- Table View
- List View
Sea Fishing: River Cottage Handbook No.6 (River Cottage Handbook)
by Nick FisherA thoroughly practical guide to catching, preparing and cooking sea fish, from the bestselling River Cottage Handbook seriesFrom renowned fishing expert Nick Fisher comes this concise and beautifully illustrated guide to fishing along British coastline. All that's needed is a beach, pier, harbour, estuary or boat. Nick covers all the basics, such as when and where to go fishing, and then profiles the sea fish that you are likely to catch (each one clearly photographed), covering their conservation status, season, habitat and method of catching. Next he gets down to the nitty gritty, with a guide to tackles, rods, reeds, rigs, knots and bait, and step-by-step advice on all the sea fishing techniques. And for once you've made your catch, there are 30 delicious recipes from River Cottage.
Sea Fishing: Expert Tips and Techniques for Yachtsmen, Motorboaters and Sea Anglers
by Jim WhippyEvery yachtsman or motorboater has at some point entertained the idea of catching their own supper, but until now there hasn't been a book to guide them through it. This unique handbook fills the gap. Fishing whilst cruising along the coast or at anchor isn't as easy as it might at first seem, but this practical, photographic guide shows the novice how to set up their tackle, bait the line correctly and how to work with the tide to best effect.Different fishing techniques, tackle, weights and (importantly) bait are required when sailing at speed, or drifting along the coast or fishing whilst at anchor - this book presents them all with helpful step-by-step photos and diagrams. It also details how to kill, de-scale, fillet, skin and cook your catch. There is also a fish identification section that shows every type of fish that can be caught between Scotland and Gibraltar.With this book, some perseverance and a little luck, anyone trying their hand will soon be able to plan for the pleasure of fresh fish cooked aboard.
Sea Fishing Properly Explained (Right Way Ser.)
by Ian BallSea fishing requires a high degree of knowledge and skill and this book ensures that you can turn occasional 'luck' into consistent success.This book will allow you to:Understand tides.Know which natural foods different fish prefer.Identify the types of seabed and coastal areas that shoals frequent.Learn to use the correct tackle, bait and techniques.This book will fully equip the reader with the ability to make expert catches from beach, rock outcrop, estuary, pier, harbour wall or boat.
Sea, Ice and Rock: Sailing and Climbing Above the Arctic Circle (G - Reference, Information And Interdisciplinary Subjects Ser.)
by Chris Bonington Robin Knox-JohnstonWhen leading mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington was researching Quest for Adventure, his study of post-war adventure, he contacted Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, for an interview. This simple request turned into an exchange of skills, which then grew into a joint expedition to Greenland’s unexplored Lemon Mountains. Sea, Ice and Rock is the story of this epic journey.With both Bonington and Knox-Johnston having little experience in the other’s craft, their expedition was not without difficulty. But through one another’s support, the two men and their team sailed from Britain to Greenland, going on to twice attempt the Lemon Mountain’s forbidding highest peak, the Cathedral. Though their attempts ended in a dramatic descent, this could not dampen the unfailing optimism with which the two approached their task. They recount their experiences not only with appreciation for the awe-inspiring nature that surrounded them, but also for one another.Layers of alternate narration between Bonington and Knox-Johnston make this a truly collaborative memoir. In the same way they exchanged skills on their expedition, the two authors rely on one another’s recollections to fill the gaps in their own. Full of ambition and perseverance, anyone wondering why Bonington and Knox-Johnston are masters in their fields need only read Sea, Ice and Rock.
