Christmas Pressie Book Gift Ideas ? That Might Or Might Not Fit In The Christmas Stocking

[EastSaxCol]

Not that I've any time for Christmas and I'll be well back in the LOS by then anyway.

But I suppose this could be a list of recommended books that you'd give, or want for Christmas.

The best football related book that I've read for years has to be Adrian Chiles, We Don't Know What We're Doing.

It a genuinly funny and sincere book, as the bloke is himself (he emailed me with commiserations the last time we got relegated) he really does identify with those of us who stick with their 'smaller teams' through thick and thin.

Anyway, the book is both pitiful and funny. Pitiful in some respects, as he examamines the lives of some of the ultra loyal Albion fans who sacrifice nearly - if not all - to follow their team. Funny because that's his style. A mate of mine whose a bit of a book reviewer professionally (and a fellow Hammer I hasten to add) is usually hard to please on the reading front , raved about the copy that I lent him and the bits that he reckons made him laugh out loud.

Real fans will identify with this book to a greater or lesser degree ,and may prompt some to even keep half an eye open to Albion results after reading it.

My only real criticism has to be, that for all its honesty, sincerity and good humour, I never quite managed to shake my unease with the fact that this book was written by someone whose (hard-earned and obviously deserved) minor-celeb status necessarily provides him with a different perspective to those that he's reporting on. When the fancy takes, for example, he is able to hire a box; he also has the ear of the upper echelons of the club. Those he meets on the away coach to the match do so because it is their only option. Adrian Chiles has the choice. But maybe that's just nit-picking about a very good read.

If Chiles book is described as "a thinking supporters Fever Pitch" on the dust cover, then Santa please bring me the highly recommended and only 992 (nine hundred and niney-two) pages on football, history culture and about everything else that you could imagine about the game. David Goldblatt, The Ball Is Round, might not fit into the stocking but it's recommended by non other than the highly respected Tim Vickery , and that's good enough for me. Even if he's also a Spuds supporter.

Cricket fans, and sports fans generally, will like the often funny and well written Fatty Batter: How Cricket Saved My Life (Then Ruined It) by Michael Simkins.

Not the top cricket book that I've ever read (that accolade goes to the excellent book by the late Harry Thompson, Penguins Stopped Play: Eleven Village Cricketers Take on the World) but Fatty Batter is the most recent and highly enjoyable.

PS

Anyone whose read Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil, the story of Cowdenbeath will get a special

Edited November 26, 2007 by Happy Hammer

[mrtoad]

HH, good post. I'm going to apologise for not putting up anything to day, as I basically am to lazy and had a couple of beers, but I will put up a couple of other books tomorrow.

I'm thinking about the Alan Brazil book, which I understand is a pretty interesting reading, as an ask for a chrissie present.

I'll do a couple of revies for some good ones tomorrow.

[ThaiPauly]

Some Good New Covered Songs to be released in time for Christmas:

Tears Of A Clown.........Steve McClaren

Sorry seems to be the hardest word.......The England Squad

You're The one that I want........Brian Barwick

Leaving on a Jet Plane.......Jose Moriniho

My Way.......Rafa Benetez

You know you make me wanna Shout.........Alex Ferguson

Green Green Grass of Home (Park) ..Paul Sturrock

Right by your side......Steve Gibson

Help........Sam Allerdyce

Give me a little more time.....Chris Hutchings

Saturday Nights all right for fighting........Joey Barton

Money For Nothing......Darren Bent

Rush of Blood To The Head........Stephen Hunt

Don't You Want me?.......Graeme Souness

Not very good ......I'm sure a lot of you can do better

[JacknDanny]

Dancing Queen......Steve Coppell

Another One Bites the Dust......Billy Davies

Winning......Sven Goran Eriksson

Don't You Want Me..Sam Alladyce

Up Where We Belong.....Sven Goran Eriksson

Take On Me ........Steve McClaren

All I Need Is A Miracle....Roy Keane

Life In A Northern Town......Dennis Wise

Bizarre Love Triangle..... Rafa Benitez

So Emotional ....Martin O'Neill

What Kind Of Fool Am I?....... Alex McCleish

[mrbojangles]

Movin on up - Sven Goran Eriksson

Crying, Moaning...Kind of Feeling - Alex Ferguson

Thai a yellow ribbon - "Frank" Shinawatra

Sorry - Rafa Benetez

Under pressure - The majority of the Prem league managers

Promised you a miracle - "Frank" Shinawatra (he'll be releasing the "Best Of" soon)

Boys from Brazil - Elano and Geovanni

[EastSaxCol]

I can't find any of those books mentioned above.

Although I did manage to find this Christmas special:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Alex Ferguson

btw

I mentioned Tim Vickery above. Some may not be aware of the excellent World Football Phone-in on Radio 5 Live's Up All Night programme from 0230 to 0400 GMT every Saturday, which Vickery is usually on as the South American correspondent.

You can also download last week's World Football Phone-in Podcast.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/wf/

Enjoy. It's a great programme.

Edited November 27, 2007 by Happy Hammer

[mrtoad]

Okay here are a couple that I'd recommend.

Paul McGuigan - The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw, The Robin Friday Story. Okay, I know this is an older book, but I have to say it is one of the most fscinating stories that I have ever read, and I would have loved to have seen the guy play.A genius on the pitch, and a complete nutcase off it. If you haven't read it, I'd seroiusly recommend that you do. I'm sure that Thaipauly would agree.

Jim White - You'll win nothing with kids. Basically an account of a writer who takes over running a youth side. Pretty interesting reading, and gives a good prespective of the grassroots game and all the tials and tribulations of a yout football manager.

Paul MacGrath - Back from the brink:The Autobiography. What more can be said about him? One hel_l of a player even with the dodgy knees and being constantly pissed.

I'm waiting for a couple of Chrissi pressies my self, and hopefully will get, Provided you don't kiss me:20 Years with Brian Clough and There's an Awful lot of Bubbly in Brazil - Alan Brazil Autobigraphy. Thos two should keep me entertained for a little while, but I do like the sound of that Adrtian Chilies book as well.

[EastSaxCol]

Thos two should keep me entertained for a little while, but I do like the sound of that Adrtian Chilies book as well.

Cheers for that, toady. I'm back in the LOS on the 9th of next month. I'll send you my copy of Chiles book if you want to PM me your address - and assuming that I can get it back off my mate before then.

If so, I'll send it on to you from Thailand if you want.

[mrtoad]

Thos two should keep me entertained for a little while, but I do like the sound of that Adrtian Chilies book as well.

Cheers for that, toady. I'm back in the LOS on the 9th of next month. I'll send you my copy of Chiles book if you want to PM me your address - and assuming that I can get it back off my mate before then.

If so, I'll send it on to you from Thailand if you want.

Cheers HH. I'll drop you a PM.

[scousemouse]

I've got quite a few Liverpool appreciation books though I think only Kopite and a few of the other lads on the Liverpool forum would be interested in them .

A great football read I've got is " The Damned United " David Peace.

The book is about Brian Clough and focuses mainly on his time managing Leeds United for all of 44 days. A fascinating read and a great style of writing from the author.

I'm up for swapsies , that's what books are for .