Talking Sports Books

In this edition of the show we will be going back to the European Championships of 1988 with author Steven Scragg who will release his new book detailing the tournament the matches the players and the coaches.

Also we will hear from the producer of "Test Match Special " for over 30 years Peter Baxter about the early days of commentary and broadcasting legends , Arlott Johnston and Blofeldt.

From the best of "Talking Sports Books" where we look back at some of the great stories told over the first 50 editions of the show, in this extract former BBC Radio Head Football Correspondent Mike Ingham remembers his early days and dealing with Brian Clough at Derby County .

To listen to the full feature with Mike head to the website or stream from any streaming provider

From the "Best of Talking Sports Books"

In this extract from "I'm With The Cosmos" Steve Hunt who left Aston Villa aged just 20 to team up with some of the greatest players ever to play the game including the greatest of them all Pele.

Steve remembers what it was like for a precocious young talent in the spotlight of the worlds media and how ignoring Pele's advice wasn't a good idea and neither was it a good idea to tell Chinaglia what he thought of him.

Great tales and you can listen to the full edition on the website or stream it from wherever you stream your podcasts.

From "The Best Of Talking Sports Books" with Tim Caple the first 50 editions the incredible tale of Steve Hunt born in Aston Birmingham who was told by then Aston Villa manager Ron Saunders "There's bloke in the canteen who wants to sign you and were letting you go" and that was it off he went to sign up for the New York Cosmos in the same team that had Pele, Beckenbauer and Chinaglia where he became part of the most glamorous team in world football. In this clip Steve recounts how the move happened , going to legendary "Studio 54 " and Pele. 'm with the Cosmos is Steve Hunt's story. After only seven first-team appearances for Aston Villa, he found himself playing with two of the greatest players of all time: Pele and Beckenbauer at New York Cosmos. He returned home to play for Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion and was capped twice by England. This is his story. Steve Hunt collaborated with Ian McCauley on his autobiography. Ian is a former teacher, now living on the Isle of Wight. This is his first book although he enjoys writing short stories for pleasure. Ian is a Birmingham City supporter and Steve - a lifelong Aston Villa fan - has long since forgiven him.

In this edition of the "TSB" show we look at "Formula One The Legends Cult Heroes and Their Legacies" with the author and journalist Tony Dodgins we relive some of the most memorable moments over the last 70 plus years of the sport and answer the question who was the greatest and who will win this years championship.

Pete Cavill also joins us to talk about his just-released book "Death of a Boxer" which looks to understand why it is people are prepared to risk life to fight often for little or no reward and we look at moments of tragedy and personal achievement .

Taken from the "Talking Sports Books Podcast" as we look back at some of the best moments from the first 50 shows and in this clip Mark Bright remembers the day he hit the big time after turning down Howard Wilkinson at Sheffield Wednesday he signed for Leicester City to link up with another hot shot Gary Lineker. Mark remembers the call to Howard to tell him he was going to Leicester and the moment he found out he would be on £300 a week £150 appearance money and a £10,000 signing-on fee and he became the first in his family to ever own a new car as he collected a brilliant white Opel Manta. The full version of this show is available on the website www.talkingsportsbooks.com

Pete May has supported West Ham all his life he was there for the FA Cup win over Arsenal when the Hammers were in Division 2 what he didn't think was that he would wait over 4 decades to celebrate another trophy win.

In his book "Massive" he relives the journey that concluded with an epic night in Prague.

Continuing our look at some of the best moments from the first 50 editions of "Talking Sports Books" Podcast in this selection Mark Bright joins me to look back at his very early days when he was looking to forge a career as a pro beginning at Port Vale the moments of self doubt and the joy of a contract that paid less than the factory job he had at the time. You can listen to the full version of this show on the website or any streaming provider www.talkingsportsbooks.com

Continuing our look back at some of the best stories from the first 50 editions of the podcast.

In this clip we are talking with Fleet St veteran Rob Beasley who recounts the Saturday evening he was sat at home waiting for his big exclusive to break, Jose Mourinho was to be unveiled as the new England coach, until that is Rob's phone rang...

You can listen to the full version of this story on the website or stream on any platform

Welcome back as we continue to look back at the best moments from the first 50 editions of "Talking Sports Books" the podcast, in this clip Fleet St veteran Rob Beasley talks about his book "Jose Mourinho Up Close and Personal" and the moment Jennifer Aniston left the entire Chelsea entourage speechless. To listen to the full edition head to the website www.talkingsportsbooks.com

A story for every football fan who had a dream that one day their team would be competing with the elite this is the story of how Elton John and Graham Taylor took a team on the brink of financial ruin turned it around and took it on a journey from Division 4 to Division 1 onward to a Cup Final and competing in Europe and all on a budget of under one million.

