Arena Sport 2015 Catalogue

Birlinn Limited was established in 1992 by Managing Director Hugh Andrew, and is comprised of a number of imprints.

Birlinn publishes Scottish and general UK interest books, from biography to history, military history, sport and Scottish Gaelic. The name comes from the old Norse world ‘birlinn’, meaning a long boat or small galley used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages.

Polygon publishes literary fiction and poetry, both classic and modern, from Scottish writers such as Robin Jenkins, George Mackay Brown and the author of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, as well as selected music and film titles. International writers including Jan-Philipp Sendker are also published under this imprint. Polygon was originally set up by students of Edinburgh University in the late 1960s.

Arena Sport is Birlinn’s sport imprint. The sport books range from football and rugby, to golf and cycling. These books have an international as well as national appeal. Arena’s first titles were published in June 2013.

John Donald publishes academic books.

BIRLINN LTDWest Newington House10 Newington RoadEdinburghEH9 1QSTel: +44 (0) 131 668 4371Fax: +44 (0) 131 668 [email protected]

CUSTOMER AND TRADE ORDERSBooksource50 Cambuslang RoadCambuslang Investment ParkGlasgowG32 8NBTel: 0845 370 0067Fax: 0845 370 0064Intl: +44 (0) 141 643 3961

MANAGING DIRECTORHugh [email protected]

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING DIRECTOR / DEPUTY MDJan [email protected]

PUBLISHING DIRECTORNeville [email protected]

FINANCE DIRECTORJoanne [email protected]

RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY SCRIPT AGENCYMaria [email protected]: +44 7866713512

SALES DIRECTORLaura [email protected]

CREATIVE DIRECTORJames [email protected]

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR (BIRLINN & BC BOOKS)Andrew [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR (POLYGON)Alison [email protected]

ACADEMIC EDITOR (JOHN DONALD)Mairi [email protected]

EXPORT MANAGER, DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SPORTS EDITORPeter [email protected]

Production ManagerLiz [email protected]

SALES AND MARKETING LIAISONVikki [email protected]

www.birlinn.co.uk

www.polygonbooks.co.uk

Diego Costa Fran Guillén Lost John DeeringOur Day in May Ed HodgeBehind the Green Jersey Tom EnglishMoney Tris DixonNo Straight Lines Edmond HoodNeymar Neymar Jr and Neymar Sr

How to be a Cyclist John DeeringBradley Wiggins John DeeringThe Flying Scotsman Graeme ObreeVa Va Froome David SharpPep Confidential Marti PerarnauThe Secret Agent AnonymousShocking Brazil Fernando Duarte Denis Law Alex GordonFighting Spirit Fernando RicksenThe Promised Land Daniel HarrisBehind the Lions Stephen Jones, Tom English, Nick Cain & David BarnesBehind the Rose Stephen Jones & Nick CainWhite Gold Peter BurnsJewel in the Glen Ed HodgeMasters of Men Liam Hayes

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CONTENTS

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Birlinn Limited was established in 1992 by Managing Director Hugh Andrew, and is comprised of a number of imprints.

Birlinn publishes Scottish and general UK interest books, from biography to history, military history, sport and Scottish Gaelic. The name comes from the old Norse world ‘birlinn’, meaning a long boat or small galley used especially in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland in the Middle Ages. BC Books is a new children’s imprint, launched in 2015. It is designed to provide writing and illustration of the highest quality for young readers in Scotland and beyond. Birlinn is dedicated to nurturing young readers and helping them discover a passion for reading that will last a lifetime.

Polygon publishes literary fiction and poetry, both classic and modern, from Scottish writers such as Robin Jenkins, George Mackay Brown and the author of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Alexander McCall Smith, as well as selected music and film titles. International writers including Jan-Philipp Sendker are also published under this imprint. Polygon was originally set up by students of Edinburgh University in the late 1960s.

Arena Sport is Birlinn’s sport imprint. The sport books range from football and rugby, to golf and cycling. These books have an international as well as national appeal. Arena’s first titles were published in June 2013.

John Donald publishes academic books.

