Football Books You Really Should Own

Good football books are easy to come by; first class football books are a rarer commodity. Having read the majority of this collection it's easy to see why they are so highly acclaim. If you don't own at least one of these books head onto Amazon and pick one up on the cheap.


Full Time: The Secret Life of Tony Cascarino - Paul Kimmage

As far as autobiographies go Irishman Tony Cascarino's is certainly amongst the best. A modest 197 pages, his story still manages to reveal more about the world of football than Ashley Cole's, David Beckham's and Wayne Rooney's rolled into one. Grappling with the difficulties of adapting to the life and playing style of France as well as the aftereffects of a troubled divorce, Cascarino's story is an insightful and brutally honest read.  The Irish have a habit of turning their football careers into captivating autobiographies - Roy Keane's and Niall Quinn's are both excellent too.

Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough - Duncan Hamilton

Winner of the 'William Hill Sports Book Of The Year' award in 2007, Duncan Hamilton's unrestricted account gets closer than any other in its hilarious yet poignant portrayal of Brian Clough, English football's most eccentric manager. The genius behind the man is uncovered radiantly, with anecdotes detailing Clough's influential man management and his overt confidence in what he was doing and where he was going. The relationship between himself and sidekick Peter Taylor is affectionately told throughout and the pivotal moments of Clough's career - his ill-fated spell at Leeds and stunning success at Nottingham Forest, are refreshingly recalled.

The Book of Football Quotations - Phil Shaw

A thoroughly entertaining compilation of quotes, divided into sections ranging from 'past' and 'present players' to 'famous last words', which is definitely the pick of the bunch. Ideal for whittling away the hours on a rainy day or to test one and others knowledge in a group, its also handy when you need a quick quote for an article. Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough and George Best are constant reminders of the brilliant individuals to have graced the game with their words and presence.


Foul!: The Secret World of Fifa: Bribes, Vote Rigging and Ticket Scandals - Andrew Jennings

If ever there was the epitome of a persistent and dogged journalist it is Andrew Jennings. His dedication to revealing the corruption rife within FIFA is well founded and this book published in 2006 makes a strong case for the foul play which it's suspected has been going on within FIFA's ranks for decades. Jennings's investigative style is gripping and his exposure of Sepp Blatter's activities is particularly informative. In light of FIFA's choice of both Russia and Qatar to host the upcoming World Cup's, this book is a compelling and necessary read for anyone interested in the politics of football.

Jellyman's Thrown A Wobbly: Saturday Afternoons in Front of the Telly - Jeff Stelling

Jeff Stelling can do no wrong; host of Gillette Soccer Saturday he provides us with weekly entertainment and the all important scores on the board. This book is a behind the scenes look at the show, its origins and the amusing stories in between. The perfect choice for sitting by the pool, the Chris Kamara anecdotes aren't to be missed.

The Perfect 10: Football's Dreamers, Schemers, Playmakers and Playboys - Richard Williams

I eventually got round to reading this book at a festival last summer and really enjoyed it. Williams covers Zidane, Maradona and Bergkamp amongst others in a sort of mini biography of the No.10 and its continued development. The book looks at the defining moments of each players career and examines what constitutes a No.10, often in both playing style and personality. It's a book which is ideal for dipping in and out of when your interested to find out a little more about each player; Maradona's chapter is especially interesting.

Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics - Jonathan Wilson
One of the most insightful football books you will come across, 'Inverting the Pyramid' looks at the complicated world of football tactics. It charts the progression of different formations down the years, analyses the likes of the infamous 'Christmas Pudding' and looks at some of the cleverest and indeed unintelligent brains to have made an influence on football tactics.

Dribble: The Unbelievable Encyclopedia of Football - Harry Pearson

An A to Z of all things football, Pearson incorporates both humour and knowledge effortlessly. Starting at A and 'Animals', which involves the story of Norwegian side named Tromso, who fighting relegation contemplated allowing a crazed fan to slaughter a goat in the centre circle to exorcise the clubs demons. It's well written and speaks a lot of honest truths about the game; dictionary style definitions of the words such as 'bung' are both funny and accurate.

I'm Not Really Here: A Life of Two Halves - Paul Lake

The only book in this list which I am yet to read, 'Im Not Really Here' is soon to be in my Amazon shopping basket. Not many people have heard of or recall Paul Lake, a former Manchester City player and captain who ruptured his cruciate ligament only shortly after missing out on England's Italia '90 squad. Unable to ever truly recover from his injury Lake slipped into football oblivion and this autobiography looks at the darker side of the game. Striking parallels can be drawn to Michael Johnson, the young midfielder tipped as a future England captain who was released by City this January.