APFA
June 07, 2015
Cross British Sports Book Awards
The 2015 Cross British Sports Book Award awards took place at Lord’s Cricket Ground on 3rd June, hosted by Jonathan Agnew. Although there isn’t a category for best sports analytics book (maybe one day!), I’m sure you all like a good sports book. And some of the judging by previous winners, the judges know what they are doing.
- 2012 Engage: The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson – Paul Kimmage (Simon & Schuster)
- 2013 Bobby’s Open – Steven Reid (Corinthian)
- 2014 THE NOWHERE MEN: The Unknown Story of Football’s True Talent Spotters – Michael Calvin, (Century)
So here are the winners (and losers) from 2015.
Autobiography of the Year
Proud by Gareth Thomas and Michael Calvin
Gareth Thomas had it all. He was a national hero, a sporting icon, captain of Wales and the British Lions. But this is the story of a man with a secret that was slowly killing him.
Shortlisted:
Biography of the Year
Bobby Moore: The Man In Full by Matt Dickinson
The definitive biography of England’s greatest footballer, and World Cup winning captain by one of the country’s most-respected football writers. Matt Dickinson traces the journey of this Essex boy who became the patron saint of English football…
Shortlisted:
- Scream: The Tyson Tapes by Jonathan Rendall
- One Day As A Tiger by John Porter
- Alone: The Triumph And Tragedy Of John Curry by Bill Jones
- Chase Your Shadow by John Carlin
- Shadows On The Road by Michael Barry
Football Book of the Year
Thirty-One Nil: On The Road With Football’s Outsiders by James Montague
The story of the immense struggle to qualify for the 2014 Brazilian World Cup, Thirty-One Nil roams from American Samoa to Zambia in a remarkable and insightful journey that gets under the skin of world football.
Shortlisted:
- The Boy In Brazil by Seth Burkett
- The Life And Times Of Herbert Chapman by Patrick Barclay
- Fergie Rises by Michael Grant
- In Search Of Duncan Ferguson by Alan Pattullo
- Bobby Moore: The Man In Full by Matt Dickinson
- I Don’t Know What It Is But I Love It by Tony Evans
Other Categories
There is a host of other categories with some great books – you can check out the full list here;