Author:Ebury Press
Football. Bloody hell.'
The longest serving and most successful manager in British football history shocked the world by finally retiring in May 2013 and instantly created more column inches and twitter mentions that the death of Margaret Thatcher. And he wasn’t just the greatest, but also one of the most outspoken, engaging and witty voices from the game, as this book proves. Here is the history of his supreme verbal sparring during his years at Manchester United - the man in his own words (with a few additional thoughts from those who knew him best and crossed swords with him most).
'There's nothing wrong with losing your temper once in a while if it's for the right reasons'
'If he was an inch taller he’d be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in – I’d check the milkman'
On Gary Neville
'He could start a row in an empty house'
On Denis Wise
'The list of gentle, naturally retiring men who have been successful in their attempts at running clubs isn't a long one, is it?
Fascinating and beautifully written
—— Donald McRaeI have heard it said that there has never been a book written which gets to the heart of golf and to the golfers themselves. I can tell you, there is now and that book is ‘Mind Game’. I have made it a must-read for all our staff to help them better understand the complexities of our players and just what it takes to succeed in our sport
—— Keith Pelley, European Tour Chief ExecutiveI have never read a Mike Calvin book I didn't like. And anyone who likes golf will absolutely love this brilliant book. I loved it.
—— Barry GlendenningYou've got to get this book. This is for anyone who loves their sport and anyone who loves their golf.
—— Jim White , TalkSportDelves not only into that Ryder Cup victory, but into the demons tournament golfers face on a regular basis. Martin Kaymer, Robert Karlsson, Matt Wallace, Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood and others give personal insights.
—— Golf Week , Alistair TaitMind Game, is an unflinching yet beautifully written account of the psychological trauma he suffered as a golfer. It is an equally gripping portrayal of the internal struggle faced by many of his contemporaries’
—— Guardiancandid and captivating memoir… written with humour and insight, this is an inspiring tale of triumph against the odds
—— Lady magazine‘Two Tribes perfectly illustrates the relationship between football and society in Thatcher’s Britain with as many twists and turns off the pitch as on it…The sheer beauty of this book is its ability to take you from the stinking alleyways and crumbling terraces that were the norm for football supporters at that time to London’s West End or the drinking dens of the North West quicker than a Pat Nevin pirouette thanks to the author’s uncanny ability to depict the city he lived in and the game that he and so many like him followed religiously across a country that was on a knife edge… Two Tribes is not a Liverpool book. It’s not an Everton book either. It’s a snapshot of a time when watching football was often a matter of survival, a social history of a highly charged political tinderbox of a city which was in danger of tearing itself apart; interspersed with anecdotes of the time which were as relevant in Middlesbrough and Manchester as they were on Merseyside. And that’s what makes it so good.’
—— Matthew Crist , The SportsmanA coruscating snapshot of football and life on Merseyside during Thatcher’s Britain.
—— The Observer - Best Sports Books of 2018Extraordinary… Dee has an enormous aptitude for burrowing into research and then opening it out map-like over the tangible natural world… [Greenery is his] most personal and spectacular nature memoir to date.
—— Irish IndependentAs rich and rewarding as spring itself, this book by one of our leading nature writers is a celebration of the temperate world’s most exciting season. It’s a multi-layered book, full of memories…science and poetry, history and humour. And great sadness too… This is a lifetime of springs recounted by a man in fall.
—— Ben Hoare , BBC WildlifeCrammed with fascinating, horizon-expanding, life-enhancing tidbits of knowledge from a person who has spent years watching, looking, learning… Of course, as Dee fans will expect, there is blissful poetry in his prose… Greenery is a portal into a deeper understanding of spring and a richer appreciation of the natural world. It is about death, life, love, planetary time: the dynamics of life on planet earth.
—— Lucy Jones , Caught by the River *Book of the Month*Joyful... Hard to resist. Greenery is a book of hope… Each new encounter reads like a script for the very best kind of radio programme, full of insight and lightly-worn expertise.
—— Isabel Lloyd , TabletDee’s writing sings… When scattered personal anecdotes finally crystallise into the recent event in Dee’s life, the heart breaks… A book best experienced like spring itself, blooming and fading at its own pace.
—— Josh Pugh Ginn , iTim Dee follows the wake-up call of the wild, treading the path of migrating swallows from South African shores to Scandinavia. A colourful account of spring's awakening with tales from Sámi reindeer herders also in the mix.
