Good reads
- Jumpforfun
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13 Jul 2025 10:31 #1
by Jumpforfun
Good reads was created by Jumpforfun
I know this has been done in the past but looking for some good sports books to read.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
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- Corporal Crisp
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14 Jul 2025 00:01 #2
by Corporal Crisp
Replied by Corporal Crisp on topic Good reads
The Secret Race (Tyler Hamilton)... Best sports book, I've read
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- bruntonpete
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14 Jul 2025 10:20 #3
by bruntonpete
Replied by bruntonpete on topic Good reads
I've just finished keegans autobiography. That was quite a good read.
Avoid anything by Paul Harrison.
Avoid anything by Paul Harrison.
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- CCU
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14 Jul 2025 10:42 #4
by CCU
Win or Lose, Up The Blues!
Replied by CCU on topic Good reads
Any of the Michael Calvin books:
www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Calvin/e/B0044DJ7UI
www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Calvin/e/B0044DJ7UI
Win or Lose, Up The Blues!
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- lincolnblue
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14 Jul 2025 11:00 - 14 Jul 2025 11:12 #5
by lincolnblue
Replied by lincolnblue on topic Good reads
Manchester United Ruined my Life by Colin Schindler.
Well written and quite funny.
Edit to add - Little to do with Man U directly, but a great account of growing up in that era....football and cricket.
www.amazon.co.uk/Manchester-United-Ruined-My-Life/dp/0755363884
Well written and quite funny.
Edit to add - Little to do with Man U directly, but a great account of growing up in that era....football and cricket.
www.amazon.co.uk/Manchester-United-Ruined-My-Life/dp/0755363884
Last edit: 14 Jul 2025 11:12 by lincolnblue.
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- ParcelPete
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14 Jul 2025 11:03 - 14 Jul 2025 11:04 #6
by ParcelPete
Replied by ParcelPete on topic Good reads
I'll put that on my list.
Last edit: 14 Jul 2025 11:04 by ParcelPete.
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- Mullen103
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14 Jul 2025 12:29 #7
by Mullen103
At least we’re not Stockport
Replied by Mullen103 on topic Good reads
I’ve heard Paul Harrison’s are good fiction.
At least we’re not Stockport
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- Jumpforfun
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14 Jul 2025 13:48 #8
by Jumpforfun
Replied by Jumpforfun on topic Good reads
I've read a couple of the Michael Calvin books and have another still to read.
Has anyone read the Johann Cruyff book?
Has anyone read the Johann Cruyff book?
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15 Jul 2025 11:22 #9
by Gaston
Replied by Gaston on topic Good reads
I've read the Cruyff book - it was very disappointing I thought, one of those very bland footballer autobiographies
I can recommend Andre Agassi's 'Open', that was really good (and I'm not especially into tennis)
I can recommend Andre Agassi's 'Open', that was really good (and I'm not especially into tennis)
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15 Jul 2025 11:32 #10
by lummy8
Replied by lummy8 on topic Good reads
Mickey Quinn "who ate all the pies" and Stan Collymore's were good reads. Very honest, not frightened to get in trouble with their partners or ex team mates, really told the brutal truth!
Collymore dropped a couple of female celebrities in it with a few stories of what they got upto!
I find the Michael Owen, Lampard ones etc are just ticking a box, very bland, the lower league players seem more open which is understandable as Lampard etc have a bit more to lose.
Collymore dropped a couple of female celebrities in it with a few stories of what they got upto!
I find the Michael Owen, Lampard ones etc are just ticking a box, very bland, the lower league players seem more open which is understandable as Lampard etc have a bit more to lose.
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- CCU
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15 Jul 2025 12:20 #11
by CCU
Win or Lose, Up The Blues!
Replied by CCU on topic Good reads
Aye, I’ve read loads of Player autobiographies and the lesser Player’s are usually better, with the odd exceptions!
From memory, I’d recommend Gary Nelson, Micky Quinn, Ben Smith (Really good and relevant to lower leagues), Ray Parlour, Perry Groves, Tony Cascarino, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lars Leese, Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp, Eamon Dunphy, Paul Merson...
Regarding Cruyff, look for ‘Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff.’ Far better than his own book.
From memory, I’d recommend Gary Nelson, Micky Quinn, Ben Smith (Really good and relevant to lower leagues), Ray Parlour, Perry Groves, Tony Cascarino, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lars Leese, Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp, Eamon Dunphy, Paul Merson...
Regarding Cruyff, look for ‘Ajax, Barcelona, Cruyff.’ Far better than his own book.
Win or Lose, Up The Blues!
