Whilst it's the off season... I've decided to get my reading glasses out and
I'm just looking for some recommendation's for a good book based around Rugby League. So far I've only read "Rugby League, The Family Game" and loved it. I've Seen 2 books on the rlfans store. One of which is called "one winter" but there doesn't seem to be any reviews so has anyone on here read this? Or got anything they'd recommend?

Barrie McDermott's will take you an afternoon. And like most RL auto/biographies it's "in this match this happened, in that match that happened". Ok if you like that sort of thing....

Mud, Blood and Glory is a good one

ive read 3 over summer....that was a bore fest imo.

terry newtons is a cant put down book....sean longs was ok.
only read those 3 bios, but looking to read jason robinson (which i have), defo want to read Westys when it comes out, and looking at other possibles..notable kris radlinski..........any recommendations anyone?

who's that by?

Neil Hanson

It's the story of Wigan's 1990-91 season.

One Winter is a fictional story with occasional references to RL more than anything else.

"1895 and all that" is quite a good 'un if you like the history side of things.

Best years of our lives is superb! It tells of Wigans rise from 2nd division through to Superleague. It's by Paul Wilson who was a sports journalist for the Wigan Evening Post and used to write the 'Doug Stand' column in the match programmes at Central Park. Its a must read for any Wigan fan!!

Not long finished reading Radlinski's one - pretty decent on the whole, a good look at how the club and game has changed over the past decade or two rather than one which dishes all sorts of dirt or just reels off the "this match, that match" thing.

Worth looking for the paperback on Amazon; every time I've seen it up town it's been the hardback edition at full price, which is something daft like £18.

Theres a good range here www.rlshop.co.uk/shop/products/gifts/books/ I've just ordered From Hawera to Wigan: A Life in Rugby League

Theres a good range here www.rlshop.co.uk/shop/products/gifts/books/ I've just ordered From Hawera to Wigan: A Life in Rugby League

Best Years of our Lives is brilliant and a must read if you haven't. 'Mud, Blood and Glory' is an interesting look at a thrilling season

Literature wise 'This Sporting Life' by David Storey is one of the great British novels (and films), it just happens to be about RL.

Also, 'The Wigan Warriors Miscellany' is a fun book with some interesting facts and I know the bloke who wrote it.

Thanks for the Info. "1895 and all that" looks like something I'd enjoy and so ill give that a try, Newtons book too. I've seen one called the great rugby split which looks great but It's going for about £90 on Amazon

so think I'll pass on that one for now



I've never read the book but saw the film to "This Sporting Life" and have to admit it was something else.

Longy's for a laugh.

Andrew Johns' for technical analysis of the game.

Anything by Dave Hadfield for a great all round read.

7 quid on amazon in paperbacy........rrp is only 9 quid

where would you find that on sale please?

Quote ="wigan pie man"where would you find that on sale please?'" www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Years-Our- ... 1851587756 www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn ... 3845083285

Quote ="wigan pie man"where would you find that on sale please?'" www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Years-Our- ... 1851587756 www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn ... 3845083285

Quote ="MattyB"www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Years-Our-Lives-Division/dp/1851587756 www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn ... 3845083285'" cheers mate...been on amazon myself and couldnt find it.....

Quote ="MattyB"www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Years-Our-Lives-Division/dp/1851587756 www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn ... 3845083285'" cheers mate...been on amazon myself and couldnt find it.....

Mud, blood and Glory is the best i've read.
Never again will they allow access like that behind the scenes.

Just get down your local library! I go to mine in Kitt Green quite regular and get all sorts of RL books. Even got a Billy Boston life story book which was released in 1981. Mentions of "coloured players" and such language didn't half date it haha!

Is this an announcement?

If you want something about the history of the game, look for [iRugby's Great Split[/i by Tony Collins which about how the game broke from rugby union. It can be heavy going but is very interesting.

"The Forbidden Game",

its one of the best books I've ever read....

It tells the Tale of the great Jean Galia and the Rise of French Rugby League and then how the Nazi controlled Vichy Government banned the sport to stop it overtaking rugby union....

I read it while on holiday in Canet which added a real feel to the book as we had been to many of the villages and towns where some of those early french rugby League "rebels" grew up....

you would not support France in this weekends Union final if you ever read the book...in fact you wouldnt give the game your time of day at all.

Its amazing how important Radlinski's book was when it was released, for the first time someone within the club recognised the problems we had. One may even say it was a kind of manifesto for the rebirth of Wigan rugby league. Any future wigan players should be made to read it.

I agree.

Didn't MM read it prior to arriving at Wigan. I'm sure I read it somewhere?

Only RL book I've ever read was Jason Robinsons which I thought was pretty good. I've recently bought Kris Radlinskis, Dean Bells(my favorite ever wigan player), Sean Longs(been told by a few people its quite a good read) & Paul Sculthorpes plus a mate of mine has just got Keith Seniors(he's halfway through it but hasn't really been impressed so far) & Lee Crooks' so it's fair to say I've got a decent bit of RL reading to do over the cold, dark RL free months