BIRLINN LTDWest Newington House10 Newington RoadEdinburghEH9 1QSTel: +44 (0) 131 668 4371Fax: +44 (0) 131 668 [email protected]

CUSTOMER AND TRADE ORDERSBooksource50 Cambuslang RoadCambuslang Investment ParkGlasgowG32 8NBTel: 0845 370 0067Fax: 0845 370 0064Intl: +44 (0) 141 643 3961

MANAGING DIRECTORHugh [email protected]

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING DIRECTOR / DEPUTY MDJAN [email protected]

PUBLISHING DIRECTORNeville [email protected]

Finance DirectorJoanne [email protected]

RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY SCRIPT AGENCYMARIA [email protected]: +44 7866713512

SALES DIRECTORLaura [email protected]

CREATIVE DIRECTORJames [email protected]

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR (BIRLINN & BC BOOKS)Andrew [email protected]

MANAGING EDITOR (POLYGON)Alison [email protected]

ACADEMIC EDITOR (JOHN DONALD)Mairi [email protected]

EXPORT MANAGER, DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SPORTS EDITORPeter [email protected]

Production ManagerLiz [email protected]

SALES AND MARKETING LIAISONVikki [email protected]

www.birlinn.co.uk

www.polygonbooks.co.uk

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New Titles

ISBN: 9781909715295Price: £9.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbkRights: World English LanguageJuly 2015288pp16pp colour plates

FRAN GUILLÉN has extensive experience as a broadcaster and writer covering many sports. He has worked for Radio Marca, Cadena COPE, Real Madrid Radio, esRadio and, most recently, Marca TV and ABC Punto Radio. Based in Madrid, he has followed Diego Costa’s career closely from the beginning.

Diego CostaThe Art of War

Fran Guillén

Summer 2014. Diego Costa has arrived for his first day as a Chelsea player and he has something he wants to say to his new team-mates. He’s been practising a single, short sentence. Actually, a mission statement.

‘I go to war – you come with me.’

In The Art of War, Fran Guillén retraces every step of Costa’s brutal, exhilarating journey: from street footballer in his home city of Lagarto, north-east Brazil, to La Liga winner at Atlético Madrid, through loan spells at Celta Vigo, Albacete, Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano, and finally to Premier League champion with Chelsea in 2015.

Through exclusive interviews with coaches, team-mates, agents and friends, Spanish journalist Guillén uncovers the inside story of Costa’s arrival in Portugal as a 17 year old and his move to Atlético Madrid where, under Diego Simeone, the player’s goalscoring finally started to eclipse his fearsome reputation and saw his emergence as one of the world’s greatest strikers.

Then in 2014 Costa made the shock decision to defect from the Brazilian side and play for Spain in the World Cup. After a disastrous tournament, Costa joined Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea and immediately dispelled the ghosts of Brazil by taking the Premier League by storm in an indomitable debut season at Stamford Bridge.

This is an inspiring and insightful portrait of English football’s new superstar.

Let’s go to war.

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New Titles

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ISBN: 9781909715219Price: £16.99Format: 234 x 156mm hbkRights: WorldOctober 2015320pp16pp colour plates

John Deering

JOHN DEERING’s first book was a study of his time with the chaotic but charismatic Linda McCartney Cycling Team and went on to be voted 5th-best cycling book of all time. He has supplied many features to publications such as Procycling, The Official Tour de France guide and Ride Cycling Review, and contributed regularly to Eurosport’s cycling coverage. He is the author of Bradley Wiggins: Tour de Force and How to be a Cyclist, published by Arena Sport.

LostThe Frank Vandenbrouke Story

Frank Vandenbroucke is the great lost talent of world road cycling. Born in Mouscron in Belgium in 1974, he went on to race for three of the biggest professional teams on the world circuit – Lotto, Mapei and Cofidis – and became the darling of the cycling press for his daring approach to winning races. Between 1993 and 1999 he won a slew of races, including the Liege–Bastogne–Liege (known amongst the cycling fraternity as the hardest race in the world), Het Volk, Paris–Nice, Paris–Brussels and stages of the Tour of Spain. The Tour de France was in his sights. But his personal life was another story; he became addicted to cocaine and succumbed to pressures within his teams to take EPO and other performance-enhancing drugs. The notorious Cofidis team – where he was joint team leader with Scotland’s David Millar – eventually broke him. On leaving Cofidis he moved to the Italian team Lampre and then a number of other teams until he effectively ended his career in 2004, aged only 30. Five years later, he was dead.

