I happen to love history and English football. So Patrick A. Quirke’s The Origins of Wolverhampton Wanderers is the ultimate read. It is a fascinating tale of how a few people made a big difference in a club, growing it from humble beginnings to eventually playing among England’s best. Cover Art Courtesy of Amberley Publishing Strong characters appear again and again in the book, but none stronger than John Brant Brodie. He should be given credit as one of the
Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the great minds of the modern game. He has done so much for the sport, impacting game after game. He makes headlines even in retirement. Cover Art Courtesy of Amberley Publishing So how do you pick his 50 best games, the most defining moments in his career as a player and manager? This seems to be a question that would bring much debate or a great book, the latter being Sir Alex Ferguson:
You’re right. FIFA 14 and Football Manager 14 are great ways to enjoy the beautiful game. But there are other ways to be part of the action. FUBA Tactical Football Game is the latest in a line of brilliant soccer board games. It is destined to be one of the classics like Subbuteo and Soccero. It has a throwback feel and intelligent gameplay, a place to show off your knowledge of tactics. It allows you to choose a formation and
Gordon Banks is one of my favorite players from the glory days of the NASL in America. Yes, there was Pelé, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, and Chinaglia. But there was also Banks, who stood out as a classy steward of the game, a player who cared on and off the field. He was and still is the epitome of what the beautiful game is all about: skill, passion, determination, and hard work. Cover Art Courtesy of Amberley Publishing Simply put, Banks reminds us of
One thing Rotherham United is consistent about is inconsistency. They certainly have had their share of trials and tribulations, highs and lows, triumphs and heartbreak. Cover Art Courtesy of Amberley Publishing All of this is detailed in Paul Rickett’s Rotherham United: A Pictorial History from Amberley Publishing. It is a fascinating story of a club that goes through just about everything to get where they are today, a League One club with a great deal of promise and a
Football Manager is more than a game; it’s a way of life. Just ask the authors of Football Manager Stole My Life: 20 Years of Beautiful Obsession. That’s right. This is a game that takes over your life, just like your love of the beautiful game. All Images Courtesy of Sports Interactive It’s certainly an immersive experience, one that gets better year after year. Football Manager 2014 is an absolute gem, offering something for casual, and as you might expect,
Recently West Brom was in the limelight thanks to the sacking of Steve Clarke after four successive defeats. West Bromwich Albion: The Top 100 Matches by Tony Matthews focuses on happier times, looking back to the top matches of this club’s illustrious history. We’re always a fan of top matches as a topic for a book. It calls for analysis and evaluation, usually resulting in an insightful and entertaining read. They are always a great conversation piece. That
Soccer coaching books and manuals are “a dime a dozen.” Publishers see it as an easy sell, something that is always in demand. That may certainly be the case, but there has always been a demand for something better, something of a higher level. Training for Soccer Players by Marc Briggs is that highly evolved resource for coaches that want to go “the extra mile,” coaches that are at the pinnacle of their craft. This title is
India is one of the brightest emerging markets in the beautiful game. FIFA clearly was aware of this when they awarded the country the 2017 U-17 World Cup, ushering in a new era of prosperity and growth for the entire region. A Social History of Indian Football: Striving to Score by Kausik Bandyopadhyay and Boria Majumdar is the definitive text for anyone looking to learn the history of Indian football. Simply put, it is THE resource for Indian
