GET SHIRTY: THE RISE & FALL OF ADMIRAL SPORTSWEAR by Andy Wells

A long-awaited labour of love from Andy Wells, director of the brilliant ITV documentary. GET SHIRTY is the definitive, lavishly illustrated account of the untold Admiral story, featuring 250 images of rare kits, unseen behind-the-scenes photos, cult collectables and period catalogues.

Back in the 1970s, a small Midlands underwear firm changed football forever when they won the contract as England’s kit supplier. Admiral Sportswear’s bold designs and branding were controversial at the time but helped pioneer today’s multi-billion-pound sportswear industry. It was Admiral that invented the replica football strip and revolutionised the worlds of football finance and street fashion alike – before their colourful empire finally came crashing down around them.

Drawing on hours of previously unheard interviews and years of research, it reveals the true stories behind Coventry City’s infamous chocolate-brown strip and England’s disastrous kit fiasco at the 1982 World Cup finals. Read about Admiral’s Wales international shirt bonfire, Manchester United’s laundry scandal – and the deals that got away, including the prototype Liverpool kit that saw Bill Shankly clash with directors at Liverpool.

(Publisher: Conker Editions Ltd. September 2022. Paperback: 200 pages)

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POWER PLAYERS: FOOTBALL IN PROPOGANDA, WAR AND REVOLUTION by Ronny Blaschke

Football is increasingly becoming an instrument of political power.

Dictators in the Middle East brutally bring players into line and present themselves in the stands as fathers of the people. In Syria, stadiums were used as military bases and internment camps.

But football is often also directed against the state. For example, in Yugoslavia, Ukraine and the Arab world, ‘ultras’ and hooligans have fought on the front line in revolutions and gone to war.

Comprehensively researched across 15 countries and four continents with more than 150 interviews conducted, award-winning journalist Ronny Blaschke brings these battles to life. Blaschke traces how power in football is shifting as club investors from China, Russia and the Gulf States secure economic influence in Europe for their governments as well as exploring the interplay between politics, history, religion and football.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. September 2022. Paperback: 288 pages)

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THE GAMES THAT MADE US: FIFTY WEST HAM UNITED MATCHES THAT DEFINE THE LAST THIRTY YEARS by Daniel Hurley

1992 to 2022 was a period like no other for West Ham United.

Taking in the rise of the Premier League, promotion, relegation, European nights and so much more, Daniel Hurley looks at key moments in West Ham’s recent history from a fan’s perspective, remembering joy and despair in equal measure along his journey as a football supporter from child to adult.

The Games That Made Us is the story of an unforgettable period in West Ham’s history told through the club’s 50 most important matches over the past 30 years, with each game put into context and the consequences examined.

From Dicks to Di Canio, Harewood to Antonio, Redknapp to Allardyce, The Games That Made Us tells tales of last-minute winners and last-second heartbreak, of trips to Cardiff, 5-4 victories and 4-2 defeats, plus more matches against Wimbledon than you would expect.

Find out how a former manager once gave Daniel a transfer exclusive, why his son’s first game was possibly the worst debut in history and why John Hartson ruined his 14th birthday.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. August 2022. Hardcover: 352 pages)

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THE LONGEST WINTER: A SEASON WITH ENGLAND’S WORST EVER FOOTBALL TEAM by Matt Hodkinson

In 1973-74, Britain was in meltdown. The Arab-Israeli War had sent energy prices soaring. Petrol was scarce. Offices were limited to a temperature of 17c and power cuts were frequent. A three-day working week came in as inflation took hold and miners and other workers went on strike.

The northern mill town of Rochdale suffered more than most. Its cotton industry was on shut-down in the face of cheap imports, and the football team was a mirror image of the town – tired, defeated, clinging to life.

The Rochdale team of 1973-74 are considered the worst to play in the Football League. They finished bottom of the Third Division, winning just twice in 46 league matches. They closed the season with a 22-game winless run and played one home match in front of the lowest-ever post-war crowd. That season 32 players played for the team, many of them drafted in from amateur or Sunday league clubs.

The Longest Winter is as much a piece of forensic social history as it is a sports book. It evokes the smells, textures and moods of the early 1970s.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. August 2022. Hardcover: 304 pages)

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SOMETHING IN THE WATER: HOW ENGLISH FOOTBALL FINDS ITS STAR PLAYERS – THE STORY OF ENGLAND’S TALENT HOTBEDS by Callum Murray

Have you ever wondered how football finds its star players?

Uncover the inner workings of English football’s talent hotbeds in this captivating book.

For decades working-class northern towns have churned out players – places like Huyton, a town of just over 33,000 that has produced the likes of Steven Gerrard, David Nugent, Peter Reid, Joey Barton and Tony Hibbert.

However, the emergence of south London as a new talent hotbed is equally as exciting with a new generation of players coming through – Jadon Sancho, Wilf Zaha, Joe Gomez and Joe Aribo among others.

