Search Results for: Sport

In which year did the first televised football match take place? What were the first shin pads made out of?  Who held the shortest ever managerial position, at a record-breaking ten minutes? From the humble beginnings of Notts County football club in 1862 to the technical heights of the game that we watch today, football is a sport treasured by millions of people across the globe. Packed with facts and trivia, this miscellany takes you on a tour through the origins of the game, its key players and famous rivalries, and the triumphs and scandals that colour its history. Whether you’re a new fan, a keen player or an avid spectator, For the Love of Football is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of the beautiful game.  

A bike can be so many different things – a simple way of navigating busy city streets or enjoying quiet lanes, a cross-country steed to take a rider up hill and down dale or even a world-beating racing machine. What unites everyone who rides is that they each have their own cycling story to tell.
This book collects inspirational stories from riders around the world, both ordinary and extraordinary, from the cyclist who conquered Mont Ventoux on a Boris bike, to the trials rider who hops from building to building, to classic tales of Grand Tour rivalries and legendary cycling records of days gone by. Essential reading for anyone who loves life on two wheels.

What does the term ‘sledging’ refer to? How many First-Class records were set by W. G. Grace? How old the youngest ever cricketer to play a Test match was? Cricket fans don’t just like cricket, they love it! Whether you’re a soldier in the Barmy Army or you enjoy an afternoon of sunshine and wickets, there’s a reason why the world’s first modern spectator sport is beloved of so many.  Bringing together history, trivia, amusing anecdotes and fresh insights, this handy volume is an all-rounder guide to the gentleman’s game.

 

Did You Know…
Who won 152–0 in 2002, the largest margin of victory in an international fixture? The stories behind rugby’s best nicknames, like ‘Suitcase’, ‘Raspberry’ and ‘The Fun Bus’? How the first-ever ‘own try’ was scored in 2014? It may not always be beautiful, but rugby is a glorious game. Whether you’re a devoted fan, a keen player or a complete newcomer, there’s no other sport where titans clash with so much heart and soul. Bringing together history, trivia, amusing anecdotes and fresh insights, this handy volume will be your sweet chariot through the world of the oval ball.

Sport can bring out the best in us… and the worst.
The high-pressure world of competitive sport has been shaken over the years by a series of major scandals. Involving drugs, sex, violence, money or pure and simple cheating, these incidents have ruined reputations, fuelled suspicions and shocked loyal supporters. Highlighting some of the most memorable cases from around the world, Norman Ferguson explores both recent and historic instances of dishonesty, betrayal and outrageous unsporting behaviour.
Over 35 scandals, including:
How cancer-survivor Lance Armstrong deceived his fans and cheated his way to seven Tour de France victories The World Cup bidding processes that brought the FBI to FIFA’s door Figure skater Tonya Harding’s sinister plot to break the leg of her rival, Nancy Kerrigan

I threw the kitchen sink at him but he went to the bathroom and got his tub.
Andy Roddick on Roger Federer
When I lost my decathlon world record I took it like a man. I only cried for ten hours.
Daley Thompson
I’ve seen George Foreman shadow boxing and the shadow won.
Muhammad Ali
Win, lose or draw, players and fans always have something to say about it. Packed to the rafters with the best quips and quotes from across the world of sport, this massive collection will keep you smiling in the stands even when you’re smarting from the scoreline.

Running isn’t a hobby, it’s a way of life.

Runners run to be the best they can be, to challenge who they are, to inspire others and to champion their cause.

From the woman who ran for three and a half days without sleep, to the 61-year-old man who broke records in an 875-km ultramarathon, this collection of unforgettable stories will inspire anyone who’s ever pounded the pavement to keep on running and enjoy every minute of this liberating sport.

‘I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.’
Brian Clough
Sport is the stuff of high drama, big personalities and some very memorable quips. This collection of funny and thoughtful words from across the sporting spectrum is at the top of its game.

Did you know…




Eiður Guðjohnsen made history playing for Iceland in a friendly against Estonia in 1996 when he came on as the substitute for his own father, Arnór?


Coventry City FC have played in the Premier League, The First, Second, Third and Fourth Divisions and Division 3 North and South?


In recognition of their unbeaten Premier League record that year, 2003–4 winners Arsenal were presented with a special gold Premier League trophy?




Lace up your boots for this collection of mind-blowing trivia and top-tier questions about the beautiful game – and find out if you’re on the ball with your football facts.

What do fierljeppen, running 156 miles in the Sahara desert and coal-carrying all have in common? They’re just some of the wackiest, toughest and most extreme manpower races and challenges dreamt up by the human race.


This fact-packed miscellany is bursting with all the details, statistics and anecdotes of the world’s most unusual competitions (ever heard of bog snorkelling?) and intense endurance contests. Whether you’re an armchair thrill seeker or you’re wild enough to have an adventure or two under your belt, this book will entertain and inspire.

How do people come together when tragedy tries to tear them apart?

When 39-time marathon runner Andrew Spriggs was diagnosed with motor neurone disease he knew his running days were over. But a surprise message from his nephew Chris, offering to push him in his rickety wheelchair in one last marathon, reunites them in a race against time.
Rich with insights and inspiration, personal discoveries and unforgettable encounters, The Reason I Run is an astonishing story that will make you laugh, weep and wonder. Join Chris on an incredible journey that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
 

‘Every day is a good day when you run.’
Kevin Nelson
RUN MORE – RUN BETTER – RUN NOW!
This colourful little book of uplifting quotes and tailored tips delivers motivational sparks and hearty encouragement for runners. Read it, run with it, use it as a training weight – whatever you do it, the aim is simple: to get you running!