In this extraordinary biography, John Deering forensically pieces together the chaos of VDB’s story, painting a captivating portrait of the outrageous highs and the tragic lows of one of cycling’s greatest lost talents. 9781909715158

£12.99 hbk9781780271293£7.99 pbk

Praise for Bradley Wiggins: Tour de Force:

‘Deering’s blow-by-blow of the Tour is both evocative and perfect for those looking to learn more about the machinations of team tactics and minutiae of life on the road’ Cyclo

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New Titles

Our Day in MayThe Inside Story of St Johnstone FC’s First Major Trophy Win in 130 Years

ED HODGE grew up in Braco, Perthshire and has been a St Johnstone fan since McDiarmid Park first opened its turnstiles in 1989. Ed now lives in Linlithgow with his wife, Iona, and their two young children and has followed St Johnstone home and away at more games than he can remember. Boasting 14 years experience in the sports media industry in Scotland across a variety of roles, he is now PR & Media Executive for the Scottish Golf Union and is the author of Jewel in the Glen: Gleneagles, Golf and The Ryder Cup.

Praise for Jewel in the Glen:

‘Fantastic book. It’s a great read and I would highly recommend it’ Colin Montgomerie

‘Ed Hodge has scored a hole in one with this book . . . a varied and detailed analysis of what the Ryder Cup and Gleneagles golf courses have meant to so many great players and famous people with memories to share’ Scots Magazine

ISBN: 9781909715301 Price: £9.99 Format: 234 x 156mm pbkRights: World English LanguageMay 2015288pp 16pp colour plates

Ed Hodge

17 May, 2014: the greatest date in St Johnstone Football Club’s history. The day the small, well-run, Perthshire club saw 130 years of waiting to lift a major trophy come to a glorious end. Having so often come up short as a club in the latter stages of cup competitions, manager Tommy Wright and his team entered the history books after winning the Scottish Cup, the world’s oldest trophy, thanks to a 2-0 win over Tayside rivals Dundee United in their first appearance in the final. Roared on by 15,000 fans, their largest ever support, Saints achieved glory on an unforgettable afternoon at Celtic Park in Glasgow, capping a remarkable season for one of the game’s perennial underdogs. With Stevie May, the club’s talisman striker and semi-final hero, wearing the No 17 shirt, the day appeared destined for Saints, before two other Stevens – Anderson and MacLean – emerged as the matchwinners. In Wright’s first full season in charge, it was a victory that summed up his team: organised, resolute, flashes of flair and a collective will to win. For the emotional Brown family in particular, club owner Geoff and chairman Steve, it was their proudest day.

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New Titles

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ISBN: 9781909715189Price: £19.99Format: 234 x 156mm hbkRights: WorldSeptember 2015432pp

Tom English

TOM ENGLISH is an award-winning BBC journalist and radio pundit. The former chief sports writer for Scotland on Sunday, he was voted Scottish Sport Feature Writer of the Year five times. He is a former Irish rugby correspondent for The Sunday Times. He won Rugby Book of the Year at the 2010 British Sports Book Awards for The Grudge, his study of the 1990 Grand Slam decider between Scotland and England, and is a co-author of the best-selling Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions.

No BordersPlaying Rugby for Ireland

From Jack Kyle’s immortals to Brian O’Driscoll’s golden generation, this is the story of Irish rugby, told in the players’ words.

Celebrated rugby writer Tom English embarks on a pilgrimage through the four provinces to reveal the fascinating and illuminating story of playing test rugby in the emerald green of Ireland – all the glory of victory, all the pain of defeat, and all the craic behind the scenes. But this is more than just a nostalgic look back through the years, it is a searing portrait of the effects of politics and religion on Irish sport, a story of great schisms and volatile divisions, but also a story of the profound unity, passionate friendships and the bonds of a brotherhood.

With exclusive new interview material with a host of Ireland rugby greats, Behind the Green Jersey unveils the compelling truth of what it means to play for Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and around the world. This is the ultimate history of Irish rugby – told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it.

Praise for Behind the Lions:

‘Utterly compelling’ Planet Rugby

‘Comfortably the most interesting and entertaining history of the Lions’ Irish Times

‘A fascinating collection of insights’ Sunday Times 9781909715196

£25 hbk9781909715127£19.99 hbk

9781841586533£20 hbk

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New Titles

ISBN: 9781909715271Price: £16.99Format: 234 x 156mm hbkRights: World English LanguageNovember 2015320pp

Tris Dixon

TRIS DIXON is the former editor of Boxing News and has covered the sport for nearly two decades. He was the ghostwriter for Ricky Hatton’s recent bestselling autobiography, War and Peace, and is a regular pundit on Sky Sports’ boxing shows Big-Fight Special and Ringside. He is also often a guest on CNN, TalkSport, Sky News and other mainstream outlets and he has been ringside at major fights on both sides of the Atlantic since 2000, covering the sport on four continents and in more than a dozen countries.

