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THE BEST SPORTS BOOKS 2016 Catch them in time for Father’s Day on June 19th!
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The Cross Sports Book Awards grew from a seed planted at a meeting of half a dozen of the UK's major sports publishers held in Lord Forte's old boardroom at London's Cafe Royal in about 1998. This was the home of the National Sporting Club for many years and the Club organised through the 1980's and 90's a busy programme of sporting lunches and dinners featuring a wide range of sporting celebrities. These functions led to a number of relationships with the most successful sports book publishers and it was they who suggested the awards. Any event which shines a spotlight on the best sporting literature must be good for publishing and the book trade. Books which are commercially successful often garner further critical acclaim but, more importantly, many titles which may not have received the attention they deserve are brought into the limelight.
Welcome After fourteen years the Cross Sports Book Awards continues to celebrate and shower praise upon some of the very best sports books published in the previous year. Within the pages of this magazine you will find a wonderful selection of books that have been shortlisted and those that have gone on to win the awards, which were presented on 1st June. We hope you are able to enjoy as many of the selected books featured as you can, we think they make great Father’s Day gifts – look out for the Cross Sports Book Awards logo in bookshops, libraries and online. Watch the awards highlights show on Sky Sports from 6th June and vote for your favourite award winning book to be crowned the overall Cross Sports Book of the Year at sportsbookawards.com - all voters will be entered into a draw to win £100 of National Book Tokens. David H Willis, Chairman, Cross Sports Book Awards.
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Vote for your Cross Sports Book of the Year
£100 of National Book Tokens to be won! Vote for your overall Cross Sports Book of the Year from the winning title in each of the award categories at
sportsbookawards.com and you will be entered into a draw to win £100 of National Book Tokens. Voting closes midnight 16th June 2016, see the website for terms and conditions.
accepted in bookshops everywhere and online
Previous Sports Book of the Year winners: 2015: Proud by Gareth Thomas & Michael Calvin, 2014: The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin, 2013: Bobby’s Open by Steven Reid, 2012: Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson by Paul Kimmage, 2011: Promised Land by Anthony Clavane.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY of the Year Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Proud by Gareth Thomas & Michael Calvin 2014 The Outsider by Jimmy Connors 2013 Seven Deadly Sins by David Walsh
SHORTLIST WINNER A.P. McCoy
Following his decision to retire at the top of his form, Winner is the final word on McCoy’s entire career – both good and bad moments – and sees it in its entirety: the biggest wins, the disappointments, the injuries and the tragedies, his family, and the amazing horses and personalities he’s worked with.
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INTERESTING Steve Davis
The man behind the ‘boring’ tag has always been snooker’s smartest and sharpest man. Steve became untouchably the best player in the world and the best paid sportsman in the country. Interesting lays it all bare: what it was like to win in those pressure-cooker situations; how to cope at the top and how you deal with the moment when a man comes along who is better than you. This is a memoir that closely evokes the smoke-filled atmosphere of those arenas, the intrigue behind the scenes and the personal psychology and sacrifice that is required to stay at the top of such an exacting sport.
MY STORY Steven Gerrard
In My Story Gerrard speaks fully and frankly about his extraordinary playing career, opening up about the key matches and moments to give us the view from on the pitch. His exhilarating accounts of winning and losing while staying loyal to one club through good and bad tell us about his commitment both to the game and to Liverpool. It's a story of a deeply personal relationship between one man, his club and the fans. And it is a story that is far from over.
LAST IN THE TIN BATH David Lloyd
During his childhood, after a long day playing cricket in the street, David 'Bumble' Lloyd would wash himself in his family's tin bath - but only after his parents and uncle had taken their turn first. Last in the Tin Bath is packed with hilarious anecdotes from the golden age of Lancashire cricket, and behind-the-scenes insight into Bumble’s life with England, as player, umpire and coach, and on the Sky commentary team.
STAYING ON TRACK Nigel Mansell
In 1992 Mansell secured the title in the drivers’ world championship, the crowning achievement of a stellar career in which he won 31 Grand Prix. Aggressive and exciting in the car, and outspoken and charismatic out of it, Mansell provides an unmissable account of F1, the cars and the drivers. Staying on Track is an unrivalled insight into the motivations and key moments of one of Britain’s greatest sporting heroes.
WINNER
FORMULA ONE AND BEYOND Max Mosley After Max Mosley gave up a promising position at the Bar to take up motor racing, initially as a driver and later as a team owner, he got to know some of the sport's most famous names. But he also saw the reckless disregard for their lives shown by many organisers. Mosley reveals in compelling detail how he and his partner Bernie Ecclestone set about transforming Formula One into the most glamorous, exciting and extravagant form of motorsport.
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INTERNATIONAL Award sponsored by
AWARDED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2016
AUSSIE GRIT: MY FORMULA ONE JOURNEY Mark Webber
From his first taste of karting to his F1 debut in 2002, scoring Minardi's first points in three years at the Australian Grand Prix, through to his first win with Red Bull at the 2009 German Grand Prix and the year he should have been crowned World Champion. In his trademark straight-talking, no-nonsense style Mark reveals in Aussie Grit his amazing life on and off the Formula One race track.
Autobiography
COMMITMENT Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba is one of the most recognisable and successful players in the world of football. He has played for his native Ivory Coast, and for clubs in France, China and Turkey, but it is as a Chelsea striker that he is best known. In this honest autobiography he talks about his early life in Paris and how finding success later than most professional footballers has kept him grounded. Commitment also focuses on Drogba’s life off the pitch. Time magazine named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people for his humanitarian work.
