West Ham United last won a major trophy in 1980, but the roller-coaster ride of the past three decades has produced enough twists and turns, heroes and villains and contrasting emotions to grace the script of the most thrilling TV soap opera. Since Trevor Brooking headed home the FA Cup final winner against Arsenal, the Hammers have experienced delight and despair in not so equal measure, with a cast of controversial characters - either adored or abhorred - playing the key roles in a tale of fact rather than fiction. The saving of the club by David Sullivan and David Gold, as West Ham stared into the financial abyss following the ill-fated Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson reign, is the latest chapter in a saga that includes numerous promotions and relegations, great escapes, contentious changes of ownership and management, internal feuds, bust-ups and power struggles, the Carlos Tevez affair and the passing of legends Ron Greenwood, John Lyall and Bobby Moore, as well as several false dawns in the endless quest for success. Including exclusive interviews with key protoganists, Bring Me the Head of Trevor Brooking tells - for the very first time - the inside story behind 60 of the most significant developments at Upton Park in the modern era. Whether examining the contributions of Paolo Di Canio, Harry Redknapp and Frank McAvennie or Gianfranco Zola, Marco Boogers and Iain Dowie, the book celebrates the good, the bad and the ugly of West Ham United.

THE 1970S - THE LAST DECADE WHEN EVERY FAN OF EVERY CLUB COULD WISH FOR THE STARS.For supporters of provincial lightweights like Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, their wishes came true in the seventies when they landed the Division One title. It was the decade of the underdog - when the FA Cup was still football's Holy Grail and teams like Sunderland, Ipswich and Southampton came in from the sticks to produce their own brand of Wembley magic. It is not like that today.It was the decade when every team had its characters: Stan Bowles, Charlie George, Duncan McKenzie, Frank Worthington, Tony Currie, Rodney Marsh. These personalities are gone now, replaced by an influx of anonymous foreign journeymen.This book harks back to a lost era when the game still belonged to the fans; they could identify with the players, recognise their heroes, and believe they all had a shot at glory.It remembers dramatic matches packed with action and controversy; recalls mercurial managers like Shankly, Clough, Revie and the Doc - and asks the question: who was the finest player from football's last great decade?

';.... Graham's words bring home the passion that is in a true WestHam supporter ... It is a well known fact that West Ham supportersare amongst the most passionate, loyal, knowledgeable andunderstanding fans.'ALAN DEVONSHIRE AND TONY GALE (WEST HAM UNITED)';... this book is a must for any true West Ham Fan.'LEN HERBERT-SECRETARY OF THE BOYS OF ';86';... I really enjoyed this book. It is written by a consummate HammersFan whose love for his team comes across clearly.'WOLFMANMAC';... A real ripping yarn of amazing facts and data from yesteryear. Ifyou like soccer you'll love this book, regardless as to whether or notyou are a West Ham Supporter.'HISSING SID';A real trip down memory lane, a very entertaining and informativeread from a most knowledgeable author. There are a number of gamesGraham attended that I was at, it was like turning the clock back, eventhe defeats (and there were a few) brought a smile'MARTIN DAVIS (STOKE)';... written straight from the heart ...'PAUL W';... Charming, but more importantly a most honest, humorous,detailed, informative and factual read Well Done!'MARTYN NEWBOLD (BELVEDERE)';... an excellent read; it made me feel like I was there...'

He has never scored a goal, lifted a trophy, worn the captain's armband or even played for the club, but Steve Bacon is considered a genuine Hammers legend. As West Ham United's official photographer for more than thirty years, Steve has become a cult hero at Upton Park - he has appeared on Sky's Soccer AM, featured in a fanzine comic strip and even had a burger named after him. From his privileged position as part of the club's backroom team, Steve has enjoyed unlimited access behind the scenes and established close friendships with many managers and players. John Lyall, Lou Macari, Billy Bonds, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Roeder, Alan Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce have all found themselves the focus of Bacon's candid camera, while Trevor Brooking, Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Julian Dicks, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Paolo Di Canio and Scott Parker are just a few of the star players who have welcomed him into their world. Packed with terrific tales, amusing anecdotes and controversial characters, and illustrated with the very best of Steve's photographs, There's Only One Stevie Bacon offers an intriguing insight into life at the Boleyn Ground and one that no West Ham United fan will want to miss.

Football fans know them as Clough and Taylor; to Peter’s journalist daughter Wendy Dickinson they were simply ‘Dad and Brian’. Together they won countless honours, including league titles and two European Cups in consecutive years, a feat only matched by one other British manager and club - Bob Paisley and Liverpool. After almost 30 years of friendship and spectacular success they split up, were never reconciled and never spoke again before their untimely deaths. Thousands of headlines, dozens of books and a major feature film have charted the story of the most famous partner, Brian Clough, but little is known of his partner. For Pete’s Sake, the first of two books about Peter Taylor, charts his rise from the poor back streets of Nottingham to the very top of his profession at Derby County. With contributions from many of the players Clough & Taylor signed, including Roy McFarland, Alan Hinton, John O’Hare and Archie Gemmill. For Pete’s Sake is set in a footballing era light years away from the one we know today. Peter and Brian’s team-mates in the Middlesbrough FC team of the Fifties bring to life a time when the maximum weekly wage was £20, players walked to ‘work’ together because no-one had a car and Peter worked as a brickie in the closed season to make ends meet. For Pete’s Sake also tells the story of Peter’s passion to be a top footballer manager, even when he was a very young man, how he cut his teeth as manager of Burton Albion and then joined forces with Brian at Hartlepools United and Derby County to set the football world alight.

When Trevor Brooking was still at school, the Essex-born teenager was one of the most eagerly pursued prospects in London, but he chose to go to West Ham United - the only club that was prepared to allow him to complete his studies - and so began a lifelong attachment to the Upton Park outfit. In 1967 he made his debut for the club, and went on to play for them until 1984, helping them to win two FA Cup trophies, and scoring the only goal in the 1980 final. A cultured midfielder at the heart of West Ham's side, he was soon seen as crucial to England's fortunes, helping them to qualify for the World Cup finals in 1982. Brooking recalls the highlights of his career, playing with and against some of the most famous names in the sport, and provides revealing details about life with West Ham and England. His story recalls a time when he was a symbol of solidity during the era of flared trousers, punk, and the turmoil of the Revie regime. Respected by fans and his peers alike, Brooking has been at the forefront of the FA's work to develop the game in recent years, and his views on the future of football are essential reading.