SOUL BY JONATHAN HARDING - A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

So we have the exciting new book coming from Jonathan Harding, a companion piece to the immensely popular Mensch, this is Soul: Beyond the Athlete.

We pride ourselves on being honest here at Ockley Towers and we want to make a couple of things clear from the off to make sure everyone who wants one pre-Christmas gets a copy. Please, please, please don’t think this is sales bluster, this is us trying to make sure you get one if you want one.

Firstly for various reasons from supply to delivery, we have 500 coming pre-Christmas. We will, of course, have more in the new year but that is what we can get before the big day. We would like to have got more, three times that amount in truth, but it is what it is - 500 is the maximum.

They will land with us sometime before the 10th of December, probably well before in truth, so plenty of time for us to send out to all who order.

We expect it to be popular and we expect it to do well trade-wise who we will have to supply an amount to. What we are committed to is keeping enough so every retail customer who orders direct from us (obviously before stock runs out) gets one. What we’re saying is order early to avoid a chance of missing out.

Now lots of places say that, but we really mean it - if you order early from the stock we know we will have you will get one. If we sell out, we will have more in the new year but it’s likely to be late January.

We’re happy for you to order from Amazon and other retailers but, again, some honesty. The books will land with us, we will then send to them which takes a day or two. They will have to bring it into stock, which certain systems take longer to do than others, then they will be posted to you which takes a day or two.

There should be time for all that to happen, but it will be tight and we can only supply a certain amount to them. Again this isn’t rhetoric, it really is better to try and order from us if you can and you really want one quickly as we can get them out as soon as humanly possible to you from here.

Things will be normal in the new year and we suspect trade stock will be high everywhere by the end of January - we appreciate it’s easier for some to order from Amazon in certain situations etc - but we don’t want to disappoint anyone if possible.

Thanks for listening as always, hope you enjoy the book and have a good festive season!

Best,

Dave

COMING (VERY) SOON - BORUSSIA DORTMUND: A HISTORY IN BLACK AND YELLOW BY TERRY DUFFELEN

Coming soon, Borussia Dortmund: A history in black and yellow by Terry Duffelen.

From their humble beginnings to the present day, Die Schwarzgelben have always been at the forefront of German football.

This book details their journey and how they became the key destination for young talent in the world game. The triumphs are celebrated here as we tell the history of one of the most celebrated clubs in Europe. Names you know, origin stories you don’t, this book has them all.

Borussia Dortmund, a history in black and yellow, new from Ockley Books.

Terry Duffelen’s opus through the club he loves will be available to pre-order very, very soon…

IT'S CHRISTMAS

Hey, it’s Christmas, and for all the fun to be had it also means an incredible amount of stress and pressure for some.

We want to help a bit as we know how tough it is out there for lots of people. We’re not doing Black Friday this year, we’re doing this instead. We have some older stock, and we know some people simply can’t afford to buy everyone they want to a present this year.

So, detailed below are three books that might make the perfect present for someone, and if you’re genuinely struggling this year don’t worry. Email us on drh@ockleybooks.co.uk with the book you want and your address and we’ll send it to you free of charge.

You don’t have to use your real name, we won’t put you on any marketing list, and we promise we’ll never tell anyone. But if you’re feeling the pressure and one of these could help, then please just have one. We ask for two things in return - firstly you enjoy your Christmas, secondly one day if you get the chance to pay it forward and recommend us to someone we’d be very grateful.

So, the books:

Peter Legend: My Story, by Graham Fowles - The fictional autobiography of a cricketer who feels all too real

Football’s Flaws & Foibles by Richard Foster - Picking football apart one irritant at a time

The Special Ones by Mick Kinlan & Richard Bellis - Celebrate football’s greatest managers by colouring them in

Happy Christmas from us all at Ockley Books,

Dave

MENSCH BY JONATHAN HARDING: AMAZON & eBOOK ISSUES

Mensch by Jonathan Harding is now out and we’re very excited.

