Cover Art Courtesy of IPG Neal Heard clearly has a passion for football kits and, as a result, he has a world-class collection. There’s never been a world-class text to complement his collection, but that changes with his book entitled The Football Shirts Book: The Connoisseur’s Guide. His love for the beautiful game comes through loud and clear in an entertaining read that is jam-packed with amazing photos. It all starts with the history of his collection and the personal connection
This summer’s FIFA World Cup has already brought joy and disappointment to the masses. Regulars like the Netherlands, Chile, Cameroon, Italy, and the U.S. failed to qualify, breaking the hearts of millions. But you also have unlikely favorites like Panama, Iceland, Peru, and Tunisia that have inspired fans all over the globe. If you are a real soccer fan, you will tune in regardless of who is playing. It’s the World Cup, a global spectacle that only comes around once every
Cover Art Courtesy of Amberley Publishing Dean Walton has followed his beloved West Bromwich Albion all of his life, rarely missing a home game in the past fifty years. Walton is also a West Bromwich Albion shareholder and a member of the Albion Assembly. He is married with two grown-up children who, in keeping with the family tradition, are both Baggies’ season ticket holders. Sounds like the perfect person to write about the club’s fans, right? Proud to be a Baggie: A
Cover Art Courtesy of Pen and Sword Books Wembley has been in the news as of late thanks to an offer from billionaire Shahid Khan to purchase the iconic stadium. The offer, which could be in excess of $1.3 billion, made headlines all over the world. Why? It’s simple: Wembley has a special place in everyone’s heart as the home of the English national team and the FA Cup. But there’s a greater history that many are unaware of. Maurice Crow’s
Sporting legends were not immune from the effects of World War II, a tragic conflict that killed millions. The rugby community was particularly affected as 58 internationals were killed in the conflict. Final Scrum: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Second World War, an offering from Pen & Sword, tells the story of the 14 Scottish, 14 English, three Welsh, eight Irish, nine Australian, two New Zealander, and eight French players that lost their lives fighting against the evils of the
Manchester United is one of the world’s biggest sporting brands with a valuation of over $3.69 billion in 2017. That price point makes it the most valuable club in all of global soccer. But the billions haven’t always been there with a club that came from humble beginnings. In fact, the club was only valued at $2.7 million in 1980. But Chairman Martin Edwards changed all of that, and in the process, made history. Simply put, the rise of
If you love numbers, data, soccer, or a just a great read, you will absolutely love the 2018 World Cup edition of Soccernomics from Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski. Yes, this is Moneyball for the beautiful game. While there won’t be a movie starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, there are plenty of beautiful statistics and a pair of mathematical rock stars as authors. These statistics are enough to restore your optimism for soccer in the United States. We did miss
Johan Cruyff is arguably the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. He excelled at every stop with his impact heaviest in Holland, Spain, and the U.S. He rose to the top of the club and international game and never left. It’s quite easy to see that he is bigger than Pelé, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, and di Stéfano combined. But Cruyff’s legacy is not limited to the pitch, he left his mark everywhere he went. That legacy extended to the board room,
It’s easy to say that lacrosse is on the rise in the United States. It’s often called the country’s fastest growing sport and for good reason. The college game, both men’s and women’s, has absolutely exploded with games regularly appearing on major networks like ESPN. Major League Lacrosse (MLL) is entering its 18th season with nine teams; its playoffs were featured on Twitter and CBS Sports. Teams regularly average crowds in the thousands. The National Lacrosse League (NLL) also boasts nine teams