SHORTLIST DAN CARTER: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN ALL BLACKS LEGEND Dan Carter
MOODY BLUE: THE STORY OF MYSTERIOUS MARCO Marco Negri with Jeff Holmes
Dan Carter's last game as an All Black culminated with him declared Man of the Match following the 2015 Rugby World Cup final - an unforgettable ending to the career of the greatest fly-half of all time. Threaded throughout the book is an intimate diary of his final year as a Crusader and All Black, during which he worked tirelessly to make one last run at that elusive goal: a World Cup victory achieved on the field. Dan Carter's autobiography is essential reading for all sports fans.
When Walter Smith snatched Marco Negri from the grasps of the Italian superpowers in 1997, Rangers fans were in for a mighty shock. The cult hero smashed in 33 goals in his first 29 games, but frustrating injuries, unrest and loan deals were to rule the rest of his time at Ibrox. The astonishing story of one of football's most enigmatic characters.
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BLINDSIDED Michael Lynagh with Mark Eglinton
Few players in the history of the game have had as illustrious a career as Wallaby fly-half and captain Michael Lynagh. Until one April day in 2012, Lynagh lay partially blinded in intensive care, his life hanging by a thread following a major stroke. Much more than a book about sport, Blindsided explores the fragility and meaning of life: the triumphs and the battles, recovering and rebuilding.
WINNER
MY FIGHT, YOUR FIGHT Ronda Rousey The journey to the top for the most dominant mixed-martialarts fighter in history has been filled with challenges. From a childhood marked by speech problems to the painful loss of her father, she grew up repeatedly pushing her mind and body to the limit in order to win. She battled prejudice to become the first female fighter in UFC and now she is the biggest name in the sport. Rousey relives her greatest fights and shares her secrets for success and mental toughness. It will leave you ready to face your own challenges in life, whatever they may be.
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BIOGRAPHY Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Bobby Moore: The Man in Full by Matt Dickinson 2013 Seven Deadly Sins by David Walsh 2012 Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson by Paul Kimmage
SHORTLIST A MAN’S WORLD Donald McRae
In 1962, when Emile Griffith stepped into the ring to defend his world title against Benny Paret, he was filled with rage. Paret had denounced Griffith as a 'faggot'. The insinuation could have had dangerous consequences especially as it was true. Griffith pounded Paret who later died, leaving Griffith haunted by remorse. Despite this, he went on to fight more world championship rounds than any other fighter in history. Donald McRae weaves a compelling tale of triumph over prejudice.
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of the Year
ARSENE WENGER John Cross
When Arsene Wenger arrived at Arsenal in 1996, his ability was doubted. But he soon transformed the team, melding the famous English defence with a hugely creative foreign attacking spirit and introducing new ideas on diet, fitness and professionalism. Having won numerous trophies, and led the Invincibles to an unbeaten league season in 2003-04, Wenger helped the club through their move from Highbury to the Emirates. Despite financial constraints, Wenger kept the club in the Champions League and once again began to build a trophy-winning squad, picking up FA Cups in 2014 and 2015. CRISTIANO RONALDO Guillem Balague
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time, yet for all his success on the pitch he has often been a controversial and divisive figure off it. Guillem Balague, respected football journalist and expert on the Spanish game, provides the definitive account of what has made Ronaldo the player and man he is today.
RICHMOND UNCHAINED Luke G. Williams
Bill Richmond was one of the most significant sportsmen in history and one of the most prominent celebrities of Georgian times. Born into slavery, Richmond won his freedom and carved a new life for himself in England as a cabinet maker and then a renowned prizefighter and trainer. The story of Bill Richmond is an incredible tale of personal advancement, as well as the story of a life informed and influenced by a series of historical events, including the American War of Independence, the fight for black emancipation and Britain’s conflict with Napoleon.
AMAzING GRACE: THE MAN WHO WAS W.G. Richard Tomlinson
A magisterial new biography reveals the real W.G. behind the record-breaking cricketer who was also the most recognisable public figure in Victorian Britain. When W.G. became the first ever batsman to score 100 first-class centuries, his nearest rival had only scored forty-three. Richard Tomlinson mines a trove of previously undiscovered archive material in England, Australia and North America and at last connects Grace's astounding achievements on the field (he took 3000 wickets as well) with the private life he hid so well from the world.
WINNER
SPEED KINGS Andy Bull The epic story of four extraordinary gentlemen who came together to win bobsled gold in the 1932 Winter Olympics, and of a doomed generation, infatuated with fast living, heading into WWII. Speed was all the rage and the most thrilling way to attain it was through the new sport of bobsledding. It required an abundance of skill and bravery. And the four men who triumphed at those Games lived the most extraordinary lives. This is their story, of loose living, risk-taking and hell-raising in an age of decadence, and of their race against the odds to become the fastest men on ice.
id you have a sporting hero as a child? Someone who inspired you to get involved with or watch sport? We asked some of our shortlisted authors, judges and awards hosts to let us know who their sporting heros were.
