Football Book Club

This week we're reading Arsenal's Invincibles hero, former Germany number 1 and genuine madman, Jens Lehmann's poorly translated book 'The Madness Is On The Pitch'. Featuring Jens on Emmanuel Eboué, his heated rivalry with Oliver Kahn, and the not very tranquil way he's decided to spend his retirement. Plus James's dad's famous new referee friend, why British plugs are the best, and an extra special dramatic reading from Gunnerblog...

With great nervousness, we're venturing into the Alan Brazil multiverse once again. And joining us to do so, we welcome back Three Bean Salad & Beef and Dairy Network's very own Alan Brazil expert, Ben Partridge.

This time we're reading Alan's second book, 2008's 'Both Barrels From Brazil: My War On The Numpties' - written with his Talksport partner-in-crime Mike 'Porky' Parry. A collection of essays, loosely about football,...

James Boughen takes over hosting duties this week, as he 'treats' us to - quite possibly - the dullest book ever written. Liverpool and Finland legend Sami Hyypiä's forgettable 2002 book 'From Voikkaa to the Premiership'.

Featuring Sami listening to rock music with Markus Babbel, his fledgling film career, lots of stuff about rye bread, run-ins with Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and why we ALL need to be careful when 'Hot Hyypiä' comes o...

Ninety books in and we *may* have found the greatest, most sinister, and downright bonkers autobiography yet - as we read former Leeds, Newcastle and England hero David Batty's incredible 2001 book 'My Autobiography'. And reading it with us is The Independent's very own tactical mastermind & Newcastle superfan, the brilliant Adam Clery.

Featuring David's childhood love of the Yorkshire Ripper, his extremely unhealthy relatio...

Rio Ferdinand - premier league winner, England legend and, to our knowledge, the only footballer to ever release an autobiography with a hashtag in its title.

This week we're reading his 2014 classic '#2Sides', featuring Rio on Fergie, racism, nice hats and why footballers should be able to eat as many chips as they like. Plus Rio's dressing room playlist, Harry Redknapp's incredibly lazy foreword, and the time P Diddy came to v...

Sex, more sex, and *just a little bit* of football. This week we're reading ex-Newcastle United hero Mick Quinn's romp of a read (quite literally) 'Who Ate All The Pies', featuring Football Clichés and The England Pod's very own David Walker.

Including Mick's heroics at Newcastle, falling out with Kevin Keegan, high speed pulling on a motorway AND a TGI Friday's in Coventry, Mick's second career as a racehorse trainer, and very...

It's (almost) Christmas! And as it's a time for giving, James has generously gifted each member of the Book Club FIVE WHOLE POUNDS to spend on the best, worst or downright weirdest football book they can find at a charity shop.

Featuring bizarrely drawn Liverpool legends, Tony Cascarino's unfortunate Boxing Day, a mysterious Christmas card, and we find out the Alan Shearer we *think* we know is actually an imposter..

Plus not...

This week on FBC Classics, we're heading back to our Series 2 opener, where we read Jerzy Dudek's incredibly titled 'A Big Pole In Our Goal', and found out about Jerzy's charmed life when it comes to cheating death by brick, boiling coffee, goose scares and almost drowning while fishing for cuttlefish in a mine.

To listen to the full episode, scroll back in your feeds to Series 2 Episode 1 'Jerzy Dudek's 'A Big Pole In Our Goal'...

This week we're reading Leicester legend and all-round 90s hero, Muzzy Izzet's 2015 classic 'Muzzy: My Story'. And it's everything we dreamed it would be.

Featuring Martin O'Neill: Amateur Masseur, Muzzy watching Eight Legged Freaks at the 2002 World Cup, pure hatred towards Tim Sherwood and the wider Middlesbrough area, and Nicky Summerbee's disappointing choice of nickname. Plus Jesy Nelson, Supernanny and - frankly - far too ...

David Ginola might be best known for his mazy dribbles and luscious, L'Oreal infused locks, but did you know he once successfully raised the dead? Probably not! But that's what we found out when the brilliant comedian Rhys James joined us to read his Spurs hero's 2000 autobiography 'Le Magnifique'.

