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The Race for the 2012 Olympics
By Mike Lee. 2006
London bid leader and British Olympic hero Sebastian Coe, Tony Blair and David Beckham all played a part in winning…
the most competitive race for the Games in Olympic history. But it was far from plain sailing and the campaign was a rollercoaster ride of emotions: full of drama, controversy and tears from the moment businesswoman Barbara Cassani was given the task of launching the bid in 2003, to the fateful day in Singapore when her successor, Lord Coe, and the rest of the world was told London had won.Mike Lee was at the heart of this intriguing journey through the entangled world of International Olympic Committee politics, international sport, British politics and the media as he travelled the world with Coe and other team members to present London's bid.The Race Against Time: The perfect running gift for runners over 40
By Richard Askwith. 2023
'Inspirational' - ObserverA transformational quest for the secrets of happy, healthy, whole-life running that will change the way you think…
about growing older.Colourful, informative and inspiring, The Race Against Time is a story of cold science and heart-warming resilience; of champions and also-rans; of sprinting centenarians and forty-something super-athletes barely touched by age. Its heroes are experts and enthusiasts - scientists, coaches, runners - from many countries, each with a different story to tell.This is a book for anyone who has ever felt the healing power of running – or simply wondered about the effects of ageing. It is both a very personal account of one man's journey from despair to hope, and an exhilarating guide, explaining how timely adjustments to lifestyle and training can slow the progress of physiological decay, while sheer human spirit can, if you are lucky, keep you running happily and healthily, all the way into extreme old age.The Race Against Time
By Edward Pickering. 2013
When Chris Boardman first raced against Graeme Obree, in a time trial in Newtonards, Northern Ireland, in 1990, it was…
the start of a rivalry that captivated the British public for a decade and brought cycling on to the front pages. Boardman was the establishment figure: reserved, scientific, middle-class. Obree was the rebel: the Flying Scotsman, working-class, riding a home-made bike. Both were after one thing - to be the fastest man on two wheels.After Boardman had won Britain's first cycling gold medal for 72 years at the Barcelona Olympics (inspiring none other than Bradley Wiggins to get on a bike), attention turned to the world hour record, the blue riband event of track cycling. Between 1993 and 1996, the pair took it in turns to smash the record, with Boardman's team breaking the boundaries of technology and the loner Obree constantly reinventing ways of building and riding bikes while battling his many demons.The Race Against Time tells the story of how Britain first started to dominate cycling, but is also about the struggle between art and science, tradition and innovation, commercialism and individuality. It is the tale of two complex characters who redefined the sport and set in motion a new era in British cycling, the legacy of which we enjoy to this day.Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsene Wenger: Manager, Arsenal Football Club
By David Manson. 2005
When Arsene Wenger was appointed as manager by Arsenal Football Club in 1996, football fans everywhere gave a puzzled look…
and asked, 'who?'They were soon to find out just what kind of man had become a part of English football, as Wenger added to Arsenal's first Double win by leading them to another in 1998 and a third in 2002. Since then, he has amused and entertained with his erudition and always pertinent evaluations of Arsenal's merits and those of the game in general.Here are the most diverting and most intriguing comments of manager Arsene Wenger.Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches
By Carlo Ancelotti. 2016
Carlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest managers of all time, with five Champions League titles to his name. Yet…
his approach could not be further from the aggressive theatricals favoured by many of his rivals. His understated style has earned him the fierce loyalty of players like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.In Quiet Leadership, Ancelotti reveals the full, riveting story of his managerial career - his methods, mentors, mistakes and triumphs - and takes us inside the dressing room to trace the characters, challenges and decisions that have shaped him. The result is both a scintillating memoir and a rare insight into the business of leadership.A Question of Sport Quiz Book
By David Gymer and David Ball. 2011
After more than four decades on the air, A Question of Sport is firmly established as the final word in…
sports trivia. Now, after countless arguments, sporting debates and lost hours spent directing the action from the sofa, you can finally test your own knowledge to see if you can succeed where so many sporting greats have failed.With over 3,500 brand new questions, A Question of Sport Quiz Book will challenge you to put your money where your mouth is and put your knowledge of the sports world to the ultimate test. Play on your own or in teams to answer questions covering all eras of football, golf, cricket, motor racing, boxing, rugby, darts, snooker, the Olympics and so much more.With questions from your favourite rounds from A Question of Sport, here at last is your chance to take on the captain's challenge, or go head-to-head on the quick-fire buzzer round. What will be your score when the final whistle blows?Put Me Back on My Bike: In Search of Tom Simpson
By William Fotheringham. 2007