But…

We are aware it’s currently unavailable on Amazon and the issues this causes for those who wish to buy that way so we thought we better explain in a bit more detail.

It is coming, it will be available on all Amazons worldwide as per and in all the usual ways. The issue has been with Amazon themselves, we’re not the only publisher or retailer who has been waiting for them to load the product up, they have now dealt with the issue, we’ve done our bit (with a lot of help from the good people at Nielsen who have been similarly frustrated) to tell them it’s ours and where they can order them from us, we’d hope they’ll be up and running by early next week.

This issue their end has also caused the delay to the release of the eBook, it’s coming, it’s really good, we want you to read it asap, as soon as they put it live we will shout it from the rooftops we promise.

So in the meantime you can order from us and we ship worldwide, or wait if you want to order via Amazon and we will update this blogpost as soon as it’s on there.

So apologies, but in this instance it’s not us, it’s them, and we wanted you to know that as we’ve been pretty frustrated in truth.

Best,

Dave

ANNOUCING: MENSCH BY JONATHAN HARDING

"An eye-opener for anyone who thinks that coaching the game of football is about the game. It’s about the footballers“ - Uli Hesse

"A fascinating insight into the mindset of German coaches today. Harding explores what makes a great coach and explains why Germany produces so many of them. This book will benefit anyone interested in talent development - highly recommended!” - Ben Lyttleton

“Harding’s deep dive into the humanity at the heart of talent development in Germany leaves you feeling hugely optimistic for the future of football” - Raphael Honigstein

What sets modern German coaching apart? Jonathan Harding explores the reasons why German coaches are so successful, and what lies beyond the cones in dealing with player’s personalities.

Featuring interviews and insight from Hannes Wolf, Frank Wormuth, Daniel Niedzkowski, Lars Kornetka and many more, this is Mensch, coming soon from Ockley Books.

Jonathan Harding is a freelance sports journalist who specialises in German football. He writes predominantly for Deutsche Welle, but has also contributed to the likes of FourFourTwo, Rabona Magazine and 11 Freunde. Jonathan has lived in Germany since 2012.

THE GIGANTE: A TRAILER

THE CARD LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR

Steve Hill’s wonderful journey through a season doing The Card has been nominated for the 2018 William Hill Sports Book of the Year.

On a longlist of seventeen, The Card is Ockley’s first ever nomination. Managing Director David Hartrick said “we are delighted for Steve and so happy this brilliant book has the recognition it deserves!”

The Card is available here

COMING SOON - THE GIGANTE BY ROBERT ENDEACOTT

In 1957 John Charles was happy in Leeds and playing the game he loved in a team he considered friends. Then a fire and desperate need to raise funds saw his fate change and a move to Juventus brokered. Little did he know it at the time but the Gigante was about to rise.

This fictional retelling of the move to Italy and his first season in Turin charts a course through the games, the goals and family life as he adjusted to a world away from Elland Road. Written after extensive research and with input and the blessing of the Charles family, this book covers his first season with Juve. With highs and lows along the way, and his time on the pitch becoming his solace away from the new pressures the transfer created, this is The Gigante.

Full details and pre-order links will be released on Monday. We will be making press copies available and it will be on all formats. Excitingly we will also be selling some of Robert's back catalogue, details to follow.

COMING SOON - WANDERERS, ROVERS & RANGERS BY JOHN DUERDEN

NEW from Ockley Books, Wanderers, Rovers & Rangers by John Duerden, pre-order link and release details coming on Monday

Throughout history British coaches have made their presence felt across the world. From helping humble teams become the super clubs we know today to tactical innovations as the game grew nation by nation, the British had a huge hand in shaping football’s early global history.
 
In the modern age they are still to be found far from home but where once they were at the forefront they now walk some of the less travelled pathways. Even some of the highest profile footballers have found coaching careers that have taken them to places they may never have considered before and Tony Adams, Bryan Robson and the late Howard Kendall talk about their adventures as Wanderers, Rovers & Rangers, along with with many more as the book charts a course through the world of British coaches near, far and everywhere in between.
 
