Out Today – The Greatest Show On Earth by Andrew Downie

The 1970 World Cup is widely regarded as the greatest ever staged, with more goals per game than any World Cup since. But more than just the proliferation of goals was the quality of the overall football, as some of the finest teams ever to represent the likes of West Germany, Peru, Italy and England came together for a tilt at the world title. But at the heart of the tournament were Brazil; captained by Carlos Alberto and featuring legends like Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivellino and Tostao, the 1970 Selecao are often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team.

Using brand new interviews alongside painstaking archival research, Andrew Downie charts each stage of the tournament, from the preparations to the final, telling a host of remarkable stories in the players’ own words. The result is an immediate, insightful and compelling narrative that paints a unique portrait of an extraordinary few weeks when football hit peaks it has seldom reached since. This is Mexico 1970. Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth.

Published by Arena Sport

Available to order here

John Murray Press to Publish debut from Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh

We are delighted to announce that John Murray Press will publish GB Women’s Hockey Olympic Gold medallists Kate and Helen Richardson Walsh’s first book Winning Together in October 2021.

In Winning Together, Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh, share powerful lessons from the Great Britain women’s hockey team journey to gold in Rio 2016. They show how to create a winning culture in any environment, in any industry, so that you and your teammates can thrive.

Drawing on their vast experience both in and out of sport, double Olympic medalists Helen and Kate, tell the incredible, behind-the-scenes story of how a team from the lower rankings forced its way to the top. They bring you into their team huddle to reflect and work through exercises to help improve your performance. Using their individual and collective stories they demonstrate that successful teams are made up of people who are valued as human beings and supported to individually flourish.

Covering connection, care, awareness, empowerment, alignment, the power of difference and much more, Winning Together gives you the tools to be the very best version of yourself, and to build better teams.

Available to pre-order here

Event: Felix White at Rough Trade Nottingham

Felix White will be in conversation with Elly Oldroyd and signing copies to celebrate the launch of his new book It’s Always Summer Somewhere.

Where: Rough Trade Nottingham

When: 4th August, 7-10pm.

Tickets available here

It’s Always Summer Somewhere’ is a memoir partly through cricket, expressing how the game has explained my life back to me, and partly the adventures of The Maccabees – a story of love and grief.

It’s Always Summer Somewhere is published on 5th August by Octopus Books. Pre-order your copy here

Telegraph Sports Book Awards Shortlists Announced

The Telegraph Sports Book Awards have announced the shortlists for the 2021 awards and we are delight to announce that our authors have 14 books nominated across 8 different categories. A huge congratulations to all of our authors who have been shortlisted this year!

Autobiography of the Year

Fast Forward by Andrew Cole (Hodder and Stoughton)

Children’s Book of the Year

My Greatest Football Team Ever by Tom Fordyce and Kieran Carroll (Hachette Children’s Group)

Chasing a Rugby Dream by James Hook and David Brayley (Polaris)

Johnny Ball: Accidental Football Genius by Matt Oldfield and Tim Wesson (Walker Books)

Roy of the Rovers: Rocky by Tom Palmer and Dan Cornwell (Rebellion Publishing)

Cycling Book of the Year

Mountains According to G by Geraint Thomas (Quercus)

Football Book of the Year

The Quality of Madness by Tim Rich (Quercus)

International Biography of the Year

Basta: My Life, My Truth by Marco van Basten (Octopus)

Rugby Book of the Year

Exe Men by Robert Kitson (Polaris)

Sports Entertainment Book of the Year

Never Stop Dreaming by Stuart Pearce, Oliver Holt (Hodder & Stoughton)

Only Here For A Visit by Alan Brazil (Bantam Press, Transworld Books)

26.2 Miles to Happiness by Paul Tonkinson (Bloomsbury Publishing)

Sports Health and Fitness Book of the Year

The Whitlock Workout by Max Whitlock (Headline)

Goals: Inspirational Stories to Help Tackle Life’s Challenges by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti (Headline)

 

Full shortlist available here

The Promises of Giants by John Amaechi is out now!

Happy publication day to John Amaechi!

The Promises of Giants is a challenge to anyone who aspires to make a difference in their environment. Over fourteen promises, it seamlessly intertwines personal anecdotes and workplace and social observation with the latest research, to provide practical, proven tips and strategies to empower you to maximize your own potential and inspire others. It is not a self-help book. It is a how-to guide for winning, rooted in the belief that the most unlikely of people, in the most improbable of circumstances, can become extraordinary.

Published by Nicholas Brealey Publishing

Available to order here