1. A Cultured Left Foot - Musa Okwonga
Old Etonian polymath and Oxford law graduate turns his keen mind to "the 11 elements of footballing greatness", including vision, balance, guts, feet, graft and fun. Full of insights.
Duckworth, £15.99 hardback
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2. The Pyjama Game - Mark Law
The subtitle, “A Journey into Judo” barely does this fantastic book justice. Beautifully written and no interest in the martial arts is required to find it absolutely riveting.
Aurum, £16.99 hardback
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3. Gerrard - Steven Gerrard
In one of the few post-World Cup memoirs that need detain you, the dynamic Liverpool and England midfielder surveys his glittering career with passion and honesty.
Bantam, £7.99 paperback
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4. Wasted? - Paul Smith
Smith was called "cricket’s first bimbo" by his Warwickshire captain of the early 1990s. From there it was downhill all the way. Not much rock'n'roll, but lashings of sex and drugs.
Know The Score, £16.99 hardback
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5. Riding Through the Storm - Geoff Thomas
The former England midfielder who contracted leukaemia was inspired by Lance Armstrong’s return from cancer, celebrated his recovery by riding the 2005 Tour de France for charity.
Orion, £16.99 hardback
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6. The Death of Marco Pantani - Matt Rendell
The 1998 Tour de France winner could climb as if on angel’s wings but cocaine tore his life apart – strippers, car crashes and a lonely death. A journey into cycling’s dark heart.
Phoenix, £7.99, hardback
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7. My Manchester Utd Years - Sir Bobby Charlton
In collaboration with The Independent’s chief sportswriter, James Lawton, the Manchester United and England hero packs his account with memorable anecdotes.
Headline, £20 hardback
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8. Thirty Bullies - Alison Kervin
In this fine history of the Rugby World Cup, the England team’s former PR manager tells a rumbustious tale, from the heroic drinking of the 1987 event to the hi-tech professionalism of today.
Midas, £17.99 hardback
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9. Monty’s Turn - Monty Panesar
His five-wicket haul in the third Ashes Test last winter – and his gleeful celebrations – catapulted him into the nation’s affections. The Sikh of Tweak tells his story so far.
Hodder & Stoughton, £18.99 hardback
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10. From the Eye of the Hurricane - Alex Higgins
You probably know what to expect, but it’s all highly entertaining. Disastrous relationships, explosive contretemps, drinking jags with Oliver Reed...there’s even some snooker.
Headline, £6.99 paperback
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8 October 2007, Chosen by Chris Maume, The Independent's Sports News Editor
