Sportbiographien

WINNER OF THE AN POST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2022The bestselling memoir of an Olympic champion is a knockout gift this Christmas!After Kellie Harrington won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, the Irish public recognized her as not merely a sporting hero, but a deeply inspirational human being. Now, Kellie tells the story of her unlikely journey to the top, and of the many obstacles and setbacks she overcame along the way.Growing up in Dublin's north inner city, Kellie was in danger of going down the wrong path in life before she discovered boxing. The local boxing club was all-male and initially wouldn't let her join, but she persisted.She was not an overnight success. For years she struggled in international competition. At times she felt unsupported by the national boxing set-up. More than once she considered giving up the sport. But some spark of ambition and love for boxing kept her going, and gradually she made herself world class.Writing with Roddy Doyle, the award-winning author of The Commitments, Kellie tells the story of her unlikely rise to greatness and her continuing dedication to living a normal life - which has involved remaining an amateur boxer and keeping the job she loves, at a Dublin psychiatric hospital. She shares vivid and revealing details about being a woman in a historically male sport, and about how she manages her body and her mind. It is a vastly inspiring look inside the life and psychology of a woman who is both brilliantly ordinary and utterly exceptional.'Her voice is so radiant' Sunday Independent'The full Kellie experience, all heart and laughs and a mouth like a sailor' Malachy Clerkin'A terrific collaboration' Books of the Year, Irish Times

This little book of oil painting portraits by Thomas Crawford of 28 of the greatest baseball players of the twentieth century includes their brief biographies and statistical records.

From 1981 to 1986, Pakistani squash great Jahangir Khan went undefeated to herald the longest unbeaten run in sport. In the 30th anniversary of his incredible achievements, the book dissects his five-year run, the extent his rivals went to even to win a game and, tellingly, brings to an end the long-held belief that he went 555 matches unbeaten.

Johnny Hubbard was a tricky little winger and a huge Rangers star, one of the last surviving members the great 50s side. Known as "The Penalty King" in recognition of his record 65 goals from 68 spot kicks, one of his goals was described by Sir Alex Ferguson as "easily the best I've ever seen!" Aged just 18, he swapped the sunshine of Pretoria for the grey streets of Glasgow, leaving behind the flames of apartheid for a land where another chasm ran deep through society--religious bigotry. Hubbard's story provides an insight into life through a golden era in Rangers' history, and he also recalls his time with Bury when he was almost drawn into the world of match-fixing. When Johnny gave up the game in 1964, he turned to community service and was rewarded for his good work with an Honorary MBE.

They called Max Baer the "Clown Prince of Boxing," but trainer Ray Arcel remembered a night in 1933 when he worked Baer's corner in what was probably Max's greatest triumph, the night he smashed Max Schmeling to defeat in 10 brutal rounds. That was no clown. A year later, Baer was heavyweight champion of the world. From a $4 a day foundry worker, Baer's rise was rapid. He bought so many suits he couldn't keep track of them; wore a new hat every week; bought a house like a hotel. Arcel cried like a baby when he read in the New York Times that Max had died from a heart attack in November 1959, at just 50 years old. This is the fascinating story of an iconic boxing figure who achieved so much in a life too short.

From James Gray, author of the bestselling Max Verstappen, comes the very first biography of Lewis Hamilton's designated successor George Russell, published to mark the British Grand Prix. From dominating the karting tracks of East Anglia to the top of the podium in Formula 3 and Formula 2, George Russell has now fully established himself as a rising Formula 1 star. After cutting his teeth as a driver with Williams, in 2022 he signed a lucrative contract with Mercedes, highlighting the extent of his raw talent. Driving for Mercedes, Russell has been confirmed as the designated successor to none other than Lewis Hamilton. As Hamilton's heir-apparent, will this protégé manage to follow in the footsteps of the greatest F1 driver of all time? Sports journalist and author of Max Verstappen James Gray traces how George Russell has been setting the racing track alight since the age of seven and how he is now destined to become the successor to the crown of British motor racing.