Sounds like the stuff of fantasy only this is a real story of 2 men's obsession with Watford FC.

More from the "Best of Talking Sports Books" as we look back at some of the best moments from the first 50 editions of the show.

Remember the full editions of these podcasts are all available on the website www.talkingsportsbooks.com or on any streaming provider.

In this extract some hilarious recollections from Rob Beasley who was with Jose from day 1 when he first arrived they went on to become great friends away from football as well.. Here he remembers his arrival at Chelsea and the incidents with the laundry basket, appearing in the stands in Munich the signing of Ashley Cole and borrowing a bible from "The Times"

As we pass the 50th edition of "Talking Sports Books" we are going to look back at some of the best moments from the last 4 years picking some of the great stories that have been shared by the authors and personalities that have been on the show.

In this edition former Tottenham Hotspur youth prodigy Anthony Potts looks back at some of the high jinks involving the legendary Paul Gascoigne, and being in a squad alongside Gary Lineker and coached by the late Terry Venables

Here is an extract from the new show with Carl Frampton who talks about his life from growing up in "Tigers Bay" and onward to becoming a World Champion.

In this extract Carl remembers that very first night sat in the back of a blue Mondeo on his way to making his competitive debut aged 7.

The full edition is online now

Extract from the new show with Gary Newbon talking about his book "Newbon Bloody Hell" and in this extract we look at the beginnings of one of Football's most loved shows "Saint and Greavsie" and it nearly didn't happen as when Greavsie was first called his response "to be honest i don't really fancy it"

Extract from the current show with guest Gary Newbon talking about his 50 years in sports tv.

In this clip Gary remembers falling out with Fergie on the day he first interviewed him before making a brisk recovery as they became friends over 22 years.

Listen in to the full show with Gary which is out now it's full of memorable tales with sporting greats ,Clugh, Fergie, Sir Alf , Chris Eubank to name a few.Show is out now to streammor its on every main platform.

Taken from the new edition of the "Talking Sports Books" with Gary Newbon and more tales of Brian Clough great quotes and ancecdotes from a vintage time of great characters.

The new podcast is out now with iconic broadcaster Gary Newbon looking back over 50 years in sports media the book is full of great stories and anecdotes quite a few involving the legendary Brian Clough here is a clip from the show with Gary reacting to the moment Brian Clough kissed him live on prime time television.

The full version of the show is out now

In this edition, we are joined by legendary sports broadcaster Gary Newbon as he looks back on his 50 years as a broadcaster his book "Gary Newbon Bloody Hell" which is out this week so coming up then a show filled with great sporting memories anecdotes and stories as Gary recounts life a life working with some of sports greatest names from Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson, Pele, Muhammad Ali, Nigel Mansell and Barry Sheene. Also on today show Carl Frampton remembering the very early days of his boxing career and that night when it all began as a 7 year old on his way to a first experience in the ring.

On this edition of the show I am joined by legendary Irish boxer Carl Frampton to discuss his brand new autobiography.

Welcome back to the "Talking Sports Books" podcast for the new series and coming up today award winning writer Harry Pearson joins me to talk about his just released book "No Pie No Priest" which looks at the history of some of the great "Folk Sports" and this includes everything from Cheese Rolling to Aunt Sally.

And as we look forward to Carl Frampton appearing on the next show we look back at some of the great Boxing books we have reviewed over the years, we will hear from trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick who was talking about his book "Hats Handwraps and Headaches" and this clip remembers the moment his life took a turn for the good after a chance meeting with hall of fame trainer Freddie Roach.

In this edition of the podcast I am joined by Matt Majendie to talk about his book "Nazare" which looks at the rise of a small fishing town in Portugal

to becoming the surfing capital of the world, plus test match tales as Peter Baxter the former editor of "Test Match Special" on the early days of commentary how to join the BBC and receiving cake from the Queen.

In this edition the featured book is Dutch Masters by Gary Thacker which looks at the era of "Total Football" when Ajax dominated European Football plus a clip from Andy Bollens recent book "Number 10 More Than A Number More Than A Shirt" also we look ahead to the summer schedule and a selection of new books appearing on the upcoming shows .

This month we will be looking at the greatest-ever players to wear the number 10 shirt, Andy Bollen joins us to talk about his new book "The Number 10 More Than a Number More Than a Shirt" find out who made it into the book and who narrowly missed out it is a celebration of some of the greatest ever players.