Players produced here are like nothing seen before in England.

Bringing together thoughts, ideas and exclusive interviews with those involved at every level of the game – from the south London estate cages to the Premier League and Europe’s elite – this book unearths the secrets of two of England’s biggest talent hotbeds that represent the past, present and future of English football.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. August 2022. Hardcover: 224 pages)

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KIT AND CABOODLE: FOOTBALL’S SHIRT STORIES by Matt Riley

Kits are cultural touchstones that tell us more about our club, ourselves and the beautiful game’s custodians than we often realise.

The colours, crests, designs and prices show what makes the game – and us – tick. Kit and Caboodle searches out the stories that our shirts tell us about our support and the society we accept or try to rebel against.

The book alternates short, shirt stories with a deeper dive into themes of ethics, philanthropy and dumb decision making.

We listen to MP Tracey Crouch as she tells us about her Fan Led Review and how shirts show the progress being made to a more equitable football ecosystem.

Shirts also illustrate the rise and mutation of gambling from pools to NFTs and cryptocurrencies, attitudes to the LGBTQ+ community, how clubs like St Pauli are determined to be driven by their values and why Messi’s transfer to PSG Qatar can never be financed by shirt sales.

Unlike anything else we wear, our club shirts envelop us in the history of our team and give us a hint of the future.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. September 2022. Hardcover: 224 pages)

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POWER & GLORY: A Pictorial Celebration of the NFL by Matthew Bazell

Power & Glory is a visual homage to the NFL, which takes us on a hard-hitting journey from the pre-Super Bowl era to the present day.

Using stunning images, it’s a celebration of a uniquely American sporting culture, featuring the greatest stars, teams, games and stadiums.

From Terry Bradshaw to Tom Brady, Jim Brown to Joe Montana, from the Green Bay Packers who won the first ever Super Bowl to Aaron Rodgers winning the Super Bowl for Green Bay decades later, it covers all 32 teams that have competed in the NFL.

Whether the photos are from the era of muddy pitches or modern-day indoor arenas, Power & Glory projects a physicality and toughness that defines the NFL’s players. From the harshness of playing the game in freezing and wet conditions to the glamour and pageantry of the Super Bowl, this eye-catching photographic collection showcases the game in all its glory.

Alongside these beautiful and breath-taking images are stats, records and write-ups on the teams that bring the NFL’s rich history to life.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. September 2022. Hardcover: 224 pages)

 

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THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM by Andrew Gamble

The Special Relationship: The History of American Football in the United Kingdom charts the arrival and development of gridiron football on this side of the Atlantic.

This comprehensive account presents the story across three key sections, outlining how and why the sport became so popular in Britain – from the first match at Crystal Palace back in 1910 to the birth of the incredibly popular International Series, which has become a permanent fixture in the NFL regular season.

It covers every match played in London from 2007 to 2021, with anecdotes intertwined throughout to bring the deeper NFL history, its greatest players and franchises to life. The book also tells the unique tales of the British players who have played in the NFL, with each player providing special insight into their journey from Britain to the National Football League.

The Special Relationship is the captivating story of how the sport arrived on the doorstep of America’s great allies – and survived to become the ever-growing presence it is today.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. September 2022. Hardcover: 384 pages)

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GERRARD’S BLUEPRINT: THE TACTICAL PHILOSOPHY BEHIND RANGERS 55th TITLE TRIUMPH by Adam Thornton

An in-depth analysis of Rangers’ tactical evolution over three seasons under Steven Gerrard, culminating in a league title win which saw them crowned kings of Scotland for a 55th time.

In May 2018, Rangers appointed Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as the 16th permanent manager in the club’s near 150-year history.

A legend as a player but untested as a manager, many wondered how Gerrard would fare at a club like Rangers, especially in light of the club’s struggles in the previous six seasons. Fast forward to 7 March 2021 and Gerrard’s Rangers clinched their 55th title in record time with the club also completing an unbeaten league season conceding just 13 goals – a new British record.

This book delves into the tactical approach of Rangers under Steven Gerrard and his coaching team and looks to explain the key principles of their footballing philosophy. Adam Thornton picks out key games and players which helped chart the tactical evolution of the side and shape the team into league champions.

(Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd. August 2022. Paperback: 272 pages)

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PILGRIMS’ PATCH – THE FOOTBALL GROUNDS OF LINCOLNSHIRE by Steven Penny

Lincolnshire has a long and proud footballing history. Its broad acres are home to dozens of clubs, from the Football League to local parks football. Come on a journey to discover those grounds and find out more about the county’s clubs, both present and past.

Includes club information, admission prices, team colours, logos, maps, road and rail travel details, pictures of more than 50 grounds plus an enthralling history section of former clubs and grounds.

(Publisher: Penny for Your Sports Publications. August 2022. Paperback: 166 pages)

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