Jose Mourinho accepted England job "Talking Sports Books" The Best Of

Welcome back to the new edition of the show and coming up we head back to the 1980's when the goundworks were underway for the biggest changes in the history of football as the balance of power began its shift from to associations to the tv companies when the era of commercialism really got underway. Set against a backdrop of economic recession, rampant hooliganism and suspect fashion, Go To War tells the story of how triumph and tragedy shaped English football during the 1980s. It was a decade in which some fans died watching the game they loved, and at times, the ‘slum sport’ seemed set to implode. Yet, remarkably, the game was on the cusp of morphing into the behemoth it has become today. Throughout this explosive book, author Jon Spurling delves into the stories behind the successes and strife at clubs including Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal, investigates the trials and tribulations of the England team and explores how ‘small-town boys’ from Luton, Watford and Wimbledon made their mark. The decade also heralded the arrival of artificial pitches and fanzines, and Spurling introduces us to the new breed of high-profile executives, like Irving Scholar and Martin Edwards, who soon got busy changing the face of football. Thirty years in the making, Go To War draws heavily on interviews conducted with ’80s icons including Terry Butcher, Graeme Sharp and Ray Wilkins, managerial legends like Howard Kendall and Bobby Robson and FA Cup heroes Ricky Villa and Norman Whiteside. Like its precursor, the bestselling Get It On: How the ’70s Rocked Football, Go To War provides a unique insight into a pivotal footballing decade.

On this edition of the show I am joined by David Pleat to look back at his 6 decade life in Football as chronicled in his new book "Just One More Goal". We look at how his playing career began including a memorable England schoolboys debut and on through a playing career which was cut short due to injury before he took on his first managerial role at Nuneaton, following on from that we journey with David through times with Luton Town, Sheff Wed's Leicester and a lengthy association with Tottenham Hotspur. Think back as well to the players David has worked with over the years from Hoddle to Di Canio, and finding raw talent and nuturing including the moment he saw a 16 year old Dele Ali .

Andy Bollen joins me on this edition to delve into football's most fiercely contested matches in "Classic Derbies and Epic Rivalries" Andy Bollen explores the history, tradition and violent nature of football's biggest clashes. In unravelling the history of these infamous feuds, Bollen gets to the crux of each conflict, exploring why the fans dislike each other so vehemently. Football is often a search for political identity, as in Spain's El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, while in Buenos Aires' Superclásico, it's poverty and privilege at the heart of the rivalry between working-class Boca Juniors and bourgeois River Plate. Whether it's the Cairo derby with Al Ahly and Zamalek, the Croatian chaos of Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split or Turkey's Intercontinental derby with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, these clashes are a potent mix of fanatical zealot, political rally and crazed ultras preparing for war. Showcasing and detailing football's great games, names and most memorable moments, Bollen has penned an important work on classic derbies and epic rivalries.

On this show we are joined by former WBC LM World Champion Maurice Hope to talk about his new book "Land of Hope and Glory" which looks back on his life from humble beginnings in Antigua to competing in the Munich 72 Olympic Games, winning a World Title, becoming an MBE and having a private audience with Queen Elizabeth.

It was a time when football was a television luxury the BBC had MOTD and that was it you were allowed the FA Cup Final a few home internationals and the World Cup and that was your lot, until ITV unveiled "The Big Match" with Brian Moore and football in the ITV regions was born and along with it some iconic broadcasters including Brian Moore , Hugh Johns, Gerald Sinstadt, Gerry Harrison, Martin Tyler and Roger Malone. So Brian Moore literally did save our Sundays and this is the story of that time with Matt Eastly the author of the book.

Welcome back to the "Talking Sports Books" show and coming up in this edition we are joined by Sky Sports Boxing commentator Andy Clarke to talk about his new book "The Knockout" which looks in depth at sport's most decisive moment the book features comment from Deontay Wilder, Carl Froch, Tony Bellew, Ricky Hatton . The book looks at the effects of "The Knockout" on those who deliver the moment those who suffer receiving it and the role of referees, coaches and trainers.

More from the "Best of Talking Sports Books" the fist 50 editions. In this clip we talk to George Sephton the "Voice of Anfield "about how he came to get the job as Anfield stadium announcer for Liverpool FC and some of his early memories and the affection in which he is held by the club and in particular Kenny Dalglish. George's book "My 50 Years with Liverpool FC " is available now and you can hear the full edition of the show with George on any streaming provider's platform or the website www.talkingsportsbooks.com

In this edition of the show we will be going back to the European Championships of 1988 with author Steven Scragg who will release his new book detailing the tournament the matches the players and the coaches. Also we will hear from the producer of "Test Match Special " for over 30 years Peter Baxter about the early days of commentary and broadcasting legends , Arlott Johnston and Blofeldt.

From the best of "Talking Sports Books" where we look back at some of the great stories told over the first 50 editions of the show, in this extract former BBC Radio Head Football Correspondent Mike Ingham remembers his early days and dealing with Brian Clough at Derby County . To listen to the full feature with Mike head to the website or stream from any streaming provider

From the "Best of Talking Sports Books" In this extract from "I'm With The Cosmos" Steve Hunt who left Aston Villa aged just 20 to team up with some of the greatest players ever to play the game including the greatest of them all Pele. Steve remembers what it was like for a precocious young talent in the spotlight of the worlds media and how ignoring Pele's advice wasn't a good idea and neither was it a good idea to tell Chinaglia what he thought of him. Great tales and you can listen to the full edition on the website or stream it from wherever you stream your podcasts.