recommended one to bolty last night, so thought id start this if anyone can recommend some good ones?

has anyone read this one? https://stanchionbooks.com/products/lancashire-turf-wars-a-football-history?_pos=3&_sid=0441d0be2&_ss=r

This is a good read mate. Been on my bookshelf for a good while.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Malaga-Football-Club-David-Redshaw/dp/1848763980

Just started this......

 

A Season With Verona: Amazon.co.uk: Parks, Tim: 8601300070384: Books

 

 

Not a new thing but these two were a great read: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=the+damned+united&crid=1WLCKY6WUIL6F&sprefix=the+damned+united%2Caps%2C124&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/we-don-t-know-what-we-re-doing-book-adrian-chiles-9781847440136

I've read a few autobiographies, best was probably Ian Wright

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/life-in-football-my-autobiography-book-ian-wright-9781472123602

 

Although outdated now I would still recommend Fred Ayre's books ... 'Kicked Into Touch', 'A Breath of Fresh Ayre' and 'Another Breath of Fresh Ayre'.

The bit, (& I can't recall which book it is), where he described a fan who gave him dogs abuse every game & then the guy turned up at Ayre's home as a plumber & Fred heckled him throughout the repair was special.

this was good

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shoot-Annual-1988-IPC-Magazines/dp/0850378095

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Other-Working-Football-Heroes/dp/0224072684

I enjoyed this book. Surprised to find it’s still in print, which is usually a good sign.

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by Rival Son

1 hour ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Although outdated now I would still recommend Fred Ayre's books ... 'Kicked Into Touch', 'A Breath of Fresh Ayre' and 'Another Breath of Fresh Ayre'.

The bit, (& I can't recall which book it is), where he described a fan who gave him dogs abuse every game & then the guy turned up at Ayre's home as a plumber & Fred heckled him throughout the repair was special.

Ha ha!  Its a Breath Of Fred Ayre BTW. 

I read the first one in the 80s because it was publicised around Wigan (where he coached) and I was at Tech there.  Great character.

4 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Ha ha!  Its a Breath Of Fred Ayre BTW. 

I read the first one in the 80s because it was publicised around Wigan (where he coached) and I was at Tech there.  Great character.

That story was of when he played at Wigan.

6 hours ago, bolty58 said:

This is a good read mate. Been on my bookshelf for a good while.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Malaga-Football-Club-David-Redshaw/dp/1848763980

LH lad Dave, in my sisters class at school. 

Inverting the Pyramid is a really good history of the development of football tactics

It's practically a history of football itself

Fair warning: it's not for those who piss the bed at the mention of 6's, 8's and 10's

7 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

That story was of when he played at Wigan.

His tales of Larry Lloyd's time there as manager were an eye opener. Years ago since I read them but great reads.

A season in Verona as mentioned upthread also excellent. 

I'd also recommend;

Keeper of dreams about Lars Leese

Left foot forward- Gary Nelson

Tor - German footy

All played out - Italia 90 and the scummy English press pack.

Robert enke biography

31 0 james montague

Forever young. Young NI player at Utd. Had it all

Boy in brazil, seth burkett

 

All belters

 

 

 

Miracle of Castel di Sangro 

Football Against The Enemy 

Barca: a people’s passion 

1 hour ago, Duck Egg said:

His tales of Larry Lloyd's time there as manager were an eye opener. Years ago since I read them but great reads.

A season in Verona as mentioned upthread also excellent. 

I'd also recommend;

Keeper of dreams about Lars Leese

Left foot forward- Gary Nelson

Tor - German footy

All played out - Italia 90 and the scummy English press pack.

The autobiography of Eamon Dunphy - 'The Rocky Road'.

Walking Down the Manny Road: Inside Bolton's Football Hooligan Gangs eBook : Mitchell, Doug: Amazon.co.uk: Books

I can't believe this shite hasn't been mentioned.....

Who Put the Ball in the Munich Net? by Chris Flanagan is good one about our European travels

11 hours ago, Rival Son said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Other-Working-Football-Heroes/dp/0224072684

I enjoyed this book. Surprised to find it’s still in print, which is usually a good sign.

Won William Hill Sports Book of the Year. And yeah its a great read. 

'Sheila's, wogs and poofters' is still available! 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sheilas-Wogs-Poofters-Johnny-Warren-ebook/dp/B005TD42XY

9 hours ago, BittyBattyRatty said:

Miracle of Castel di Sangro 

Football Against The Enemy 

Barca: a people’s passion 

ditto these

10 hours ago, Casino said:

 

Forever young. Young NI player at Utd. Had it al

 

He was best mates of a good mate of mine. My mate gets a few mentions in the book.

Really sad and strangely uplifting at the same time.

Best autobiography I read was Tony Adams. Really funny in parts, fuckin desperate in others.

Best hoolie book was the original of all, Colin Wards Steaming in.

Scum Airways was great too.

Hated Gazzas book. Lad was a dick.

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

Best autobiography I read was Tony Adams. Really funny in parts, fuckin desperate in others.

Best hoolie book was the original of all, Colin Wards Steaming in.

Scum Airways was great too.

Hated Gazzas book. Lad was a dick.

Definitely one of the better ones. I’ve read quite a few of that era, and specifically of Arsenal players of that era (Parlour, Wright etc), and I find it amazing how much Wenger changed / professionalised the game. There’s almost a pre Wenger / post Wenger feel to UK football and those lads had a career that spanned both parts.

One year they’re surrounded by a generally British group of mates, openly on the piss at Tuesday club every week, eating all sorts of shit and generally doing anything they fancy, then within a couple of years it’s all frowned upon, they’ve got to try and hide it, there’s an influx of foreign players and the new modern era of football is born. He really was a pioneer.

Edited October 3, 2025Oct 3 by Eddie

5 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Definitely one of the better ones. I’ve read quite a few of that era, and specifically of Arsenal players of that era (Parlour, Wright etc), and I find it amazing how much Wenger changed / professionalised the game. There’s almost a pre Wenger / post Wenger feel to UK football and those lads had a career that spanned both parts.

One year they’re surrounded by a generally British group of mates, openly on the piss at Tuesday club every week, eating all sorts of shit and generally doing anything they fancy, then within a couple of years it’s all frowned upon, they’ve got to try and hide it, there’s an influx of foreign players and the new modern era of football is born. He really was a pioneer.

100%

Changed the game more than Pep.

Think Fergie attacked a similar culture at United but Wenger bought tactics with it.

In that Adams book he speaks of Monday clubs and all that caper. Mad times.

14 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Definitely one of the better ones. I’ve read quite a few of that era, and specifically of Arsenal players of that era (Parlour, Wright etc), and I find it amazing how much Wenger changed / professionalised the game. There’s almost a pre Wenger / post Wenger feel to UK football and those lads had a career that spanned both parts.

One year they’re surrounded by a generally British group of mates, openly on the piss at Tuesday club every week, eating all sorts of shit and generally doing anything they fancy, then within a couple of years it’s all frowned upon, they’ve got to try and hide it, there’s an influx of foreign players and the new modern era of football is born. He really was a pioneer.

Yes, I haven't read Parlour's but Wright's was searingly honest and emotional at times, one other Arsenal of that era was Paul Merson.