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Mike Wedderburn, Sky Sports News, Cross Sports Book Awards host. Hero is actually a strong word. My parents are my heroes, as they went without so much to give me a chance. That was truly heroic. I have sportsmen that I admire though. (i) Muhammad Ali. Not just for his prodigious ability and skill, but for his bravery in the face of a sort of pressure that most of us can only imagine. He hung on to what he truly believed was right despite criticism and hatred. A colossus of a man. (ii) As is Viv Richards. Quite simply the greatest that I ever saw hold a bat. An individual capable of putting the fear of God into a whole opposition team and on occasion a whole nation. Simply brilliant!
year he had decimated England with 8 for 45 in the 4th Test match in Barbados. When he was at Wantage Road though he was our Curtly Ambrose - Northamptonshire’s Curtly Ambrose - and he was cool. Steve Davis, former snooker world champion, autobiography shortlisted author. My childhood sporting heroes I suppose would have been the 1966 World Cup team. I think I was ripe for that. Bjorn Borg was big at the time. Closer to home Keith Peacock from Charlton Athletic and a few of the Charlton team, I was a big supporter of Charlton Athletic before I found snooker. Then I dropped football like a hot potato, a game of people falling over fresh air deliberately to gain an advantage – I just refuse to watch it now. Max Mosley, former president of the FIA, autobiography shortlisted author. Stirling Moss, Geoff Duke, Tommy Naughton, but this is going back to the 40s and 50s.
WHO IS YOUR SPORTING Alison Mitchell, sports broadcaster, Cross Sports Book Awards host. Sir Curtly Ambrose. Never mind that he was a lethal giant of a fast bowler for the West Indies, I knew him first and foremost as Northamptonshire’s Curtly Ambrose. As an eager 10 year old I was taken to Wantage Road for my cricketing education and the 6’7 Ambrose towered above his team mates, let alone the small crowd of us kids who would be waiting by the players’ gate as he and the others walked off the field. There was something about his languid walk back to his mark, the long arms swinging jauntily by his side, then the flash of white wrist band as he entered his delivery stride and sent rockets down the other end from a release point nearly 10 feet above the ground. When he took a wicket he would waggle those wrists and the sweat bands would do a dance of their own. Earlier that
Alison Kervin, Sports Editor of the Mail on Sunday, autobiography judge. When I was younger I was a gymnast and I remember Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci. I used to write to the Russian and Romanian embassies, send letters to them and was obsessed with them. And when I got to interview them later on as a grownup I became my ten-year-old self again. They were my absolute heroines. Tao Geoghegan Hart, British cyclist, cycling judge. Thierry Henry was my sporting idol as a youngster. There was something about his utter class, yet ruthless application on the pitch, that really made him stand out. The way Henry carried himself was unlike any other player of the time, not to mention he could, and regularly would, change a game in the blink of an eye.
Simon Brotherton, sports commentator, cycling judge. Sean Kelly always had a prime spot on my wall among the cycling heroes of the day when I was growing up. The images of him winning Paris Roubaix in the mid-eighties, his red, white and blue Skil jersey splattered with mud, are seared into my brain and take me right back to those school days. I was all set for a coach trip to see the last 10 days of the 1987 Tour De France when he crashed out of the race with a broken collarbone, leaving me very disappointed. I wasn't the only one, as there were several blokes from his home village of Carrick on Suir on the trip. Our initial disappointment was soon forgotten though as Stephen Roche went on to win the race in Paris after a thrilling battle for the yellow jersey. It was great to have been on the upper slopes of La Plagne on the day he produced 'that' ride. As Phil Liggett memorably exclaimed, "And just who is that rider coming up behind......it looks like Roche, that looks like STEPHEN ROCHE, IT’S STEPHEN ROCHE!"
HERO? Nigel Mansell, former Formula One world champion, autobiography shortlisted author. I enjoyed watching Jimmy Clark win at Aintree, which basically got me going in motorsports and various things. Martin Johnson, former Rugby World Cup champion, cycling judge. I was a Liverpool fan and when Dalglish came he was obviously very big and very good but I thought the Terry McDermotts and Ray Kennedys were equally as important, underrated and slightly undervalued. Brian Moore, former England rugby star, autobiography judge. For sporting, political, personal, ethical and lots of other reasons, it would have to be Muhammed Ali.
Lawrence Dallaglio, former Rugby World Cup champion, cycling judge. Ian Botham - I was lucky enough to work at Lord’s Cricket Ground as a young kid and I saw some of the greatest things that English cricket achieved. Christian Vande Velde, former American cyclist, cycling judge. My Dad (John Vande Velde), Michael Jordan and Eric Heiden. I am sure my dad would love to know he is among these guys. Dad - I always looked up to my dad and tried to emulate him as I grew up. From getting on my little bike when I was 5 to start a ride with him at 5:30am to trying to beat the benchmarks that he had set in his cycling career. He obviously didn't have the opportunities or support that I had 20 years later, but the biggest thing now that I am proud of, as an adult, is the fact that he was brave enough to try his hand at racing in Europe when only a handful had done it previously. Michael Jordan - I am from Chicago. Eric Heiden - 5 time Olympic Champion in speed skating (he won every event). Eric then became the professional national champion in cycling 5 years later and raced Grand Tours in Europe. After that he became an orthopedic surgeon and volunteered as our doctor at the World Championships. My respect for this man is off the charts.
FOOTBALL Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Thirty One Nil by James Montague 2014 The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin 2013 Barca by Graham Hunter
SHORTLIST FOREVER BOYS James Lawton
Sometimes you love a football team not only for their strengths, and splendour of their play but also the haunting possibility that their best hopes may never be fulfilled. This has rarely been demonstrated so vividly as by the Manchester City team who briefly illuminated the late sixties. And no one was more caught up in their struggles and their triumphs than James Lawton, a young sportswriter starting out on a career that would take him to all the great events of world sport. 50 years after Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison began to shape the brilliant team, he counts watching their rise to glory as one of the most exciting times of his professional life.