In this edition we go back to April 1985 when Marvin Hagler met Thomas Hearns. Don Stradley joins us to talk about his book "The War" which chronicles the events in the build-up to the fight and its aftermath. 37 years on from that Monday night in April the fight is still viewed as one of the greatest in Boxing history .

In this edition Alexis James author of "Unsung" joins us to look at the lives of those whose contribution is essential to the smooth running , success and integrity 

we look at the lives of the interpreters, race starters, drug testers, club chaplains its a fascinating insight into the lives of those who regularly appear on tv at event coverage and who we know so little about, yet without their presence events would simply not happen.

These people have some great stories to tell including the drug tester, there are many tales about how athletes down the years have tried to avoid coming into contact with them and who try to cheat their way around a simple urine test , including one who used his pregnant wive's urine as his own sample.

In the first edition of the new year Rugby and NFL are the featured sports, "Rugby's Greatest Mavericks" is Luke Upton's book which looks at some of the game's most celebrated names whose contribution at times has been controversial both on and off the field but who ultimately would have fans flocking to see them play, and we look at espionage at Superbowl and the lengths some would go to in order to acquire that piece of information that could be the difference between winning and losing. 

In this edition of the show Gly Rhodes MBE joins me along with author  Mark Turley, Glyn looks back on a life in boxing from growing up on a council estate in Sheffield to the day his life changed as he walked through the door of Brendan Ingle's gym and subsequently devoted his life to Boxing.

It's a tale of the high's the sport delivers in and out of the ring as a fighter and a coach and trainer but also the lows suffered after experiencing first hand the tragedy that can also befall fighters in the ring something he first experienced being on the undercard of Michael Watson Chris Eubank .

In this edition author and journalist Tris Dixon joins me to talk about his brand new book "Warrior" which tells the story of the rise and fall of Mathew Saad Muhammad . From being abandoned on a Philadelphia street corner aged 4 he rose to become one of the great champions of the era.

In this podcast we focus on the "World Cup " beginning with author Aiden Williams who joins us to talk about the greatest teams never to have won the world cup as revealed in his book "The Nearly Men". Next we talk to Stuart Horsfield who wrote about the Brazil team of 1982 and Chris Evans discusses what you actually need to be in place in order to win a world cup from his book "How to Win a World Cup".

In this edition of the show, we explore the high-stakes world of espionage in NFL and MLB through 2 new book releases, Kevin Bryant 

has spent a lifetime working in intelligence gathering as a former special agent and within the military his book "Spies On The Sidelines"

explores the lengths teams go to in order to win from concealed cameras to scouts dressed as clergy and Daniel Levitt and Mark Armour look into Baseball's 

murky past from "fake foul tips to dugout disguises and sign stealing " .

Catherine Spencer is one of England's most successful rugby players she was capped 63 times by England during which time as captain she led the team to 3 successive "6 Nations" titles played in 2 "World Cup Finals" and had a win ratio of 93% during her time as England captain.

Catherine joined me to talk about her book "Mud Maul Mascara" .

In the first edition of the new series we look at the history of women's rugby in "Scrum Queens" with guest reviewer, and author Andy Bollen plus Chris Evans joins us to talk about his new book "How To Win A World Cup" the definitive book with contributions from, Scolari, Carlos Alberto Parreira and Roberto Martinez.

Welcome to the latest edition of the "Talking Sports Books + Media" Show and in this edition former Man City, QPR, Real Salt Lake defender

Nedum Onuoha who joins me to talk about his life story as told in his just released new book "Kicking Back" 

In this edition i am joined by author Dave Hannigan to talk about his new book on the life of Ali from his retirement up until the lighting of the Olympic flame in Atlanta in 1996.

Between defeat by Trevor Berbick in December 1981 and lighting the Olympic flame in July 1996, Ali spent 15 bizarre years traversing the globe. Sometimes hilarious, often terribly poignant, this book chronicles Ali preaching Islam, causing havoc and touching lives from Beijing to Birmingham, Detroit to Damascus, Khartoum to the Khyber Pass.

This month Andy Bollen joins me to talk about his new book which imagines an alternative football museum and what would be exhibited, from food and drink to fashion media and politics.

Not all stories about football players are tales of winning trophies fabulous wealth and a life mingling with stars. Anthony Potts was a prodigiously talented young player likened in his youth to Kenny Dalglish, on signing for Spurs and becoming a member of the same squad as "Gazza" and Gary Lineker he looked primed for premier league stardom until one day an injury started a decline that lead to retirement and a dream ended at the age of 23. This is his story laced with tales of a friendship with Gazza and a career which saw him end up in New Zealand before early retirement and a new career as a teacher.

