Sports Book Podcast

Matt talks to ANDREW DOWNIE the author of DOCTOR SOCRATES. The Brazilian World Cup captain is well known for a number of things - not least being named after a Greek philosopher. The iconic picture of him wearing a headband in solidarity with the people of Mexico in the 86 World Cup dominates the cover of this book. Inside, we learn of his medical practice (while he was playing) and his attempts to bring democracy to his football club Corinthians while Brazilian was being ruled by a military dictatorship. Andrew also reveals how he ended up in one of the greatest sport books of all time. Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.

Matt speaks to CHARLIE CAMPBELL about the art of amateur cricket captaincy in his book HERDING CATS. While the elite players only have to worry about matters on the field of play, Charlie talks us through the myriad problems facing an amateur captain - from having deep pockets, a clean driving licence and strong diplomatic skills. How "match-management" is an integral part of the amateur game and how to spot a ringer for the opposition - equally how to spot someone is not very good just be looking at them (clue - check out the colour of their shorts and trainers!). Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod

It's a quiet time for new sport books but we have unearthed a real gem in the winter months. Founder of Loaded and former GQ editor JAMES BROWN has written a love letter to the game of five-a-side in ABOVE HEAD HEIGHT. He tells us about why this has such a hold on so many players right into their middle age and beyond, how you shouldn't take it up if you want to get fit and why we should get rid of the "above head height" rule. He also has come cracking recommendations for sport books we should be picking up. Don't forget to subscribe on iTunes and leave us a review. Follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.

The Sports Book Podcast is back for 2017. And we kick off with a great title from ALEX HEMINSLEY. She's written in the past about running in "Running Like A Girl" which ended with her taking part in several marathons around the world. She's now switched her attention to swimming - and in particular open-water swimming - in LEAP IN. We talk about how to master something as everyday as breathing, the very real dangers faced when you swim in open water and the mental benefits to this activity. Don't forget to subscribe to make sure you don't miss the next episode and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.

The podcast is back with former F1 driver JOHNNY HERBERT who tells the story of how he came back from a devastating crash at Brands Hatch to become one of the biggest names in motorsport. In WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU.. he describes the crash, how the surgeons told him he would likely never walk again and certainly wouldn't race again. He did, and won 3 Grand Prix as well as Le Mans 24 hour race. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast as we're hoping for at least one more big guest before the Christmas break. Follow us on @SportsBookPod

In this episode Matt speaks to the author of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2016. WILLIAM FINNEGAN has written about a life in surfing in BARBARIAN DAYS. It stretches from the 1950s in Hawaii when this was just a fringe pursuit, through the 60s and 70s as William goes in search of the perfect wave and then he watches uncomfortably as his passion is embraced by the mainstream. He talks about the toll surfing has taken on him, the secretive world of codes and what he loves about this sport. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod

Here we are on episode 40! Matt talks to the most successful technical director in F1, ROSS BRAWN. He's worked with Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and many others. His book TOTAL COMPETITION explores strategy and whether we can really learn anything from some Chinese general who died centuries ago. Also we're talking Claudio Ranieri with respected journalist GABRIELE MARCOTTI - his unrivalled contacts give us an insight into the man who masterminded the biggest sporting upset of this year, or indeed any year, as Leicester City won the Premier League in HAIL CLAUDIO! Subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future titles.

In the latest episode Matt talks sleep and parenting in sport. NICK LITTLEHALES has worked with Manchester United, Team Sky and the British Olympic team amongst many others helping them to recover and showing where they're going wrong in sleep. He's an elite sport sleep coach sought out by CEOs and politicians. His book is SLEEP. Then we hear from MARK CHAPMAN (MoTD 2, Five Live Sport) in THE LOVE OF THE GAME, he talks about the joy, despair and mistakes we all make as the parents of children who're into sport as he takes his son and daughter to cricket, gymnastics and swimming galas. Don't forget to subscribe, and follow us on @SportsBookPod.

In this latest episode Matt talks to MAURICE HAMILTON about his latest book on F1 legend JAMES HUNT. From his rivalry and close friendship with Niki Lauda, to his champagne lifestyle but also a never-before published revelation of his fear of getting in an F1 car. We also hear from armed robber JOHN MCAVOY who, while serving a double life sentence, broke several UK and World records for indoor rowing and reveals how sport has saved his life. A fascinating story outlined in REDEMPTION. Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod

This week Matt talks to 2 figures in sport who've released autobiographies. First PAUL O'CONNELL former Ireland and Munster captain talks about how he has no memory at all of around 17 minutes of his international debut including when he scored a try! He also talks candidly in THE BATTLE about how harsh he was on himself in his playing career. Then former Premier League referee HOWARD WEBB takes us in MAN IN THE MIDDLE into a world which is normally secretive, either because referees don't want to or aren't allowed to speak publicly. He also addresses how the inaccurate assertion that he was a Manchester United fan partly led to his decision to retire. Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.