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Book of the Year
ARSENE WENGER John Cross
When Arsene Wenger arrived at Arsenal in 1996, his ability was doubted. But he soon transformed the team, melding the famous English defence with a hugely creative foreign attacking spirit and introducing new ideas on diet, fitness and professionalism. Having won numerous trophies, and led the Invincibles to an unbeaten league season in 2003-04, Wenger helped the club through their move from Highbury to the Emirates. Despite financial constraints, Wenger kept the club in the Champions League and once again began to build a trophy-winning squad, picking up FA Cups in 2014 and 2015. LIVING ON THE VOLCANO Michael Calvin
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.” These are football managers, live and uncut. Arsene Wenger likens the job to “living on a volcano: any day may be your last”. What makes these men tick? They are familiar figures, who rarely offer anything more than a glimpse into their personal and professional lives. What shapes them? How and why do they do their job? Award-winning writer Michael Calvin provides the answers.
THE DIRTY GAME Andrew Jennings
Investigative reporter and BBC Panorama presenter Andrew Jennings uncovers the eye-watering level of fraud and criminal activity at the heart of FIFA, which has been described as the biggest sporting scandal of the century. From Blatter to Blazer, from bribery to embezzlement, Jennings reveals the key protagonists, crimes and evidence he handed to the FBI which led to the arrests of FIFA executive and the resignation of Sepp Blatter. Based on years of research and never-before-seen documents, this is the definitive portrait of the downfall of FIFA.
MATCHDAYS Ronald Reng
German football is envied around the world. The national team won the 2014 World Cup in style, while the Bundesliga offers an alternative model through its fan-friendly set-up. Ronald Reng tells the story through journeyman footballer turned manager Heinz Hoher, who has been in the Bundesliga since the first day of its existence in 1963, to reveal the development of German football and society from the ruins of the Nazi era to the football and economic powerhouse that it is today.
WINNER
CRISTIANO RONALDO Guillem Balague Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers of all time, yet for all his success on the pitch he has often been a controversial and divisive figure off it. Guillem Balague, respected football journalist and expert on the Spanish game, provides the definitive account of what has made Ronaldo the player and man he is today.
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OUTSTANDING Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Alone: The Triumph & Tragedy of John Curry Bill Jones 2014 Everest by Harriet Tuckey
SHORTLIST THE BOLT SUPREMACY Richard Moore
Award-winning writer Richard Moore uncovers the secrets of Usain Bolt and the Jamaican sprinting phenomenon. The Bolt Supremacy opens the doors to a community where identity, success and status are forged on the track, and where making it is a pass to a world of adoration and lucrative contracts.Â
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A DAzzLING DARKNESS: THE DARREN BARKER STORY Darren Barker with Ian Ridley
Darren and Gary Barker were the Fabulous Barker Boys. As amateurs, Darren won a Commonwealth Games gold medal while Gary won a Junior Olympic Games title. Then Gary's life was cut short in a car accident when he was just 19. Darren could not face boxing again. Inspired, however, by a brilliant therapist and mentored by a sympathetic trainer. Darren got back into the ring and worked his way up to a world title shot. After first losing to Sergio Martinez, and undergoing two hip operations, Darren returned to wrest the IBF world title from Daniel Geale.
FEDERER AND ME William Skidelsky
William Skidelsky asks what it is about the Swiss star that transfixes him, and countless others. In charting his obsession, Skidelsky explores the evolution of modern tennis, the role of beauty in sport and the psychology of fandom, weaving his own past into the story.
Sports Writing
THE FIxER John Daniell
Match-fixing is one of the biggest issues surrounding sport at this time. John Daniell, a former professional rugby player, has written this fascinating novel about Mark Stevens, a former All Black playing professional rugby in Paris. Moving toward the end of his career Mark is drawn, through his relationship with a beautiful journalist, first into betting on matches and then into match-fixing. Daniell shows how an innocent player can be drawn into an illegal world, one where your actions place your family, half a world away, in danger.
TWO HOURS: THE QUEST TO RUN THE IMPOSSIBLE MARATHON Ed Caesar
Two hours, to cover 26 miles and 385 yards. The sub-two hour marathon will require an exceptional feat of speed, strength and endurance. The pioneer will have to endure more, live braver and be luckier than his forbearers. So who is he? Ed Caesar takes us into the world of the elite of the elite: the greatest marathoners on earth. Through the stories of these rich characters he traces the history of the marathon as well as the science, physiology and psychology involved in running so fast, for so long.
WINNER
BARBARIAN DAYS: A SURFING LIFE William Finnegan Surfing only looks like a sport. To devotees, it is something else entirely: a beautiful addiction, a mental and physical study, a passionate way of life. Barbarian Days is William Finnegan’s immersive memoir of a life spent travelling the world chasing waves. An old-school adventure story, a social history, an extraordinary exploration of one man's gradual mastering of an exacting and little-understood art. It is a memoir of dangerous obsession and enchantment.
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NEW WRITER Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Night Games by Anna Krien 2014 Land of Second Chances by Tim Lewis 2013 Running with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn
SHORTLIST RUNNER Lizzy Hawker
Runner is the story of Lizzy Hawker's journey and will get inside the head of the physical, mental and emotional challenges that runners go through at the edge of human endurance, in much the same way as Aurum's classic running story Feet in the Clouds by Richard Askwith did nearly ten years ago.