Hear about the coaches and managers who have dealt with outbreaks of Ebola in Africa during World cup qualification, earthquakes in Japan, dictatorial big club owners in Spain, match-fixing in Southeast Asia and prejudice about the British way of playing almost everywhere. Meet characters such as Bob Houghton, who took Malmo to the 1979 European Cup final, Tony Waiters, the former England goalkeeper who led Canada to their only World Cup in 1986, and Gary White, the young Englishman who gave Guam a first ever World Cup qualification win in 2015.
 
Wanderers, Rovers & Rangers tells the story of modern British coaches plying their trade worldwide and some of the incredible triumphs and disasters along the way. From the sublime to the ridiculous one thing becomes clear - football has never mattered more worldwide, and British coaches will continue to carve their own paths through the game.

NEW: BARNET AWAY by TOM WIDDICOMBE

NEW from Ockley Books, Barnet Away by Tom Widdicombe, a wander through one man's love affair with football and the effect it has on his relationships to those around him.

With contributions from Henry and Josh Widdicombe, Barnet Away is a charming look at football's power to shape our friendships and lives in ways we don't even realise. Centered around a single season and in particular a trip to Barnet (a), this book charts everything from life, love and Super Sixes.

On general sale from Thursday 8th March for just £9.99 (eBook details to follow), Barnet Away is the latest release from Ockley Books.

Contact us directly on drh@ockleybooks.co.uk for press enquires or review copies

NEW: WAS GRACE BETTER THAN BRADMAN?

New and available for pre-order from tomorrow, Was Grace Better Than Bradman?, a new way to look at Ashes Cricketers.

Full release details in the morning, we will have copies in good time for Christmas so get it on the list for Santa to bring you!

FOOTBALL'S FLAWS & FOIBLES - THE LAUNCH

This week the good people at Queen's Park Books helped us launch Richard Foster's new book Football's Flaws & Foibles with an event to celebrate its release. 

Despite the small matter of a Tottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid game happening just down the round the event was very well attended and a great success, huge thanks to everyone who came and to our brilliant hosts.

Richard Foster's Football's Flaws & Foibles is available now from Queen's Park Books and by clicking this sentence

THE OCKLEY BOOKS PODCAST: EPISODE SIX

Over six weeks, Daniel Storey - author of 'Portrait Of An Icon', a celebration of some of the football world's foremost individuals - will discuss a selection of his choices with David Hartrick and Chris Nee. 

In this third episode of the Portrait series they talk about David Beckham, was he iconic for his football or for everything else? Listen to find out...

Click here for iTunes link

'Portrait Of An Icon' by Daniel Storey will be available from Ockley Books on August 18th. Proceeds will be donated to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Portrait of an Icon: Shipping Update

Due to an unforeseen delay with the printing, Portrait of an Icon books will now start to be sent out from Tuesday 22nd August.

Due to overwhelming initial demand we added an extra 3,000 books onto the initial print run. We had hoped that this would not lead to any delay, but as the below statement from the printers confirms, that has happened:

Still, the good news is that we will be raising far more for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation than we ever thought possible, and we thank you both for your help in achieving that and also your continued patience.

THE OCKLEY BOOKS PODCAST: EPISODE FIVE

Over the next six weeks, Daniel Storey - author of 'Portrait Of An Icon', a celebration of some of the football world's foremost individuals - will discuss a selection of his choices with David Hartrick and Chris Nee.

In this second episode they talk about the career and life of Ronaldo, the "real" one, and what an exceptional player he truly was.

Click here for iTunes link

'Portrait Of An Icon' by Daniel Storey will be available from Ockley Books on August 18th. Proceeds will be donated to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

THE OCKLEY BOOKS PODCAST: EPISODE FOUR

Over the next six weeks, Daniel Storey - author of 'Portrait Of An Icon', a celebration of some of the football world's foremost individuals - will discuss a selection of his choices with David Hartrick and Chris Nee.