In the latest podcast Matt talks to JONATHAN NORTHCROFT about his book charting the amazing underdog story of Leicester City winning the Premier League in FEARLESS. We also look at what we can celebrate about modern football with DANIEL GRAY in his book SATURDAY 3PM - which lists 50 delights of the modern game as an antidote to the many things we find infuriating about football. Subscribe to the podcast and follow us on @SportsBookPod

There's no let-up in the number of sport books coming out in the build-up to Christmas and Matt talks to 2 writers behind 2 fascinating titles in this week's episode. First JON SMITH who you may know as a football agent who represented the England football team, Maradona and was instrumental in the start of the Premier League takes us inside the world of agents, transfer windows and deals where everyone puts their guns on the table in THE DEAL. Then DAMIAN HUGHES explores leadership and what sport can teach us all - drawing on his experience with British Cycling, Barcelona and the All Blacks in FIVE STEPS TO A WINNING MINDSET. Don't forget to subscribe and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.

Matt's back with another episode sooner than expected as more titles are released ahead of the autumn rush. First up, we hear from IAN HAWKEY (Sunday Times) who has written the definitive biography of the greatest footballer ever - Alfredo Di Stefano. From leading Real Madrid to 5 European Cups to being kidnapped and being the spark for the hottest rivalry in world football, it's all doumented in DI STEFANO. Then RICHARD GILLIS (Financial Times, Wall Streert Journal) explores just why we're obsessed with captains. He focuses on the Ryder Cup where - supposedly - the captain has so much influence. But is it a leadership delusion and does THE CAPTAIN MYTH say more about us than them. Follow us on @SportsBookPod and don't forget to subscribe with plenty more titles to come...

The Sports Book Podcast is back after the summer break. In this week's episode we're talking Argentinian football and neuroscience. First we hear from JONATHAN WILSON (Inverting the Pyramid) who has written an excellent and comprehensive history of Argentinian football in ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES from Maradona to Messi, the Maquina to the military junta. Then we talk to AMIT KATWALA whose book THE ATHLETIC BRAIN addresses the link between neuroscience and sport - can a stress ball help make putt better or more successful at penalty shootouts, is this the new "marginal gain" for all sports? Follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod. Don't forget to subscribe so each new episode is automatically downloaded to your device.

One more podcast before the summer break gives us a chance to speak to just one author. It's DAVID GOLDBLATT who won the William Hill Sports Book Of The Year last year for Games Of Our Lives. His latest title deals with the Olympics - it's called THE GAMES. We hear how the founder of the modern games decided to give himself a gold medal for poetry, how politics has always been closely linked to the games - going back to the Ancient Greeks, why the Nazis were initially against staging the infamous 1936 Olympics and what the future of the games is given their cost. Thanks for downloading, Matt also has his 3 recommendations for your summer read. Follow us on @SportsBookPod and we'll be back in the autumn..

It's episode 30 of the podcast that loves Sport Books. 2 authors to hear from this week. ANNA KESSEL (Guardian, Observer) talks about EAT SWEAT PLAY - a call to arms for women to reclaim sport - Anna has written a great book about sport for women who don't like sport - or rather have been told that sport is not for them. A great read. And JULIAN WALKER from the British Library has hunted down those well-known authors such as Wodehouse, Wordsworth, Dickens and Hemingway who chose sport as the best way to talk about the human condition in THE ROAR OF THE CROWD. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and you can follow us @SportsBookPod.

The episodes are coming thick and fast as we gear up for summer and Matt talks to 2 more writers for this week's podcast. First up is SIMON BARNES - surely one of the best sports writers around. His columns in The Times were unmissable. In LOSING IT he looks over his sporting career in which he says he cared too much and won too little so "why do we do this silly stuff?". It's an excellent read and Simon is a great guest. We also talk to CHRIS BOARDMAN - his book TRIALS AND TURBULENCE not only relates the story of his Olympic gold, and breaking the hour record but his work with the "Secret Squirrel Club" that helped deliver so much success to the British Olympic Cycling team in Beijing and London. And how he turned down the chance to be in the opening ceremony dressed as the Hero Dove. Thanks for downloading - don't forget to subscribe. follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.

Matt's back with another Sports Book Podcast - and this week's title is one of the best sport books we've featured. It's AND THE SUN SHINES NOW by ADRIAN TEMPANY. Adrian survived the crush in the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough where 96 football fans died in 1989. He writes about how that disaster, its subsequent cover-up and the emergence of the Premier League changed not only football but Britain. An uncomfortable read at times - as it should be - this book explains why football from the 1980s is now unrecognisable to modern fans. What's changed - for better and worse? Don't forget to subscribe - follow us on @SportsBookPod

Just in time before the start of the Euros, we have one writer this week and its Chief Football Writer with the Times, HENRY WINTER and his book on the England team FIFTY YEARS OF HURT - THE STORY OF ENGLAND FOOTBALL AND WHY WE NEVER STOP BELIEVING. Henry goes in search of the answers to why England have underachieved since they won in '66 - what he calls a national disgrace. Please subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod

In the latest episode, Matt has just one guest. It's CARLO ANCELOTTI - former AC Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea and soon-to-be Bayern Munich manager. His book is QUIET LEADERSHIP. He talks about his relationship with Roman Abramovich, the time he threatened to "kill" Florent Malouda at Chelsea and the power of his eyebrow. Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and follow us on Twitter @SportsBookPod.