[SparkeyG]

The summer is winding down, the Cup is over. I was hoping y'all could give me a decent list of books on soccer to read.<br>
Not how-to books, but books in line with <i>Fever Pitch</i> and <i>Offside - Soccer and American exceptionalism</i>.<P>
--Sparkey

[Revs miss playoffs again]

The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro
by Joe McGinniss

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...200677-7093622

[redjef25]

Originally posted by Revs miss playoffs again
The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro
by Joe McGinniss

I just starteed reading it the other night. It was highly recommended. So far, yeah, it's quite a read. He does a good job at capturing the feelings of those who "discover" how passionate soccer can be. It's for an audience who isn't familiar with soccer, so you have to read through a lot of him describing all the basic rules, but he breaks it up with humor and other interesting facts.

[scoonie45]

Fever Pitch is one of the finest books I've read. It turned me into an Arsenal fan- for better or worse. His other books are phenomenal, even though they have nothing to do with soccer.

[QPR Kevin H]

Manchester United Ruined My Life - Colin Schindler

Among The Thugs - Bill Buford

Steaming In - Colin Ward

Faith of our Fathers - Alan Edge

My Favourite Year - Nick Hornby (ed)

Some can be found on Amazon - others on amazon.co.uk. "My Favourite Year" is a fantastic anthology of non-fic shorts from the best football writers in the UK. Essential in my opinion.

[TEConnor]

Those who subscribe to the logic of Among the Thugs would hate the next book that I recommend:

Soccer in Sun and Shadow
by Galeano (spelling?)

I love this book. Others hate it. See which type you are.

[Northside Rovers]

The Far Corner - by Harry Pearson

A Mazy Dribble thru North East Football.

Very funny stuff - in the same vein as Fever Pitch. One old guy goes to a bunch of pro and semi-pro games in NE England.

One of my favorite parts is when he tells of an old fan who has been a Sunderland fan so long he no longer has any optomism. Any time the opposing team crosses the halfway line with the ball, the old man would say "Oh...I don't like the looks of this."

[NYfutbolfan]

Originally posted by Revs miss playoffs again
The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro
by Joe McGinniss

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...200677-7093622

A book that I could not put down. Excellent reading material and an interesting view of the game.

[NYfutbolfan]

Originally posted by SparkeyG
Not how-to books, but books in line with <i>Fever Pitch</i> and <i>Offside - Soccer and American exceptionalism</i>.<P>
--Sparkey

-

"Soccer and American exceptionalism" is a very scholarly book that makes some points but is not "fun" reading. It is a good analysis for the why and wherefore of american soccer, and any american footy fanatic should read it, but I wouldn't pick the book up a second time, it was rough getting through it the first time.

[Playable Back]

Originally posted by NYfutbolfan


A book that I could not put down. Excellent reading material and an interesting view of the game.

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?