40 days to go to the 2022 World Cup, and 40 days until we unleash our World Cup book offerings.
First, there's the Encyclopedia of Socceroos Centenary Edition 1922 to 2022. At approximately 440 pages, it's an even bigger version than the original in 2018. It is updated to include every player who has played for Australia, whether in an A or non-A international, plus some fantastic new charts and updated data from football's number one numbers man, Andrew Howe. Order it now, as stocks will be limited.
Second, there is a memoir from Michael Renouf entitled My Incredible World Cup Journey - Around the Globe from Argentina to Brazil which traces Michael's first World Cup in 1978, watched on a small black and white TV, through to his attending the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Throughout that time, he has been hoping forlornly for his native England to 'bring home the bacon' so to speak. Will 2022 be the year?
Next, there are two terrific novels to pass the time away on the flight if you're one of those heading to Doha for the 2022 World Cup - or if you're looking for something to do between games while you're in Doha!
- Our latest novel, The Gaffer, by P.J. Laverty, is a charming and hilarious tale of Thomas 'Tam the Bam' Bamford, the most reviled man on the Isle of Guff who comes into a small fortune and buys the local football team and becomes their gaffer. Sounds like a recipe for success??
- Plus there is the novel we released in July - the political thriller Game by J.J. Rose, based around the pursuit of the 2022 World Cup and the competing interests of big money - whether from nation states or corporate interests. Unsurprisingly, all parties will do 'whatever it takes' to win the right to host the tournament.
Speaking of which, finally there is the real-life non-fiction Whatever It Takes - the Inside Story of the FIFA Way by Bonita Mersiades from 2018 which has lost none of its currency as we head towards kick-off in Doha. It was not only the first, but still the only, insider account of the bidding process for the 2022 World Cup. It has been translated into Arabic, French and German, and is the focus of a new documentary to be released in 16 countries in November, as well as other documentaries in the US, the UK and Germany.