Sea Survival (Air Ministry Survival Guide)
by A.M. Pamphlet 224THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE for anyone who thinks they'd survive the world's most hostile environments - or at least imagine they could do.-----------------------------First issued to airmen in the 1950s, the Air Ministry's Sea Survival guide includes original and authentic emergency advice to crew operating over the ocean. With original illustrations and text, these survival guides provide an insight to military survival techniques from a by-gone era. Packed with original line drawings and instruction in: - How to punch man-eating sharks. Which are 'cowards' - The pros and cons of drinking 'fish juice' - When to smoke Focussing on one of the most challenging environments on Earth, Sea Survival is one of four reprints of The Air Ministry's emergency survival pamphlets. Others include: Jungle Survival Desert Survival Arctic Survival
The Sea Takes No Prisoners: Offshore voyages in an open dinghy
by Peter ClutterbuckThis is a classic real-life story of derring do on the high seas, complete with extreme risk, last-minute ingenuity and many near-misses. Beginning in the 1960s, this book tells of the real life adventures of the author as a boy – a time of boarding schools, long holidays and an unbelievable (to today's parents) amount of freedom and danger. Encouraged by his parents (who lived abroad) to become more independent and self-sufficient, Peter decided to see how far he could get in his family's small open dinghy Calypso. Aged 16, he spent a winter restoring her, before pootling straight out into a force 7 gale and very nearly capsizing, after which he headed back to land to plan even more extreme adventures. Calypso was a Wayfarer, a small (16ft) and very popular class of open dinghy; a boat designed for pottering around coastlines and estuaries during the day. But along with the occasional brave crewmate, Peter managed to sail her across the Channel, through the Bay of Biscay, down the French canals and into the Mediterranean, then up into the North Sea and the Baltic to Oslo, living aboard for three months at a time. These were some of the longest voyages that anyone had ever achieved in an open boat, where (as Peter says) you 'have to be like a tightrope walker, concentrating on balance day and night, fully aware of the consequence of relaxing your vigilance'. He survived huge waves, nine rudder breakages in heavy seas, dismasting, capsizes, and hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation. He also managed it on a tiny budget, working as a farm labourer, hitchhiking everywhere, and at times living on one meal of cereal a day, to save the maximum amount for his boat. Charming, quite British in style, beautifully written and a lovely insight into a seemingly golden time, this is primarily a great read, but will be of huge practical use to anyone wanting to go that bit further in their dinghy. It also includes a lovely Foreword by world-famous yachtsman Brian Thompson.
The Sea Takes No Prisoners: Offshore voyages in an open dinghy
by Peter ClutterbuckThis is a classic real-life story of derring do on the high seas, complete with extreme risk, last-minute ingenuity and many near-misses. Beginning in the 1960s, this book tells of the real life adventures of the author as a boy – a time of boarding schools, long holidays and an unbelievable (to today's parents) amount of freedom and danger. Encouraged by his parents (who lived abroad) to become more independent and self-sufficient, Peter decided to see how far he could get in his family's small open dinghy Calypso. Aged 16, he spent a winter restoring her, before pootling straight out into a force 7 gale and very nearly capsizing, after which he headed back to land to plan even more extreme adventures. Calypso was a Wayfarer, a small (16ft) and very popular class of open dinghy; a boat designed for pottering around coastlines and estuaries during the day. But along with the occasional brave crewmate, Peter managed to sail her across the Channel, through the Bay of Biscay, down the French canals and into the Mediterranean, then up into the North Sea and the Baltic to Oslo, living aboard for three months at a time. These were some of the longest voyages that anyone had ever achieved in an open boat, where (as Peter says) you 'have to be like a tightrope walker, concentrating on balance day and night, fully aware of the consequence of relaxing your vigilance'. He survived huge waves, nine rudder breakages in heavy seas, dismasting, capsizes, and hallucinations caused by sleep deprivation. He also managed it on a tiny budget, working as a farm labourer, hitchhiking everywhere, and at times living on one meal of cereal a day, to save the maximum amount for his boat. Charming, quite British in style, beautifully written and a lovely insight into a seemingly golden time, this is primarily a great read, but will be of huge practical use to anyone wanting to go that bit further in their dinghy. It also includes a lovely Foreword by world-famous yachtsman Brian Thompson.
