Carra – My Autobiography

If you struggle to pick up the Liverpudlian accent then don’t bother trying to listen to Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. You won’t understand a thing. But when it comes to the written word, the boy can really communicate. As an Everton fan, he hasn’t done too badly for the Reds and he tells his story with searing honesty, controversial opinions and loads of humour. Unlike many footballers who write an autobiography, Carragher does actually have something to say and a story to tell. The club’s longest serving player gives his views on managers past and present, the glory days including Liverpool’s extraordinary comeback in the Champions League final against AC Milan in 2005 and why he rejected calls from both Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello to return to the international fold. Like Carragher’s career, this is pretty good from start to finish.

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The Road from Wembley

Football fan John Stoneman came up with an idea in the summer of 2007. To follow every round of the FA Cup. He started off at Wembley FC and proceeded to criss-cross the country, witnessing 14 rounds of the competition, starting of in August and finishing up at Wembley Stadium in May 2008. This is a football odyssey and one that caused strained family relations and a serious hit to his bank balance. In all he travelled over 2000 miles, watched 19 matches and nearly 30 hours of live football. From the dilapidated stadiums of the extra preliminary round to the nightmare of having to try and locate tickets for the glamour games in the later rounds. This is the story of an epic journey and of a true football fan, interested in a little bit more than slavish tribalism.

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Kickups, Hiccups, Lockups: The Autobiography by Mickey Thomas

What can you say about Mickey Thomas? His life has had it all. From growing up on a tough council estate, being unable to read and write at the age of 14 to hitting the big time with Manchester United and Chelsea and of course, ‘that’ goa’l for lowly Wrexham against Arsenal. Off the pitch, he spent his time ‘on the pull’, until he himself got pulled for passing counterfeit money getting banged up for his trouble. Lots of Thomas’s life is public record but there are plenty of secrets revealed in this book by a man who in recent years, has reinvented himself as a successful soccer pundit in the North West. A cult hero and one of the game’s real characters.

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Foul: The Secret World of FIFA: Bribes, Vote Rigging and Ticket Scandals

The sporting establishment must be sick to death of award winning investigative journo Andrew Jennings. He’s spent years putting the boot in to the IOC and now FIFA are copping it. The book has been out since last year but if you’ve any interest in the politics of football, this is for you. Jennings spent 4 years researching the book, interviewing hundreds of officials from all round the world. The result is a damning expose of those who run the game right up to the top man, Fifa President Sepp Blatter. Jennings is a master craftsman and his attention to detail marks him out from the rest. If you want to learn how to ‘stick the knife in’ you’ll certainly enjoy Foul.

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Swanny: Confessions of a Lower League Legend

You might not have heard of Peter Swan but that shouldn’t put you off reading this belter of a book. He never hit the heights, playing for the likes of Leeds, Port Vale, Hull City and Plymouth but this is a book full of terrific stories and anecdotes. From getting the man of the match award in the 1993 Autoglass Final before which he’d been out on the lash until the early morning to getting sent off for Vale in the Division Two play off final against West Brom. There’s showbiz too, Swan being great mates with Robbie Williams and his number one drinking partner. During his career, he picked up 10 red cards, countless bookings, lived in a haunted house and was always in trouble with managers. But he was always on hand to give a bit back to the community and since retiring has become a successful radio pundit.

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“Brands In Football 2008″ is the first directory of European football sponsorship.

If you want to know who’s sponsoring who, and what, in major league European football, then you need this book.

The book covers more than 1,300 brands associated with 130 clubs from 12 national associations including: The Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1, The Premier League, The Scottish Premier League, Serie A, plus other leading European Clubs.

As well as detailing who the major sponsorship brands are and their contact details, it includes a list of Players’ agents, Kit manufacturers and tables. For example, did you know the Bundesliga has the highest attendance figure average in all the European Leagues? In fact it outweighs the average Premier League attendance figure by over 5,000!

You can learn more about this book at their website Brands in Football

Footy-Boots.com lists our Top 5 Football Books

In need of a last minute Christmas present? Our list of favourite football books should help you out of a last minute dilemma.

1. Scoring at Half-Time - George Best

As you would expect, George Best does not hold back in this book. Best looks at his favourite memories and stories. Funny, honest and an interesting view of life as a football super star.

Ideal for: Reading while the soaps are on TV.

2. Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life - Alex Bellos

A look at the Brazilian game. It’s factual and funny with some great stories. This book gives a you a rounded knowledge of football in Brazil.

Ideal for: Lovers of the beautiful game.

3. We All Live in a Perry Groves World - Perry Groves

A fun packed ride through Perry’s career. Honest and to the point, Perry does not hold back.

Ideal for: As Perry said, “Packing in your suitcase for holidays.”

4. The Way It Was - Stanley Matthews

The story of one of the best footballers of all time, and he was a gentleman! This is an intriguing book, from a humble man who was known as “The Wizard of Dribble”.

Ideal for: Granddad’s, and football history fans.

5. World Cup Stories: A BBC History of the FIFA World Cup - Chris Hunt

This is a must have book. It chronicles the World Cup and features all the highlights, both off the field and on it.

Ideal for: Finding something to do over Christmas.