A rollicking ride through the early days of Australian Motorsport set in 1900-1918 in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the true story of bitter rivalry between two Brisbane car importers/dealers: E.G.Eager Son and Canada Cycle and Motor (CCM). There are four main characters: Fred Z. Eager, Alec Fraser Jewell, E.G.Eager and CCM managing director A.V.Dodwell.The paths of speedsters Fred Eager and Alec Jewell collide on Christmas Day, 1916, on Southport Beach at the first attempt to set an Australian land speed record.Whitey in the premier motorsport event of hill climbs so they decided to stage an event of their own, bespoke for Studebaker. This race would nullify Fred Eagers driving skills and suit the big-engined Studey: A straight line speed contest against the clock on the firm low-tide sand of Southport (Surfers Paradise) beach. Only one of them could win ... Or could they?

Jimmy Greaves: The One and Only is the sensational and official biography of arguably the greatest British goalscorer of all time, authorised by Jimmy's widow, Irene, and told by his friend of 64 years, Norman Giller. This brutally honest 'warts 'n' all' account covers the many highs and lows of Jimmy's extraordinary triple career as great footballer, master TV raconteur and then stage comedian, interrupted by six years of alcoholism. Jimmy and Irene lost their four-month-old son to pneumonia when they were barely out of their teens, and Norman examines how this tragedy set the tone for Jimmy's life. A parade of legends - Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Harry Redknapp among them - give personal glimpses of Greaves, and Norman, who delivered the eulogy at Jimmy's funeral, reveals stories of him that will surprise and shock his army of admirers. How did missing the 1966 World Cup Final really affect him? Was he ever drunk on the pitch? Who were his favourite players, and what did he consider his greatest goal?

Rhapsody in Blue is a joyous celebration of growing up in the late 1960s and early 70s in the aftermath of England's 1966 World Cup victory. It was a time when football and pop culture merged - an era of smoke-filled pubs, when Fray Bentos pies and fry-ups were consumed without guilt and parents had no fear of letting their kids stay out after dark. It was also a time without live TV football, when being a fan meant traipsing through the turnstiles every week. The book vividly recalls how a boy fell in love with Chelsea Football Club, cheering the Blues on week after week, while at the same time becoming immersed in the culture of street football. Neil Fitzsimon skilfully transports us to the Stamford Bridge of his youth, when the likes of Ian Hutchinson and Peter Houseman lit up the pitch. Away from the terraces, he played in his own street team in bitterly contested games against rival street sides. Rhapsody in Blue is a moving and nostalgic tribute to a lost era and way of life.

In 1914 one of Britain's most famous sportsmen went off to play his part in the First World War. Like millions of others, he would die. Unlike millions of others, nobody knew how or where. Until now. Lost in France is the true story of Leigh Roose: playboy, scholar, soldier and the finest goalkeeper of his generation. It's also the tale of how one man became caught up in a global catastrophe - one that would cost him his life, his identity and his rightful place as one of football's all-time legends. Lost In France is the biography of goalkeeper Leigh Roose, football's first genuine superstar, a man so good at his position on the field of play that the Football Association made one of the most significant rule changes in the game's history just to keep him in check. Small wonder that when the Daily Mail put together a World XI to take on another planet, Leigh's was the first name on its team sheet.

When I came to Auburn in 2004, I fell into a gold mine. My coaching career, which at one time looked very promising, had recently reached a dead end. What I found when I got to The Plains was a vast number of very talented but underachieving players with a burning desire to succeed. Together, as coaches, players, and staff, we developed a selfless majestic synergy that resulted in an undefeated season and, what we believed, would be a ticket to the BCS National Championship game. It wasn't to be. After eighteen years, and several other stops, I retired from coaching but found certain memories never retire. The Auburn Tigers of 2004 will forever represent the pinnacle of my professional career. After traveling to The Plains with my seventeen-year-old son, Cole, to watch the 2021 Iron Bowl, I had an opportunity to reunite with many of the players and fans with whom I shared those memories. Upon my return home, I was inspired by their undying enthusiasm for what was accomplished years ago. I wanted to divulge some interesting stories that haven't been told, and offer, what I hope, an enlightening perspective from the guy who accounted for the game plans and called the plays.