The Sea Wolf
by Jack LondonSet adrift after a collision with another vessel, ferry passenger Humphrey van Weyden is picked up by the seal-hunting schooner the Ghost. His relief at being rescued slowly turns into concern once he meets her captain, the brutally terrifying Wolf Larsen. The crew of the Ghost live in terror of their fearsome commander, and van Weyden is not made any safer because Larsen is attracted to his new passenger's comparable intelligence.Van Weyden's time aboard the Ghost turns him from a gentle, domesticated man into an altogether tougher soul as he is caught between Larsen and his crew during the rescue of other castaways, an attempted mutiny, a cataclysmic storm and the appearance of Wolf's equally terrible brother, Death Larsen.Wolf Larsen is one of the greatest characters in early 20th century American fiction. Like Captain Ahab before him, he is a man who has spent too long at sea. We might assume he has become inhuman, but the novel gradually but subtly reveals that it was the nature of life at the mercy of the angry oceans that turned him into the sea wolf.This special edition includes an exclusive Foreword by adventurer Bear Grylls, which takes a fascinating look at the character of Wolf Larsen from the perspective of someone who has also stared nature in its unforgiving face.
Seabiscuit (Text Only): The True Story Of Three Men And A Racehorse
by Laura HillenbrandThis edition does not include illustrations. From the author of Unbroken – a major motion picture releasing in 2015 – this is the bestselling true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse, Seabiscuit.
Seamanship 2.0: Everything you need to know to get yourself out of trouble at sea
by Mike Westin Olle Landsell Nina Olofsson Par OlofssonThe basic knowledge to sort yourself out when encountering problems at sea is largely forgotten. How to find your way when the GPS plotter has a blackout, how to get yourself off when grounded, how to save the life of someone in your crew when the ambulance or SAR helicopter is hours away… Too many rely on technology to navigate and run their boats, and this beautifully illustrated handbook will be a literal backup when the tech fails, as well as a bible of core knowledge – seamanship – that all skippers should know anyway, whether they're in the middle of an emergency or not.Covering all the basics, with handy fact boxes to highlight especially important information, the authors have lent a modern, real-world approach to the subject matter, and the wonderful illustrations bring it to life. Contents include:- Introduction- Navigation: chart symbols, radar fact box, using the sounder, finding your position on the chart, maintaining an estimated position, course to steer - Seamanship: your crew, passage planning, anchoring, manoeuvering, mooring, towing, catching a buoy, heaving to- Safety and emergencies: identifying likely emergencies (grounding, loss of rigging/mast, leaks, loss of steering, man overboard, sinking and taking to the liferaft) with self-help solutions, calling for help, equipment, VHF procedures, fire and gas, fixing an engine, knowing when help should be sought without delay- First aid: CPR, breathing problems, drowning, shock, trauma, treating wounds, burns, broken limbs, hypothermia, seasickness, allergies, abdominal pains/nose bleed- Weather: sea breeze, low pressure, wind, fog, squalls, forecasting- Environment: bird/seal protection areas, microplastics, holding tanks, old boats, bottom paint- Appendix: rules of road,traffic separation zones, day and night signals, light characteristics, life saving signals, flags/morsePublished in Sweden by the Swedish Cruising Association, this fantastic book has sold over 30,000 copies. Read this now to give yourself the knowledge to get out of trouble and (even better) avoid getting into it in the first place.
