‘FOCUS ON’ MICK DUXBURY – 36 YEARS ON!

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

04 Nov

‘FOCUS ON’ MICK DUXBURY – 36 YEARS ON!

“The best autobiography title I’ve come across for years,” enthused talkSPORT’s Paul Hawksbee last week, as he quizzed United legend Mick Duxbury on It’s Mick Not Mike – and the questionnaire responses he’d given to Shoot! magazine back at the end of the 70s.

‘Re-Focus’ is a regular slot on talkSPORT’s hugely popular Hawsbee & Jacobs Show, where Paul and Andy find out whether stars of the past can remember their favourite TV shows and singers, their car and ‘players to watch out for’ back in the day.

Favourite activity on day off? A bit of gardening? Felicity Kendal? The Young Ones? Click here to hear Mick’s star radio performance, which no United fan should miss out on.

And the same goes for It’s Mick Not Mike (“laconic, revealing and unpretentious… an impressive document about life in English football in the 80s” – Soccerama). Mick played more times for Manchester United than any other player during the 1980s, clocking up nearly 400 appearances in a key era for the club which was full of entertainment and controversy, sowing the seeds of unprecedented success.

Mick has a superb range of personal anecdotes and many a revealing insight to share on an era that shaped the future of Manchester United, stretching from the mid-70s to the dawn of the 90s.

Personality clash In the late 70s and 1980s United’s managerial merry-go-round brought contrasting personalities into the hot-seat – Duxbury reveals the differences between Docherty, Sexton, Atkinson and Ferguson.
Holding on Mick’s career was almost over before it began. Discover how his patience saved his career at Old Trafford.
Smells like team spirit Competition for places is expected at every top club but when you feel it becomes personal how do you react?
Dedication Learn why Mick turned his back on the almost guaranteed Division One medal he was desperate to win.
Professionalism Read the reasons Duxbury believes United failed in their quest for the championship in a decade of underachivement – and what they could have done to win.
On the edge of glory Mick’s was the last generation before the financial boom made superstars of anyone to make a Premier League appearance. Read how a bona fide great of the biggest club in the world views the modern game.

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from It’s Mick, Not Mike: The Autobiography of Mick Duxbury