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[[Category:New Reviews|Sport]]__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Hurst_Norfolk|title=Who Invented The Stepover? (And Other Crucial Football Conundrums)On My Way: Norfolk Coastal Walks|author=Paul Simpson and Uli HesseJohn Hurst

|genre=SportArt|summary=In 1982It was pure serendipity: after a five-hour drive, second division Charlton Athletic staged we were, annoyingly, left with an unlikely transfer coup by signing former European Footballer of hour to fill in Blakeney before we could have the Year Allan Simonsenkeys to our holiday cottage. If There was an art exhibition in the thought church hall, so we went in - and found a display of the Danish superstar forsaking the glamour of Barcelona for south east London seemed unlikely then consider most gorgeous pictures. I'd cheerfully have bought every one and hung them on our walls, but thought that Simonsen had previously faked his own death during I would have to make do with a World Cup qualifiercouple of greetings cards when I saw ''On My Way: Norfolk Coastal Walks'' and I couldn't resist buying it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781250065</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Harry RedknappIgnotofsky_Sport|title=HarryWomen in Sport: My AutobiographyFifty Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win|author=Rachel Ignotofsky|rating=4.5|genre=SportChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=Everybody with an interest in football knows who ''HarryWomen in Sport'' iscoming to us just before the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February 2018. The cover It celebrates a century and a half of his book won't tell you who he is, but if you're not in the know itdevelopment of women's Harry Redknapp - football manager and for many sport by looking at fifty of usits highest achievers, covering sports as diverse as swimming, fencing, riding, skating, something and much more. Think of a national treasure. He's the manager who's seen it all, having started at rock bottom - sport and a 70s Portakabin pioneering woman succeeding at Oxford City - and risen to the heights of managing Tottenham Hotspur it is probably in the Premiershipthis book somewhere. At the same time he was the popular choice for the England Manager's job when Capello threw in the towel. It's fair to say that Harry has lived his football life to the full Each entry is a double-page spread with a brief biography and anyone buying this book will get their money's wortha striking portrait.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091917875</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jim WhiteBurrell_12|title=Premier LeagueTwelve Times To The Max: A History in 10 MatchesOne Man's Journey to, and Recollections of, Setting Twelve Verified World Records|author=Stuart Burrell|rating=4.5

|summary=I go back to The first of Stuart Burrell's world records, well, the days when the pinnacle of footballing achievement was first two, actually, as he's not a man to be in Division 1do things by halves, but came about by accident. There had been a plan to raise some money for the stadia Children in Need Charity and quite late on the stands people who were downmarket. Standing - pushing, shoving and fighting - was to have been the norm main attraction got a better offer and it wasn't the place for Burrell is not a family outingman to let people down. You What could get into be done to bring people in and raise some money? Most of us would have thought of jumble sales and cake bakes, but Burrell had made a match for less than a fiver hobby of escapology and top footballers earned less than four times the average wage. All that changed in 1993 with the birth idea of the Premier Leaguea sponsored escape had life breathed into it. This was the brainchild of - amongst others - [[:Category:Greg Dyke|Greg Dyke]] who saw the potential On 3 November 2002, he went for turning football at the highest level into a businessFastest Handcuff Escape world record and immediately afterwards Most Handcuffs Escaped in One Hour. Twenty one years on the top footballers earn Both were successful and more than thirty five times the average wage£300 was raised for Children in Need.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781854300</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|titleisbn=Twirlymen: The Unlikley History of Cricket's Greatest Spin BowlersLandreth_Swell|author=Amol Rajan|rating=3.5|genre=Sport|summarytitle=Although they may lack the bang and bluster of the fast bowlers, the three leading wicket takers of all time in Test cricket are all spinners. They may look calmer in their run ups and action, but the effect they put on the ball can be incredible. Rather than blasting a batsman out, they bamboozle them. That's why Amol Rajan thinks them deserving of a book all of their own, and ''Twirlymen'' is the result of that belief.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224083252</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewSwell |author=John D Barrow|title=MathleticsJenny Landreth|rating=3.5

