THE REAL MADRID

Pitch Publishing is a fantastic imprint – they do all the great Got, Not Gots and 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 aficianado 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, Bent Arms & Dodgy Wickets, 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 triathlon.

Andy Holgate, Can’t Swim, Can’t Ride, Can’t Run

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!

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

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

25 Oct

THE REAL MADRID

Working Class Heroes is much more than the story of a football club. This is the tale of a working-class neighbourhood, its people’s relationship with both their team and the outside world, and how they co-exist.

Founded in 1924, Rayo Vallecano recently achieved their highest ever position in La Liga, though shortly after this feat they were brought back down to earth with relegation to the second tier of Spanish football – an outcome wholly in keeping with the historical ups and downs of the club. Madrid is a city overwhelmed by the existence of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, though out in Vallecas, just a short metro ride from the city centre, Rayo Vallecano are the only team for the local people.

While they accept their role as Madrid’s third team, they wear their fandom like a badge of honour, and the bulk of the club’s fans pride themselves on being anti-fascist. Madrid's Forgotten Team is the story of a writer who followed los Franjirrojos around for a year, learning from the fans about the football club and its chequered past.

Full of atmosphere, characters and legendary stories, Working Class Heroes takes you on a journey into football history via the backstreets of Madrid:

Details protests against club ownership in typical Rayo Vallecano style
Details how Rayo Vallecano made international news when they rejected the signing of Ukrainian footballer and reported 'neo-Nazi' Roman Zozulya
Explains how the Bukaneros, Rayo's Ultras, feel about how they are viewed and their fight against modern football
Delves into Vallecas, a barrio in Madrid that has become known for radical left-wing thought both historically and in the present
Explains how former manager Paco Jemez led Rayo Vallecano to the best finish in their history on a shoe-string budget, with the help of his director of football Felipe Miñambres
Recalls the Ruiz-Mateos era of ownership of the club and ponders what is next under current owner Raul Martin Presa
Features interviews with the leading thinkers in Spanish football with help from Spanish historians, sociologists and writers
Profiles Rayo legend and current club captain Roberto Trashorras and the intense and divisive Paco Jemez

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Working Class Heroes.