Discover the story of Britain’s ultimate cyclist and his ill-fated race during the 1967 Tour de France, from the bestselling…
author of Half Man Half BikeTom Simpson was an Olympic medallist, world champion and the first Briton to wear the fabled yellow jersey of the Tour de France. He died a tragic early death during the 1967 Tour. A man of contradictions, Simpson was one of the first cyclists to admit to using banned drugs, and was accused of fixing races, yet the dapper 'Major Tom' inspired awe and affection for the obsessive will to win which was ultimately to cost him his life. Put Me Back on My Bike revisits the places and people associated with Simpson to produce the definitive story of Britain's greatest ever cyclist. The fully revised and updated edition of William Fotheringham's classic biography features a new foreword and postscript further exploring the truth behind the legend.‘The best cycling biography ever written' Velo ‘A beautiful explanation of why Simpson's legend still exerts such a powerful hold’ Sunday TimesPulling the Strings: My Autobiography
By Peter Stringer. 2015
The long-awaited autobiography of Ireland's most beloved rugby player: Peter StringerWhen Peter Stringer played youth rugby, he was so small…
that people told his parents he shouldn't be allowed on the pitch. Fortunately for Munster and for Ireland, they paid no attention. Over 200 provincial caps and 98 international caps later, Stringer is a legend.Since making his Munster debut in 1998, his lightning-quick passing, sniping breaks and brave defending have electrified fans - never more so than when he deceived the entire Biarritz team at a scrum to sneak in for the try that brought Munster its first Heineken Cup in 2006. In Ireland's breakthrough season of 2009, his man-of-the-match performance at Murrayfield helped overturn a late deficit en route to the Six Nations Grand Slam.Now, for the first time, Peter Stringer tells his own story - a story of overcoming the odds, and a story every Irish rugby fan will want to read.'What gives the publication its grit is the scrum-half's no-holds-barred descriptions of fallings-out with various coaches ... All revelatory stuff' Liam Heagney, Irish Daily MailProud: My Autobiography
By Gareth Thomas. 2014
**WINNER British Sports Book Awards SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR****Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award**Gareth…
Thomas had it all. He was a national hero, a sporting icon. He was a leader of men, captain of Wales and the British Lions. To him, rugby was an expression of cultural identity, a sacred code. It was no mere ball game. It gave him everything, except the freedom to be himself.This is the story of a man with a secret that was slowly killing him. Something that might devastate not only his own life but the lives of his wife, family, friends and teammates. The only place where he could find any refuge from the pain and guilt of the lie he was living was on the pitch, playing the sport he loved. But all his success didn’t make the strain of hiding who he really was go away. His fear that telling the truth about his sexuality would lose him everything he loved almost sent him over the edge.The deceit ended when Gareth became the world’s most prominent athlete to come out as a gay man. His gesture has strengthened strangers, and given him a fresh perspective. Gareth’s inspiring and moving story transcends the world of sport to tell a universal truth about feeling like an outsider, and facing up to who you really are.The Professor: Arsène Wenger
By Myles Palmer. 2008
Idealistic, passionate and scientific, Arsène Wenger led the modernisation of English football.A star-maker who identifies and nurtures talent, he also…
opened the door for foreign coaches like Houllier, Eriksson, Ranieri and Mourinho. He is Arsenal's most successful and longest-serving manager and the only manager in FA Premier League history to go through an entire season without a loss. Now completely revised and updated to include Arsenal's triumphant campaign to the 2006 Champion's League final, Wenger's induction into the English Football Hall of Fame and all the highlights from the 2007/08 season,The Professor tracks the highs and lows of Wenger's decade at Arsenal, his teams, his methods, his successes and failures, and asks what the future holds for the man who reinvented the beautiful game.The Pressure Principle: Handle Stress, Harness Energy, and Perform When It Counts
By Dr Dave Alred Mbe. 2016
''If you are struggling with exams, vivers, job interviews, work presentations, with performing in a team or individual sport -…
or find it difficult to interact in social situations - then this is for you' - Amazon reviewThe book on how to handle pressure from the performance coach to Francesco Molinari and Jonny WilkinsonWhether it's the stress of hitting a deadline at work, passing an exam or an upcoming job interview, pressure is everywhere.So how can we turn this into our advantage?Dr Dave Alred MBE is widely acknowledged as one of the best coaches on the planet. A pioneer in performance psychology, he nurtured Jonny Wilkinson into rugby's most feared kicker, and has helped Premiership footballers, number one golfers and England cricketers deliver on the biggest stage.He believes that dealing with pressure is a skill like any other and in this book he shares his eight ground-breaking principles, distilling his life's work into an accessible and practical book with examples from the world of business, sport and the classroom.From writing down personal affirmations to understanding how to use language more effectively, The Pressure Principle will help you become your best self and stay calm when the heat is on.'Dave Alred is a genius. There is simply no-one around to match him in his field' Jonny Wilkinson CBE'Dave Alred is the coach who helped Jonny Wilkinson keep his cool. We can all learn from him' Matthew Syed, author of bestselling Black Box ThinkingThe Premiership in Focus
