Suggested Reading List

[BrianCappellieri]

Originally posted by QPR Kevin H
Perhaps Bill Murray (the other one) who wrote the Old Firm history books?

Yeah, it's an uncreative name, I believe it's called "The World Game." An excellent book that focuses on the history of football and certain clubs.

[Fulham9]

Originally posted by QPR Kevin H

Dont forget that one-sided flyer on Fulham's 20th Century achievements ;) (jk)


I'm publishing a post-it note entitled: "QPR: The Glory Years" :)

[Fulham9]

Originally posted by BrianCappellieri


Yeah, it's an uncreative name, I believe it's called "The World Game." An excellent book that focuses on the history of football and certain clubs.

Yep, that's it. "The World Game" by some dude named Murray. Its a very good read, and I've seen it in US bookstores.

[Soccerfan20]

What? No mention of Harke's book, "captain for life and other assignments?"

Galeano's book is incredible and very political. It and he were banned/exhiled in his country and I think he has only recently been allowed back. McGuiness is not allowed back Castel Di Sangro. . .if you read the book, you'd know why his commentary has left an influential man angry.

Thank you for posting this thread. I now have a list of books I need to read in the near future.

[dcuinvermont]

Originally posted by Playable Back


I took this book w/ me on my recent trip to Italy. I didn't want to go see the sites, but rather to stay in the hotel and read this book! It was great in my opinion.

I have just started A Season With Verona by Tim Parks.
Anyone with any opinions on this book?
Absolutely Wonderful! Has made being a DC fan this year a bit more bearable.

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by Fulham9


Yep, that's it. "The World Game" by some dude named Murray. Its a very good read, and I've seen it in US bookstores.

You're referring to Les Murray, right?

He seems to have co-opted that phrase every time he's doing any kind of soccer coverage on the Australian network SBS. Would therefore seem somewhat fitting that he would title the book that...

I have a copy of the book myself, and it sits atop my bookshelf as a good reference material.

I think you can get it online from the SBS site-- which for those overseas from here, might be your best chance of getting a copy of one.

Go to www.theworldgame.com.au (which is SBS's official soccer site), and follow through to the "Shopping" link.

Also, count me amongst the ones remissed to mention John Harkes' autobiography. A must-read on one of the pivotal figures of the American game, certainly, and he gives his side of the whole Steve Sampson row in an eloquent re-telling.

Cheers,
William

[BrianCappellieri]

No, his name is Bill Murray. Like the actor. :)

[BrianCappellieri]

Is anyone else getting a screen that says they've just become a premium member? :confused: :)

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by BrianCappellieri
Is anyone else getting a screen that says they've just become a premium member? :confused:

No... I wish, though. ;)

Point, and sarchasm, well taken and much appreciated before, Brian. However, I would still highly recommend Les Murray's encyclopaedic work-- even if you have to prder it from the Australian SBS site and wait more than 2-4 weeks for overseas delivery, it's worth the wait.

Cheers,
William

[Sachin]

Originally posted by Dandal
Really impressed by this thread. Lots of books I've read and enjoyed, but surprisingly many I've not even heard about. Looks like it'll be a lot of money spent at amazondotcom.

For those of you who like "All played out" there is however I book I've not seen mentioned: Mario Risoli's "When Pelé broke out hearts", a wonderfull little book about Wales' first and only appearence in the World Cup finals.

Check the BigSoccer store as well.

Sachin

[GWither]

Don't forget "Left Foot Forward" and "Left Foot in the Grave," compelling accounts of life in lower division English soccer by Gary Nelson.

[BTrusdell]

Two books I've been told are worth checking out if you are into the bizness and politics of the game are ``FIFA and the Contest for World Football'' (1998), and ``Great Balls of Fire, How Big Money is Hijacking World Football'' (1999). Both are co-authored by a pair of University of Brighton professors, John Sugden and Alan Tomlinson (so don't expect a Miracle of Castel di Sangro type reading, probably more along the lines of Offside: American Exceptionalism). The former I'm told is a kinda ``this is how world football operates'' while the latter is a blast at Havelange, Blatter and the cast of thousands (more Havelange than anybody). I've been told the latter is comparable to Dishonored Games, the book that came out in '92 that absolutely trashed Samaranch and the Olympics. Of course that was co-authored by a sports writer named Andrew Jennings (Daily Mail), who has been accused of being a muck raker and was ripping into Blatter during the FIFA conflagration earlier this year. There have been other books that have ripped the IOC but Great Balls of Fire is the first I've heard of that goes after FIFA. And because it's written by a couple of university professors with a reputation to protect, you'd hope it be a little more factual and little less sensational. So far, I think you can only get them by going to amazon.co.uk. I haven't been able to find them on the domestic version. I can't vouch or knock either one of them since I haven't read them.