Seamanship 2.0: Everything you need to know to get yourself out of trouble at sea
by Mike Westin Olle Landsell Nina Olofsson Par OlofssonThe basic knowledge to sort yourself out when encountering problems at sea is largely forgotten. How to find your way when the GPS plotter has a blackout, how to get yourself off when grounded, how to save the life of someone in your crew when the ambulance or SAR helicopter is hours away… Too many rely on technology to navigate and run their boats, and this beautifully illustrated handbook will be a literal backup when the tech fails, as well as a bible of core knowledge – seamanship – that all skippers should know anyway, whether they're in the middle of an emergency or not.Covering all the basics, with handy fact boxes to highlight especially important information, the authors have lent a modern, real-world approach to the subject matter, and the wonderful illustrations bring it to life. Contents include:- Introduction- Navigation: chart symbols, radar fact box, using the sounder, finding your position on the chart, maintaining an estimated position, course to steer - Seamanship: your crew, passage planning, anchoring, manoeuvering, mooring, towing, catching a buoy, heaving to- Safety and emergencies: identifying likely emergencies (grounding, loss of rigging/mast, leaks, loss of steering, man overboard, sinking and taking to the liferaft) with self-help solutions, calling for help, equipment, VHF procedures, fire and gas, fixing an engine, knowing when help should be sought without delay- First aid: CPR, breathing problems, drowning, shock, trauma, treating wounds, burns, broken limbs, hypothermia, seasickness, allergies, abdominal pains/nose bleed- Weather: sea breeze, low pressure, wind, fog, squalls, forecasting- Environment: bird/seal protection areas, microplastics, holding tanks, old boats, bottom paint- Appendix: rules of road,traffic separation zones, day and night signals, light characteristics, life saving signals, flags/morsePublished in Sweden by the Swedish Cruising Association, this fantastic book has sold over 30,000 copies. Read this now to give yourself the knowledge to get out of trouble and (even better) avoid getting into it in the first place.
Sean Yates: My Autobiography
by Sean YatesBefore Bradley Wiggins, there was Sean Yates. Behind Bradley Wiggins, there was Sean Yates.One of only five Britons to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, Sean Yates burst onto the cycling scene as the rawest pure talent this country has ever seen. After turning professional at the age of 22, he soon became known as a die-hard domestique, putting his body on the line for his teammates. Devastatingly fast, powerful and a fearless competitor, Yates won a stage of the Tour, as well as the Vuelta a España, in 1988, and went on to don the coveted maillot jaune six years later.Having put British cycling on the map as a rider, Yates was soon in demand as a directeur sportif, using his tactical knowledge to inspire a new generation of cyclists to success. And after Team Sky came calling, Yates was the man to design the brilliant plan that saw Sky demolish the opposition in 2012, and for Bradley Wiggins to become the first cyclist from these shores to win the Tour.Straight-talking, entertaining and revelatory, It's All About the Bike is the story of a remarkable career told from the unique perspective of a man who is immersed in the history of the sport he loves.
Searching for Heroes: Fifty Years of Exhilarating Sport
by Ian WooldridgeAt the cutting edge of sport, where winners go one way and losers the other, Ian Wooldridge made his living as a journalist. His shrewd eye went straight to the heart of sport's pressure situations, unerringly detecting courage in the competitors, and raising the spirits of his readers with his celebration of genuine heroism. His style was at one and the same time convulsively amusing and acidic. He saw the funny side, yet he was merciless in his search for the truth. SEARCHING FOR HEROES is a collection of Ian's articles on his heroes - including Mohammed Ali, Shane Warne and George Best - as well as articles on events and personalities that were on the receiving end of his more acerbic commentaries.Wooldridge brought back an intelligence to modern sports journalism, and an idealism that had become somewhat tarnished. To Ian Wooldridge sport was more than a game. It was a life.At the cutting edge of sport, where winners go one way and losers the other, Ian Wooldridge made his living as a journalist. His shrewd eye went straight to the heart of sport's pressure situations, unerringly detecting courage in the competitors, and raising the spirits of his readers with his celebration of genuine heroism. His style was at one and the same time convulsively amusing and acidic. He saw the funny side, yet he was merciless in his search for the truth. SEARCHING FOR HEROES is a collection of Ian's articles on his heroes - including Mohammed Ali, Shane Warne and George Best - as well as articles on events and personalities that were on the receiving end of his more acerbic commentaries.Wooldridge brought back an intelligence to modern sports journalism, and an idealism that had become somewhat tarnished. To Ian Wooldridge sport was more than a game. It was a life.