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15 Jul 2025 12:29 #12
by Whiteside
Replied by Whiteside on topic Good reads
I read the Far Corner by Harry Pearson many years ago,a fantastic general football book centred on the north east,Calvin's books are well worth a look also the Ali book King of the World and the rugby league book X111winters if still available
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- melbourneblues
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15 Jul 2025 15:00 #13
by melbourneblues
Mullen is a virgin.
Replied by melbourneblues on topic Good reads
Football ‘it’s a minging life’ by Ricky Holden is by far the funniest footballers autobiography I’ve read, a very interesting one is ‘Forever young’ by Oliver Kay about a young promising football player who was rated higher that Ryan Giggs, only problem was he didn’t really like football. And the saddest one which has been mentioned on here numerous times is ‘A life too short’ by Ronald Reng about a German goalie who suffered from depression and eventually killed himself. 
Mullen is a virgin.
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- CCU
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15 Jul 2025 15:03 #14
by CCU
Win or Lose, Up The Blues!
Replied by CCU on topic Good reads
Aye the Ronald Reng one is a sad read...
Win or Lose, Up The Blues!
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- newcarlislefan
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15 Jul 2025 17:48 - 15 Jul 2025 17:55 #15
by newcarlislefan
Replied by newcarlislefan on topic Good reads
Yes, I read the one about the German keeper. I was really cut up reading it and just couldn't get to the end of it. It's very well written but it's a desperate story.
Yes, I agree with others that the older books on players are better - Cascarino, Quinn, Nelson etc and Steve Claridge's autobiography is a very funny read as well.
Somebody else mentioned Harry Pearson and he's a very funny writer indeed. He did a great piece on Carlisle.
I enjoyed the Ferguson and Roy Keane ones of modern times.
I didn't enjoy the Cruyff book but there's one called Beautiful Orange about Dutch football which is excellent.
And Hunter Davies' The Glory Game (is he from Carlisle?) is an all time classic.
Just reading Simon Hughes book on football in the NW which I'm enjoying and Calvin's book about football scouts.
Finally, any book on both Clough or Shankly. Even the poorly written ones are superb as there are just so many remarkable anecdotes to be told.
Yes, I agree with others that the older books on players are better - Cascarino, Quinn, Nelson etc and Steve Claridge's autobiography is a very funny read as well.
Somebody else mentioned Harry Pearson and he's a very funny writer indeed. He did a great piece on Carlisle.
I enjoyed the Ferguson and Roy Keane ones of modern times.
I didn't enjoy the Cruyff book but there's one called Beautiful Orange about Dutch football which is excellent.
And Hunter Davies' The Glory Game (is he from Carlisle?) is an all time classic.
Just reading Simon Hughes book on football in the NW which I'm enjoying and Calvin's book about football scouts.
Finally, any book on both Clough or Shankly. Even the poorly written ones are superb as there are just so many remarkable anecdotes to be told.
Last edit: 15 Jul 2025 17:55 by newcarlislefan.
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15 Jul 2025 17:53 #16
by ParcelPete
Replied by ParcelPete on topic Good reads
He grew up in Carlisle then divided his year between London and Loweswater with his late wife Margeret Forster,i used to deliver parcels to them,typical friendly Cumbrians.
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- newcarlislefan
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15 Jul 2025 18:05 #17
by newcarlislefan
Replied by newcarlislefan on topic Good reads
As CCU says Ben Smith's Journeyman is excellent and even David Holdsworth gets a mention in it.
Steve Evans doesn't come out of it too well though.
Steve Evans doesn't come out of it too well though.
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- munchymagic
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15 Jul 2025 18:08 - 15 Jul 2025 18:10 #18
by munchymagic
How ironic that Holdsworth gets a mention in a book called 'Journeyman' - on one year contracts virtually every player he signs on one year deals he will turn into a 'Jounreyman'.
If they are decent then they will be off and if they are crap then we will bin them.
The average ones will accept a second year deal if offered.
Replied by munchymagic on topic Good reads
newcarlislefan wrote: As CCU says Ben Smith's Journeyman is excellent and even David Holdsworth gets a mention in it.
Steve Evans doesn't come out of it too well though.
How ironic that Holdsworth gets a mention in a book called 'Journeyman' - on one year contracts virtually every player he signs on one year deals he will turn into a 'Jounreyman'.
If they are decent then they will be off and if they are crap then we will bin them.
The average ones will accept a second year deal if offered.
Last edit: 15 Jul 2025 18:10 by munchymagic.
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15 Jul 2025 18:16 #19
by Bruntonpasty
They don't like it up 'em!
Replied by Bruntonpasty on topic Good reads
Not a football book but a decent read nevertheless. "Light in the darkness" Alan Carter. Check the description on amazon for what it's about, tough story in parts.
