LANE CLOSURE

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

14 Nov

LANE CLOSURE

Glory, Glory Lane is the life-affirming history – including a momentous last season – of a world-famous football stadium, home to Tottenham Hotspur for 118 years. A Victorian structure turned wraparound 21st-century all-seater, it became a theatre of dreams for supporters – from English working class to multi-cultural and new-money – all attracted by teams which played the ‘Spurs way’ to achieve glory.

The Lane gave a stage to a conveyor belt of legends from John Cameron to Dele Alli via Peter McWilliam, Arthur Rowe Bill Nicholson, Arthur Grimsdell, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Jimmy Greaves, Glenn Hoddle, Ossie Ardiles, Jurgen Klinsmann, Ledley King and Gareth Bale. It provided unforgettable memories in unforgettable atmospheres – heart-lifting, heart-breaking, nerve-racking. Its story veers from founders obsessed by Harry Hotspur to Harry Kane by way of Harry Redknapp.

It’s hard to imagine how a new £800m stadium can ever replace the edifice which shut its gates for the last time on Sunday, 14th May 2017, after a victory over Manchester United, having created a daunting legacy.

Glory, Glory Lane is a huge, colourful book packed with photographs and a text which brings alive the big matches, the big goals, the big personalities and the big issues experienced in an iconic stadium built on the site of a former market garden. Written through the eyes of an author whose family have supported the club for the last eight decades. With journalistic objectivity balanced by passion and first-hand experience.

It includes:

Forewords supplied by Double winner Terry Dyson and UEFA and League Cup-winning captain Alan Mullery. An appendix which includes a Firsts, Lasts & Onlys section, uncovering fascinating facts, stats and 100 greatest moments
Reflections and insights from players and managers of their public and behind-the-scenes experiences at the Lane
The memories of fans – many pictured – drenched in emotion during their rollercoaster rides as Lane loyalists. The agony and ecstasy of cup and title wins, promotion, relegation, the heroes, the exit of heroes and threatened moves out of N17
The tears of joy and laughter of the European Glory, Glory Nights when supporters celebrated lifting continental silverware and dressed up as angels
The tears of sadness and shock through near tragedy when Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the hallowed turf and Michael Watson almost lost his life during a world boxing title fight at the ground

We read how the great managers in the Lane dugout such as John Cameron, Peter McWilliam, Arthur Rowe, Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw built their reputations. How the community responded to the progress of a club formed by a bunch of schoolboys in Victorian England and went on to achieve global status during its tenure at the stadium.

Decade by decade, we discover how the Spurs faithful see their favourites:

Win a title in their first season at the venue built by architect Archibald Leitch. And developed by him and others
Produce a campaign which leads to an historic FA Cup triumph with Spurs still a non-league club – it remains the only one to do so – in the second
Complete promotion at the first attempt after joining the Football League, manufacture gasmasks for the First World War effort and lose their top-flight status to Arsenal following the machinations of a controversial figure at the Gunners (a tale excellently illustrated by Robert Heeg)
Secure promotion and their second FA Cup, under McWilliam, and suffer another relegation in the Roaring Twenties. Experience promotion, relegation and Nazi salutes in the Thirties before Arthur Rowe’s Push and Run, promotion and back-to-back championships
Savour Bill Nicholson’s most glorious era. Endure the hooligans. Celebrate the Argentines. See the development of commerce. Look on during the Sugar-Venables saga. Revel in the emergence of Gareth Bale. Delight in the last trophy won while occupying the High Road ground. Learn of plans to build a new stadium. Enjoy Champions League. Get excited with the progress of Mauricio Pochettino, Harry Kane and Dele Alli. Appreciate the potential shown in the ‘goodbye’ season and choke up at The Finale. Consider the future. And more

Glory, Glory Lane also breathes life into the world-famous home of the Spurs thanks to exclusive interviews by the author with legends such as Terry Dyson, Alan Mullery, Jimmy Greaves, Darren Anderton, Cliff Jones, and many more.

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Glory, Glory Lane.