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Booked! 12 great sports reads to spend those Christmas vouchers on

Let us take the stress out of post-Christmas shopping as pick out some of our favourite sporting books for you to get stuck into. Have you read all 12?

26/12/11 680 Views 2 Comments

Booked! 12 great sports reads to spend those Christmas vouchers on
1 / 12

  • Brilliant Orange (David Winner)

    If you've ever thought about the game of football for more than 30 fleeting seconds, this is the book for you. Football philosophy at its finest.

  • Kings of September (Michael Foley)

    The most famous football final in GAA history is brilliantly brought to life by Michael Foley. "An epic story of triumph and loss, joy and tragedy" as it says itself.

  • The Greatest Game Ever Played (Mark Frost)

    Frost introduces us to two of golf's pioneers, Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, culminating in their thrilling meeting at the 1913 US Open. This is the story of the birth of golf.

  • The Damned United (David Peace)

    Now a film starring Michael Sheen, The Damned United is a superb fictional recreation of Brian Clough and his infamous 44-day spell as manager of Leeds United.

  • The Bronx is Burning (Jonathan Mahler)

    It's not often that a writer manages to weave sport, politics and the New York streets into one coherent narrative, but Mahler does it with aplomb.

  • The Miracle of Castle di Sangro (Joe McGinniss)

    An American journalist spends a season in the small town of Castel di Sangro during the local football team's first year in Serie B. A classic.

  • Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson (Paul Kimmage)

    Paul Kimmage's award-winning tale of a young English rugby player and the day his life changed forever. "Get busy living."

  • Four Kings (George Kimball)

    Kimball passed away earlier this year. What better way to pay tribute to his memory than by immersing yourself in his magnum opus as he tells the tale of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran in boxing's golden era.

  • House of Pain (Keith Duggan)

    If there's a better book about Mayo football and the county's 50-year quest for Sam Maguire, we're yet to read it.

  • In Search of Robert Millar (Richard Moore)

    Moore goes in search of one of Britain's most successful cyclists, one-time King of the Mountains Robert Millar.

  • The Fight (Norman Mailer)

    One of the 20th century's great writers explores one of the 20th century's great fights - Ali and Foreman's 'Rumble in the Jungle.'

  • Friday Night Lights (Buzz Bissinger)

    One of the best sports books ever written, bar none. If you want to understand what makes American sport and American society tick, read this.
  • If you've ever thought about the game of football for more than 30 fleeting seconds, this is the book for you. Football philosophy at its finest.
  • The most famous football final in GAA history is brilliantly brought to life by Michael Foley.
  • Frost introduces us to two of golf's pioneers, Harry Vardon and Francis Ouimet, culminating in their thrilling meeting at the 1913 US Open. This is the story of the birth of golf.
  • Now a film starring Michael Sheen, The Damned United is a superb fictional recreation of Brian Clough and his infamous 44-day spell as manager of Leeds United.
  • It's not often that a writer manages to weave sport, politics and the New York streets into one coherent narrative, but Mahler does it with aplomb.
  • An American journalist spends a season in the small town of Castel di Sangro during the local football team's first year in Serie B. A classic.
  • Paul Kimmage's award-winning tale of a young English rugby player and the day his life changed forever.
  • Kimball passed away earlier this year. What better way to pay tribute to his memory than by immersing yourself in his magnum opus as he tells the tale of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran in boxing's golden era.
  • If there's a better book about Mayo football and the county's 50-year quest for Sam Maguire, we're yet to read it.
  • Moore goes in search of one of Britain's most successful cyclists, one-time King of the Mountains Robert Millar.
  • One of the 20th century's great writers explores one of the 20th century's great fights - Ali and Foreman's 'Rumble in the Jungle.'
  • One of the best sports books ever written, bar none. If you want to understand what makes American sport and American society tick, read this.

What’s your classic sports book suggestion?

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About the author:

Niall Kelly
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niall@thescore.ie

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Comments (2 Comments)

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  • John 26/12/11 #

    When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss. For me this was the best sports book I’ve read, about the legendary American Football manager. You don’t have to be into American football to enjoy it just sport – parallels can be drawn with Matt Busby, Alex F, Brian Cody, Stanley M, Jock S, Declan K etc. etc.

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