Seaside Sprint!: Book 3 (Go Mo Go)
by Kes Gray Mo FarahFrom Olympic gold medal winner Mo Farah and bestselling author of Oi Frog!, Kes Gray, comes a fun fiction series which will get kids reading, and running too!Mo and his friends pack a lunch and head to the seaside for their next running adventure. It's a good job they have good trainers to run along the beach. But what's that? Could it really be a sea monster? RUN!Follow Mo on his madcap adventures as his running skills go from strength to strength.The perfect book to share and read aloud.The nation watched with bated breath as Mo Farah seized Olympic gold in the 10,000m and 5000m - he's been a national treasure ever since. In this adventurous series father of three, Mo Farah, combines two lifelong passions - literacy and exercise.Children's books by Mo Farah: Ready Steady Mo, Go Mo Go: Monster Mountain Chase!, Go Mo Go: Dinosaur Dash!, Go Mo Go: Seaside Sprint!
A Season in Dornoch: Golf and Life in the Scottish Highlands (Mainstream Sport Ser. (PDF))
by Lorne RubensteinIn 1977, Lorne Rubenstein, an avid golfer, travelled to Dornoch in the Scottish Highlands. Young and adrift in life, he was profoundly affected by the experience. As he writes, 'My week in Dornoch introduced me to a place with which I felt a connection. A week wasn't living there, but it was enough for Dornoch to imprint itself on my mind.' Twenty-three years later, in 2000, now an established golf writer, Rubenstein returned to Dornoch to spend an entire summer. He rented a flat close to the Royal Dornoch Golf Club and set out to explore the area on many levels. Rubenstein writes about the melancholy history of the Highland Clearances, which have left the beautiful landscape sparsely populated to this day. He writes about the friendly and sometimes eccentric people who love their town, their golf and their single malt whisky, and who delight in sharing them with visitors. But most of all he writes about a summer lived in a community where golf is king and the golf course is part of the common lands where townspeople stroll of an evening. Rubenstein is able to return to thinking of golf as play, as opposed to a game of analysis and effort. A Season in Dornoch is an affectionate portrait of a place and the people who live there, a fascinating look at golf and the spirit and skills it calls forth, and a perceptive and ultimately moving memoir of one man's quest to experience again the pure love of sport that he knew in his youth.
Season Of Passion: An epic, romantic read from the worldwide bestseller
by Danielle SteelTHE WORLD'S FAVOURITE STORYTELLERNEARLY ONE BILLION COPIES SOLD Can love conquer all?Kate and Tom are the original star-crossed lovers. Kate is a beautiful model; Tom a successful football star at the peak of his career. It seems as though nothing can come between them. Together, they are invincible.But when tragedy strikes and Tom is left a broken man, Kate finds herself frightened and alone. She must face her greatest fear: will she ever love again?An epic and romantic tale from one of the best-loved writers of all time. Perfect for fans of Penny Vincenzi, Lucinda Riley and Maeve BinchyPRAISE FOR DANIELLE STEEL:'Emotional and gripping . . . I was left in no doubt as to the reasons behind Steel's multi-million sales around the world' DAILY MAIL'Danielle Steel is undeniably an expert' NEW YORK TIMES
A Season on the Brink: Rafael Benitez, Liverpool and the Path to European Glory
by Guillem BalagueBiographical Portrait of Liverpool's Spanish football manager Rafael Benitez and an extraordinary season for the club.When Rafael Benitez was appointed manager of under-achieving Liverpool at the start of the 2004-2005 season, the reaction of many fans was 'Who the **** is Rafael Benitez?'. The Liverpool fans had grown used to French manager Gerard Houllier but he had been a fan of the club himself since his days as a teacher on Merseyside. A Spaniard with admittedly a wonderful record at Valencia was going to take over management of Liverpool's famous Boot Room and try and win over a disillusioned Kop. But in one season, Benitez's importation of Spanish players, coaching methods and diet has led to a revolution, even usurping Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, whereby the team has ended the season winning the ultimate trophy for any European club - the European Champions League. No fan will ever forget the comeback from a 3-0 deficit to a 3-3 scoreline, then dramatic success in the penalty shoot-out.This is the story of Rafa's remarkable success.