|summary=As I love Jenny's own description of her book as a sports fan waterbiography and a maths teacher, I was thrilled to get the chance to read a book which claims to give us 'surprising and enlightening insights into the world of sports'love her encouragement that we should each write our own. This is rather more than just (I say ''just''!) a frustrating read because recollection of the author's own encounters with water; it seems 's also a history of women's fight for the right to have got the balance wrong in many casesswim. There are some chapters which are so short as to be barely worth That sounds absurd until you start reading – one merely points out that while humans can’t run as fast as cheetahs or perform gymnastics as amazing as that of a monkeyabout it, we’re better all-rounders than any other animalthen it becomes serious. This Not too serious though – because Jenny Landreth is true, but hardly seems worth wasting clearly a page on, it’s so obvious. Then there are other chapters, like lover of the interesting one detailing the points scoring system in the decathlon, which are good but could have been much better given more spaceabsurd. The decathlon one is Not a prime example lover of book blurbs myself, I do always seek to give a shout-out to those who get it dead right: in this – it’s five pagescase, so one of the book’s longer sections, but could surely have been excellent if it had gone into more detail. I can’t help thinking that dropping half of 'm definitely with Alexandra Heminsley's ''giggles-on-the sections and doubling the other half in length might have been the way to go here-commute funny''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099584239</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gavin MortimerOakeshott_Derby|title=A History of Cricket in 100 ObjectsGuide to the Classics: Or How to Pick the Derby Winner|author=Guy Griffith and Michael Oakeshott

|summary=[[A History It's not often that you get a glimpse into the personal, youthful interests of one of Football in 100 Objects by Gavin Mortimer|A History the greatest Conservative philosophers of Football in 100 Objects]] was a brave attemptthe twentieth century, but was slightly let down ''A Guide to the Classics'' co-authored by being Michael Oakeshott is a little too clinicallight-hearted look at how to pick the Derby winner. Being a game imbued with passion, the book lacked this which took some of the edge off Originally written in 1936 it. Cricketis, whilst inspiring passion amongst devoteesamazingly, has a slightly more laid back following; one that may work better in this formatas relevant today as it was then. That saidIn fact, being a game that has been played for five centuries, narrowing it down to just 100 objects is no less an undertaking than for footballthe techniques and analysis employed by the authors were way ahead of their time and have only come into general use relatively recently.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846689406</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Stephen RocheGibbons_Game|title=Born to Ride: The Autobiography of Stephen RocheBeautiful Game|author=Alan Gibbons

|summary=With Football is all the revelations about its colours. And even if I write in the systemised doping culture surrounding Lance Armstrong's season when one team in blue knocks another team in blue from the 1990sthrone of English football, it was interesting 's common knowledge that red is the more successful colour to read a story wear. But is that flame red? Blood red? The red of the Sun cover banner when it falsely declared 96 Liverpool FC fans were fatally caught up in a time before cycling was embroiled in tragedy – and that it had been one drugs scandal after another. Although perhaps not as memorable as Armstrongof their own making? And while we's careerre on about colour, Stephen Roche's will hold a place where were the people of colour in football in cycling history for 1987, when he became only the second man olden days? There are so many darker sides to win the Tour de France, the Giro Dfootball'Italia and the World Championships in the same season. A quarter of a century after that remarkable feat, Roche has produced his autobiography, s history it''Born s enough to Ride''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224091905</amazonuk>make a young lad question the whole game…

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gavin MortimerAskwith_Today|title=A History of Football in 100 ObjectsToday We Die a Little: Emil Zatopek, Olympic Legend to Cold War Hero|author=Richard Askwith

|summary=Given how long it's been played and how many books have been written about itAs a runner myself, any new history I often look for sources of football needs to have some kind of hook to make inspiration. Training is rewarding, but every so often a day comes along when I question whether it is all worth it stand outor not. Gavin Mortimer may have found Zatopek proves thatis, by presenting indeed, all worth it. He put copious amounts of effort into his history as ''A History training, and the number of Football in 100 Objects''. This prompts the question races he won over his career as to whether a professional athlete clearly shows the whole results of football could be reduced down to a mere century of objects. But then, if [[From 0 to Infinity in 26 Centuries by Chris Waring]] can make a history of maths worth reading, I guess anything is possibleit.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781250618</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Martin KelnerPavey_Mum|title=Sit Down and Cheer: A History of Sport on TVThis Mum Runs|author=Jo Pavey