[CG]

I just got a book from Amazon.uk called Stamping Grounds which covers the WC qualifying campaign of Liechtenstein. Looks like a good read.

[Ismitje]

Originally posted by babytiger2001


No... I wish, though. ;)

Point, and sarchasm, well taken and much appreciated before, Brian. However, I would still highly recommend Les Murray's encyclopaedic work-- even if you have to prder it from the Australian SBS site and wait more than 2-4 weeks for overseas delivery, it's worth the wait.

Cheers,
William

Murray (Bill) actually has two books with very similar titles. The one US readers want is called The World's Game: A History of Soccer and is published by University of Illinois Press. Murray also wrote Football: A History of the World Game, which is the book William refers to in his post.

The classic book that has yet to be mentioned is Janet Lever's Soccer Madness, tracking Brazilian football from a professional sociologist's viewpoint.

[FlashMan]

Originally posted by pvan4
I just got a book from Amazon.uk called Stamping Grounds which covers the WC qualifying campaign of Liechtenstein. Looks like a good read.

Please let us know if this is as good as it sounds.

On its face it would appear hilarious.

[QPR Kevin H]

Originally posted by FlashMan


Please let us know if this is as good as it sounds.

On its face it would appear hilarious.
If you want to read a hilarious, football (related) book...

"Playing the Moldovans at Tennis" by Tony Hawks is great. On a bet, he must play and beat the entire Moldovan National Football Team in a series of tennis matches. Not really a serious discussion of soccer, but cmon, we've gotta think about something else sometime.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312280106/qid=1029864909/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-3741442-8470362

[ipswichfan]

I'll second the emotions on both Garry Nelson books, The Glory Game, Full Time, and 22 Foreigners in Funny Shorts.

Let me add these:
"Only a Game?" by Eamon Dunphy. Yes, the same man who co-wrote Roy Keane's new biography. It's a diary of Dunphy's time with Millwall in 73-74. It's been reprinted at least twice and should be available online.

"The Mavericks" by Rob Steen. It's about early 70s flair players who were snubbed by the English national team: Charlie George, Alan Hudson, Rodney Marsh, Tony Currie, Frank Worthington & Stan Bowles. (Actually, all but Bowles played in the US. All but Currie in the NASL, he was with a Toronto team in a Canadian league IIRC.) Makes me wish I'd gone to more Kicks games that summer Charlie George played in Minnesota.

If www.amazon.co.uk doesn't work...try www.sportsbooksdirect.co.uk. I've used both and been quite pleased.

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by ipswichfan
"The Mavericks" by Rob Steen. It's about early 70s flair players who were snubbed by the English national team: Charlie George, Alan Hudson, Rodney Marsh, Tony Currie, Frank Worthington & Stan Bowles. (Actually, all but Bowles played in the US. All but Currie in the NASL, he was with a Toronto team in a Canadian league IIRC.) Makes me wish I'd gone to more Kicks games that summer Charlie George played in Minnesota.



Congratulations. You just gave me the new inspiration for the next book on my reading list. :)

On the related subject of the NASL, there's an old book (long out of print, I'm certain) about the 1975 San Jose Earthquakes, written in a "diary" type of manner, with a countless number of in-depth player profiles and interviews. Can't remember the title or the author of the book off-hand-- I'll have to ring Momma back home tomorrow-- only that I have read it over and over again in years gone by, and it's a wonderful trip down memory lane of the first team I remember following in my youth.

Cheers,
William

[QPR Kevin H]

Originally posted by ipswichfan
"The Mavericks" by Rob Steen. It's about early 70s flair players who were snubbed by the English national team: Charlie George, Alan Hudson, Rodney Marsh, Tony Currie, Frank Worthington & Stan Bowles.
Stan the Man - autobiography of Stan Bowles. Fantastic stuff - from THE QPR legend. If you can find it - you'll love it.

[webster]

I read "Miracle" a couple of years ago and came away very impressed. Was there any fallout over the allegations made in the last couple of chapters of the book?