Second Chance: The Autobiography
by Mark ToddThe London 2012 Olympic medalist on his stunning comeback.Mark Todd's eventing career is the stuff of legends and encompasses one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.When he 'retired' from competing in eventing in 2000, he had already been named 'Rider of the Century' for his natural empathy with a horse and his extraordinary success, which included back-to-back Olympic gold medals, five Burghley wins and three Badminton victories. He has also show jumped to Olympic level and trained winners on the racecourse. Considered a legendary horseman by his peers, he seemed to have done it all.He returned to train racehorses in his native New Zealand but, eight years later, the idea of a comeback took root, part dare, part personal challenge to see if he could still cut it in a changed sport. Within eight months, he was riding at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in 2011 he hit the headlines by becoming the oldest rider to win Badminton. This was soon eclipsed by his stunning win at the London 2012 Olympics, however. The story of his progress from dairy farmer to world renown, is told with typically laid-back humour, but it reveals the fierce determination, discipline and personal sacrifice which lies behind the relaxed outlook.
The Second Half
by Roddy Doyle Roy KeaneMemoir by one of the greatest of modern footballers, and former captain of Manchester United and Ireland, Roy Keane – co-written in a unique collaboration with Man Booker Prize-winner Roddy Doyle.
Second Innings: My Sporting Life
by Andrew FlintoffFast bowler, six-hitter, popular hero, one of the lads, king of the jungle - Andrew Flintoff is all of those things.Second Innings, is his searingly honest yet uplifting autobiography, Flintoff reveals unseen, surprising sides to his career and personality.The restless need to push and challenge himself that led him to take up professional boxing. The complex and troubled relationship with discipline, alcohol and authority during his exhilarating cricket career. The search for an authentic voice as a player, free from the blandness and conformity of modern professionalism. Is Flintoff the last of his kind, in any sport?Through all his highs and lows, triumphs and reversals, this book reveals a central tension. There is 'Fred' - performer, extrovert, centre of attention. Then there is 'Andrew' - reflective, withdrawn and uncertain. Two people contained in one extraordinary life. And sometimes, inevitably, keeping the two in balance proves too much.We are taken backstage, seeing the mischief and adventure that has defined Andrew Flintoff's story. Above all, we observe the enduring power of fun, friendship and loyalty - the pillars of Flintoff's career. At ease with his faults as well as his gifts, Andrew Flintoff has sought one thing, even more than success: to be himself.If you enjoyed Do You Know What?, you'll enjoy this memoir of Freddie's sporting career.
Second Man on the Rope: Mountain Days with Davie
by Ian R. MitchellWhat are the rules of etiquette in a bothy full of strangers?How cold, exactly, can a Scottish summer get?And how many cans of beer can a man carry whilst fording a swollen river?Second Man on the Rope tackles all these questions and more, a celebrating Scotland’s mountains come sun, sleet or snow, through the stories of a great climbing partnership.Ranging from the Cairngorms to Glencoe, from Nevis to Knoydart and from the Cuillin to the Cobbler, this book weaves the story of a friendship amongst witty – and often alarming – tales of mountaineering mishaps. These richly entertaining tales will delight all who love the Scottish hills – be they mountaineers, day-outers, Munro-baggers (like the author) or merely armchair ramblers.Written with a wealth of knowledge, this mountaineering classic is a warm and witty celebration of friendship, forged over many years, between the author and his ‘first man’ – Davie. Together they form one of the great double acts of climbing literature. They face with humour and fortitude all that the mountains can pit against them – winter avalanches, raging rivers, rats in bothies and Brummies in baseball boots.
