Bloomsbury Sport

  • 1923

    £18.99

    When cycling commentator Ned Boulting bought a length of Pathé news film featuring a stage of the Tour de France from 1923 he set about learning everything he could about it – taking him on an intriguing journey that encompasses travelogue, history and detective story. In the autumn of 2020 Ned Boulting (ITV head cycling commentator and Tour de France obsessive) bought a length of Pathé news film from a London auction house. All he knew was it was film from the Tour de France, a long time ago. Once restored it became clear it was a short sequence of shots from stage 4 of the 1923 Tour de France. No longer than 2.5 minutes long, it featured half a dozen sequences, including a lone rider crossing a bridge. Ned set about learning everything he could about the sequence – studying each frame, face and building – until he had squeezed the meaning from it.

  • Coffee first, then the world

    £16.99

    One woman. One bike. One world. In 2018, over the course of 18,000 miles, amateur cyclist Jenny Graham smashed the round-the-world cycling record by nearly three weeks, finishing in 124 days and 11 hours. But her real achievement was a new relationship with herself and with the world. Alone and unsupported, Jenny left family and friends behind in Scotland to complete her mission: a solo lap of the planet by bike. Her inspiring story swerves from terrifying near collisions on the Russian roads and weather extremes in the southern hemisphere to the beauty of the Mongolian landscape and exhilarating wildlife encounters in North America. As she battles the physical and mental challenge to race against the clock, Jenny gradually opens up to the joy of the adventure itself and all its daily discoveries, and gives in to her impulse to connect with people.

  • The silence of the stands

    £12.99

    When football disappeared in March 2020, Daniel Gray used its absence to reflect on everything the game meant to him. That bred a pledge: whenever and wherever fans were allowed to return, he would be there. The result is this footballing travelogue from a time when boarding a train to Workington suddenly felt impossibly exotic.

  • Football Murals

    £20.00

    On high-rise buildings, street corners and stadium walls in countries around the world, eye-catching murals pay tribute to footballing greats. From Messi and Ronaldo to Rapinoe and Cruyff, nowhere is the awe and affection felt for these legends and cult heroes more strikingly displayed. ‘Football Murals’ showcases this fascinating phenomenon and offers a fresh, highly visual perspective on the global game.

  • BBC Sports Report

    £20.00

    Patrick Murphy has been a reporter on Sports Report since 1981 and here he sifts comprehensively through the experiences of his contemporaries and those who made their mark on Sports Report in earlier decades. He hears from commentators, reporters, producers, presenters, and the production teams who regularly achieved the broadcasting miracle of getting a live programme on air, without a script, adapting as the hour of news, reaction and comment unfolded. Drawing on unique access from the BBC Archives Unit, he highlights memorable moments from Sports Report, details the challenges faced in getting live interviews on air from draughty, noisy dressing-room areas and celebrates the feat of just a small production team in the studio who, somehow, get the show up and running every Saturday, with the clock ticking implacably on.

  • How to Win the World Cup

    £14.99

    ‘How to Win the World Cup’ delves into the psyche of national team bosses to discover the unique mindset and sacrifices needed to deliver on the globe’s biggest stage and join that exclusive winners’ club. Unlike their counterparts at club level, international bosses are often the forgotten men in the most iconic moments, yet they’re the ones orchestrating the story lines we’re hooked to. The book explores the greatest successes and failures from the past 90 years of World Cup action from a fresh perspective, as the men in the dugout take centre stage.

  • Crickonomics

    £18.99

    ‘Crickonomics’ answers those questions you have about the sport, and many more that you haven’t: you’ll be delighted to know all the answers. Will Test cricket die? Why is the Indian Premier League the most important competition in cricket? Why is cricket plagued by match fixing – is the problem getting better or worse? Will India’s cricketing wealth make it the dominant cricket nation in the future, and can the world of cricket expand beyond its traditional strongholds? These are the questions many fans ask. This book answers them and many more besides.

  • Swim Wild and Free

    £16.99

    This is the ultimate practical guide to get you swimming outdoors, 365 days a year. Whether you want to take your first tentative dip in your local wild swimming spot or take on a long-distance swimming challenge, you’ll find everything you need to embrace outdoor swimming and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits it offers. Have you ever wondered what kit you need for winter swimming or how to fall in love with the cold? This book includes dedicated information about each season, ensuring you have everything you need to make outdoor swimming something you can enjoy safely all year round.

  • Don Revie

    £20.00

    Don Revie was a player and manager who single-handedly changed the face of English football but left behind a legacy shrouded in allegations of corruption and dishonesty. Based on exclusive interviews, this is the first biography to examine in depth the secrets of Revie’s life. It also reveals how today’s football owes so much to Revie. He can finally take his rightful place among the greats of the game.

  • From A to B

    £12.99

    More joyful cycling cartoons from the renowned Cycling Cartoonist. Inside you’ll find over 100 full-page cartoons that cast an affectionate eye over the delights and challenges of cycling: from everyday commuting to cycling adventures, and everything in between. This cartoon manifesto for pedal-powered transport is a mixture of comedic insights and actually useful information, for everyone from beginners to seasoned cycling campaigners.

  • 26.2 Miles to Happiness: A Comedian’s Tale of Running, Red Wine and Redemption

    £14.99

    The hilarious trials and tribulations of stand-up comedian Paul Tonkinson as he attempts to beat the much lauded three-hour mark at the London Marathon. With a supporting cast of fellow comedians, this is a warmly written and wonderfully honest adventure-through-sport that will both entertain and inspire. Along the way, we are introduced to the characters helping Paul with his quest. Celebrity names such as Bryony Gordon, Russell Howard, Roisin Conaty and Vassos Alexander pop up with wit and wisdom, alongside an alpine adventure to the Mayr Clinic with Michael McIntyre that pushes Paul to the limit. And not forgetting the ‘words of wisdom’ and derision from Paul’s anti-running friend, Richard.

  • Yoga: A Manual for Life

    £20.00

    A stand alone practice companion for anyone interested in yoga, mindful movement and meditation, and exploring how these practices fit within the modern world. As well as an extensive guide to poses, it features a number of picture-led sequences with specific targets in mind: to combat stress and fatigue, to ground, to uplift, to inspire creativity and to sleep better. These sequences are underpinned with essays on yoga’s relationship with different aspects of life, such as yoga and discipline, yoga and self-care, and yoga and difficulty.

Nomad Books