The Grudge
Two Nations, One Match, No Holds Barred
Published on 3. February 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-224-08321-8 (ISBN)
Description
Shortlised for the 2022 SBA Best Sports Book of the 21st Century prize
The gripping inside story of when an England-Scotland rugby match become more than a game
Murrayfield, the Calcutta Cup, March 1990. England vs. Scotland - winner-takes-all for the Five Nations Grand Slam, the biggest prize in northern hemisphere rugby.
Will Carling's England are the very embodiment of Margaret Thatcher's Britain - snarling, brutish and all-conquering. Scotland are the underdogs - second-class citizens from a land that's become the testing ground for the most unpopular tax in living memory: Thatcher's Poll Tax. In Edinburgh, nationalism is rising high - what happens in the stadium will resound far beyond the pitch.
Told with unprecedented access to key players, coaches and supporters on both sides (Will Carling, Ian McGeechan, Brian Moore and the rest), Tom English has produced a gripping account of a titanic struggle that thrusts the reader right into the heart of the action. Game on.
'A priceless read' Guardian
'Absolutely outstanding' The Times
'An epic tale' Daily Telegraph
'Gripping' Scottish Review of Books
The gripping inside story of when an England-Scotland rugby match become more than a game
Murrayfield, the Calcutta Cup, March 1990. England vs. Scotland - winner-takes-all for the Five Nations Grand Slam, the biggest prize in northern hemisphere rugby.
Will Carling's England are the very embodiment of Margaret Thatcher's Britain - snarling, brutish and all-conquering. Scotland are the underdogs - second-class citizens from a land that's become the testing ground for the most unpopular tax in living memory: Thatcher's Poll Tax. In Edinburgh, nationalism is rising high - what happens in the stadium will resound far beyond the pitch.
Told with unprecedented access to key players, coaches and supporters on both sides (Will Carling, Ian McGeechan, Brian Moore and the rest), Tom English has produced a gripping account of a titanic struggle that thrusts the reader right into the heart of the action. Game on.
'A priceless read' Guardian
'Absolutely outstanding' The Times
'An epic tale' Daily Telegraph
'Gripping' Scottish Review of Books
Reviews / Votes
I enjoyed this book enormously. The match is one of my enduring rugby memories, and reading The Grudge it all came flooding back -- John Inverdale The finest book written on the tournament ... English has produced an absolutely outstanding work, weaving in the strands of history, politics, sociology, dislike and tactical nous, which makes the game probably the most remarkable ever played in the grand old tournament. The insights provided into the minds and roles of Jim Telfer and Brian Moore are worth the price alone -- Stephen Jones * The Times * Superb ... a fantastic drama. The Grand Slam match was part of a political world ... This is what gave the occasion its power, its glory and its ultimate significance * The Herald * Gripping ... Tom English has interviewed all the main protagonists to produce a richly textured picture of the build-up, the day itself and the aftermath * Independent * 5 stars. An epic tale of clashing personalities. The Grudge puts you right on the touchline as the English and Scottish teams go to war. -- Simon Briggs * Daily Telegraph * English has written a marvellous book, in its way as gripping as that season and the match itself * Scottish Review of Books * A potentially award-winning book. It's a terrific bit of work, as engaging as the day itself was. -- Mick Cleary * Daily Telegraph * A remarkable and compulsive re-enactment over 235 pages of the day Scotland confounded all expectation to win -- Paul Ackford A priceless read ... quite outstanding -- Robert Kitson * The Guardian * If you haven't bought Tom English's book about the 1990 match - The Grudge - then do yourself a favour and get it now. It's terrific -- Alex Massie * Spectator *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
16pp b/w
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
208 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-224-08321-8 (9780224083218)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2010
1st Edition
Vintage Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
Tom English was born in Limerick in 1969. He began his career at the Sunday Times and is now chief sports writer for Scotland on Sunday. In 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 he was named Scottish Sports Feature Writer of the Year. He lives in Stirlingshire with his wife and two children.