To listen to the full episode, scroll back in your feeds to Series 5 Episode 3 'David Ginola's 'Le Magnifique' (ft. Rhys James). See...

This week we're entering the mad, mad world of larger-than-life football league legend, Barry Fry. As we read his classic 2000 autobiography 'Big Fry' with Jack Rivlin & Zachary Sweeney-Lynch of the brilliant The Upshot podcast.

Featuring Barry's many run-ins with extremely dodgy chairmen, lifting a curse on St Andrew's with his own urine, signing George Best for Dunstable, identifying a headless corpse, ruining Karren Brady...

After Luke Chadwick joined us last week, we're sticking with the Manchester United theme by revisiting the time we read Gary & Phil Neville's jointly-written 'For Club & Country'. The highlight of which was their *genuine* trip to the cinema with Sir Alex Ferguson to watch Spiceworld: The Movie. Plus the Man United dressing room ponder over whether Princess Diana was the best looking woman in the world.

To listen to the ...

Ex-Manchester United, West Ham & MK Dons hero Luke Chadwick joins us this week to tell us all about his brilliant autobiography 'Not Just A Pretty Face'. Featuring Luke on life under Sir Alex, terrifying Man United initiations, Roy Keane the mentor, getting addicted to Big Brother 2, and Lee Croft's insane theories. Plus Luke opens up about the chants he faced, and the mental health issues he experienced, after being taunted on...

As it's spooky season, here's a late Halloween present courtesy of Ivo Graham and Neil Redfearn. As Neil tells us all about his latest controversial signing in the transfer market.

This clip is taken from Series 3 Episode 3 'Neil Redfearn's 'There's Only One Neil Redfearn (ft. Ivo Graham)', which you can listen to in full by scrolling back through the Football Book Club podcast feed. See you next Monday as we welcome Luke Chadwi...

For one week only Football Book Club becomes Football Quiz Club! As FBC face Joe and Theo from the brilliant Career We Go podcast in a battle over our old friend Gary Lineker's 96/97 Soccer Quiz Book. Featuring extremely dated rounds on all things 1996/97, Famous Garys, You're the Ref, Real Book Fake Book and, of course, quickfire Barry Venison Bonanza. Who will come out victorious? Find out now...

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With Maisie Adam currently on Taskmaster and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink currently tangoing his way across the Strictly dancefloor, what better time to revisit our episode featuring both of them? Back in 2021, Maisie brought us her Leeds hero's autobiography, only to find a manifesto on soft porn and chips with vinegar, and discovered the perils of opening Jimmy's book on the set of A League Of Their Own.

This clip is taken from Ser...

The Taskmaster's Assistant himself, Liverpool fan Little Alex Horne joins us to read Wales legend Ian Rush’s 2009 *epic* 'Rush: The Autobiography'. Featuring Ian's short-lived phase dressing up as David Bowie, 'surreal banter' with Mark Lawrenson, footballers with Mr Men names, joy at Liverpool, struggles in Italy, a dramatic reading where Ian attacks Kenny Dalglish's wife with a scone, and why Ian thinks the game's gone. But only ...

The brilliant journalist, Spanish football expert & Sunday Times bestselling author Guillem Balagué is back on Book Club! And this time he's here to discuss his brilliant new biography 'Rise of the Villans: Inside Unai Emery's Aston Villa Revolution' (out now via Orion Publishing). Including Guillem on Unai the disruptor, trademarking the words 'good ebening', and exactly how much Jhon Duran is too much Jhon Duran. Plus we get ...

This week the Book Club are reading 'Take Note!' - the 2010 autobiography by James's favourite ever player, Spurs, Portsmouth & England legend Darren Anderton. Featuring an unhinged foreword by Terry Venables, arguments over the phone with Alan Sugar, Gazza the wise sage, Darren's *many* holidays to America, the truth behind his injury record, and the most disgusting prank we've ever encountered courtesy of Steve Sedgley. Plus ...