They don't like it up 'em!
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15 Jul 2025 18:21 #20
by newcarlislefan
Replied by newcarlislefan on topic Good reads
Another I forgot is Jimmy Greaves' autobiography. My dad used to go on and on about just how good he was. It's a very sad read really in many respects, but with very little self pity and lots of good humour and tales.
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15 Jul 2025 20:08 #21
by Mullen103
At least we’re not Stockport
Replied by Mullen103 on topic Good reads
Jimmy glass book I enjoyed the most mainly because I could relate to the gambling issues and his disabled brother, worth a read if you haven’t read it.
A surprisingly good one was pierluigi Collina’s.
A surprisingly good one was pierluigi Collina’s.
At least we’re not Stockport
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- I love jamesphillips
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15 Jul 2025 21:13 #22
by I love jamesphillips
You at Crawley at home ? I’d like to meet you .
Replied by I love jamesphillips on topic Good reads
newcarlislefan wrote: Another I forgot is Jimmy Greaves' autobiography. My dad used to go on and on about just how good he was. It's a very sad read really in many respects, but with very little self pity and lots of good humour and tales.
You at Crawley at home ? I’d like to meet you .
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16 Jul 2025 00:19 #23
by deeksme
Replied by deeksme on topic Good reads
Simon Kuper's books are excellent, especially "Football against the enemy" which is in parts astonishing and hilarious.
Sid Lowe wrote a good one on Barca/Madrid.
Tor, the story of German football is also terrific.
Lots of good stuff out there, I haven't read the Rory Smith book yet "Mister", but it looks good.
Sid Lowe wrote a good one on Barca/Madrid.
Tor, the story of German football is also terrific.
Lots of good stuff out there, I haven't read the Rory Smith book yet "Mister", but it looks good.
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16 Jul 2025 17:52 #24
by Talisman
Replied by Talisman on topic Good reads
I've just started reading Peter Crouch's book and it's bloody brilliant - pokes fun at the clichéd footballer tropes and has some proper laugh out loud bits. He comes across as a decent, self-deprecating guy with a cracking turn of phrase.
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17 Jul 2025 01:23 #25
by munchymagic
His Podcasts are brilliant, especially as he hasn't got that much of a filter so he will be asked something and he will blurt out whatever he is thinking then say something like 'my missus will kill me for saying that' or 'yeah my ex manager wont like me saying this but' all good stuff and very entertaining, he normally laughs all the way through these stories himself.
I loved that story where it went along the lines of other footballers can disguise themselves a bit and look inconspicuous but everyone just pointed at him saying 'look there's Peter Crouch wearing a hat'
Replied by munchymagic on topic Good reads
Talisman wrote: I've just started reading Peter Crouch's book and it's bloody brilliant - pokes fun at the clichéd footballer tropes and has some proper laugh out loud bits. He comes across as a decent, self-deprecating guy with a cracking turn of phrase.
His Podcasts are brilliant, especially as he hasn't got that much of a filter so he will be asked something and he will blurt out whatever he is thinking then say something like 'my missus will kill me for saying that' or 'yeah my ex manager wont like me saying this but' all good stuff and very entertaining, he normally laughs all the way through these stories himself.
I loved that story where it went along the lines of other footballers can disguise themselves a bit and look inconspicuous but everyone just pointed at him saying 'look there's Peter Crouch wearing a hat'
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- Jumpforfun
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17 Jul 2025 06:14 #26
by Jumpforfun
Replied by Jumpforfun on topic Good reads
Whiteside - I am currently reading Harry Pearson's cricket book Slipless in Settle. A meandering stroll round northern cricket a it like the far corner.
Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.
Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.
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17 Jul 2025 08:34 #27
by Turnbull
Replied by Turnbull on topic Good reads
For anyone into cricket Derek Pringle's book Pushing the Boundaries: Cricket in the Eighties is a fantastic read.
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17 Jul 2025 10:40 #28
by ParcelPete
"Slipless in Settle"
What a great title.
Replied by ParcelPete on topic Good reads
Jumpforfun wrote: Whiteside - I am currently reading Harry Pearson's cricket book Slipless in Settle. A meandering stroll round northern cricket a it like the far corner.
Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.
"Slipless in Settle"
What a great title.
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04 Aug 2025 00:15 - 04 Aug 2025 00:16 #29
by munchymagic
Replied by munchymagic on topic Good reads
Just been reading up on Robin Friday on Wiki, now that sounds like a great book....
Wonder if he ever played at Brunton Park - there is a strong possibility.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Friday
Wonder if he ever played at Brunton Park - there is a strong possibility.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Friday
Last edit: 04 Aug 2025 00:16 by munchymagic.
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