The Hard Yards: A Season in the Championship, England's Toughest League

‘The Hard Yards is a must-read for any football fan. Nige Tassell has done a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the Championship – a league that is full of passion, drama, and excitement – and bringing it to life in his book – The Hard Yards
The Championship is the toughest league in England, with only four clubs having nothing to play for on the final day of the 2019/20 season. Nige Tassell's book, "The Hard Yards," takes the reader on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the 2020/2021 season, interviewing managers, fans, kit men, and chairmen. It is a must-read for any football fan, capturing the essence of the Championship and bringing it to life in its pages.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

‘A wonderful book, full of warmth, humour and insight. A must-read for anyone who loves football -- Chris Waddle ‘Gus Poyet declared it to be the toughest league in England. Neil Warnock went further, believing it to be the tightest division in Europe. Norwich boss Daniel Farke went further still: "The Championship, without any doubt, is the toughest league in the world." On the final day of the 2019/20 season, only four clubs in the Championship, England's second tier of soccer, had nothing to play for, everyone else was fighting for promotion or survival. Its stats like this that give the league its well-deserved reputation as the most exciting league in football. Anything can happen, and often does. In The Hard Yards, Nige Tassell tells the Championship's stories, uncovers its hidden gems, and takes the reader on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the 2020/2021 season. Following three clubs in particular – newly promoted Wycombe Wanderers, newly relegated Bournemouth, and stalwarts Sheffield Wednesday, who start the season on a 12-point deficit – he'll dip into the seasons of clubs across the league, interviewing managers, fans, kit men, and chairmen. A world away from the glamour and melodrama of the Premiership, the Championship is the heart and soul of football, and in The Hard Yards, Nige Tassell will take it back to basics. Praise for The Bottom Corner: "Warm and celebratory but also sharp and insightful, The Bottom Corner is a love letter to non-league football that is also a vivid snapshot of its place in our national life -- Stuart Maconie "A wonderful journey through life in the lower reaches of the football pyramid. A fascinating tale of a very different world of football from that of the overpaid stars of the television age -- Barry Davies "A wonderful book, full of warmth, humor, and insight. A must-read for anyone who loves football -- Chris Waddle"

Weight: 224g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398504486