What makes HEROES unique is that author Ralph Wimbish puts himself into many of his stories, a perspective we do not often see in sports writing today. Wimbish's recollections of the sports figures he met as a youngster and later in a 37-year career as a newspaperman make for riveting reading. His father was Dr. Ralph M. Wimbish, a prominent figure in the NAACP's efforts to rid the South of racial discrimination in the late '50s and early '60s. Wimbish the writer has some interesting observations and previously untold stories about Black athletes such as Jackie Robinson, Curt Flood, Elston Howard, Tiger Woods and others. HEROES is a collection of stories about stories - sitting with 1956 perfect-game pitcher Don Larsen while watching David Cone's 1999 perfect game is a perfect example. These are stories you wish you had been able to read earlier. Now you can.

THE INCREDIBLE FIRST 12 YEARS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE AS TOLD BY THE LEGENDS WHO WERE THERE'I met Jack Nicholson and when a Hollywood superstar asks about Manchester United, you realise how big the Premier League is around the world'David BeckhamBased on the acclaimed BBC Series, with a foreword by Alan ShearerThe Premier League is the most watched sports league in the world, broadcast into 188 countries and watched by 3.2 billion people worldwide. It revolutionised football, transforming the beautiful game into a multi-billion-pound business and making its biggest stars millionaires.Fever Pitch tells the inside story of the formation of the league, from the early discussions with Rupert Murdoch about how Sky could be at the heart of this new league, to the bitter rivalries and radical new managers who changed the face of football forever.With insight from football's biggest names, this is the inside track on the Premier League as you've never heard it before. From David Beckham to Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel to Gary Neville, this book is full of exclusive interviews that give fascinating insight into the biggest sports league in the world from the people who made it happen.'The recognition our game gets is astonishing and the love of the Premier League is undeniable'Alan Shearer'England is special. It is more than football, it is like the players are rock stars'Eric Cantona'It's what it should be about - enthralling, exciting, magic, taking risks, playing attacking football'Gary Neville

The Changing Lives Biography Series in the Martial Arts is unlike any other book dedicated to the accomplishments of men and women in the martial arts. This book pays tribute to Grandmaster Ernie Reyes Sr., an American martial artist, actor, and fight choreographer who is also the co-founder and head instructor of West Coast World Martial Arts. This isn''t just another anthology or collection of short stories. This book is notable because it features some of the people who have shaped the martial arts we know today. You will discover about people who were bullied as children and grew up in harsh circumstances but went on to become great martial artists, world champions, and corporate leaders through the biographies in this book.

He captured the world's attention through golf...and through humor and grit, inspired millions.Do you know the story of Tommy McAuliffe?Born in 1893, he was destined to make an impact, and not just from the tee box. A magnetic personality that made the greatest golfers who ever lived want to join him for a round. He played with Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, and Arnold Palmer. What made him unique?On his good days, he could shoot even par......and by the way he lost both his arms at age 9!When his adoring fans would come to watch, Tommy would give them quite a show, and something to think about. His motto was "There is no handicap in life except a mental one."Golf wasn't his only passion.He promoted laws and testified before Congress on rehabilitation and the physically disabled. Tommy McAuliffe was a published author, on-air radio host, actor, public speaker, newspaper reporter, magazine publisher, and farmer.Could you type a book with a pencil in your mouth?You'll adore this inspirational and award winning biography, because it's loving written by the grandson who adored him as a lasting tribute to a man who set out to change the world.Get it now!