‘Dance is the hidden language of the soul.’
Martha Graham
This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, captivating stories and inspiring quotes from the world of dance, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy and freedom of slipping on your dance shoes and expressing yourself through movement to music.

Laura was a self-certified couch potato who, until a few years ago, could only run for a couple of minutes at a time, and couldn’t swim. She has now completed several marathons and is a committed triathlete.
But Laura couldn’t have achieved what she has without the advice and support of her friend Katie. A life-long runner, fair-weather cyclist and born-again swimmer, Katie helped Laura through the ups and downs of training for a triathlon. As well as surmounting fears of failure and, more importantly, Laura’s fears of drowning in the swim start, their triathlon journey gave them the opportunity to push their limits and have fun along the way.
Tricurious tells Laura’s and Katie’s story with energy and humour. Filled with anecdotes and advice about the trials and tribulations of preparing for a triathlon, this inspiring book will answer your questions and leave you curious to experience the joy (and pain) of swim, bike, run.

For Anna, a cycling enthusiast, the decision to ride 4,000 miles solo around the coast of the UK wasn’t that hard. Following the river from London until it became the sea, then following the sea until it reached the mouth of the Thames again was a beautifully simple idea. But after epic highs, incredible lows, unforgettable scenery and unpronounceable place names – as well as a hearty battle with some good old British weather – her simple idea turns into a compelling journey of self-discovery, and an eye-opening insight into what makes the island where she lives so special.

Running isn’t a hobby, it’s a way of life.

Capturing the strength, the speed, the stamina and the pure exhilaration of a great run, these stunning photographs and inspiring quotations showcase the beauty of the world’s most enduringly popular sport.

The only gear you need is ‘go’.

Fixies and single-speeds take cycling back to square one. They’re the ride of choice for hipsters, tricksters and hardmen alike – bare-bones bikes that can be dressed up or stripped down; simple machines that have inspired a diverse, inventive culture and innovative designs in a host of industries. This book celebrates the art and craft of one-gear bikes with stunning photos of rides from around the world. Includes inspirational quotes.

THE TRIATHLON: A TRUE TEST OF ENDURANCE AND FITNESS

Capturing the discipline, the anguish, the fortitude and the joy that are all key elements of training for and competing in a triathlon, these stunning photographs showcase one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Includes inspirational and motivational quotes to encourage all triathletes.

Mont Blanc, or ‘Il Bianco’ as it is sometimes known as in Italy; The White One. It sits, regally, upon pleated glacial folds gathered together around a timeless, grey-rock body, high above the French town of Chamonix, lord of all that it surveys. It beguiles, bewitches and charms the lesser folk who seek to frolic and play amongst the buttressed foothills of its ancient frame, but exudes also a sense of foreboding; a warning to the one hundred or so climbers that die each year attempting to reach the gleaming, domed summit of this great snow-encrusted mountain.

Framed by the cobalt blue sky and golden alpine sun, Western Europe’s highest mountain has held a certain allure over explorers and hikers for centuries, playing host to the likes of Hannibal, Napoleon and the early pioneers of alpine exploration.

In a muddy field somewhere in Cornwall on New Year’s Day, two men make a pact to tackle it. Call it a mid-life crisis, with not only his daughter about to leave for university but also the rapidly approaching prospect of his fiftieth birthday to consider: walking 170 kilometres across a mountain range seems the perfect antidote. Humorous, reflective and poignant, this is the story of a journey around one of the world’s most iconic mountains, through an area that is full to bursting with stories to remember.

‘I’m confident they play cricket in heaven. Wouldn’t be heaven otherwise, would it?’
Patrick Moore
This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, amusing anecdotes and captivating stories and quotes from the world of cricket, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of the gentleman’s game.

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, amusing anecdotes and captivating stories and quotes from the world of football, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of the beautiful game.

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, handy hints and captivating stories and quotes from the world of golf, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of hitting the fairway.

‘It seemed a terrible shame to meet my end in Iowa; I couldn’t imagine anywhere more disappointing to die. If I were a betting man I’d have reckoned on the most dangerous thing in this state being sheer boredom. The scenery hadn’t changed for weeks and I was slowly dissolving into stimulation-deprived madness. My current predicament, then – attempting to escape through cornfields from a gun-toting alcohol-soaked rancher – was not something I expected.’
Just months after graduating from university, Leon received disastrous news: he had been offered a job. Terrified at the prospect of a life spent behind a desk, without challenge or adventure, he took off to cross America on an overloaded bicycle packed with everything but common sense. Over five months and 6,000 miles, Leon cycled from New York to Seattle and then on to the Mexican border, facing tornadoes, swollen river crossings and one hungry black bear along the way. But he also met kind strangers who offered their food, wisdom, hospitality and even the occasional local history lesson, and learned what happens when you take a chance and follow the scent of adventure.

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, amusing anecdotes and captivating stories and quotes from the world of rugby, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of picking up the ball and running with it.