|summary=Like many English sports fans, the majority I am something of the calories a self-confessed running addict: I burn are used up by shouting at the TV and occasionally going to think nothing of hitting the shops roads for more beer 50 miles a week, and crisps. Sports books tend to be about the sport itself or biographies spend much of those who expended great effort my time searching for races to reach run all over the top of their chosen sportcountry. But in Martin Kelner's 'Sit Down and Cheer: A History of Sport on TV'That is, there is finally until I wound up with a book persistent sports injury, hung up my running shoes for the less energetic among us.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140812923X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Clare Balding|title=My Animals and Other Family|rating=5|genre=Autobiography|summary=Clare Balding was born into nearly a racing family - her fatheryear, Ian, was and switched the trainer of Mill Reef who won the Derby in 1971, road to the same year that Clare was bornpool. Whilst her father would never forget At the year that his horse won time I thought nothing could alleviate the Derby he would usually fail misery of not being able to remember that it was also the year of his daughterrun; but now I wish I had had Jo Pavey's birth. Horses came first and they were the priority in Ian Balding's life: the family had to adjust accordingly. He was a gifted and successful trainer who understood the animals in his care and his recordautobiography, including Mill Reef's Derby success speaks for itself. Clare's childhood was separate from the life of the racing stable but she inherited her familyThis Mum Runs's love of animals.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670921467</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Richard Fitzpatrick|title=El Clasico - Barcelona v Real Madrid: Football's Greatest Rivalry|rating=4.5|genre=Sport|summary=Nothing divides opinion quite like football and no-one expresses their joy and disappointment like football fans. For many fans, to keep me company because the most important matches elite athlete’s account of their entire season are the ones against their local rivals; the derby matches. English football has a number of theseOlympics, injury, family, but only the matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain have elevated themselves above mere derby status and earned their own name: ''El Clásico'' – the Classic.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408158795</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=The Secret Footballer|title=I Am The Secret Footballer: Lifting The Lid On The Beautiful Game|rating=4.5|genre=Sport|summary=In the 2012 Olympic Games the UK delighted in the skills shown by our athletes. We were - naturally - pleased by the medalslife, but what impressed was the training and dedication of people who were frequently fitting what they did around the day job or study. For the most part they weren't reaping much in the way of financial rewards from what they did - but they shone. The exceptions were the footballers. I forget (and that might well be Freudian) ''exactly'' who beat usgeneral, but I doubt that there are many people pleased by the show they made. It's now the beginning falls nothing short of the Premier League season and ''I Am the Secret Footballer'' has arrived at the perfect momentinspirational.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0852653085</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan Tyers and BeachLee_Lean|title=I Kick Therefore I am: The Little Book of Premier League WisdomLean Gains|author=Jonathan S Lee

|summary=You remember Ronnie Matthews, I don't often begin a book by telling you? Hewhat it ''isn't'' but in this case I think it's the footballer who celebrated his one – and so far, only – international match by booing his way through the Faroe Islandsimportant. If you' national anthem, re a fairly sedentary person or a casual sportsman or woman looking to shed a few pounds then getting a red card for chatting up you won't get the lineswomanbest out of this book. He still thinks he contributed well You'll find some good advice about diet but I'm afraid that much of it is going to go over your head. Of course you could always take up a vital friendly, howeversport seriously... HeOn the other hand, if you 's 'are'' a serious sportsman then you could find that the player whose career advice in piddling his way through continuously lesser and lesser clubs for far too long has only been matched in the recent game by Steve Claridge. And still he's bucking the trend – he's the only author smart enough to realise that four-hundred page, ghost-written biogs are unnecessary, for heLean Gains''s crammed all his life, career, philosophy and response could lift you up to Twitter into an hour's readthe next level of performance.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408832763</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Leo McKinstry|title=Jack Hobbs: England's Greatest Cricketer|rating=5|genre=Sport|summary=Back in the early 1920s, there were only three Test cricket playing nations; England, Australia and South Africa. In the summer of 2012, both nations have been on tour; Australia recently beaten comprehensively at one day cricket and South Africa about to start a test series to determine the best Test nation in the world. Given that history is repeating itself, it seems appropriate that a new biography of Jack Hobbs, England's greatest run scorer and a man who repeatedly blunted the bowling attacks of both nations, should become available now.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224083309</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Beth RaymerLong_Mock|title=Lay the Favourite: A True Story about Playing to Win in the Gambling Underworld|rating=4.5|genre=Autobiography|summary=It was a dream which brought Beth Raymer to Las Vegas, but the reality was that she ended up waiting tables in a low-end diner and living in a distinctly unsavoury motel. A chance meeting brought her into contact with Dink, the self-styled king of the city's sports betting and she moved into what was very much a man's world - of high-stakes gambling and a lot of people you wouldn't necessarily want your daughter to know. This is the story of how Beth learned the trade and moved into the world of the big money where gambling regulations don't apply. Being sharp was what it was all about.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555395</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Mock Olympian|author=Paul Watson|title=Up Pohnpei: A quest to reclaim the soul of football by leading the world's ultimate underdogs to gloryMichael Long

