From the publisher:
Nostalgic and entertaining account of an unprecedented campaign at Leeds United in the inaugural season of the Premier League.
Featuring fresh contributions from Jon Newsome, who provides exclusive insights into the thoughts and fears inside the Leeds dressing room, this is the latest book from Rocco Dean, author of the widely acclaimed Leeds United history book series.
Sgt Wilko's Defending Champions chronicles a transformative time not only for English football but also in Europe, with the birth of the UEFA Champions League:
- A tribute to the great team Howard Wilkinson built, whom the author fell in love with despite their inconsistent performances
- Learn what went wrong for the defending champions, from the sale of Cantona to the back-pass rule and a hangover from the previous season’s success
- Relive the incredible Champions League campaign, the legendary comeback against Stuttgart, the dramatic rematch in the Nou Camp and the iconic ‘Battle of Britain’ against Rangers
- Feel the excitement as new hope springs from the club’s talented youth team, who are integrated into the first team before ending the season by lifting the FA Youth Cup
- Includes extracts from players and management after every match, bringing real-time analysis as Leeds’s troubles mount
Transporting you back to a time before the intervention of money, social media and VAR, this is a story of football fandom, told through the innocent eyes of a young supporter and first-time season-ticket holder. Essential reading for all Leeds fans and football-nostalgia lovers!
The author:
Rocco Dean began writing during the Covid lockdown in 2020, in a style that combines detailed factual reporting with emotional and reflective commentary. Sgt Wilko’s Defending Champions is his sixth book, continuing his personal account of the ups and downs at Elland Road, from the great Don Revie era through to Marcelo Bielsa’s iconic reign. Rocco is a regular presenter on the Leeds That podcast.
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