{"product_id":"man-on-a-mission-the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-a-life-in-football","title":"Man on a Mission: The Agony and Ecstasy of a Life in Football","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn eye-opening behind-the-scenes account of English football’s inner workings and Ipswich Town in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, told by former Ipswich and Football League chairman David Sheepshanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMan on a Mission traces Sheepshanks’ remarkable journey through nearly a quarter of a century in leadership roles at the heart of the game, revealing the agony and ecstasy of running a football club.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead and discover:\u003cbr\u003e- A rich narrative packed with anecdotes and a cast ranging from Bobby Robson and Alex Ferguson to Elton John and Mark Knopfler\u003cbr\u003e- What really happened when Ipswich was sold to Marcus Evans\u003cbr\u003e- How Sheepshanks spearheaded the Football League’s modernisation during the turbulent years after the Premier League breakaway\u003cbr\u003e- How his determination to build the FA’s St George’s Park is enabling England to be winners again\u003cbr\u003e- His candid views on the vested interests and institutional inertia that hold the game back, especially in coach education\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSheepshanks was a major figure in English football for almost a quarter of a century. This revelatory memoir is a must-read not only for Ipswich supporters, but for anyone who is interested in how the game is really run.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Sheepshanks was a successful food entrepreneur and Ipswich Town chairman when he unexpectedly found himself leading the Football League. He went on to become a major figure at the FA, where he spearheaded the project to build St George’s Park. Today, he divides his time between coaching business leaders, charity work and advising both the FA and Somerset County Cricket Club.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePitch Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e24 x 16 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHardback\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e384 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eJune 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9781836804710\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"David Sheepshanks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58282386129277,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-06-1011.50.32.jpg?v=1781444681","url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/products\/man-on-a-mission-the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-a-life-in-football","provider":"Stanchion","version":"1.0","type":"link"}