SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Proud the autobiography of ex Wales Rugby Union Captain Gareth Thomas leads the charge to win the 2014 William Hill Sports Book of the Year prize.
William Hill and Graham Sharpe the Founder of the award announced on Friday the seven book shortlist for this year’s prize. The William Hill Sports Book of the Year, aims to recognise the best in English published sports literature during the past twelve months.
The winner of the £26,000 literature award will be announced on Thursday 27 November.
The Seven books shortlisted for this year’s prize are
- Proud by Gareth Thomas. Autobiography which details the athlete’s career and brave decision to become the first professional sportsman to declare being a homosexual whilst still playing professional rugby union.
- Bobby Moore: The Man in Full by Matt Dickinson. An in-depth biography of England World Cup winning Captain Bobby Moore.
- Alone by Bill Jones. Biography of figure skater John Curry, detailing the athletes struggle of balancing athletic/celebrity persona with matters of personal sexuality
- Night Games: Sex, Power and a journey by Anna Kriens. An investigative study of the rape trial brought against AFL Collingwood Football Club
- Run or Die by Kilian Journet Diary of Jornets attempt to become the fastest man to run up and down Mount Kilimanjaro
- Played in London by Simon Inglis A historic and cultural account of sports played within London boroughs.
- Floodlights and Touchlines: A History of Spectator Sport by Rob Steen. History and social commentary on the cultural and social impact of spectator sports on society.
Graham Sharpe founder of the award commented on this years prize “it’s an extremely exciting time in sports-writing.” He described this year’s list as “rich and varied,” made up as it is of “compelling explorations of the personal struggles and triumphs of some of our most esteemed sporting figures, an enquiry into the dark side of sporting culture and not one, but two fascinating social histories.”