|summary=IIt started with an idle conversation just before the 2012 London Olympics: Michael Long'm a huge fan of both football and reading, so s friend Sarah gave him a book about football is always likely to appeal to me as the best way part of combining the twohis birthday present. Recently, IIt was Time Out've read books set at s guide to the history of the pinnacle Olympics and it covered each of the game summer Olympics in [[Life chronological order from the inaugural games in Athens in 1896. Sarah's boyfriend James commented that with Sir Alex: A Fanall the running Michael did, he's Story d probably have run in most of the Olympic cities. Although Long had done a goodly number of Fergusonruns, bike rides and triathlons he's 25 Years d only competed in two of the twenty-three cities - London and Athens. Now most of us would have left it at Manchester United by Will Tidey]] and about one manthat, but that's struggle not the Michael Long you're going to bring football come to know and love. He saw it as a foreign land in [[Bamboo Goalposts by Rowan Simons]]. challenge and what''Up'' ''Pohnpei'' is firmly in the latter categorys more, treading very similar ground to Simons' he blogged about it and then wrote this book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668501X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Will TideyRoberts_Home|title=Life with Sir Alex: A Fan's Story of Ferguson's 25 Years at Manchester UnitedHome and Away|author=Dave Roberts

|summary=In his 25 years as manager of Manchester United Football ClubFor most football fans, Sir Alex Ferguson has won everythingnon-league clubs (that is, most of them more than once. He's taken his team to teams who play outside the top four divisions of English football with some lavish purchases, some expert man management and ) are like a ruthless dedication distant relative fallen on hard times; you're vaguely aware of their existence but have no particular wish to his visit them. Apart from a few weeks in early January, when the odd non-league club and his players. Depending which side reaches the third round of the fence you sit FA cup and embarks ona spot of giant-killing, this has made him either the most popularlower leagues receive almost no attention outside their small groups of devoted supporters. So what's it like to support a non-league team? Enter Dave Roberts, or most hated, man a fan of Bromley FC who are currently plying their trade in the Vanarama National League – the fifth tier of English football. IIn ''Home and Away''m in , Dave documents the highs and lows of travelling the country watching Bromley during the latter group. I'm a Liverpool fan2015/2016 season.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408149516</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mark KreidlerMcgrath_Darley|title=The Voodoo Wave - Inside a Season of Triumph and Tumult at MaverickMr Darley'sArabian: High Life, Low Life, Sporting Life: A History of Racing in 25 Horses|author=Christopher McGrath|rating=45

|summary=Maverick's is All thoroughbred racehorses are descended from one of the biggest, nastiestjust three stallions which came to England about three hundred years ago; The Byerley Turk, jaw droppingly huge waves in the Pacific Ocean The Darley Arabian and as such The Godolphin Arabian. The last century or so has become something of seen a Mecca for decline in the world's top surfers. Situated off lines from the coast first and last of Northern California its freezing cold conditions make it a far cry from these stallions, to the sun drenched breaks extent that some 95% of all thoroughbreds worldwide - not just in HawaiiEngland - are descended from The Darley Arabian, Mexico and South Africa with the number of surfers adequately qualified (which was originally bought in Aleppo from Bedouin tribesmen and fearless enough) shipped to take on the cliff like drops probably numbering less than 100Yorkshire in 1704, by Thomas Darley, who died, in difficult financial circumstances before he could follow his horse home.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0393065359</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ian RidleyMills_Top|title=There's A Golden Sky: How 20 years of the Premier Top Of The League has changed football forever|author=Andrea Mills|rating=3.5