By Martyn Smith. 2007
The Premiership in Focus celebrates 15 years that have changed the face of football. When Football Focus began life on…
BBC1 in 1968 as Football Preview, football in England was about old wooden terraces, grounds that were ankle deep in mud or covered in snow and a Bovril at half time. In 1992 came the Premier League and the sport changed forever. The Premier League was established as one of the most exciting, cosmopolitan and widely watched national sporting leagues in the world and fans are now able to watch hundreds of Premiership matches live as football has seemingly taken over much of national life. Why has this happened? How has it affected the clubs, fans, players and managers? How long can it be sustained? This book aims to examine these questions as well as celebrate 15 amazing years of football. It will look back at the great moments, outstanding matches, stunning goals, incredible saves, controversial decisions and the sheer excitement that has been the Premiership.Please Don't Go: Big John's Journey Back to Life
By John Hartson. 2010
In July 2009, former Celtic and Wales soccer star John Hartson was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which had also spread…
to his lungs and brain. But before his treatment even began, John came to the brink of death after contracting pneumonia, ceasing to breathe and undergoing emergency brain surgery. Against all the odds, he pulled through, and in Please Don't Go he documents his incredible fight for life.Profoundly moving, John's own story is interwoven with the poignant recollections of his pregnant wife, Sarah, as well as with extracts from his sister Victoria's personal diary. This remarkable book covers the five-week period during which John's survival was most in jeopardy.John's truly inspirational account of how he has managed to overcome a very aggressive form of cancer will offer hope and courage to others affected by the disease. It is a touching and ultimately uplifting insight into the bravery of the popular football hero, who has fought back to full health in the face of adversity.Playing With Fire
By Nasser Hussain. 2004
Nasser Hussain was acclaimed as England's best cricket captain since Mike Brearley. Under his leadership, a side more famous for…
its batting collapses and ability to seize defeat from the jaws of victory discovered its backbone. With coach Duncan Fletcher he put some steel into the side; they became a difficult team to beat.Hussain wore his heart on his sleeve: railing against complacency, defying critics of his place in the batting line-up and making a principled stand at the last World Cup when the ECB seemed incapable of it.Expect passion, integrity, insight and candour in his eagerly awaited autobiography.Playing for Uncle Sam: The Brits' Story of the North American Soccer League
By David Tossell. 2003
A coach transported to the field in a hearse as he played dead. An English manager taken at gunpoint to…
an Argentinian jail after trying to sign that country's World Cup captain. The hero of 1966 who talked his team out of going on strike on the eve of a title decider. All are part of the British professionals' story of life in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 1970s and early '80s, when star turn and unsung journeyman alike had the chance to play alongside Pelé, Cruyff, Beckenbauer and Eusebio in the greatest galaxy of world stars ever assembled in one league. Playing for Uncle Sam recalls the British players and coaches who were part of an organisation that changed the face of football with its shoot-outs, offside rule and wacky marketing methods.It began with Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers spending a bizarre summer posing as the Cleveland Stokers and Los Angeles Wolves in 1967. The late '70s saw the NASL, run by a former Welsh international, reach its peak, drawing crowds of 70,000 and featuring names like Banks, Moore, Hurst and Ball. Rodney Marsh pitched his tent in America by declaring famously that English football had become a grey game, while George Best used the NASL as an escape from the fishbowl of his life in Britain. Typically, the pair delighted and exasperated teammates and coaches in equal measure. Through approximately 60 interviews with members of the British contingent who accepted the offer of the Yankee dollar, Playing for Uncle Sam recalls one of the most fascinating episodes in football history: the remarkable rise and chaotic collapse of the NASL.Players: 250 Men, Women and Animals Who Created Modern Sport
By Tim Harris. 2009
It may be natural to play games, but the sports we love aren't natural at all. Each and every one…
of them has been invented, tweaked, pushed and pulled to come up with better rules, cleverer tactics and more effective techniques. There are no prizes for guessing who invented the Cruyff Turn or the Fosbury Flop - but who invented the header or the sliding tackle? The dive pass or the scrum? The lob or the smash? The sand wedge or the tee? The googly or the flipper?This book introduces 250 men, women and animals, each of whom has transformed at least one major sport. Famous or infamous, remembered or forgotten, god-like or god-awful, the game was never the same after them.In making his selection, Tim Harris, author of Sport, has drawn on years of passion, argument and research to produce a list that is at once personal and authoritative, provocative and challenging: the rogues, rulers and revolutionaries who shaped the games we play today.The St Andrews Old Course Starter's Box was sold in a controversial international auction on 10 September 2001, the day…
