STUDS-UP SAINTS

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

02 Sep

STUDS-UP SAINTS

From flying head-butts and flying tackles, to flying ashtrays and flying referees, Saints and Sinners is a frightening run-down of some of the hardest players ever to pull on a Southampton shirt - and their on- and off-field exploits which gave them such notoriety.

During more than twenty years of covering the club's fortunes, author Graham Hiley has amassed a wealth of anecdotes from some of the toughest men to represent Saints; including the likes of midfield enforcer Jimmy Case, uncompromising defender Neil Ruddock, serial red-card offender Francis Benali, Mark 'Psycho' Dennis... and many more.

Saints and Sinners features 26 star interviews in 24 chapters. Open if you dare...

Claus Lundekvam talks openly and honestly about his battle with drink and drugs and tells how close he came to committing suicide.
Alan Shearer’s illustrious career nearly ended before it began as a drunken prank went horribly wrong. He and Neil Ruddock tell how the striker’s toes were left hanging by a thread.
Mark Dennis knows he is lucky to be alive after being stabbed twice. “Psycho” looks back at his colourful life on and off the field.
Without doubt the hardest man to pull on a Saints shirt was Jimmy Case. The “silent assassin” reveals some of the tricks of the trade.
Like father, like son-in-law! Brian O’Neil and David Prutton both reflect on collecting then record bans with O’Neil also reliving a series of hilarious alcohol-related incidents.
They say you have to be crazy to be a goalkeeper – John Burridge was sectioned! He talks about his depression after hanging up his boots at the end of an extrovert playing career.
A goodwill visit to Jersey turned sour as Terry Hurlock and David Speedie had a bar brawl. Micky Adams tells how he tried to break it up – and ended up in the cells himself.
Bruce Grobbelaar gives his version of the infamous “match-fixing” trial. There are also interviews with Terry Hurlock, James Beattie, Rickie Lambert, Iain Dowie and many more.

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Saints and Sinners.

Graham Hiley is the author of the Saints Miscellany and Saints: On This Day. He also co-wrote Matthew Le Tissier's autobiography Taking Le Tiss. He covered Saints for the Southern Daily Echo for 13 years before joining the club as managing editor of the website and matchday programme. He then took over as editor of the official Premier League website and now lectures in sports journalism at Southampton Solent University.