The Most Incredible True Football Stories The England Edition

CELEBRATE THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP WITH THESE UNBELIEVABLE AND COMPLETELY TRUE ENGLAND FOOTBALL STORIES Think you know everything about the Three Lions and the Lionesses? Have you heard of . . . - The naughty pitch-invading dog that stole the show at the 1962 World Cup? - The English amateurs who achieved Olympic Gold? - The spy who snuck into training? - The Lost Lionesses who made it big in Mexico? - The infamous World Cup handball that sealed England's fate? The beautiful game has always reigned supreme in England. These incredible and sometimes ridiculous stories may give you some idea of why. From penalty pain to unbelievable comebacks, discover some of the best true tales of our beloved national teams. Compiled by bestselling author Matt Oldfield, this is the third book in the award-winning Unbelievable Football series and the perfect gift for young football fans everywhere. Now includes the story of when the Lionesses came roaring back at Euro 2022.

The perfect read for the football-mad kid in your life *WINNER of the Telegraph Children's Sports Book of the Year, 2020* Do you think you know everything there is to know about football? Have you heard of ... * The psychic octopus who could predict the winner? * The Lancashire Lasses who became football's best kept secret? * The dog detective who saved the World Cup trophy? * The superstar footballer who never actually played football? Discover the most incredible, sometimes ridiculous, and always completely unbelievable football stories you never knew. From bestselling author Matt Oldfield, this is Unbelievable Football - true tales from the world's favourite game where there's everything to play for and anything can happen.

The referee is looking at his watch - he's indicating FIVE minutes of extra time... Just enough for a five-minute true story from this epic collection of football tales, from bestselling author, Matt Oldfield. The next unbeatable book for football-mad kids and reluctant readers in the award-winning series, Unbelievable Football. Have you heard of... *The sneaky footballer who turned to a life of art crime? *The two Hollywood stars who swooped in to save Wrexham, the oldest club in Wales? *The Spanish Women's World Cup-winning team who fought for equality - and won! *The time Brighton lost 18-0 with a team of randoms plucked from the crowd? *The reason footballing legend, Maradona, wore not one, but two watches? Whizz through these fantastic five-minute true football stories. From unlikely football heroes and incredible comebacks to the worst red cards and dirtiest football tricks, this is a selection of hilarious, entertaining, inspiring and always unbelievable true football tales. Each story is the perfect length for reading at bedtime or in the car. Mega football fans can even read the entire book in 90 minutes - the same time it would take to watch a football match! Either way, the stage is set for a top-of-the-table classic football story collection.

Sir Walter Winterbottom was arguably the most influential man in modern English football. He is known as the first England team manager, but more than that he was an innovator of modern coaching, sports administrator and a man ahead of his time; a man who had a profound effect on English football and who laid the foundations for England's success in 1966. Walter managed them all, from Lawton to Charlton, and inspired many to become coaches: Ron Greenwood, Bill Nicholson, Jimmy Hill and Bobby Robson were amongst his disciples and took his gospel to the clubs they managed. Born in 1913, Winterbottom started out as a teacher and physical education instructor, playing amateur football in his spare time. He was soon signed up by Manchester United, playing his first game 1936 and winning promotion to the First Division in 1938. A spinal ailment curtailed his career, but during World War II he served as an officer in the Royal Air Force before the FA appointed him as national director of coaching and England team manager in 1946.He remains the ony manager to have taken the national side to more than two World Cup finals and was created an OBE in 1963 and a CBE in 1972 before being knighted in 1978. Walter died in 2002 but his legacy continues to inspire many in football today, especially with the opening of the new St George's Park football academy. With interviews and insight from top football names, this book - written by Winterbottom's son-in-law - also draws on personal diaries, photographs and letters. However, this is more than just a biography of one man - it's the story of how modern football came about.

The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold! David Silva is Manchester City's greatest ever midfielder. As he played his way from the Spanish coast to the top of the Premier League, his silky skills earned him the nickname 'El Mago' - the magician. This is the exciting story of how the boy from Valencia used his midfield magic to launch Manchester City to dominating the Premier League winner, and drove Spain forward to become World and European Champions. Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

Meet the UK's most notorious football hooligans. Author Andrew Woods has come face-to-face with Millwall's most famous firm and now, for the first time, the Bushwackers reveal all about their bloodiest battles and fiercest rivalries -- in their own words. But among the camaraderie, the battles of wits with the police and the exhilarating toe-to-toe run-ins with the opposition, this book also examines the history of hooliganism and why measures brought in to combat violence have failed. Packed with hilarious characters, shocking tales and plenty of excitement, no stone is left unturned in this journey into the dark side of football. With stories from the 1960s to the present day -- including the infamous Luton riot of 1985, the 'Mad Season' of 2001/02 and the ongoing war with West Ham's ICF -- No-one Likes Us, We Don't Care is the ultimate collection of tales from the terraces.

The remarkable true story of a family who move into a rundown zoo-already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in The Guardian. In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he was crazy. But in 2006, Mee and his wife with their two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety Alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man, but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who has devised a long term escape plan and implemented it. Nothing was easy, given the family's lack of experience as zookeepers, and what follows is a magical exploration of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy. We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances.

The perfect read for the football-mad kid in your life *WINNER of the Telegraph Children's Sports Book of the Year, 2020* Do you think you know everything there is to know about football? Have you heard of ... * The psychic octopus who could predict the winner? * The Lancashire Lasses who became football's best kept secret? * The dog detective who saved the World Cup trophy? * The superstar footballer who never actually played football? Discover the most incredible, sometimes ridiculous, and always completely unbelievable football stories you never knew. From bestselling author Matt Oldfield, this is Unbelievable Football - true tales from the world's favourite game where there's everything to play for and anything can happen.