25 Sports Books That Must Be Read

Boxing, Cricket, Football and Horse-racing dominate my list of favourite sports reads. With lockdown placing me on furlough I've had plenty of time to reflect on the many sports books I have read over the last 30-odd years.

Let me know your top five best sports books and in particular any recommended rugby league reads would be appreciated.

I hope you enjoy reading though the list and if you want to find out more about my book lists click on the link at the bottom of the article to find out my reads

1.     Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing – Donald McRae

The 1990s proved to be a great time for boxing fans with the rise and fall of Mike Tyson, great domestic fighters such as Hamed, Benn and Eubank and so much of it on ‘normal’ TV. McRae delves deep into the fight game here and finds some amazing stories.

2.     Harold Larwood – Duncan Hamilton

The Bodyline tour told from the perspective of one of the chief ‘villains’. Hamilton beautifully details the life of Larwood who was at the heart of a diplomatic incident between England and Australia.

3.     Horsetrader: Robert Sangster And the Rise and Fall of the Sport of Kings – Patrick Robinson

I discovered this book whilst working for Victor Chandler in Gibraltar at the turn of the Millennium and it was the perfect introduction to the ‘Sport of Kings’.

4.     McIlvanney On Boxing – Hugh McIlvanney

The Galactico of Sports Writing with some of his best words on boxing. Essential reading for all wannabe sports hacks.

5.     In Black and White: The Untold Story of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens – Donald McRae

Racism and poverty dominate the lives of two of the greatest sportsmen of the last century.

6.     A Strange Kind of Glory: Life of Sir Matt Busby and Manchester United – Eamon Dunphy

Before Fergie there was of course Busby, and this brilliant biography gets under the skin of a man who helped build the legendary club’s global appeal.

7.     Provided You Don’t Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough – Duncan Hamilton

There are many accounts of the legend of Clough, but few got closer than Duncan Hamilton who was the local journalist covering Nottingham Forest whilst Old Big ‘Ed was at the helm.

8.     A Voyage For Madmen – Peter Nichols

Sailing around the world non-stop, on your own? The claustrophobia and madness of this epic journey is captured brilliantly in this amazing read.

9.     Seabiscuit: An American Legend – Laura Hillenbrand

A horse, a superstar. Very American, but Hillenbrand shines a light on a nation that fell in love with a legend.

10.  Touching The Void – Joe Simpson

When this book was recommended to me, I was sceptical about how climbing a mountain could interest me. How wrong could I be?

11.  The Glory Game – Hunter Davies

12.  The Miracle of Castel di Sangro – Joe McGinniss

13.  The Damned United – David Peace

14.  War Baby: The Glamour of Violence – Kevin Mitchell

15.  A Season With Verona – Tim Parks

16.  Bradman – Charles Williams

17.  Four Iron in the Soul – Lawrence Donegan

18.  Friday Night Lights – H.G. Bissinger

19.  Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Football – David Winner

20.  Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong – David Walsh

21.  Full Time: The Secret Life of Tony Cascarino – Paul Kimmage

22.  The Fight – Norman Mailer

23.  Ajax, the Dutch, the War – Simon Kuper

24.  Fever Pitch – Nick Hornby

25.  All Played Out – Pete Davies

Want to find out more about what I'm reading? Click here https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/33889229