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of the Year
DARK MERMAIDS Anne LauppeDunbar
A shocking story of a political system that doped its youngsters to sporting superhero status, and then left them to fend for themselves. West Berlin police officer Sophia is called to investigate the murder of her childhood friend Kathe. Sophia is forced to return to the hometown she fled as a teenager. As she delves into the Stasi secrets of those she grew up with, Sophie uncovers a web of horrors about her own past as a child-swimming star in the former GDR. But her hunt for the truth has not gone unnoticed by those close to her, people who still have too much to hide.
THE LONGEST FIGHT Emily Bullock
Set in 1950s London amidst the gritty and violent world of boxing, this beautiful and brutal debut is the story of one man’s struggle to overcome the mistakes and tragedies of his past. The Longest Fight was inspired by the author’s boxing grandfather and is an Independent on Sunday Paperback of the Year.
RUN, RIDE, SINK OR SWIM Lucy Fry
Here's how Lucy Fry felt about the component parts of triathlon: swimming - fairly terrifying. Cycling - brilliant when done on a stationary bike. Running - sometimes fantastic, sometimes hideous. But as increasing numbers of her female friends signed up to tri, Lucy couldn't help wondering: what was it about this pursuit that women seemed to find so magical? The time had come to find out. Funny, warm and engaging, Run, Ride, Sink or Swim is for both the tri-curious and the dedicated tri-hard, and for any woman looking for inspiration to make the transition from sofa to start line.
TOUCHING DISTANCE Martin Hardy
The story of Newcastle United’s remarkable 1995/96 season, through the highs and the lows of a truly dramatic campaign. It also traces the seeds of the revival back to Keegan's first spell as a player, to his return and the dramatic impact he had on a football club, its supporters and an entire region. It is a story of hopes and dreams and when, for Newcastle United, anything seemed possible.
WINNER
TWO HOURS: THE QUEST TO RUN THE IMPOSSIBLE MARATHON Ed Caesar Two hours, to cover 26 miles and 385 yards. The sub-two hour marathon will require an exceptional feat of speed, strength and endurance. The pioneer will have to endure more, live braver and be luckier than his forbearers. So who is he? Ed Caesar takes us into the world of the elite of the elite: the greatest marathoners on earth. Through the stories of these rich characters he traces the history of the marathon as well as the science, physiology and psychology involved in running so fast, for so long. Sports images courtesy of
e interview Sky Sports News presenter Mike Wedderburn, who was the host of the 2016 Cross Sports Book Awards.
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Who or what was your inspiration to get involved with sport as a youngster? You couldn’t grow up in my house and not love cricket. My Dad lived and breathed the sport and if you link that with the mighty West Indies side of the 70’s through to the 90’s what chance did I have? What advice would you give to aspiring sports journalists and presenters? Don’t be a Wiki journalist. Be thorough, don’t cut corners. Check and check again. Specifically for the presenters, watch closely and learn from the good presenters but be yourself. That is the only person you can authentically be. And be careful. Presenters are always one word from the sack so regret what you didn’t say not what you did!
Yes without doubt! They are like a pacemaker in a long distance race who the others let get away who says. “Do you know what I can win this.” The others I don’t think took them seriously until it was too late. Are you an avid reader? and what are you reading at the moment? I read all the time. I regularly have three books on the go at any one time. Because I travel a long distance to the studios in the dead of night, I listen to audio books in the car. At the moment the brilliant Shardlake Series by CJ Samson. Set in the time of Henry VIII Matthew Shardlake is a lawyer/sleuth. Brilliant! I’m also reading a Harlan Coban thriller about a man picking people up on dating sites, robbing them and murdering them. Again a brilliant read. Finally I am really enjoying Fire in Babylon about the great West Indies cricket team. It feels like reading about old friends. Just wonderful.
MIKE WEDDERBURN Q&A You’ve been the longest serving presenter on Sky Sports News, what is the biggest story you’ve ever broken? Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Manchester United was pretty big. We knew it was coming but just not exactly when. Phil Hughes’ death. So shocking, sad and difficult to get right. But for sheer shock value it has to be when Sol Campbell left Spurs for Arsenal. The producer said to me something is going on at London Colney, Arsenal’s training ground. We were only expecting Arsenal to sign a third choice keeper but there’s a lot of security around. He said maybe Sol Campbell has gone to Arsenal. I uttered the immortal words. “That will never happen!” Is Leicester City winning the Premier League the most surprising story to happen while you have been working at SSN?
Watch the Cross Sports Book Awards highlights show, hosted by Mike Wedderburn, from 6th June on Sky Sports.
What is your favourite sports book of all time? That’s really hard. I love autobiographies. Tony Cascarino, Tony Adams and Nasser Hussain all hit the spot. Fabulous, candid and revealing of human nature. All wonderful books.