|summary=Twenty years ago Football is known as the Premier League beautiful game and when I was founded, changing English football irreversiblyyounger I kind of believed this. I would spend my free time playing Heads and Volleys with my mates and then go home to try and complete my Panini sticker album. Also 20 years ago, journalist Ian Ridley wrote There was even the classic ''Season In The Cold'', a snapshot of the game at halcyon days when Blackburn Rovers won the timetitle. Since then, clubs have risen and fallen, players As I have become legendsgrown older, and Ridley himself my cynicism has become chairman of not one but two non-league clubs – first Weymouth, from 2003-2004 (and again briefly in 2009) and more recently St Albans Citygrown too. In this stunning follow-up to Season In The Cold Leicester may be champions, Ridley explore but the effect day I feel that a group of multimillionaires beating a group of slightly richer multimillionaires is a win for the everyman, will be a sad one. Perhaps the changes love of football still burns bright in the sport have had at youth of today? ''Top Of the League'' certainly hopes so as it is full of facts and figures all levelsabout the ball they call foot.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408130408</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Goldblatt and Johnny ActonBradbury_Walks|title=How to Watch the Olympics: Scores and laws, heroes and zeros – an instant initiation to every sportUnforgettable Walks|author=Julia Bradbury

|summary=Are you planning an Olympic telefest for I've long been a few weeks fan of Julia Bradbury's walking programmes on television - I credit her with sparking my own interest in July 2012? Are you one walking - so the news that there would shortly be another series of programmes and a book to accompany the lucky people who have tickets series was music to their chosen events? Or are you one of those many people who are genuinely confused by my ears. This time she's looking at Britain's best walks with a view and she roams through Dorset, the Cotswolds, Anglesey, the Yorkshire Dales, the rulesLakes, Cumbria, or the scoring South Downs and who would like to know a little more so that they can understand what it's all about? If so, you should look no further. We have the book for youPeak District. Whether Unless you're heading for London or going no further than the television we have the background in Scotland there's something reasonably close to just about everyone, with a good spread around all points of the sportscompass.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846684757</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kevin MitchellMartin_When|title=Jacobs Beach: The MobWhen You Dead, the Garden, and the Golden Age of Boxing|rating=5|genre=Sport|summary=Despite not being a particular fan of the sport of boxing, Kevin Mitchell's compelling knowledge of the personalities involved in the fight game in the 20th century, coupled with a staccato writing style which got my attention quickly and kept it to the very last page, meant this book actually rose far above my expectations.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224075098</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewYou Dead|author=Scott Murray and Simon Farnaby|title=The Phantom of The Open: Maurice Flitcroft, the World's Worst GolferGuy Martin|rating=4.5

|summary=Maurice Flitcroft was forty six It's a little depressing when he played a 34-year-old is publishing his first round of golf. Most golfers start on the local course second autobiography, but that's what this book is, and hack around until they develop some skill. Not Maurice. That wasnMartin proves he't his way. He borrowed some books s certainly not short on golf from the library and decided that he was going to enter the Open. Yes – the Openmaterial. No starting at the bottom and working his way up – Maurice went straight The author, for the big one. He ran up those of you who don't know, is a score of 121 mechanic who dabbles in TV presenting and the R&A (thatmotorcycle racing, though it's Royal and Ancient if you're not the latter for which he will be most well-known. As an F1 widow to a golf fan) went ballistic. It boy who likes all things fast, I thought he might be said that they lacked a sense of humour but golf at like this level is a serious game book and Maurice was banned for lifeso, perhaps unusually, I chose it with someone else in mind but made myself read it first.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224083171</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Susan CaseyMccoy_Winner|title=The WaveWinner: In Pursuit of the Oceans' Greatest FuriesMy Racing Life|author=A P McCoy

|summary=They're powerful enough to capsize unsinkable shipsIn any walk of life, wrench oil rigs from there are people who are universally known by their moorings first names alone. In flat racing, everyone knows who 'Frankie' is and can destroy vast swathes in National Hunt, you need to say no more than 'A.P.' Legend is an over-used word but not when it comes to the achievements of coastal regions, flattening everything in their path Tony 'A.P.' McCoy. He's been champion jockey an unprecedented twenty times and killing thousands his career record of people in the process4,348 wins may never be beaten. So what is In fact, it 's tempting to say that makes some menit will ''never'' be beaten. He's won the Grand National, the Irish Grand National, two Cheltenham Gold Cups and it is mostly menwon the Champion Hurdle three times. Unusually for a jockey, go in search he's also been BBC Sports Personality of these oceanic monsters? That is what Susan Casey tries to find out in the Year. He achieved all this engaging, often awe inspiring and sometimes terrifying look at by the world age of big wave surfingforty one when he retired from racing.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099531763</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Anthony Bateman and Jeff Hill (Editors)Krien_Night|title=The Cambridge Companion Night Games: A Journey to Cricketthe Dark Side of Sport|author=Anna Krien