—— WanderlustTim Dee's powers of description are masterful… This sumptuous account of spring's progress is a truly remarkable book, written with exquisite pathos.
—— Alex Roddie , Great OutdoorsDee layers…contrasting voices to great effect. And his visual writing shows us more than a camera could
—— Lucy Ingrams , OldieGreenery is an anatomy of spring… the lush prose…resonate[s]… When scattered personal anecdotes finally crystallise into the recent events in Dee’s like, the heart breaks
—— Josh Pugh Ginn , UK Press SyndicationA beautiful ode to how nature can soothe and inspire hope with every step . . . this book is really special
—— StylistMesmerising. It is one of the most uplifting, inspiring books that I've ever read
—— i (The paper for today)Filled with wry humour, this is a wonderfully uplifting and touching book
—— GuardianThis is a wonderful, heart-gladdening, life-affirming read. It will make you want to walk. What a gem.
—— Kate Riordan, author of The Girl in the PhotographLuminescent. A literary phenomenon
—— Mail on SundayUtterly inspirational
—— The TimesThe Salt Path broke my heart and put it back together again over and over. Beautiful writing, and such a sharp eye - both for nature and for people. It's hopeful and sad and honest and I LOVED it.
—— Maggie Harcourt, author of Unconventional and The Last Summer of UsHarnesses the wildness of rock, sky and coastal walking in life-affirming prose
—— Emma Stonex , GuardianRadiant, soaring, heartstring-tugging
—— BBC CountryfileA remarkable account of the healing power of landscape and the resilience of the human spirit. I felt the rain on my face and heard the waves pounding on the sand.
—— Phillipa AshleyInspirational
—— Good HousekeepingThe Salt Path pummelled me like Atlantic winds. It carried me along on a rain-soaked, sun-burnt, despair-infused, hope-driven walk. The writing is at times raw, poetic, funny, shocking. It is consistently honest, vulnerable, clear. I finished the book reminded of the importance of really hearing people's stories, of the healing power of the natural world, and of our individual and collective now.
—— The EcologistA thoughtful, lyrical story of homelessness, strength and endurance
—— The WeekA moving true story
—— i PaperBy turns inspirational and horrifying . . . [Winn] writes with a detail and a joy that tugs at the reader, lifting this beyond a mere travel memoir and all the privations and hardship to be something truly meaningful
—— Times Higher EducationBeautiful, sad, erudite and uplifting
—— The New EuropeanAn uplifting tale
—— Cornish TimesVivid . . .This is a book essentially about hope, but also about sheer gritty determination not to give in, to survive extreme discomfort, danger and sometimes disillusionment
—— Kibworth & District ChronicleAn inspirational true story
—— Top SanteIt's a heart-warming, heart-wrenching story, told by Raynor in vivid yet plain prose. There are so many wonderful passages
—— Church TimesRaynor's writing is beautiful. It's a heart-wrenching read at times, but you won't be able to put it down
—— MirrorWe walk with Ray and Moth every step of the way, sharing the hunger, exhaustion, blazing heat and freezing rain in an account that is both lyrical and inspirational
—— Guardian, Top 10 books about walking in BritainAn extraordinary memoir - moving, funny and uplifting
—— Open UpAn inspirational and lyrically observed memoir on the regenerative power of walking in nature, as well as a reminder that material things are much less important than we sometimes think. If you love the landscape of the British coastline and are drawn to the philosophies of mindfulness and minimalism, this is a moving and reflective book to read during a break from your everyday life
—— Gill Walker, Newham Books , GuardianRaynor Winn's glorious memoir tells the real-life story of her hike along the South West Coast Path, which she embarked upon with her husband after they lost their home. It's raw yet uplifting - and guaranteed to inspire your next adventure
—— Huffington Post UKA thoughtful reflection on ageing and infirmity, home and homelessness, hope and survival
—— Dr Michael Fitzpatrick , Daily TelegraphA life-affirming story that examines grief and the power of nature
—— Liz Earle WellbeingPoignant . . . It's far from a book without hope, and you'll be with Raynor and Moth every step of their walk along the South West Coast Path
—— Country WalkingA heart-wrenching, inspiring tale of one couple's enduring love for each other in the face of calamity and of their accidental odyssey along England's South West Coast Path
—— AdvntureA love story of resilience and optimism, brimming with heart and humanity
—— Ruth Jones , PrimaA gripping domestic disaster story turned celebration of survival
—— Country WalkingA true story of hope in a dire situation
—— Daily Express