Showing titles in Sports History

A Nigerian native who emigrated to the United States at age 11, Alex Owumi's exploits on the basketball court earned him a college scholarship to Georgetown University. Undrafted by the NBA, Owumi pursued his basketball dream overseas, eventually signing with Al-Nasr of Libya, a state-run athletic club privately funded by the family of Libyan president Muammar Qaddafi.

Even in their worst of seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles maintained their tradition of toughness, thanks to great players - from legends like Chuck Bednarik and Steve Van Buren to modern-day heroes. In Tales from the Philadelphia Eagles Sideline, veteran football writer Gordon Forbes profiles the individuals who have thrilled Philadelphia fans since the team’s inception in 1933 through Andy Reid’s last championship contenders during his 14 years as head coach.

From burning crosses set on the Robinsons’s lawn to a Pennsylvania small town on fire with praise and parades when the athletes return from Berlin, Olympic Pride, American Prejudice is full of emotion, grit, political upheaval, and the American dream. Capturing a powerful and untold chapter of history, the narrative is also a celebration of the courage, commitment, and accomplishments of these talented athletes and their impact on race, sports and inclusion around the world.

From her start playing paddle tennis on the streets of Harlem as a young teenager to her eleven Grand Slam tennis wins to her professional golf career, Althea Gibson became the most famous Black sportswoman of the mid-twentieth century. In her unprecedented athletic career, she was the first African American to win titles at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. In this first full-scale biography, Ashley Brown narrates the public career and private struggles of Althea Gibson (1927–2003).

In 1914, the year the war breaks out, football is on the rise. Attendances are steadily increasing, and the players are beginning to become household names. Underlining how football has surpassed cricket as the national sport, George V becomes the first monarch to attend the FA Cup Final in May. In this masterful work of history, Christopher Evans explores how footballers were put under immense pressure to sign up once the war began, resulting in the formation of the Football Battalion in England. He tells the story of World War I through the eyes of seven leading footballers of the day.

In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no other: Roy Francis. He led teams to championships and Wembley finals, revolutionised the art of coaching and inspired his players to incredible achievements. But even more amazingly for those times, he was a Black man in a white world. Through archives, family members’ accounts and former players’ memories, Roy Francis tells the story of a family’s journey from slavery to sporting success, and of a remarkable man who defied prejudice to reach the pinnacle of rugby as a player, coach and leader.

Tucked away on the shores of Cape Cod Bay lies one of the greatest amateur athletic organizations in American sport’s history. Welcome to the 101-year-old tradition of the Cape Cod Baseball League. This great tradition was built on the values that have made our great nation so special. Within the confines of the Cape League there is a quaint and sleepy town that that doesn’t even have a red-light. Every summer, this special place produces some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history.

The IPL has expanded, but Australia's Big Bash is contracting; the 2023 men's Ashes were concertinaed into a tiny window but The Hundred continues to dominate. Is there still hope for Test cricket in this tumultuous sporting landscape? Turbervill recalls the poignancy of the final Test of the English summer at The Oval in 2022, and describes how the match could be seen as a metaphor for the demise of the longer game.

When England beat Pakistan to become T20 World Champions in November 2022, they crowned an extraordinary rise to the top from the depths of 2015, and became the first male side to hold the 20-over and 50-over titles at the same time. This is the story of how they got there. From early failure, to the building of a golden generation, and a look to the future, this is the must-listen story from the key protagonists about building one of England’s most successful sporting teams from rubble.

In 2014, David Goldblatt published The Game of Our Lives, an exhaustive and critically-acclaimed ‘state of the nation’ account of the UK told through the prism of football. A William Hill Award-winner, the book was described by historian David Kynaston as ‘enlightening, enriching and exceptional’, and Goldblatt was consequently heralded by Dominic Sandbrook in the Sunday Times as possibly the greatest football historian there has ever been.

This definitive book will offer a unique and captivating exploration of football's rich legacy, told through 100 carefully selected objects from the unrivalled collection of the National Football Museum – the world's largest. Delving into the sport's social, cultural, and technological evolution, it will take you inside moments of high drama, euphoric success and crushing heartbreak to peel back the layers of the world's favourite game.

Hockey isn’t just a sport—it’s a fast, unpredictable, and mind-blowing spectacle packed with legendary plays, bizarre moments, and records that defy logic. Whether you're a die-hard fan, trivia lover, or just someone who enjoys the unexpected, this audiobook delivers 100 unforgettable stories that will leave you amazed.

In celebration of the Women’s Tennis Association’s 50th anniversary, this updated and expanded edition—based on the 1988 original We Have Come a Long Way: The Story of Women's Tennis—includes more than 33 years’ worth of stories about inspiring women and their achievements. The book arrives 53 years after King and eight other women players broke with the male tennis establishment and launched their own professional tour.

Dear England: The Real Story of the Three Lions Rebirth delves into Southgate's turbulent journey to being hired as England manager, to his emergence as a waistcoated cult figure and becoming the country's most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. Award-winning football writers Jonathan Northcroft and Rob Draper have had extraordinary access to the England team during Southgate's tenure and take us behind the scenes as they exclusively interview key backroom staff and players.

Sue's personal history of Wimbledon is as tightly packed with stories as the courts are with blades of grass. From the most memorable matches to the fashions and trends, the famous rivalries, the upsets and the 'You Cannot Be Serious' unforgettable moments, this is a Centre Court seat on all the riveting drama that has defined British sporting summers for all of our lifetimes.

Delve into the rich traditions of Historic Base Ball in this comprehensive guide to America's pastime as it was played in the mid-19th century. This book offers enthusiasts an immersive look at the game before the advent of modern rules and equipment, featuring insights into period-specific uniforms, playing strategies, and the historical context that shaped these early games.

Born prematurely, weighing less than a bag of sugar, Oisin Murphy’s life has always been one of struggle. From a young age he found communion with horses. Mesmerised by their power, their spirit, he discovered a gift for the saddle. Oisin quickly established himself as one of horseracing’s most prodigious talents. But reaching the pinnacle of the sport required a high-wire dance that pushed his body and mind to their breaking point. Despite a three-year streak as champion jockey, alcohol addiction lurked beneath the surface, and a string of misdemeanours saw him banned for over a year.

The Athletic is back, returning with 100 compelling profiles of soccer’s most celebrated characters, from Dixie Dean, whose 1928 record for the most goals scored in an English top-flight season remains unbroken, to Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, whose stellar performances in the 2022 World Cup final drew almost 1.5 billion television viewers.

When Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew retired from racing in 1978 to stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm, no one could be certain he would be a successful sire. But just four years later, his dark bay daughter Landaluce won the Hollywood Lassie Stakes by twenty-one lengths—a margin of victory that remains the largest ever in any race by a two-year-old at Hollywood Park. California horse racing had a new superstar, and Slew was launched on a stud career that would make him one of the most influential sires in North America.

"Everything is Possible—Legends of Karate" tells the story of the famous people who have influenced the history of American Style of Karate (AKANA) and its incredible journey. This book presents a captivating examination of tenacity, devotion, and success, ranging from the trailblazing vision of Grandmaster Jerry C. Piddington to the unwavering spirit of karate icons like the Gold Dust Twins.