In this edition of the podcast Elly Watson curator at the "National Design Museum London" has spent the last 2 years putting together "Football Designing The Beautiful Game" and exhibition which opens on April 6th she joins us to talk about what to expect when you visit. John Spurling has just released a new book "Get ItOn" which looks at the Football, the game the personalities, the kits, on tv, hooliganism and those famed football special trains.

This month Director Daniel Bailey joins us to talk about the new play by Tyrell Williams "Red Pitch" and author Marvin Close talks about the book "I Hope You Die Of Cancer" in which player x lifts the lid on never before told stories of dust up's bust up's backhanders and betting scandals.

Welcome to the first edition of 2022 and this month I talk to Shauna Coxsey about her part in the documentary feature film "The Wall Climb For Gold" the story of 4 elite climbers and their own personal journey to compete at the Tokyo Olympic's plus author Rob Goldman talks about his new book "The Sisterhood" which charts the rise of the USAWNT from humble beginnings in the mid 80's en route to becoming Olympic Champions at the centennial games in 96 and lifting the World Cup on home soil in front of the biggest ever audience for a women's sporting event.and we talk to the captain of that iconic team Carla Overbeck about not just one memorable summer but a decade of achievement .

In the final edition of the podcast for 2021 we are joined by former "Head of Sport" for BBC and ITV as well as the Chief Executive of the FA and RFL, Brian Barwick OBE who talks about his just released book "60 Years a Red and Counting"  A Lifetimes Passion which celebrates a life spent following Liverpool FC as a fan and a journalist and broadcaster.

This month 3 authors talking about there books, 

Mathew Bazell talks about his new book "Ring Wars" a photographic history of some of the most epic ring encounters of the last 50 years.

Veteran American writer John Hart talks about his book "Man Vs Ball"  One ordinary guy and his extraordinary sports adventures.

Matt Rogan talks about his book "All To Play For"   "A sensitive exploration of the role of exercise, nutrition and lifestyle can play in enabling happy healthy lives"

In this edition of the podcast Steven Scragg joins me to talk about his new book "TheUndisputed Champions Of Europe" which looks back at the birth of European club football with the European Cup up until its conclusion as a knockout tournament and the arrival of the UCL.

It's a story about football legends from Puskas, Di Stefano and Cruyff right up to Rijkaard, Gullet and Van Basten and stories from memorable European nights as the league champions from across Europe fought to be crowned "The Undisputed Champions Of Europe"

"Sacre Bleu" From Zidane to Mbappe won "Football Book Of The Year" 2021 in this edition of the podcast we take you back to the interview we did with the author Matt Spiro .

Where do you go to sample the best food and drink when you are out on the road following your team around the country.

Gone are the days when fans have to suffer hideous overpriced stadium food because here is a guide of where to go to sample some of the best local specialities both food and drink in and around every stadium in the country.

The book is the "The Great Pie Revolt" and author Jack Joins me for a gastronomic tour of England and Wales.

A look back at the extraordinary life of Steve Kerr

This month journalist and author Robert Beasley joins me to talk about his new book, Rob had a relationship with Jose which was the envy of Fleet St the result of which resulted in this book which is full of stories and anecdotes many of which have either never been heard or forgotten. 

In this "Extra" edition of the "TalkingSports Books Podcast" author Neil Fitzsimon joins me to talk about his latest book on Chelsea 

"A Deeper Shade of Blue" the story of a Chelsea fan in the 1970's and "Eddie McCreadie's Blue and White Army" Lots of humour in this book and you don't have to be a Chelsea fan to have a smile at this.

This month award winning author and journalist Michael Calvin joins me to talk about his new book "Whose Game Is It Anyway" 

Michael has spent over 4 decades as a sports journalist during which time his career has taken him to every event of significance on the sporting calendar. From interviewing Ali to meeting Nelson Mandela, the Olympics to the Paris Dakar Rally, World Cup's and European Championships, and when reporting on it became stale he took part in an amateur round the world yacht race. 

This month we begin with the remarkable tale of Johan Cruyff's final year as a player when Ajax believed he was passed it he decided to show them how wrong they were by heading off to their fiercest rivals Feyenoord,

Also this month we look at the life of a player Norman Hunter once said was "As good as Bremner"  Gerry Gow author Neil Palmer joins me to talk about a player considered perhaps Bristol City's greatest player some great football stories and anecdotes and no shortage of humour .