Second Wind: One Woman's Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents
by Cami OstmanSecond Wind is the story of an unlikely athlete and an unlikely heroine: Cami Ostman, a woman edging toward midlife who decides to take on a challenge that stretches her way outside of her comfort zone. That challenge presents itself when an old friend suggests she go for a run to distract her from the grief of her recent divorce. Excited by the clarity of mind and breathing space running offers her, she keeps it up - albeit slowly - and she decides to run seven marathons on seven continents; this becomes Ostman’s vision quest, the thing she turns to during the ups and downs of a new romance and during the hard months and years of redefining herself in the aftermath of the very restrictive, religious-based marriage and life she led up until her divorce. Insightful and uplifting, Second Wind carries the reader along for the ride as Ostman runs her way out of compliance with the patriarchal rules about "being a woman” that long held her captive and into authenticity and self-love. Her adventures - and the personal revelations that accompany them - inspire readers to take chances, find truth in their lives, and learn to listen to the voice inside them that’s been there all along.
Seconds Out (Wired Up)
by Dan TunstallAndy is a troubled teenager. Fighting is the only thing he's good at, it gives him his reputation, and he does a lot of it - so much that he's going to be expelled and dumped if he can't change his ways. The Head suggests a boxing club, but Andy reckons boxing is for wusses ... until he's knocked out in his first match by a kid half his size. Now Andy faces losing his reputation at school - and that's about all he has left. Will boxing be Andy's doom, or his salvation? Highly readable, exciting books that take the struggle out of reading, Wired Up encourages and supports reading practice by providing gripping, age-appropriate stories for struggling and reluctant readers, or those with English as an additional language, aged 11+, at a manageable length (80 pages) and reading level (9+). Produced in association with reading experts at CatchUp, a charity which aims to address underachievement caused by literacy and numeracy difficulties.
The Secret Agent: Inside the World of the Football Agent
by Secret AgentThe secret is to know when to stick and when to twist, when to bet and when to burn, when to bluff and when to hold. This whole business is one massive, never-ending card game and if you sit at the table long enough then maybe, just maybe, you're going to get so lucky that you'll beat the house or even break the bank. Unless, of course, the house breaks you first.' From mere coffee boy, to lowly scout, to multi-million pound wheeler dealer with the Premiership big guns and the cream of the Champions League, this book charts the Secret Agent's fast and furious progress through the dressing rooms, board rooms and bedrooms of England's top clubs. It doesn't just lift the lid on the true face of professional football, it tears it off and hurls it across the room. This is a no-holds-barred, jaw-dropping insight into the true power-brokers of the world game: the moneymen and dealmakers who grease the wheels - or, more accurately, the palms - that make the whole football machine tick. Scandalous, witty, fearless and occasionally heartless, The Secret Agent casts an astonishing new light on the ambition, greed and power in a cut-throat and self-obsessed world.
Secret Bankside: Walks South of the River
by John ConstableOn the south bank of the Thames, outside the jurisdiction of the ancient City of London, Bankside has long been known as a hotbed of creativity, dissent and loose living. With its brothels and bear-pits, its prisons and its pubs, the area has inspired the nation's greatest writers - Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens, Keats and Blake - and been home to its most famous theatres - the Globe, The Rose, The Old Vic and the National. These same south London streets have given sanctuary to immigrants and refugees, to tradesmen, craftsmen and Thames Watermen, to the workhouse poor and the criminal underclass. Writer, performer and local historian John Constable is well known for his walks around this fascinating area. The eight walks collected here are among his most popular. Packed with social history and local lore, they are witty, insightful and hugely entertaining. Each walk is easy to follow, accompanied by maps and clear directions, and illustrated with period prints and contemporary photographs. Together, they tell the extraordinary and, until recently, largely forgotten story of London's anarchic, irrepressible 'Outlaw Borough'.