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

(Hardback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

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, Englands 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 Championships stories, uncovers its hidden gems and takes the reader on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the 2020/21 season. Following three clubs in particular newly promoted Wycombe Wanderers, newly relegated Bournemouth and stalwarts Sheffield Wednesday, who start the season on 12-point deficit hell 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 Corneris a love letter to non-league football that is also avivid snapshotof its place in our national life -- Stuart Maconie

A wonderful journey through life in the lower reaches of the football pyramid. Afascinatingtale of a very different world of football from that of the overpaid stars of the television age -- Barry Davies

Reviews

'There's a brilliant story on every page. Remarkable insight.' -- Adrian Chiles
A fascinating testimony to a ruthless league * FourFourTwo *
'Brilliant' * Choice Magazine *
A great, authentic read that serves as a timely reminder that there is super to be found in every league -- Colin Murray
The F. Scott Fitzgerald of football writing -- Ian McMillan
With this enlightening book, Nige Tassell absolutely nails the brilliance and the drama of the Championship. A screamer into the top corner! -- Chris Sutton
Hugely readable, with a mass of engaging anecdote * When Saturday Comes *

Author Bio

Nige Tassell writes about sport and popular culture. His work has appeared inThe Guardian,The Sunday Times,GQ,Esquire,FourFourTwo,The BlizzardandWhen Saturday Comes among others, and his previousbooks include non-league football classicThe Bottom Corner,Three Weeks, Eight Seconds, Boot Sale,Butch Wilkins and the Sundance KidandAnd It's a Beautiful Day.