Star line-up for Graveney

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

10 Feb

Star line-up for Graveney

A star-studded cricketing line-up was at Lord's to launch Andrew Murtagh's new book Touched by Greatness: The Story of Tom Graveney, England’s Much Loved Cricketer.

The former England opener was present and he was joined by a number of associates and colleagues from his time at Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and the MCC.

Graveney and his family, Sir Tim Rice, Mike Gatting, Paul Downton, ECB chief executive David Collier, MCC chairman Oliver Stocken, MCC chief executive Derek Brewer, Mike Vockins, Duncan Fearnley, Norman Gifford, Tony Brown and David Allen were all present to celebrate the book's launch.

Tom is the last surviving member of Len Hutton's team that won back the Ashes in 1953, Graveney, by virtue of his peerless batsmanship, gracious manner and longevity in the game, is now a national treasure – the favourite cricketer of so many fellow players, enthusiasts and aficionados.

He opened the batting for England with Hutton early in his career and ended it batting with Geoffrey Boycott, thus straddling two generations. After retirement, he shone as a BBC commentator and latterly served as president of his beloved Worcestershire and of the MCC.

Oft misunderstood, the character behind the legendary raconteur's affable façade is now effortlessly unlocked in this first-hand account of his life by close friend and fellow former professional cricketer, Andrew Murtagh.

The details of many incidents, anecdotes and controversies have never before been shared – sackings and banishments, redemption and a glorious international 'second coming' – revealing Graveney as a fount of cricketing insight and as a true entertainer, at the fireside as at the crease.

· As Tom Graveney's close personal friend, Andrew Murtagh has enjoyed constant, unfettered and unprecedented access to his subject.

· Making full use of Graveney's extraordinary powers of recall and his legendary expertise as a raconteur, Andrew was able to chronicle the story of his long and eventful life.

· The book features a host of new revelations and insights. Graveney is at an age when he feels comfortable telling it as he saw it, as accurately and as honestly as he can.

Click here for more information on Touched by Greatness.