Andrew-Henry Bowie is a passionate Heart of Midlothian Football Club supporter. He doggedly survived a tough childhood and found solace – sort of – in his overwhelming love of football. The author engages the reader with an energetic and animated account of his years as a Hearts fan and his early years growing up as an Edinburgh 'schemie'. Written with verve and a dry sense of humour Bowie entertains with recollections of a series of calamitous episodes; ironically these seemed to reflect the Hearts' ups and downs! The book is scattered with familiar references to the 80s and 90s; for anyone growing up during this period, this book will stir poignant memories.

Brian Honour was born in the former pit village of Horden, County Durham, and his passion from a young age was always to become a professional footballer. Despite the odds and many setbacks, that's exactly what he achieved, giving his all to the game and earning respect from fans, fellow players and the media alike. Many believed his skills would clinch him a place with a Premiership side and, although this was never to be, he is rightly considered a legend and The Life of Brian is a fitting tribute to the man who was affectionately dubbed ‘Mr Hartlepool United'. Brian first became involved in football at the age of four, when Sir Stanley Matthews visited his home. He subsequently signed Schoolboy forms for Aston Villa, where he stayed for three years before being rejected as being too small. He then went for a trial at Darlington and signed as an apprentice, and in 1982, at the age of 18, he obtained a full professional contract. However, his dreams were soon shattered for a second time, when again he was told he was too small by the former Tottenham Hotspur and England fullback Cyril Knowles, then the Darlington manager. Brian moved into non-League football with Peterlee Newtown, before being plucked from the mist at Tow Law by Billy Horner, the Hartlepool United manager. He would stay at the Victoria Ground for almost 11 years as a player before persistent injury forced him to retire. He was voted the supporters’ Player of the Season three times and was a member of the promotion-winning side of 1991. He has proved to be an excellent and inspiring youth coach, and spells in non-League football with Durham City, Horden Colliery Welfare and Bishop Auckland (twice) have run in tandem with his business ‘The Brian Honour Football School’.

Are you a loyal England supporter? Do you look forward to the World Cup and eagerly follow England's progress? Would you like to find out more about the history of your national team and their past performance in top flight football? If so, this book is certain to appeal to you. England's World Cup Story documents England’s journey in the World Cup from 1950 under the guidance of Sir Walter Winterbottom up to 2010 with Fabio Capello at the helm as manager. Packed with fascinating facts, quotes and profiles of many of the all-time great players, this book tells the story of the England team through the years from the many near misses and disappointments to victory in 1966 and beyond. Who can forget the likes of Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore and Sir Stanley Matthews to name but a few? They are all in this book together with more recent heroes such as David Beckham, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney. As one of only eight national sides to have lifted the World Cup trophy, this book is a fitting tribute to the England team. This is a must-have for all fans of the beautiful game and anyone with an interest in the history of the World Cup.

The King of Cappielow, with a fitting Foreword by Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, is a tribute to the much-loved Scottish footballing legend, Andy Ritchie. He was born in Glasgow in 1956 and developed a passion for football from a young age. As a teenager he went for trials with several English clubs, but in the end joined Celtic in 1971 at the age of 15, signing professional forms in 1973. In 1976, after one too many alleged disputes with manager, Jock Stein, he became part of a transfer deal, moving to Greenock Morton in exchange for their goalkeeper, Roy Baines. And thus, for the next seven years, Andy Ritchie built his reputation as the ‘King of Cappielow'. Adored by the fans, but attracting less regal labels by the media, such as the ‘Idle Idol' and the ‘Ambling Alp’, due to his large build and less than energetic footballing style, Ritchie proved his incredible ball skills time after time, netting 133 goals in 246 matches and achieving the honour of top goalscorer in the Premier League for three consecutive years. He became renowned for his ability to curl the ball into the net from free kicks, particularly corners, an expertise he purportedly developed from watching the Brazilians training for the 1974 World Cup, even though he sadly never got to play for Scotland. On leaving Morton, Andy Ritchie played briefly for Motherwell and was player/manager at Albion Rovers for a season before retiring from football in 1985, aged 28. The call of Scotland and football ever strong, he eventually returned to his roots from a management position at the Barbican in London and, after some time as a football scout, he took on his current role of SPL delegate/match observer. Although he received the coveted Football Writers’ Player of the Year award in 1979, he is yet to be inducted into the Scotland Hall of Fame. Maybe with this publication his time for full recognition will come.