Sports books/autobiographies

[JellyBaby]

Any recommendations? I've just finished Conor Niland's book about the less glamorous side of tennis which I enjoyed. Agassi's was also good from memory. I've read a few football ones but often find them a bit hit and miss, usually miss but I'm sure there are some good ones out there. I enjoy reading about non football so suggestions welcome!

[bobinho]

I enjoyed “it’s not about the bike” the Lance Armstrong book, but I read it before the truth came out…. Find it now in “fiction”.

[Goalkeeper]

The 4 Kings. George Kimball. Hard to put down. The inside story of the Hearns, Duran, Leonard and Hagler fights in the 80s.

[MrTopTier]

That near death thing Rick Broadbent about the TT races.

Friday Night lights H G Bissinger about the realities of College American football.

Finding the edge Jimmy Anderson

Night games Anna Krien the dark side of Aussie Rules football.

We had some laughs Dan Waddell written about his dad Sid.

The beautiful game. David Conn

[jdrobbo]

Born to Run: https://amzn.eu/d/9y8DVSk

David Millar ‘Racer’: https://amzn.eu/d/guYjgoz

Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong (David Walsh): https://amzn.eu/d/euTDeZK

[Cooclaret]

I enjoyed “it’s not about the bike” the Lance Armstrong book, but I read it before the truth came out…. Find it now in “fiction”.

Both Armstrong books are top. Then read Tyler Hamiltons and then finish with David Millar. Absolutely brilliant insight into the cycling world as it was!

Cycling was absolutely fascinating back then!

[TheFamilyCat]

Both Armstrong books are top. Then read Tyler Hamiltons and then finish with David Millar. Absolutely brilliant insight into the cycling world as it was!

Cycling was absolutely fascinating back then!

A couple of other cycling books; The Death of Marco Pantani by Matt Rendell and How I Won The Yellow Jumper by Ned Boulting.

[robinoz]

My favourite cycling book is Fallen Angel: The Passion of Fausto Coppi by William Fotheringham

[ClaretPete001]

I really enjoyed Tony Cascarino's autobiography ghosted by Paul Kimmage. It was a good account of a decent but not top player including earnings and personal life

[Clarets4me]

" Slipless in Settle " by Harry Pearson, about League Cricket in the North of England ..

" Harold Larwood " by Duncan Hamilton ...

" Le Coq - A journey to the heart of French Rugby " by Peter Bills

" Paper Lion " by George Plimpton , a journo's efforts to train in a pre-season with an NFL team, to get to play in a pre-season game ...

[JohnDearyMe]

My Father and Other Working-class Football Heroes
by Gary Imlach

[longsidetrumpet]

Second the Gary Imlach book. Football wise, anything by Duncan Hamilton and particularly Jonathan Wilson, especially his Two Brothers, about the Charltons. I’m not keen on the Dave Thomas books, sorry to say

[Mondsley]

Sticky Dogs and Stardust by Scott Oliver. Tales of superstar pros in League Cricket. Plenty of mentions of Lancs and Central Lancs Leagues. Just brought out the second book with a third in the pipeline.

[LeadBelly]

" Slipless in Settle " by Harry Pearson, about League Cricket in the North of England ..

" Harold Larwood " by Duncan Hamilton ...

" Le Coq - A journey to the heart of French Rugby " by Peter Bills

" Paper Lion " by George Plimpton , a journo's efforts to train in a pre-season with an NFL team, to get to play in a pre-season game ...

Agreed on "Slipless in Settle", very entertaining and great observations about northern league cricket, somewhat of a travelogue as well as cricket-related observations. Quite a few years since I read it so I might dig it out for a reread.

A football book I loved was "Steak Diana Ross" by David McVay. A diary of mid 70s season with Notts County when footballers were embedded in the working class and "lad culture" and pitches were muddy. I lived in Nottingham (watching both Forest & County) just after this so recognise a lot of the players and places involved in the games & shenanigans.

Another footy one I read long ago and should dig out is "Morbo" ("The Story of Spanish football"). Not only informative about the clubs and rivalries but about Spanish culture (and geography).

[AlargeClaret]

Another shout for the Tyler Hamilton book “ The secret race “ A really open honest account of his career , doping and Lance as a teammate and cheat . Covers the “ glory” years of doping . One team were rumoured to be using dogs blood to avoid getting busted blood doping .

[Enola Gay]

I really enjoyed Tony Cascarino's autobiography ghosted by Paul Kimmage. It was a good account of a decent but not top player including earnings and personal life

I’d definitely recommend the Cascarino book.

“In My Head, Son” by Pat Nevin is well worth a read as well.

For more general books I’d go with “Tor!”, “Morbo” and especially “Brilliant Orange”, about German, Spanish and Dutch football respectively. “Behind The Curtain” is similar on Eastern Europe but all the chapters get a bit same; football thrives as it’s used as a tool by the State under communism then it all goes to sugar after the Cold War ends.

And for all the grief it gets for arguably starting the gentrification of football, “Fever Pitch” is a good read.

[JohnMcGreal]

A Season with Verona by Tim Parks is still one of my favourites.

[appleton]

IMG_20250616_180851_HDR~2.jpg (1.75 MiB) Viewed 320 times

Finding a way, Lenny Johnrose .

[sjb]

Any cricket book by Stephen Chalke, particularly Runs In The Memory & Caught In The Memory, stories of County Cricket in the 1950s & 1960s as seen through the eyes of the players.