We think sports books make great Father’s Day presents, have you ever given or received a sports book? I’m a former professional sportsman and a current sports presenter. All I ever get is sports books… and socks! What do you think makes for great sports writing? I’m not interested in someone telling me they scored this goal and then they scored that goal. Apart from being well written and engaging I want to be told something that I didn’t already know. You were a professional cricketer with Hampshire and a Harlequins and Wasps rugby player. What’s your greatest sporting achievement? Funnily enough it was losing the 1980 Pilkington Cup final to Bath. The week before we had two players unjustly sent off and so had to get Paul Ackford (former England lock forward) out of retirement (he hadn’t played for a year). Bath were the best team in the country but we matched them and really should have won. The only lineout that Ackford lost all afternoon was deep into extra time which allowed Stuart Barnes to drop the winning goal, with the last kick of the game. We were devastated but after a few tears we realised we had played as well as we possibly could. So we partied. Hard! What sporting event are you most looking forward to this year? Well I was hoping to see my beloved Manchester City in the Champions League final in Milan. Impetuously I booked a hotel room which it turns out is non-refundable. Mrs W is not best pleased to be spending a romantic weekend in Milan with hoards of Atletico and Real Madrid football fans! So it has to be the Ryder Cup. Golf isn’t really my thing but I truly believe that the Ryder Cup is the greatest sporting event on the planet. So much drama, so many quick changes in fortunes in such a short space of time. Can’t wait.
RUGBY Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Beyond The Horizon by Richard Parks 2014 City Centre by Simon Halliday 2013 The Final Whistle by Stephen Cooper
Book of the Year
AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE Stephen Cooper
Rugby players, amongst the first to volunteer for the First World War, led from the front and paid a disproportionate price. This is the fascinating story of rugby’s journey from the last pre-war international, through wartime games to the first ‘world champion’ and winner of the King’s Cup in 1919.
BOMB Adam Jones
Adam Jones, aka 'Bomb', won 95 caps for Wales and is the most decorated prop in Welsh rugby history. He is one of a very select group of Welshmen who have won three Grand Slams, and was also selected for two tours with the British & Irish Lions. A hugely entertaining career autobiography from a true legend of Welsh rugby, and a genuine cult figure.
SHORTLIST THE IRON CURTAIN Phil Larder & Nick Bishop
The story of rugby pioneer Phil Larder, the first coach to break through the hidden wall between rugby league and union. The journey starts with Phil's upbringing as a player, takes in the 80s rugby league revolution he sparked as national coaching director, and his jump across the barricades to rugby union in 1997.
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MAN AND BALL Stephen Ferris
Stephen Ferris had an incredible rugby career, tragically ended by ankle injuries so severe they will never properly heal. He is an inspiration to the population of Ulster, an emblem of the sport that serves as such a positive expression of its culture and identity, and earned the respect and admiration of fans across Ireland for his strength, pace, skill and courage. Fearless, funny and full of an incredible array of stories from behind the scenes of Ulster, Ireland and the Lions, this is one of the must-have rugby books of the year.
THE OVAL WORLD Tony Collins
The first full-length history of rugby on a world scale – from its origins in the village-based football games of medieval times up to the globalised sport of the twenty-first century, now played in over 100 countries. It tells the story of how a game played in an obscure English public school became the winter sport of the British Empire, spreading to the rest of the world and commanding a global television audience of over four billion for the last World Cup final. It also explores how American football – and other games such as Australian, Canadian and Gaelic football – emerged from their English cousin.
WINNER
NO BORDERS: PLAYING RUGBY FOR IRELAND Tom English Celebrated rugby writer Tom English embarks on a pilgrimage through the four provinces to reveal the fascinating story of playing Test rugby in the green of Ireland – all the glory of victory, all the pain of defeat, and all the camaraderie behind the scenes. But more than a nostalgic look back through the years, this is a searing portrait of the effects of politics and religion on Irish sport, a story of great schisms and volatile divisions, but also a story of the profound unity, friendships and bonds of a brotherhood.
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CYCLING PREVIOUS WINNER 2015 The Race Against the Stasi by Herbie Sykes
Book of the Year
ALPE D’HUEz: CYCLING’S GREATEST CLIMB Peter Cossins
In Alpe d’Huez, veteran cycling journalist Peter Cossins reveals the triumphs, passion and despair behind the great exploits on the Alpe and discloses the untold details that have led to the mountain becoming as important to the Tour as the race is to resort at its summit.
THE YELLOW JERSEY CLUB Edward Pickering
The Yellow Jersey Club contains just twenty-six living members. To become one of this exclusive number requires complete dedication, brutal self-sacrifice and extraordinary physical attributes. Yet along with the ability to climb mountains, bomb along time trials and survive all the perils of the road, what really makes a Tour de France champion? The Yellow Jersey Club gives the reader unprecedented access into the secrets of the greats of cycling.
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TO HELL ON A BIKE Iain MacGregor
Paris-Roubaix. The Hell of the North. The ultimate monument in cycling's Classics. Even professional riders blanche at the very mention of it. So why on earth would an amateur even dare to attempt it? In To Hell on a Bike, Iain MacGregor does just that and as he prepares for the ride of his life, he explores the history and culture of this extraordinary race. With insights from legends of the sport, trainers, mechanics and fellow writers. It is the ultimate story of the ultimate cycling challenge.
BERNARD HINAULT AND THE FALL AND RISE OF FRENCH CYCLING William Fotheringham
Bernard Hinault is one of the greatest cyclists of all time. In Bernard Hinault and the Fall and Rise of French Cycling, William Fotheringham finally gets to the bottom of this fascinating character and explores the reasons why the nation that considers itself cycling’s home has found it so hard to produce another champion.
THE WORLD OF CYCLING ACCORDING TO G Geraint Thomas
Saddle up as double Olympic gold medallist and multiple world champion Geraint Thomas gives a warts and all insight into life as a pro cyclist. G reveals cycling's clandestine codes and secret stories, tales from the peloton, insight into characters like Wiggins, Hoy and Cav, pivotal races and essential etiquette.