before the infamy of the Twin Towers attack. 'Play Away Please' recounts the glory of the little building in St Andrews, 'the home of golf', and tells the tale of those who used its services for 77 continuous years.Unlike many epics, the story does not centre on a rich dynasty or a heroic quest for the truth. Instead, it centres on the production of the perfect round of golf and the global marketing of the Box - one of the most celebrated buildings in the world of sport - as a brand and an icon. The book also chronicles the suspense and notoriety that greeted the Box after its voyage from Scotland to California, by way of the Panama Canal, and the role it assumed as an emotional balm for many in the aftermath of the 11 September atrocity.Alas, nothing is as simple as it seems and miracles are rare. The businessman who bought the Box was imprisoned before it reached Los Angeles, accused of stealing millions from the real-estate development that was to be its home. Eight years later, a happy ending was finally brought about, but only after a healthy dose of gut-wrenching fear and suspense became a part of the story.Supplemented with exclusive photographs, 'Play Away Please' is also a personal story of patronage and odyssey to assure the Box's preservation as the sporting world's consummate symbol of integrity and fair play. Along the way, the author brings to life the unforgettable local characters of Fife, celebrating their customs, lifestyle and unique command of the English language.The Plant-Based Power Plan: Increase Strength, Boost Energy, Perform at Your Best
By Tj Waterfall. 2021
HOW A PLANT-BASED DIET IMPROVES PERFORMANCE - AND HOW TO DO IT YOURSELF'A fantastic resource for any plant-based athlete looking…
to get stronger or fitter' James Wilks, winner of The Ultimate Fighter and producer of The Game Changers'Well-written, well-researched, highly recommended!' Gene Stone, co-author of How Not to Die'Whether you're looking to kickstart a healthier lifestyle or take your training to the next level, this book has you covered' Plant-Based Health Professionals UKThe scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that a plant-based diet is one of the most effective ways to improve both long-term health and to see immediate results in terms of energy, recovery and performance. But what can you do to ensure your diet boosts your performance in your sport or training? In The Plant-Based Power Plan, registered elite sports nutritionist TJ Waterfall uses the cutting-edge research he applies with his clients - ranging from Premiership rugby players, competitive weightlifters and professional boxers, to Premier League footballers and ultra-distance triathletes - to bust the myths and explain how a well-planned plant-based diet can take your health and performance to the next level. With simple but comprehensive practical guidance - from maximising muscle protein synthesis and improving your recovery, to tweaking nutrition timing and getting enough energy to fuel highly active training schedules - TJ gives you everything you need to bring your A-game. He also shows you just how simple it is to incorporate the most important nutrients into your diet with a selection of 30 easy and delicious recipes. 'A definite "must read"' Fiona Oakes, four-time world-record-holding marathon runner'Brim full of the information you need to eat your way towards your full potential' Etienne Stott MBE, London 2012 canoe slalom gold medallist'A holistic lifestyle guide, from a scientist not a guru' Dale Vince OBE, Chairperson, Forest Green Rovers FC, the world's first vegan football club'Every athlete, coach, trainer and medical practitioner in all sporting organisations should read this book and utilise the insights it offers' Les Kiss, Head Coach, London Irish Rugby ClubThe Plan: How Fletcher And Flower Transformed English Cricket
By Steve James. 2012
In 1999, England slumped to a new low in their tumultuous cricket history. Defeat at home by a mediocre New…
Zealand team saw them fall to the bottom of the world Test rankings, below even Zimbabwe. Yet only just over a decade later, England reached the top. It was a remarkable and profound transformation, brought about largely by two men with an insatiable desire to succeed, Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower.In The Plan, Steve James tells the story of the renaissance of English cricket from a unique perspective. As the former batting partner of ECB managing director Hugh Morris, a player under Fletcher at Glamorgan and Flower's closest confidant in the press corps, James is the perfect analyst of this period in cricket history. From crucial choices of captain to innovative coaching and a complete overhaul of training and preparation for matches, it is the tale of a refusal to be second best.And in examining Fletcher and Flower's background in Zimbabwe, where James himself played, he uncovers the continental shift behind the turnaround. It is the story of how English steel was melded with African fire to create the most potent combination in world cricket.Peter Alliss' Golf Heroes
By Peter Alliss. 2002
For millions of people around the world, Peter Alliss is the 'voice of golf'. In a long and distinguished career…
as a player and then broadcaster, he has become synonymous with the sport. Now fully updated with brand new material, this is his fascinating personal tribute to the fine players and wonderful characters who have stimulated his love affair with the game of golf for more than half a century.Featuring stars of yesteryear such as Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tony Jacklin; charismatic crowd-pleasers like Lee Trevino and Seve Ballesteros; modern legends Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie; and the pioneering women who have moved the ladies' game to new heights, this is a highly entertaining collection and a must for all golf fans.