful players - each one honoured in stunning photos and fascinating mini-bios, interspersed with little-known anecdotes. You'll learn things you didn't know in this beautifully illustrated book.

Show Me The Way To Plough Lane is the ultimate story of football fan power. It is the story of how Wimbledon reclaimed its football club and brought it back to the heart of its community after years of nomadic existence. It retraces the club's history from its genesis on Wimbledon Common to Plough Lane, the place Wimbledon FC called home for the best part of a century. After rumours of mergers and relocations, the club ground-shared after the Taylor Report. A decade passed with the fans sold lie after lie until the club was ripped from its community and re-sited many miles away. Not only was the club homeless, it was now dead. A group of fans who were at the heart of protests against the move decided to start again - from the very bottom if necessary. And they vowed to bring football back to Wimbledon, to where it all started. After an absence of almost 30 years, the side finally returned home - just a long ball away from where the original ground sat, in Plough Lane.

The Undisputed Champions of Europe celebrates the iconic teams, managers and players who scaled European club football's greatest mountain. A tournament that was played out in a more rarefied air than its siblings - the European Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup - the European Cup owned an unmatched sense of occasion.

Always Believe is the gripping autobiography of Chelsea, Arsenal and France star Olivier Giroud. Join him on a remarkable journey, from playing for a small club in southern France to achieving top-flight glory there and in England, before lifting the World Cup with the French national team. Giroud shot to prominence in 2011/12 as the top scorer in France's Ligue 1, netting 21 goals to help Montpellier to their first-ever top-flight title. After signing for Arsenal in 2012, he rewarded the Gunners with 73 goals in 180 games and helped them to three FA Cup wins. He is also the French national team's second-highest scorer. Now at Chelsea, Giroud is still hungry for success. But what about the sacrifices he's made along the way? The pressures of being under the spotlight and having to cope with a constant stream of criticism and questions around his selection for the national side? Usually a private person, Giroud holds nothing back as he shares all the highs and lows of a stellar career at the game's top level in this tell-all book.

Football is Better with Fans tells the story of what it was like for supporters when they were shut out of grounds because of lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic. It also takes a predominantly light-hearted look at life for the loyal football supporter, sharing their stories, anecdotes, banter, commitment, passion and traditions.

On a sweltering day in May 2010, Blackpool achieved the impossible dream. The Seasiders booked their ticket to the Premier League in a thrilling play-off final win, with all the riches that came with it. Twenty-four hours later, while everybody else was celebrating, the Oystons were meeting to plan how they would take it. Ian Holloway and his side fought bravely for survival, becoming the nation's second team with their swashbuckling style. Behind the scenes, the club was falling apart. Buckets collected rain leaking through the training ground roof. The manager's office could have the heat or lights on, just not at the same time. The Oystons paid themselves nearly GBP30m. It took five years for Blackpool to suffer three relegations back to the basement of the Football League. When fans hit back, they were sued. Chairman Karl Oyston told a fan he was on a 'never ending revenge mission'. How Not to Run a Football Club is the inside story of how one family nearly ran a football club to its death. And how a community brought it back.

Dead Man Running: One Man's Story of Running to Stay Alive is the inspirational story of Kevin Webber. Diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in 2014 and given just two years to live, Kevin started a brutal regime of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He also started running and refused to stop. Across the deserts of the Sahara, the snow and ice of the Arctic and the jungles of Cambodia, Kevin's journey has taken him from the depths of despair to achieving the impossible. Kevin describes the emotions of discovering he was terminally ill and the impact on his family and friends. He talks honestly about his cancer, his treatment and making every day count while staring death in the face. The training, the marathons, the injuries, the physical and mental challenges of living with terminal cancer are all described in Kevin's own words. He has never stopped dreaming and living his life the best way he can. This is one man's story of running to stay alive which will hopefully inspire you to live a bit more too.

The Forgotten Champions is an enthralling account of how Everton overcame a devastating catalogue of injuries and the sale of their star striker to reclaim the league title from Liverpool in 1987. Manager Howard Kendall used all his tactical acumen to produce a side that was far greater than the sum of its parts to bring the title back to Goodison.

How much do you really know about Manchester City? Put your Blues knowledge to the test with this bumper book of brainteaser quizzes and fascinating facts, beautifully illustrated by one of the world's leading sports artists. It's packed with trivia on all the great Man City sides, providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment.

How much do you really know about Arsenal? Put your Gunners knowledge to the test with this bumper book of brainteaser quizzes and fascinating facts, beautifully illustrated by one of the world's leading sports artists. It's packed with trivia on all the great Arsenal sides, providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment.

The Sunshine Kids is no ordinary autobiography. Twins Fabio and Rafael Da Silva have seen it all in football - from the favelas of Brazil to the height of the European game with Manchester United. Their performances and contribution to one of the most glittering periods in the club's history cemented their place in the heart of every United fan. Theirs is an incredible journey and story - and, with Wayne Barton ('The pre-eminent writer on Manchester United' - Martin Edwards) the pair tell all. The sheer personality pours from the pages as Rafael's energy shines through in tales of fierce rivalries with Liverpool and Manchester City, and Fabio reveals his battle with anxiety as he sought to establish himself at Old Trafford. From the experience of joining the best team in Europe, to the human aspect and difficulty that comes with it, their familial relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson and their careers since leaving United - you'll discover just why the twins have been adored wherever their football careers have taken them.

The Away Leg takes your imagination on a trip around the world navigated by a skilled team of 11 football writers. From club derbies and incendiary World Cup matches to international landmarks and memorable finals, you'll discover an eclectic array of stories. All author royalties go to a national social care charity.

Wimbledon's Greatest Games features 50 of the most exciting and absorbing tennis matches ever played on the All England Club's courts. Journey back in time and relive the unforgettable feats of Rod Laver, Althea Gibson, Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Billie Jean King, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Martina Navratilova and Serena Williams among many others. From the roar of the crowd to the emotion of the players, the drop-shots, the volleys, the epic rallies and the double-faults, each thrilling contest comes alive as the action from the famous venue is brought to you in vivid detail. So, serve yourself a Pimm's, sit back and let Abi Smith transport you to Centre Court as you explore this comprehensive collection from the greatest tournament of all. Capturing gentlemen's, ladies' and doubles matches that have shaped the game, Wimbledon's Greatest Games is an action-packed, ace-filled guide that every SW19 fan will want to devour.

The period leading up to 1999 had been grim for Stoke City fans - relegation, stagnation, embarrassment and board conflicts were commonplace at the club. As the new millennium approached, fans demanded change, but no one could have predicted what would come next. An Icelandic consortium, brought together by Gudjon Thordarson, set sail for the Potteries with the promise of exciting foreign imports and Premier League football. What followed was a mixture of flashy arrivals, cup successes, broken curses, flop signings and plenty of fallouts, with extraordinary on-field moments along the way. Cult heroes and villains were made as Stoke became a living soap opera for seven remarkable years. Twinned with Reykjavik lifts the lid on that rollercoaster ride with the views of the people who experienced the wild journey. Integral players and fans look back on the key moments that defined the era as the book ponders that vital question: was the Icelandic takeover actually a success for Stoke City?