WINNER
THE RACER David Millar David Millar offers us a unique insight into the mind of a professional cyclist during his last year before retirement. Over the course of a season on the World Tour, Millar puts us in touch with the sights, smells and sounds of the sport. It is a love letter to cycling.
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CRICKET Award sponsored by
RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 Wounded Tiger by Peter Oborne 2014 The Great Tamasha by James Astil 2013 On Warne by Gideon Haigh
Book of the Year
SUMMER’S CROWN: THE STORY OF CRICKET’S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP Stephen Chalke
Summer’s Crown celebrates 125 years of cricket’s county championship: the great teams and players, the memorable matches and bizarre episodes, the times of crisis and the fascinating social history that moulds it all. With colour throughout, it is lavishly illustrated.
FIRE IN BABYLON Simon Lister
The West Indies had always had brilliant cricketers; it hadn’t always had brilliant cricket teams. But in 1974, a man called Clive Lloyd began to lead a side which would at last throw off the shackles that had hindered the region for centuries. Fire in Babylon is the definitive story of the greatest team that sport has known.
SHORTLIST AMAzING GRACE: THE MAN WHO WAS W.G. Richard Tomlinson
A magisterial new biography reveals the real W.G. behind the record-breaking cricketer who was also the most recognisable public figure in Victorian Britain. When W.G. became the first ever batsman to score 100 first-class centuries, his nearest rival had only scored forty-three. Richard Tomlinson mines a trove of previously undiscovered archive material in England, Australia and North America and at last connects Grace's astounding achievements on the field (he took 3000 wickets as well) with the private life he hid so well from the world.
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CRICKET: THE GAME OF LIFE Scyld Berry
Written by the Sunday Telegraph cricket correspondent and former editor of the Wisden Almanack, Scyld Berry draws on his experiences as a cricket writer of forty years to produce new insights and historical angles on the game, along with moving reflections on episodes from his own life. From cricket in different areas of the world, to its abstract language, numbers, ethics and psychology; Scyld Berry relishes the joys cricket provides and reinforces the positive effect it can have in people's lives. This is an inspiring book that reminds readers why they love the game and prompts them to look at it in a new way.
THE ART OF CENTURIES Steve James
An exploration of the history of cricket's ultimate achievement and of the mental and physical qualities shown by the greatest players in the game. A century has always had a special resonance, in all walks of life, and none more so than in cricket. Scoring one hundred runs is the ultimate for a batsman. In The Art of Centuries, Steve James applies his award-winning forensic insight to the very heart of batting. Through interviews with the leading run-scorers in cricket history and his own experiences, Steve discovers what mental and physical efforts are required to reach those magical three figures.
WINNER
CHASING SHADOWS: THE LIFE & DEATH OF PETER ROEBUCK Tim Lane & Elliot Cartledge This is the revealing story of a man who was an enigma: a cricketer, cricket commentator and philanthropist who had it all, then died tragically. Part biography, part personal reflection and part investigation, Chasing Shadows celebrates Roebuck’s immense achievements as a player, captain, writer, broadcaster and philanthropist, but doesn’t shy away from the controversies that plagued his life or the uncertainty surrounding his shocking death.
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ILLUSTRATED RECENT PREVIOUS WINNERS 2015 The Age of Innocence: Football in the 1970s 2014 Incredible Waves by Chris Power 2013 21 Days to Glory by Team Sky and Dave Brailsford
Book of the Year
LE TOUR DE FRANCE 2015 THE OFFICIAL REVIEW
This official review captures in detail the gripping battles for the yellow, green, white and polka dot jerseys, as the titans of cycling went wheel-to-wheel over three drama-filled weeks. With stunning photography and detailed reports of every stage, Le Tour de France 2015 – The Official Review is a wonderful record of a Grande Boucle that hit new heights, broke records and confirmed its status as the greatest race on earth.
SHORTLIST ST ANDREWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OLD TOM MORRIS Roger McStravick
Winner of the USGA’s Herbert Warren Wind Book Award 2015, St Andrews – In The Footsteps of Old Tom Morris is a beautiful guide to the golf history of St Andrews, set to the backdrop of the life of Tom Morris. With rare paintings, 19th century photographs and new research, critics have hailed it a golfing masterpiece and the best St Andrews book in 160 years.
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THIS IS ANFIELD: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF LIVERPOOL FC’S LEGENDARY STADIUM Mark Platt with William Hughes
The first official illustrated history dedicated to the legendary home of Liverpool Football Club. Through 150 historic and rare archive photographs, the book explores the iconic football ground’s rich history, the personalities who shaped the stadium, and the many incredible matches played there.
RICHIE BENAUD THOSE SUMMERS OF CRICKET 1930-2015 Paul Connolly
Richie Benaud, OBE was a Test cricket all-rounder. In 1958 he became Australia’s Test captain until his retirement in 1964. He became the first player to reach 200 wickets and 2,000 runs in Test cricket. After his retirement he became a highly regarded and utterly beloved commentator on the game. This book gathers together the many accolades accorded Richie Benaud over the decades. Tales from colleagues, players, friends and those who listened to his broadcasts every summer.
TRIATHLON! Matthew Baird
Triathlon! is a celebration of the triathletes, courses and gear that make up one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Triathlon racing – competition across the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running – is the ultimate test of human athleticism.
WINNER
1/1000TH: THE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY OF BOB MARTIN Bob Martin A spectacular, large format coffee table book showcasing the breathtaking pictures of world-renowned sports photographer, Bob Martin. The book features page after page of stunning, awe-inspiring pictures from the world’s greatest sporting events.
