61 - The Spurs Double
(Vision Sports Publishing, 2010)
Endorsed by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and with a foreword by the legendary Cliff Jones, who played in the historic Double team, this is a lavish souvenir book produced to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the achievement of the first modern domestic Double of League and FA Cup. The book has over 215 pages, comes in a hardback cloth case and is in coffee-table format. In May 2011 it was voted Illustrated Sports Book of the Year by a panel of industry judges in the National Sporting Club's annual book awards.
The book includes the match-by-match story of the season, with newspaper clippings from the time on every game. Each player is profiled in depth and there are several specially-written features outlining the significance of the achievement, how the team was built and the philosophy which led the team to be dubbed ‘the team of the century’. There is a moving, exclusive personal view of the Double team written by renowned sports writer Julie Welch, plus an essay on ‘The Bill Nicholson I Knew’ by THFC communications officer John Fenelly, who worked with the great manager for many years.
The book also features a wealth of pictorial material, much of which has rarely been seen before. This ranges from memorabilia from the players, their families and the fans to extensive photographic essays on the club and, for the first time in a single publication, a wealth of rare colour pictures from that historic season.
I wrote the book alongside long-time colleague and Spurs fan Adam Powley, with significant contributions from Julie Welch. The design and picture research is by award-winning graphic designer and Spurs fan Doug Cheeseman, who made his name as founding art editor of When Saturday Comes magazine and has an extensive portfolio of high-quality books to his name.
61 – The Spurs Double is available from VSP, Tottenham Hotspur and all good bookshops.
What they’re saying about 61 – The Spurs Double
“A wonderful 50th anniversary book. It ranks with the very best Spurs books. It just captures the atmosphere of what that period was all about… really very special.” Cliff Jones, who ran the wing in the Double team
"Brilliant, worth every penny… they don't make books like this any more." Paul Hawksbee, The Hawksbee & Jacobs Show, Talksport
"A stunning book… lovingly compiled and coherently put together with the quality of writing a match for the wonderful pictures and reproductions alongside." Sporting Life
"The memory of that team is well-served by this handsome tribute, elegantly presented." Simon Redfern, Independent on Sunday
“Had some family and friends over and they all loved it.” Rob White, son of Double team legend the late John White
“I’ve read hundreds of football books and this tops them all. As I turned the pages it brought vividly to life that glorious year. I could hear the crowd cheering, the Mackay tackles flying in, Bobby Smith banging in the goals.” Paul Trevillion, acclaimed cartoonist and creator of You Are The Ref
"Adam and Martin are the Chivers and Gilzean of Spurs books.” Author and Spurs fan Paolo Hewitt
"A treasure-trove of stories, pictures and memories. Quite superb.” Radio London
“The Double team were the best club side I’ve seen in 50 years. This book is essential reading for fans who weren’t around to cheer them from the terraces.” Spurs ‘superfan’ Morris Keston
"Superb - it really is quite special." Phil Cornwell
"The best book about Spurs, wonderful. It's a real labour of love." Mike Leigh, The Spurs Show podcast
Endorsed by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and with a foreword by the legendary Cliff Jones, who played in the historic Double team, this is a lavish souvenir book produced to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the achievement of the first modern domestic Double of League and FA Cup. The book has over 215 pages, comes in a hardback cloth case and is in coffee-table format. In May 2011 it was voted Illustrated Sports Book of the Year by a panel of industry judges in the National Sporting Club's annual book awards.
The book includes the match-by-match story of the season, with newspaper clippings from the time on every game. Each player is profiled in depth and there are several specially-written features outlining the significance of the achievement, how the team was built and the philosophy which led the team to be dubbed ‘the team of the century’. There is a moving, exclusive personal view of the Double team written by renowned sports writer Julie Welch, plus an essay on ‘The Bill Nicholson I Knew’ by THFC communications officer John Fenelly, who worked with the great manager for many years.
The book also features a wealth of pictorial material, much of which has rarely been seen before. This ranges from memorabilia from the players, their families and the fans to extensive photographic essays on the club and, for the first time in a single publication, a wealth of rare colour pictures from that historic season.
I wrote the book alongside long-time colleague and Spurs fan Adam Powley, with significant contributions from Julie Welch. The design and picture research is by award-winning graphic designer and Spurs fan Doug Cheeseman, who made his name as founding art editor of When Saturday Comes magazine and has an extensive portfolio of high-quality books to his name.
61 – The Spurs Double is available from VSP, Tottenham Hotspur and all good bookshops.
What they’re saying about 61 – The Spurs Double
“A wonderful 50th anniversary book. It ranks with the very best Spurs books. It just captures the atmosphere of what that period was all about… really very special.” Cliff Jones, who ran the wing in the Double team
"Brilliant, worth every penny… they don't make books like this any more." Paul Hawksbee, The Hawksbee & Jacobs Show, Talksport
"A stunning book… lovingly compiled and coherently put together with the quality of writing a match for the wonderful pictures and reproductions alongside." Sporting Life
"The memory of that team is well-served by this handsome tribute, elegantly presented." Simon Redfern, Independent on Sunday
“Had some family and friends over and they all loved it.” Rob White, son of Double team legend the late John White
“I’ve read hundreds of football books and this tops them all. As I turned the pages it brought vividly to life that glorious year. I could hear the crowd cheering, the Mackay tackles flying in, Bobby Smith banging in the goals.” Paul Trevillion, acclaimed cartoonist and creator of You Are The Ref
"Adam and Martin are the Chivers and Gilzean of Spurs books.” Author and Spurs fan Paolo Hewitt
"A treasure-trove of stories, pictures and memories. Quite superb.” Radio London
“The Double team were the best club side I’ve seen in 50 years. This book is essential reading for fans who weren’t around to cheer them from the terraces.” Spurs ‘superfan’ Morris Keston
"Superb - it really is quite special." Phil Cornwell
"The best book about Spurs, wonderful. It's a real labour of love." Mike Leigh, The Spurs Show podcast
Praise from Radio London's Evening Sports Show for 61 – The Spurs Double
BBC Radio London ran an interview with co-author Adam Powley on its Wednesday night sports show in which presenter Nick Godwin lavished priase on the book. Adam was also able to explain how the book came about. You can listen to the excerpt, which the BBC have kindly let us have, by clicking the button at the bottom of the media player on the left and starting from the bottom item.
BBC Radio London ran an interview with co-author Adam Powley on its Wednesday night sports show in which presenter Nick Godwin lavished priase on the book. Adam was also able to explain how the book came about. You can listen to the excerpt, which the BBC have kindly let us have, by clicking the button at the bottom of the media player on the left and starting from the bottom item.