A CULTURE OF KITS LONG-LISTED FOR WILLIAM HILL AWARD

Pitch Publishing is a fantastic imprint.
They do all the great Got, Not Got series
and plenty of other retro sports titles.

James Brown, The Late Tackle, talkSPORT

Pitch Publishing show the way for enterprising
sports book publishers and remains a beacon
of hope for sports authors aspiring or established.

The Sports Bookshelf.com

Pitch Publishing, an outfit whose "pitch perfect"
commissioning of boxing material stands
as a rebuke to more established houses

Boxing Monthly

Pitch capture the real spirit of sport with entertaining
and clever ideas. They work out what the aficionado
would want to read, then deliver it with great verve.

Paul Hayward, The Daily Telegraph

Pitch have enabled me to write in the ways I enjoy most.
Their production support is superb, delivering eye-catching
designs, attentive proof-reading, energetic marketing and helpful advice.

Tim Quelch, Good Old Sussex by the Sea, Orient to the Emirates, Underdog!

Pitch are willing to back out-of-the-blue and innovative
ideas and turn them into viable, entertaining books.
They do so with great presentation and editorial flair.

Justin Parkinson, Then Came Massacre

Pitch saw the potential in my story, used their expertise
to polish it, published it and helped inspire thousands
around the world to get into the sport of triathlon.

Andy Holgate, Can’t Swim, Can’t Ride, Can’t Run & Can't Sleep, Can't Train, Can't Stop

The process of working with Pitch to produce Picking up the Threads
was enjoyable and rewarding, with the final edition surpassing
expectations and becoming a resounding success.

John Chandler, Picking up the Threads

Pitch will take a chance on books that other publishers won't
and realise that interest in football extends beyond the
Premier League and the top 20 countries in the FIFA rankings.

Steve Menary, Outcasts!

Pitch have the vision to look beyond the obvious,
seeking out interesting ideas and subjects and
matching them with the right target audience.

David Tossell, Tony Greig, The Great English Final, Grovel!, Natural

Pitch have been an absolute joy to work with,
contributing their passion, expertise, knowledge
and experience to help produce a brilliant book.

Sam Pilger, Ashes Match of My Life

Pitch took our original concept and further enhanced it,
using their knowledge, experience and expertise, and helped
make Got, Not Got one of the football books of the year for 2011.

Derek Hammond, Got, Not Got series of books

Pitch bought into the concept of development through football,
channeling profits and proceeds from Eleven into helping
some of the most disadvantaged young people in the world.

Steve Fleming, Eleven

In the highly competitive world of sport publishing,
Pitch have consistently demonstrated the happy
knack of spotting, nurturing and promoting winners.

Neil Dunkin, Anfield of Dreams

03 Oct

A CULTURE OF KITS LONG-LISTED FOR WILLIAM HILL AWARD

We’re thrilled to announce that John Blair’s book A Culture of Kits has been long-listed for the 2024 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, the world’s oldest and most valuable sports-writing prize.

Now in its 36th year, the award acknowledges and rewards excellence in sports writing. This year’s winner’s prize is £30,000 and a trophy, while shortlisted authors receive £3,000 and a leather-bound copy of their book.

A Culture of Kits

A Culture of Kits: The Definitive Guide to Classic Football Shirt Collecting is a fascinating exploration of the booming business behind the growing culture and community surrounding vintage football shirts.

The intersection between fashion and football has never been more pronounced, resulting in the market for classic football shirts growing into a multi-million-pound business in the past ten years.

A Culture of Kits captures the story of the people and companies behind the growth in global collecting who have turned a once-niche pastime into mainstream fashion. Charting the milestones in the community’s rise to societal prominence, it explores the key questions surrounding this growth story. What makes a shirt a classic? What motivates collectors? Is shirt-collecting here to stay or a cyclical fashion trend?

Drawing on intel from experts and global collectors, this book lifts the lid on the cultural phenomenon of football shirt fashion and provides the ultimate guide to classic football shirt collecting.

Praise for A Culture of Kits

‘l can't recommend this book highly enough. A thing of beauty.’ – Kevin Day, The Price of Football podcast

‘It's both a fascinating and stunning read. Genuinely one of my favourite books in recent times.’ – Omar Saleem, founder and editor of These Football Times magazine

Reader Reviews

‘This book has something for everyone. It’s a work of art. Super stylish for your coffee table. The book looks fabulous. The writing is even better… Loved reading this.’

‘What a fabulous book – superb quality, lovely hardback, excellent photography. What an unbelievable collection of shirts and glorious football nostalgia content. A must have for all football shirt collectors and a superb gift for any football fan. Love it.’

‘A work of art. A truly beautiful book which would not look out of place in any reception area, home or business. With knowledgeable narrative and excellent illustrations, it is a real joy to behold.’

Buy your copy or read a FREE sample