{"title":"Jon Spurling","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJon Spurling\u003c\/strong\u003e writes with a keen eye for the drama and intensity of sport, delivering narratives that capture pivotal moments and the human stories behind the headlines. His works, including titles like \u003cem\u003eGet It On\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eGo To War\u003c\/em\u003e, offer insightful explorations into the competitive spirit and cultural significance of sporting events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect engaging, well-researched accounts that blend passion with keen observation, making complex sporting histories accessible and compelling. Spurling’s writing resonates with both enthusiasts and those intrigued by the broader social impact of sport.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"get-it-on-by-jon-spurling-9781785907869","title":"Get It On","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFour years after the crowning glory of 1966 and a decade after the abolition of the maximum wage, a brash new era dawned in English football. As the 1970s took hold, a new generation of larger-than-life footballers and managers came to dominate the sport, appearing on television sets in vivid technicolour for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSet against a backdrop of three-day weeks, strikes, political unrest, freezing winters and glam rock, \u003ci\u003eGet It On\u003c\/i\u003e tells the intriguing inside story of how commercialism, innovation, racism and hooliganism rocked the national game in the 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCharting the emergence of Brian Clough, Bob Paisley and Kevin Keegan, and the fall of George Best, Alf Ramsey and Don Revie, this fascinating footballing fiesta traces the highs and lows of an evolutionary and revolutionary era for the beautiful game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'You always know you're going to get a fascinating read from Spurling. But this is his most vivid book yet - sheer joy! For us old geezers, it's like being miraculously transported back to the 1970s. And, for younger readers, I can promise you quite an education.' — Patrick Barclay\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47463057981676,"sku":"9781785907869","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781785907869-get-it-on.jpg?v=1775027642"},{"product_id":"go-to-war-by-jon-spurling-9781837360536","title":"Go To War","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLonglisted, William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2025\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1980s, politicians declared war on football; football supporters declared war on each other inside crumbling stadiums that resembled bomb sites, and the '82 and '86 World Cups were played against the backdrop of the Falklands conflict. It was a decade in which some fans died watching the game they loved, and at times, the 'slum sport' seemed set to implode. Yet, remarkably, the game was on the cusp of morphing into the behemoth it has become today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSet against a backdrop of economic recession, rampant hooliganism and suspect fashion, \u003cem\u003eGo To War\u003c\/em\u003e tells the story of how triumph and tragedy shaped English football during the 1980s. Throughout this explosive book, author Jon Spurling delves into the stories behind the successes and strife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThirty years in the making, \u003cem\u003eGo To War\u003c\/em\u003e draws on interviews conducted with '80s icons including Terry Butcher, Graeme Sharp and Ray Wilkins, managerial legends like Howard Kendall and Bobby Robson, and FA Cup heroes Ricky Villa and Norman Whiteside. Like its precursor, the bestselling \u003cem\u003eGet It On, Go To War\u003c\/em\u003e provides a unique insight into a pivotal footballing decade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Enthralling...Another tour de force.' \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBackpass magazine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A tremendously readable chronicle of English football in its darkest age, brimming with evocative anecdotes. From the violence on the terraces to the high drama on the pitch, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eGo To War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e perfectly captures the moodiness of the 1980s. I enjoyed it enormously.'  Dominic Sandbrook\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A beautifully crafted book on a pivotal footballing era.'  Jim Rosenthal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Jon Spurling's eye for detail and character makes him the perfect writer to chronicle a decade when football was about so much more than what happened on the pitch. Not just the best book about '80s football but one of the best books I've read about '80s Britain.'  Josh Widdicombe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47932165390572,"sku":"9781837360536","price":34.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781837360536-go-to-war.jpg?v=1783856357"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/jon-spurling.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}