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

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The Smell of Football II

The Smell of Football II

Subtitle:: The Next Eleven Years (and Ten Teams)
By:: Mick Rathbone
Price:: £14.99
Out:: 29th September 2025
ISBN:: 9781836800422
Format:: Paperback
Size:: 198 x 129
Pages:: 288

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Description

The searingly honest and unputdownable sequel to the award-winning The Smell of Football. In this engrossing and moving but often hilarious memoir, Mick ‘Baz’ Rathbone picks up from where his acclaimed debut tome left off. There are great stories of the likes of David Moyes, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton and the late, great Ray Clemence.

Click here to listen to Mick Rathbone on BBC Radio West Midlands

Click here to watch Mick Rathbone on the Royal Blue podcast

About the author

Mick ‘Baz’ Rathbone has a unique perspective on professional football having been a player, manager and physio. As a no-nonsense full-back, between 1975 and 1995 he turned out for Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End and Halifax Town. His highly acclaimed debut book, The Smell of Football (2011), was an unflinchingly honest account of football’s less glamorous side and his struggles with confidence as a young player.

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