SWEEPER KEEPER BOOK LAUNCH AND SIGNINGS INFO

Pitch Publishing is a fantastic imprint.
They do all the great Got, Not Got series
and plenty of other retro sports titles.

James Brown, The Late Tackle, talkSPORT

Pitch Publishing show the way for enterprising
sports book publishers and remains a beacon
of hope for sports authors aspiring or established.

The Sports Bookshelf.com

Pitch Publishing, an outfit whose "pitch perfect"
commissioning of boxing material stands
as a rebuke to more established houses

Boxing Monthly

Pitch capture the real spirit of sport with entertaining
and clever ideas. They work out what the aficionado
would want to read, then deliver it with great verve.

Paul Hayward, The Daily Telegraph

Pitch have enabled me to write in the ways I enjoy most.
Their production support is superb, delivering eye-catching
designs, attentive proof-reading, energetic marketing and helpful advice.

Tim Quelch, Good Old Sussex by the Sea, Orient to the Emirates, Underdog!

Pitch are willing to back out-of-the-blue and innovative
ideas and turn them into viable, entertaining books.
They do so with great presentation and editorial flair.

Justin Parkinson, Then Came Massacre

Pitch saw the potential in my story, used their expertise
to polish it, published it and helped inspire thousands
around the world to get into the sport of triathlon.

Andy Holgate, Can’t Swim, Can’t Ride, Can’t Run & Can't Sleep, Can't Train, Can't Stop

The process of working with Pitch to produce Picking up the Threads
was enjoyable and rewarding, with the final edition surpassing
expectations and becoming a resounding success.

John Chandler, Picking up the Threads

Pitch will take a chance on books that other publishers won't
and realise that interest in football extends beyond the
Premier League and the top 20 countries in the FIFA rankings.

Steve Menary, Outcasts!

Pitch have the vision to look beyond the obvious,
seeking out interesting ideas and subjects and
matching them with the right target audience.

David Tossell, Tony Greig, The Great English Final, Grovel!, Natural

Pitch have been an absolute joy to work with,
contributing their passion, expertise, knowledge
and experience to help produce a brilliant book.

Sam Pilger, Ashes Match of My Life

Pitch took our original concept and further enhanced it,
using their knowledge, experience and expertise, and helped
make Got, Not Got one of the football books of the year for 2011.

Derek Hammond, Got, Not Got series of books

Pitch bought into the concept of development through football,
channeling profits and proceeds from Eleven into helping
some of the most disadvantaged young people in the world.

Steve Fleming, Eleven

In the highly competitive world of sport publishing,
Pitch have consistently demonstrated the happy
knack of spotting, nurturing and promoting winners.

Neil Dunkin, Anfield of Dreams

11 Mar

SWEEPER KEEPER BOOK LAUNCH AND SIGNINGS INFO

Peter Kenny Jones will be signing copies of his new book Sweeper Keeper at four signings across the north west in the coming weeks.

Sweeper Keeper is the compelling story of legendary goalkeeper Tommy Lawrence, one of the heroes of Bill Shankly's Liverpool, who has been called the first 'sweeper keeper'.

A chance interview with the BBC in 2015 made Tommy Lawrence a viral sensation. The one-in-a-million-chance meeting led to a heart-warming recollection of his playing days for Liverpool. Lawrence's story has a lot more to it than meets the eye. Known affectionately as 'the Flying Pig', the fabled goalkeeper led a roller-coaster life.

After moving to Warrington with his family as a child, Tommy became friendly with local brothers Peter and Roger Hunt. Lawrence and Roger Hunt went on to be mainstays of Shankly's Liverpool revolution, winning league titles and the club's first FA Cup.

The romance at Anfield ended abruptly, though, and there was no testimonial. From riches on the pitch to rags on the streets, Tommy's life story is told by those who knew him best - family, friends and former team-mates.

Peter is a football historian, writer and author, specialising in Merseyside football history. In this, his third book on the subject, contact with ex-Liverpool players and family members of Tommy Lawrence has given him special insight into a unique character in Liverpool's football history.

He will be holding a media day a stone’s throw from Anfield at The Sandon on 25 March at noon. Tommy's 1965 FA Cup Final shirt will be displayed alongside the new book on its release day, while some of Tommy's former teammates, his family and George Sephton, Anfield’s stadium announcer, will join the author, with the media invited to speak to those attending and get an exclusive first look at Peter’s new book. If you wish to attend please confirm your interest via info@pitchpublishing.co.uk.

On Saturday 30 March, on Easter Saturday, the day before the Reds face Brighton at Anfield, there will be a signing at Pritchards Book Shop in Crosby from noon.

On Friday 5 April the official launch will take place at The Church at 7pm. Tickets are available here, with all money raised going to the Spirit of Shankly's Former Player Fund, which provides financial support for former Liverpool players who are in need of help in many different ways.

Former teammates of Tommy, family, friends and the author will be gathered for a book launch which is a celebration of Tommy's story. The event, which will also include live music, will be hosted by Empire of the Kop's Farrell Keeling and a raffle which will raise further funds for a worthwhile charity.

On the Tuesday 9 April Peter will be at Waterstones at Liverpool One from 6.30pm: reading an extract of the book, answering questions and signing copies. Tickets are available from the Waterstones website.

The final signing event will take place on Friday 12 April at the Pack Horse in Culcheth (Warrington), the pub Tommy used to be a regular, a key place in the book and a place he spent much of his life.

Again the event will raise money for Spirit of Shankly's Former Player Fund and tickets are available here.