Shortlisted for the British Sports Book Awards 2018“What’s your dream, son?”A six year-old boy, head bowed, mumbles the eternal answer: “Be a footballer….” Steadman Scott, football’s most unlikely talent scout, smiles indulgently, and takes him in from the street. He knows the odds. Only 180 of the 1.5 million boys who play organised youth football in England will become a Premier League pro. That’s a success rate of 0.012 per cent.How and ...

'For those of you missing your football fix, anything by Michael Calvin is worth a read – the hugely respected sports journalist writes eloquently about the modern game in page turner State of Play.'DAILY MIRROR_______________________________________________________LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDAward-winni...

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015*A man punches the wall in a strategic show of anger. Another complains he has become a stranger to those he loves. A third relies on “my three a day: coffee, Nurofen and a bottle of wine.” Yet another admits he is an oddity, who would prefer to be working in cricket. A fifth describes his professional life as “a circus”. These are football managers, live and uncut. Arsene Wenger likens the job to “living on a volc...

Winner of The Times British Sports Book Award 2014.A fascinating insight into the enclosed world of football scouts in the UKA teenaged boy plays football in a suburban park. His name is Raheem Sterling. The call is made: “Get down here quick. This is something special”.Another boy is 8, going on 28. His name is Jack Wilshere. The referee, an Arsenal scout, spirits him away from Luton Town.A young goalkeeper struggles on loan at Cheltenham T...

From the award-winning author of NO HUNGER IN PARADISEOutside the global spotlight, footballers don't drive Aston Martins or pose for underwear ads. This is war. This is life. This is football.Michael Calvin turned up for the first day of pre-season training at Millwall FC. 333 days later, he sat among the subs at Wembley.Over the course of a season, he witnessed the intimate everyday life of a football club far from the gl...

Football has never seemed so distant from its fans. Many have been alienated by the greed and shameless self-interest of the Premier League, and no one can predict how the global game will look post-pandemic. In Whose Game Is It Anyway?, Sunday Times best-selling author Michael Calvin searches for a reason to believe. Written at the height of the Covid-19 crisis, the book is a thought-provoking, deeply personal account of the role sport – and particularly football – plays in everyday life....

Embark on a culinary journey through the sun-kissed flavors of the Mediterranean with "Simple Mediterranean Recipes." This comprehensive cookbook offers an extensive collection of over 2000 delectable recipes meticulously curated to tantalize your taste buds while adhering to the wholesome principles of the Mediterranean diet.Within these pages, you'll discover a treasure trove of easy-to-follow recipes crafted to simplify your cooking experience without compromising on flavor. Whe...

There's no pain, no theatrical agony. No screaming, no shouting. The kill shot is catastrophic and conclusive. I slump silently on to my knees and topple forward, head first, into the dirt. The lads have seen enough death to assume mine is instantaneous. The lights are out. That's him gone.Toby Gutteridge was only 24 when he was shot through the neck while operating behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. He survived despite not breathing for at least 20 minute...

AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER"A harrowing collection of survivor stories that testify to the bravery of individuals.” - Kirkus ReviewsAn unforgettable story of survival and resilience in the death camps of World War II.A miracle unfolded on October 10, 1944, at Auschwitz. Amidst the gas chambers and crematoria, a ragtag group of Jewish boys, aged thirteen to seventeen, were marched naked into Crematori...

AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER"A harrowing collection of survivor stories that testify to the bravery of individuals.” - Kirkus ReviewsAn unforgettable story of survival and resilience in the death camps of World War II.A miracle unfolded on October 10, 1944, at Auschwitz. Amidst the gas chambers and crematoria, a ragtag group of Jewish boys, aged thirteen to seventeen, were marched naked into Crematori...

Brought to you by Penguin.There's no pain, no theatrical agony. No screaming, no shouting. The kill shot is catastrophic, yet surgically precise. I slumped silently on to my knees and toppled forward, head first, into the dirt. The lads had seen enough death to assume mine was instantaneous. The lights were out. That's him gone.Toby Gutteridge was only 24 when he was shot through the neck while operating behind enemy lines in Afgha...

From the head coach of the United States Women’s National Team and legendary coach of Chelsea FC comes a book of hard-won lessons for leading a team to success on and off the field.Few places will test your leadership skills more than the global soccer stage. For more than twenty years, Emma Hayes has led her teams to championship after championship, coaching her players through personal and professional setbacks, and becoming a powerful advocate for women in sport...