Desert Island Books: 89 books

This is the story of Chesterfield FC, not the most fashionable of football clubs, but one with a history full of incident. Even the exact date of its formation is in doubt, and the current club is actually the fourth to bear the name. Most of its life has been spent outside the top two divisions, but...

This book covers the eventful and ultimately traumatic Bristol City story that culminated with the collapse through the divisions. It spans the era from John Atyeo to Alan Dicks. Atyeo was the club's record-breaker for both appearances and goals. Dicks was the manager who arrived as a virtual unknown,...

Over the years, legendary Plymouth Argyle players such as Sammy Black, 'Jumbo' Chisholm, Wilf Carter, Paul Mariner and Tommy Tynan have taken the club to the brink of greatness, only to see hopes turn to despair as key players were sold, managers sacked, and boardroom disputes threatened the very...

Throughout Torquay Uniteds history, the club has lurched from one crisis to another relegation battles, financial disasters, protesting fans, boardroom farces. These dramas were interspersed with great moments cup upsets, visits to Wembley, and the odd promotion here and there. This book charts the...

Stoke City Football Club has been blessed with innumerable talented players, including legends likes Stanley Matthews, Gordon Banks, Freddie Steele, and Neil Franklin. But Stoke City: 101 Golden Greats is not only about these footballing colossi. Featuring players from 1870 to 2001, it recounts the story...

It took a world war to bring Raich Carter and Peter Doherty together at Derby County. First as guests through RAF postings. Then, all too briefly, signed as the aces of a Cup-winning pack. Their perfect partnership forms the heart of this double biography, spanning their whole football careers. From...

Volume Four of David Woods' four-volume history of Bristol City, from the club's beginnings to the modern age. Football supporters know ecstasy and despair in equal measure. Bad times invariably follow good times. Then, with luck, the good times return - until the next collapse. Bristol City knew the...

The story of Wimbledon FC is among the most astonishing Cinderella tales in the history of the English game. The clubs achievements have no equal. Winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1963, they were elected to the Southern League and promoted to the Premier Division at the first attempt. Championships followed...

This book revisits two titles, the County Cricket Championship of 1874 later snatched from Derbyshire as no longer officially recognised and that of 1936, which now stands alone to their credit. But those two seasons are not the whole story. The book starts with Derbyshire CCCs formation in 1870 and...

This gripping tale begins and ends with Brian Clough, by common consent the greatest manager Derby County ever had - and the most controversial. Centred on the Rams two League championship seasons of 1971-72 and 1974-75, it revives memories of one of the most momentous periods in the clubs long history...

The first 100 years of Aberdeen Football Club are a tale of triumph over adversity. Aberdeen were the last of Scotlands big clubs to gain admission to the Scottish League, which was a struggle in itself. For most of their existence the Dons have under-achieved. By World War II they had done no better...

Volume Three of David Woods' four-volume history of Bristol City, from the club's beginnings to the modern age. In this volume he takes the story from the resumption of league football after World War II up to 1967, when his fourth volume, The Modern Era, begins.

Plymouth Argyle FC have enjoyed a chequered history. They have reached the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup. They flirted with promotion to the top division in the 1930s and 1950s. But they have also known the misery of life in the basement of the Football League. Through good times and...

Cambridge United travelled from the Cambs League in 1921 to the brink of the Premiership 61 years later and, since then, most of the way back again. Guiding them down the hazardous route have been some gifted players. Some of them are household names across the country (Wilf Mannion, Steve Claridge,...