In this first episode, he talks about the career and life of Sir Bobby Robson, which I think is an exceptional place to start.

Click here for iTunes link

'Portrait Of An Icon' by Daniel Storey will be available from Ockley Books on August 18th. Proceeds will be donated to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

PORTRAIT OF AN ICON: AN UPDATE

So first the bad news for those of you looking to order; we have indeed sold all 1000 copies of Daniel Storey's Portrait of an Icon in aid of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. The demand has been overwhelming and we never expected to sell out so quickly. The link went live at 12 o'clock and twelve hours later here we are, all sold out.

So to the good news, we're going to get a second print run asap. We want to make as much as possible for The SBRF and knowing lots of you still want to order we're going to sort out some more stock just as soon as we can. We'll give you the details when we have them, it will be a finite number again but we hope to get things sorted within a day or two and let you know exactly when you can get hold of one - bear with us!

**UPDATE, 08.08.2017**

Okay, you ordered, we listened.

We have managed to organise 3000 more copies of Portrait of an Icon to go with the initial 1000 so hopefully nobody misses out. If we sell out of those we will gauge interest and possibly do more, but we can't guarantee that at this stage and again it would be a finite and probably final amount.

We're going to make The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation an awful lot of money between us so thank you for your interest, orders, help spreading the word, and generosity. The response has been amazing, you lot are incredible.

So at 12:30 today we go live with copies to sell again, this has caused a small delay on shipment but everyone who orders/has ordered will have a book before the end of the month.

Again, thank you, it's been an amazing few days.

COMING SOON: PORTRAIT OF AN ICON BY DANIEL STOREY

The wait is nearly over we promise: Portrait of an Icon by Daniel Storey is not far away. The book is going to be available exclusively via the Ockley Books website as a limited edition paperback run and the pre-order link will go live very soon.

With eight book-only Portraits (including Pelé, Arrigo Sacchi, Diego Maradona, and Pep Guardiola), a foreword by Jamie Carragher, and illustrations from the likes of Dan Leydon, Steve Welsh, Stan Chow and more, this really is a must have.

So to answer the three most obvious questions - why limited edition, why no eBook, and why only via the Ockley website? 

It's because we're producing this book in aid of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and by doing it as an exclusive we can give more back to the charity. We're hoping to raise as much as we possibly can for the SBRF and copies will go quickly. We ship worldwide and all orders will be posted within 24 hours.

More details to follow next week including that pre-order link, pricing, and launch date.

All enquires (including press requests) can be emailed to drh@ockleybooks.co.uk.

THE OCKLEY BOOKS PODCAST: EPISODE THREE

Episode Three of our podcast is live and it's the third of our Play-Off specials with Richard Foster. This week we, of course, talk Play-Offs but also a little about The Agony & The Ecstasy and answer the question of whether we will keep on updating the book till the 50th anniversary...

If you enjoy please leave us an iTunes review or share the pod with someone else, we're very grateful for your time and helping us spread the Ockley word!

Click here for Soundcloud link

Click here for iTunes link

You can buy The Agony & The Ecstasy by Richard Foster by clicking this sentence

THE OCKLEY BOOKS PODCAST: EPISODE TWO

This week's episode of the Ockley Books Podcast is now live and it's part two of Chris Nee's chat with author of The Agony & The Ecstasy, Richard Foster, about all things Play-Offs.

This week covers their origin in the 1980s, touches on some of their greatest moments, and goes some way to explaining why we love them so much.

If you enjoy please leave us an iTunes review or share the pod with someone else, we're very grateful for your time and helping us spread the Ockley word!

Click here for Soundcloud link

Click here for iTunes link

You can buy The Agony & The Ecstasy by Richard Foster by clicking this sentence