|summary=Cricket has an international reach which can be rivaled Mere mortals relax by few other team sportshaving a game of footy of a weekend and a couple of drinks, and this book but what does a professional sportsman do to cut loose? What do they do when they go out en masse? Investigative journalist Anna Krien looks at a rape trial of an Australian Rules footballer, just into his twenties and follows the history case as it goes to court, interviewing some of those directly or indirectly involved and digressing into related areas. In deference to the fact that the game going from England around woman had automatic anonymity, she's chosen to give the man who was charged the world name of 'Justin Dyer' in an attempt to level the other major Test-playing nationsfield, so to speak. While it's packed full of initially rather dauntingly dense prose, none of You could Google the 17 chapters are particularly long – most weighing in at a little under 20 pages – facts and come up with the writing styles correct name, but this isn't a book of all gossip about particular people. It's an investigation of the various authors are very accessiblea culture which has increasingly treated women as sexual commodities.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0521167876</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Victoria CorenScott_Born|title=For Richer, For Poorer: Confessions of a Player|rating=5|genre=Autobiography|summary=Some things are in the blood. For Victoria Coren it was cards. As a child she and brother Giles were taught to play Blackjack by their grandfather. He called it Pontoon but the most valuable lesson was that grandfather was ''always'' the dealer and ''always'' the winner. Giles played Poker but wasn't really a gambler. Victoria was one of life's risk-takers and she leant to the more adventurous side of her father's family. She was unhappy at school, preferring the company of her brother's straight-talking friends Born to the bitchy all-girl atmosphere at school. In the intervening twenty years she's won a million dollars, but for her it's never been about the money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847672930</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewRumble|author=Tom Fordyce and Ben Dirs|title=We Could be Heroes: One Van, Two Blokes and Twelve World ChampionshipsJeff Scott|rating=54

|summary=Meet Ben Dirs''Rumble''. Apart from having one It's an odd word, isn't it, with that sense of the most unfortunate names on record, he’s a fairly laid-back guy whose daily breakfast consists noise like thunder (or even of two cigarettes. Compared to Dirs, his BBC colleague Tom Fordyce – a keen amateur triathlete – looks like Daley Thompson in his prime. But Tom’s ambition motorcycle engine) ''and'' of winning a worldchampionship is still completely unachievable, surely? You don’t go from BBC blogger to 100m champion, football World Cup winner, or even street fight between rival gangs. Author Jeff Scott has picked the number 1 snooker player on Earth, after all. On perfect title for his journey around various speedway venues looking at those occasions when the other handcombination of brakeless bikes, there are some more obscure Championships out there… could these two unlikely heroes make their dreams come trueadrenalin, ridiculous speeds and be recognised as not a lot of space explode into a confrontation on or off the best shin kickers in the world? Not if Rory McGrath has anything to do with track. It's hardly surprising that it! In addition to the Cotswold Olympicks and their shinhappens -kickingin fact, Dirs and Fordyce try snail racing, wife carrying, nettle eating, and many it's surprising that it doesn't happen more weird often given the competitive nature of the sport and wonderful events. The only thing they have in common is the humour which diva-like qualities of some of the pair see in all of themtop riders.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230736157</amazonuk>

{{newreview|author=Jakob Lovstad|title=Going Mental: Reaching Your Goals in Business and Sports - Full Contact NLP Coaching from a Full Contact Fighter|rating=4|genre=Sport|summary=Some books seem determined to put you off. Unless it's literary fiction 'Going Mental' suggests something that I've gone to great lengths to avoid. The man Move on the cover is bald, bloodied and apparently screaming. I've been avoiding men like that too. '…not for the soft and sensitive!' it says and whilst I wouldn't describe myself as either I do wonder whether allowing Jakob Lovstad to mess with my head is the wisest thing I've ever done. When I realise that he's a cage fighter I'm ready to run. What has that got to do with my business? Because that's what this book is about – reaching your goals in business and sports.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907685588</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Teens Reviews]]