Audiobooks by Christopher Evans

The Football Battalions: The Elite Footballers Who Fought in the Great War

"Bloomsbury presents The Football Battalions: The Elite Footballers Who Fought in the Great War by Christopher Evans, read by Oliver Hembrough 'A brilliant book' - Kevin Day 'An extraordinary story' - David Williamson, Chief Political Commentator at the Daily Express THE POIGNANT STORY OF HOW PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS WENT TO WAR 1914. Britain is slowly becoming football-obsessed: players are becoming household names, attendance is increasing and George V attends the FA Cup Final in May. Then the war breaks out. In this fascinating work, equal parts footballing and military history, Christopher Evans explores how, once the war began, footballers were put under immense pressure to sign up, resulting in the formation of Football Battalions in England and Scotland. He recounts the wartime exploits of the leading footballers of the day. Some would return to leave their mark on the game; some would fade into obscurity; and some would never make it back. Among them are Vivian Woodward, an Olympic gold medallist and football's first superstar; Frank Buckley, who would emerge from the war a hero and go on to redefine the role of a football manager; and Walter Tull, Tottenham and Northampton hero, who faced racism both on the football field and battlefield before becoming the first Black man to win a commission and command a unit in the British Army. Drawing on archival material, this is a captivating exploration of the elite footballers who went to war. P 2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC C 2025 Christopher Evans"

Christopher Evans (Author), Oliver Hembrough (Narrator)

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Don Revie: The Biography: Shortlisted for THE SUNDAY TIMES Sports Book Awards 2022

"Bloomsbury presents Don Revie by Christopher Evans, read by Richard Burnip. SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2022 The life and times of Don Revie – one of the most complex and controversial men ever to grace the game of football. Whenever the greatest managers the game has ever produced are mentioned, names like Busby, Shankly, Paisley and Ferguson trip off the tongue. Despite dominating the game in the late 1960s and ’70s there is one name missing: Don Revie, the former Leeds United and England manager. Revie was one of the most complex and controversial men ever to grace the game of football. As a player, he was crowned Footballer of the Year and credited with creating the modern centre-forward. As a manager, he took a Leeds United side languishing in the lower half of the second division and turned them into not only league champions, but one of the most dominant sides in the country. As England manager, Revie lost the magic touch and became increasingly indecisive. After three years in the role and fearing the sack, Revie became the first man to walk out on England. Then came the backlash. Revie was branded a traitor and banned from the game for 10 years, and the press declared open season on the manager. Accused of offering bribes to throw matches, his reputation was destroyed. Shunned by the football establishment, he died just 12 years after walking out on England. Revie’s death, at the age of 61, robbed him of the opportunity ever to rebuild his reputation as one of the most important figures ever seen in English football. The life and times of this multifaceted, enigmatic, pioneering football man have still never been fully explored and explained in detail before. Featuring new interviews with Johnny Giles, Kevin Keegan, Norman Hunter, Eddie Gray, Allan Clarke, Joe Jordan, Gordon McQueen, Malcolm Macdonald and members of the Revie family, this long-overdue biography reveals how today’s football owes so much to Don Revie. C 2021 Christopher Evans P 2021 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC"

Christopher Evans (Author), Richard Burnip (Narrator)

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