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he Cross Sports Book Awards were delighted to present Brian Glanville with the Outstanding Contribution to Sports Writing Award at the Cross Sports Book Awards on 1st June. We asked Gavin Hamilton, editor of World Soccer, to share his thoughts on one of the greatest sports writers.
T
game, eloquently expressed by his precocious teenage ghost. A move to Rome in the 1950s helped to crystallise one of the defining themes of Glanville’s working life – a love and admiration for Italy, its people and its football culture. Few modern-day football writers have spent time working abroad but Glanville’s experiences in Italy added an extra dimension to his writing. No writer has done more to make an intellectual approach to football writing respectable. Many of the fine, award-winning football books that have appeared in recent years would not have
BRIAN GLANVILLE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION “Brian Glanville is a pioneer in so many ways. His book, Soccer Nemesis, written in his early twenties and published in 1955, is still relevant to English football today, more than 60 years later. In Soccer Nemesis, he confronted many painful truths about English football’s insularity that had been exposed by the national side’s humiliating 6-3 defeat by Hungary at Wembley in 1953. Many found his views uncomfortable reading - he was, you might say, a prophet in his own country – but Glanville, we now know, was decades ahead of his time. He was working as a legal clerk and was barely out of his teens when his first book, a ghosted biography of Arsenal winger Cliff Bastin, appeared. Cliff Bastin Remembers was ground-breaking – a professional footballer with strong opinions about the
been possible without Glanville’s pioneering work. The quality of his prose shines through on every page. The Story of the World Cup, now in its eighth revised edition, remains a remarkable record. Some phrases may appear cliched to modern readers, but only because they have been copied and re-used by lesser writers down the years. His command of language extends to an armoury of swearwords always spoken, never in his prose, but deployed to devastating effect. Geoffrey Green, the celebrated former Times reporter, may be remembered as the doyen of football correspondents
but Glanville is, I would argue, the more complete writer. His interest in amateur football (via his team, Chelsea Casuals) has been an important influence on his writing, helped by his wonderful ear for demotic dialogue. Nor has he been intimidated by football’s darker side. His expose of match-fixing in the 1960s and 1970s – he may have mentioned it once or twice down the years remains a template for modern-day reporters. He has never been afraid to speak against the prevailing norm. Most modern football writers hunt in packs, scared to deviate from
because of the role his books have played as a route into reading for thousands of children, myself included. There has been more: plays, scripts (That Was The Week That Was) and documentaries (GOAL, the official film of the 1966 World Cup). I am unashamed to steal a line from another great football writer, Patrick Barclay, who said there are two types of football journalist: those who have been influenced by Brian Glanville, and those who should have been. I place myself firmly in the former camp. It has been an enormous pleasure working with Brian for the past 20
TO SPORTS WRITING ‘the line’. Glanville is different. He has not shied away from confronting authority. A constant, early critic of Sepp Blatter and one of the first to see through the now-disgraced Michel Platini, he already has the measure of new FIFA president Gianni Infantino, damning him as ‘Blatter-lite’. And, of course, there is Glanville’s extraordinary body of work outside of football reporting. His novels and short stories do not just take football as their theme, although they remain among some of the finest football literature ever written. Franz Beckenbauer described The Rise of Gerry Logan as the best football book he has ever read. It is no exaggeration to say that Glanville is one of the most important figures in modern English literacy
years. He may find modern technology a challenge too far, preferring the rat-tat-tat of his Olivetti to emails and word attachments. But he is one of our greatest writers and we must celebrate him.”
Gavin Hamilton, Editor, World Soccer
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Photo credits: Page 3: A young Southampton supporter on his father's shoulders. 512643070, Julian Finney. Page 7 Nico Rosberg of Germany drives the (6) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes. 516617274, Clive Mason. Page 9: Anthony Joshua (R) throws a punch after the bell at the end of the first round as the referee intervenes during the British and Commonwealth heavyweight title contest against Dillian Whyte (L). 501182578, Richard Heathcote. Page 15: A Liverpool fan kisses Divock Origi of Liverpool as he celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park. 510257938, Stu Forster. Page 17: Hoi Long of Chinese Macau finishes the swimming stage during the Triathlon Women's Final in day six during the 2014 Asian Games. 456089780, Lintao zhang. Page 19: Athletes compete in the Men's 10,000 metres final at Hampden Park during day nine of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. 453032158, Alex Livesey. Page 23: Alessandro zanni of Italy wins lineout ball under pressure from Justin Tipuric of Wales during the RBS Six Nations. 516507504, Stu Forster. Page 25: Competitors ride along Marine Parade during the Bike leg of the Elwood Gatorade Triathlon. 463470724, Quinn Rooney. Page 27: Trent Boult of New zealand takes a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Mitch Marsh of Australia during day two of the Test match between New zealand and Australia at Basin Reserve. 509876390, Ryan Pierse. Page 29: Charlie Wood of Plymouth Diving competes in the Men's 10m Platform Preliminary on day three of the British Gas Diving Championships. 464115728, Clive Rose. Pages 32 & 33: Alexander Fathoullin of Canada, Ryosuke Sakazume of Japan, Jens Almey of Belgium, Ruslan zakharov of Russia and Suh Dufberg of Sweden compete in the mens 1500m Heat during ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup. 509767150, Dean Mouhtaropoulos. This page: A young Crystal Palace fan is lifted by his father prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. 487869390, Mike Hewitt.
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