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  • John Greechan: Revolution - Ange Postecoglou: The Man, The Methods and The Mastery

    38:23
    Welcome to the second episode in the new season of Between the Lines. This is Martin's chat with John Greechan on his excellent new Ange Postecoglou biography. As always, we discuss process and explore John's research trip to Melbourne earlier this year.EnjoyBuy the BookBackPage Mailing List
  • Andriy Shevchenko and the Making of My Life, My Football

    34:29
    To celebrate the publication of Andriy Shevchenko's autobiography, My Life, My Football, we break down the story behind the book: why it took three years for the English language edition to reach bookstores, the significance of the war in Ukraine, what matters most to an elite footballer like Shevchenko when he tells his story, and what happens when you get two world-class strikers in the same room.This episode features Martin and Neil from BackPage and the Ballon d'Or of translation, Mark Palmer.Find out more about Sheva's book, including where to buy it, here. Find out more about our cover designer, Kulbir Gharra Michael Cox's Athletic piece on Shevchenko, My Game in My WordsGary Lineker's interview with Shevchenko
  • Arrigo Sacchi And The Making Of The Immortals

    24:31
    In this episode, Neil and Martin talk to Mark Palmer, the translator of The Immortals, Arrigo Sacchi’s memoir of Milan’s 1988-89 season, which ended with the first of two back-to-back European Cup triumphs for the great team of Baresi, Maldini, Rijkaard, Gullit and Van Basten. The Immortals brings to life the training diaries of Sacchi and captures in time one of the greatest club teams in football history. In this interview, we talk about why this – and not an earlier Sacchi autobiography – was the right one for us; Mark’s task in bringing the eccentricities of Arrigo Sacchi to life; and what happened when we went to Sacchi’s hometown to meet the man himself. Buy The Immortals here. 
  • Daniel Gray: Snapshot

    26:37
    Author Daniel Gray and photographer Alan McCredie toured Scotland collecting pictures and that form a charming and true portrait of football in that country, from a European night at Ibrox to the Highland League. This is Martin's conversation with Daniel about how he and Alan found their subjects and what he learned from his travels. Find out more about Snapshot and Nutmeg, the Scottish football periodical that Martin and Daniel mention, here. And please also check out the new BackPage title on Liverpool's Premier League campaign, At The End Of The Storm
  • Ben Reiter: The Edge

    23:56
    Returning to Between the Lines is Ben Reiter, author of Astroball, to talk about how the story he reported took a shocking turn - and how he went after it in a brilliant new six-part podcast, The Edge.The incredible rise of the Houston Astros from the worst team in baseball to world champions is the story that made Ben's name. When, in November 2019, news of a cheating scandal engulfed the organisation and tarnished their achievements, Ben decided he had to return to the story to discover what happened and what, if anything, he had missed.The result is, in our opinion, the sports podcast of 2020 and you don't need to be a baseball fan to understand or enjoy it.Finally, please check out our latest title, produced in association with The Athletic: At The End Of The Storm - stories from Liverpool's historic title win. It's the perfect gift for the Liverpool fan in your life - and it's out now.
  • Henry Winter: Wild Swimming with Nigel Pearson

    23:01
    Henry Winter returns to Between The Lines to talk about an interview he did with Nigel Pearson, in which the two men went hiking across Dartmoor and swam in a chalk pit. It makes for great copy and is testament to Winter's skill at relationship building and what he sees as the power of The Times, under whose masthead he writes. Aspiring and developing sportswriters listen up - Henry's breakdown of his intro to this piece is a lesson from the best in how to set up what he calls 'the shop window'.Finally, please check out our latest title, produced in association with The Athletic: At The End Of The Storm - stories from Liverpool's historic title win.