MoneyThe Life and Fast Times of Floyd Mayweather Jr

Born on February 24, 1976, Floyd Mayweather Jr’s father was a boxer, as were his two uncles. His dad also dealt drugs and one day brought his ‘work’ home with him, when he used his son as a human shield to stop a rival dealer from shooting him. The gunman instead shot his father in the leg, curtailing his own ring career.

Floyd Mayweather Jr has never married, has four children by two women, and is a habitual gambler, known to win and lose millions on a single half of US football or basketball. He is obsessed with money, almost as obsessed as he is about protecting his unbeaten record and his staggering aim to go 50 professional bouts without defeat, a goal that he intends to achieve in late 2015, just shy of his 40th birthday.

Mayweather Jr was made famous by his profession, shaped his character through reality TV shows and transcended boxing and sport, into rap culture, social media and business. Tris Dixon explores his extraordinary life story in this searing, insightful and often brutal exposé of one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.

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New Titles

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ISBN: 9781909715172Price: £12.99Format: 215 x 135mm pbkRights: WorldSeptember 2015256pp

Edmond Hood

EDMOND HOOD is a former racing cyclist who competed at the highest levels in Scotland during the 1970s and 80s. He writes about all aspects of cycle sport for the websites pezcyclingnews.com and veloveritas.co.uk and his work has been published in Cycling Weekly, Cycling Plus and Peloton magazines.

No Straight LinesThe Authorised Biography of Maurice Burton

The authorised biography of Britain’s first black professional cyclist and legend of the cycling world. With a Jamaican father and English mother, Maurice Burton stood out in races where often all the other competitors were white, and throughout his career he regularly encountered racism and intolerance. Despite these obstacles, Burton competed in the 1974 Commonwealth Games and went on to ride 56 ‘races to nowhere’, competing against the likes of the legendary Eddy Merckx to become a great of the six -day indoor circuit himself.

Neymar Jr & Neymar Sr

NEYMAR DA SILVA SANTOS JUNIOR is one of the most iconic players in football. From a childhood spent on the verge of poverty he was plucked from obscurity as an eleven year old by Santos FC, the club where Pelé made his name, and soon after making his first-team debut as a seventeen year old he rocketed to fame to become one of the brightest stars in world football.

Neymar: My StoryThe Official Autobiography of Neymar JrNEW EDITION

The official autobiography of Brazil and Barcelona superstar Neymar, one of the most iconic players in football, and the greatest name in modern-day Brazilian sport. But Neymar would not have become the player that he has without his father, Neymar Sr, who has been a steady and influential guide in his life and career. Neymar’s talent has always been astonishing, but it could have been lost had it not been carefully nurtured, developed and managed. This book reveals the making of one of the greatest and most iconic players on the planet as told by father and son, with exclusive insights into Neymar’s life and career.

ISBN: 9781909715325Price: £7.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbkRights: UK & Commonwealth ex. CanadaAugust 2015150pp

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CyclingHow to be a CyclistAn A–Z of Life on Two WheelsJohn Deering

Bradley WigginsTour de ForceJohn Deering

The Flying ScotsmanGraeme Obree

Va Va FroomeThe Remarkable Rise of Chris FroomeDavid Sharp

‘Prepare to have your wanderlust stoked . . . simply sublime’ – Herald

‘A pleasant balance of wit and wisdom, served up with some high production values and gorgeous photography’ – Podium Café

‘a rewarding read that ranks amongst the best on its subject’ – Cyclo

‘This is one of the best and moving sports books I have read’ – The Times

‘Hard-hitting and brutally honest’ – Cycling Weekly

‘This is a book that must have taken great courage to write . . . a harrowing reminder of how little the public know about sportsmen, no matter how brightly the spotlight shines on them’ – Guardian

‘fascinating … inspiring’ – Cycling Info

‘charts the Team Sky rider’s journey from mountain biking on the dirt roads of Kenya to standing atop the podium in Paris . . . fascinating’ – Herald

Format: 215 x 177mm hbkPrice: £12.99224pp

ISBN: 9781909715158Rights: WorldSeptember 2014

Format: 198 x 129mm pbkPrice: £7.99256pp16pp colour plates

ISBN: 9781780271293Rights: WorldMay 2013


ISBN: 9781909715110Rights: WorldJune 2014



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Football

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Pep ConfidentialThe Inside Story of Pep Guardiola’s First Season at Bayern MunichMartí Perarnau

Shocking BrazilSeven Games That Shook the World CupFernando Duarte

Published in association with BackPage Press

‘a must-read’ – Irish News

‘Best book I’ve read this year. Astonishing insights’ – Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph

