Short List Unveiled for World’s Richest Sports Book Prize

London, United Kingdom, November 16, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The Short List for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, worth £20,000 and a free £2000 bet to the winner, has been announced:

John Carlin - Playing the Enemy:
Nelson Mandela And The Game That Made A Nation (Atlantic).

Janie Hampton - The Austerity Olympics:
When the Games Came To London in 1948 (Aurum).

Rowan Simons - Bamboo Goalposts:
One Man's Quest to Teach The People's Republic of China To Love Football (Macmillan).

Marcus Trescothick - Coming Back To Me:
The Autobiography (Harper).

Jeremy Whittle - Bad Blood:
The Secret Life Of The Tour de France (Yellow Jersey).

Jonathan Wilson - Inverting the Pyramid:
A History Of Football Tactics (Orion).

"This is a varied, vibrant list featuring two football-related books; and one each from cricket, cycling, rugby union and the Olympics. They are predominantly about sport, but touch on wider ranging issues, such as dealing with depression; doping in sport; and sport's ability to unite nations", said founder of the Award, William Hill Media Relations Director, Graham Sharpe.

The Award, now in its 20th year, will be presented at Waterstone's, Piccadilly bookshop in the afternoon on Monday, 24th November.

"This list reflects the great range and diversity of modern sports writing, and demonstrates that sports books are just as capable of tackling life's big themes as any other literary genre" - Joe Browes, Waterstone's Sports Buyer.

Judging panel for the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award :
Well known broadcaster and writer John Inverdale; broadcaster and writer Danny Kelly; the only sports journalist to win the overall Journalist of the Year Award, Hugh McIlvanney; writer, columnist and author, Alyson Rudd.

Chairman of the Judging Panel and co-founder of the Award is the founder of the Sportspages bookshop, John Gaustad.

###