Biography Of FA Cup Winner Scoops William Hill Sports Book Award |
| World's richest sportsbook prize goes to TV presenter's biog of father: BIOGRAPHY OF FA CUP WINNER SCOOPS WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF YEAR AWARD.  The winner of the world's richest sporting literary prize, the 17th annual William Hill Sports Book of the Year - worth £20,000 to the winning author, has been announced as TV presenter Gary Imlach's 'My Father And Other Working Class Football Heroes', at a lunchtime ceremony hosted by broadcaster John Inverdale, on Monday, November 21 at Waterstone's in London's Piccadilly. The book features the story of Imlach's attempts to secure for his late father, Stewart - who played in the 1958 World Cup finals and was an FA Cup winner with Nottingham Forest in 1959 - the official cap from the Scottish FA to which Imlach believes he is entitled but which he never received and is still being refused. Six titles had been short-listed for the award, three with football themes, and one each about Boxing, Cycling and Rugby Union. The other titles were: 'Butcher' by Terry Butcher and Bob Harris (Highdown), the Motherwell manager and former England skipper's life story; 'Push Yourself Just A Little Bit More' by former Clash roadie, Johnny Green, (Orion),who takes a rock n roll look behind the scenes of the Tour de France; 'Engineering Archie' by Simon Inglis, (English Heritage), about Scottish designer and constructor of early football stadia Archibald Leitch; 'The Great White Hopes' by Graeme Kent (Sutton) which looks at the parade of white boxers put forward by boxing promoters desperate to end black fighter Jack Johnson's domination of the ring in the early 20th century; and Huw Richards' 'Dragons and All Blacks' (Mainstream) which deals with the history of clashes between Wales and New Zealand on the rugby pitch, including an in-depth study of the 1953 Welsh victory. Each of the shortlisted titles won its author a cheque for £1750 plus a £1000 free William Hill bet and a leather-bound copy of their book. The judging panel, chaired by founder of Sportspages bookshop, John Gaustad, consists of broadcasters and journalists, John Inverdale, Danny Kelly and Hugh McIlvanney plus William Hill media relations director, Graham Sharpe. Imlach is the first Scottish author to lift the award. It is his first book. Gary's prize includes £16,000 cash; a £2000 free bet from the bookmaker sponsors of the award, and a unique, specially commissioned, hand-bound copy of the winning volume. 'Gary's book is more than a standard biography - it is a journey back to a time when footballers earned not much more than the people who came to watch them and also lived alongside them in the same community. It is also an emotional examination of the relationship between writer and subject and is a thoroughly deserved winner in what I believe will be regarded as a vintage year for top class sports books on a variety of topics. This year's shortlist was extremely varied and packed with great writing.' said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe. Further information....Graham Sharpe..0780 3233702. EDITORS please note - interviews with winning author, sponsors, judges etc, available - please call. |
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