‘A fascinating new study of Pep Guardiola’ – Telegraph

‘Duarte offers something unique: a rollicking account of the country’s World Cup history in English by an insider’ – Financial Times

‘immensely readable’ – Sunday Mirror

‘many writers have tried to capture what football means to Brazil – Duarte has got the closest’ – Metro


ISBN: 9781909715257Rights: UK English LanguageOctober 2014

Format: 234 x 156mm pbkPrice: £12.99240pp16pp colour & b/w plates

ISBN: 9781909715165Rights: World English LanguageJune 2014

The Secret AgentInside the World of the Football AgentAnonymous

‘stellar … exposes the truth about the life of football’s middle men’ – Daily Telegraph

Format: 234 x 156mm pbkPrice: £12.99256pp

ISBN: 9781909715240Rights: World English LanguageOctober 2014

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FootballDenis LawKing and CountryAlex Gordon

Fighting SpiritThe Autobiography of Fernando RicksenFernando Ricksen with Vincent de Vries

The Promised LandManchester United’s Historic TrebleDaniel Harris

‘He was my idol as a player’ – Sir Alex Ferguson

‘pacy and entertaining , there are countless anecdotes before a sledgehammer epilogue’ – Herald

‘There is tragedy and bravery and a spirit that’s hard to fathom’ – BBC Sport

‘a triumph of both process and prose . . . wry, witty and original . . . superb’ – ESPN

‘energetic and irreverent’ – Guardian

Format: 234 x 156mm hbkPrice: £17.99256pp16pp b/w plates

ISBN: 9781909715066Rights: WorldAugust 2013

Format: 234 x 156mm hbkPrice: £16.99488pp16pp colour plates

ISBN: 9781909715202Rights: World English languageMay 2014



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Rugby

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Behind the RosePlaying Rugby for EnglandStephen Jones and Nick Cain

Behind the LionsPlaying Rugby for the British & Irish LionsStephen Jones, Tom English, Nick Cain and David Barnes

White GoldEngland’s Journey to World Cup GloryPeter Burns

An official licensed product

‘A handsome new book . . . a historical treasure trove’ – Guardian

‘a superb book’ – ESPN Scrum

‘a riot of anecdote, inside track and genuine insights’ – The Rugby Paper

An official licensed product

‘A handsome new book . . . a historical treasure trove’ – Guardian

‘a superb book’ – ESPN Scrum

‘delves to the very heart of what it means to play for England . . . a must-have’ – Planet Rugby

‘a riot of anecdote, inside track and genuine insights’ – The Rugby Paper

‘fascinating’ – Rugby World

‘a super read’ – Stephen Jones, The Sunday Times

‘A fascinating analysis of one of British sport’s greatest triumphs’ – Tom English, BBC Sport

Format: 234 x 156mm hbkPrice: £25400ppColour and b/w throughout

ISBN: 9781909715196Rights: WorldNovember 2014

Format: 234 x 156mm hbkPrice: £19.99432pp32pp colour and b/w plates


Format: 234 x 156mm hbkPrice: £16.99 368pp32pp colour plates


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Golf

White GoldEngland’s Journey to World Cup GloryPeter Burns

Masters of MenRory McIlroy, Ken Venturi and Their Epic Journey from Augusta to BethesdaLiam Hayes

Jewel in the GlenGleneagles, Golf & the Ryder CupEd Hodge

‘Hayes has comprehensively done his homework, and it works well . . . McIlroy is box office’ – Irish Independent

‘stunning’ – Bunkered

‘engaging, polished, with wonderful photography … an informative and entertaining read’ – Herald

‘a beautiful history of Gleneagles’ – Scotland on Sunday

Format: 234 x 156mm hbkPrice: £16.99256pp16pp b/w plates

ISBN: 9781909715097Rights: World English languageNovember 2013

Format: 250 x 246mm hbkPrice: £25336ppColour throughout


PUBLISHERArena Sport is an imprint of Birlinn Limited, West Newington House, 10 Newington Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1QS; [email protected]

SALES DETAILSRIGHTSFor rights enquiries please contact Maria White at the Script Agency email: [email protected]; tel: +44 7866 713512

SALESCompass Independent Publishing Services Limited, GW Business CentreGreat West House, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9DTel: +44 (0)20 8326 5696; [email protected]

PUBLICITY & EVENTSJan Rutherford, Birlinn Ltd. [email protected]; tel: 0131 668 4371

ARENA S P O R T

Arena Presenter 2014 final.indd 8 16/03/2015 16:49

Documents

Arena Sport 2015 Catalogue