The remarkable story of one man's struggle to overcome racism and revolutionise rugby coaching.In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no other: Roy Francis. He led teams to championships and Wembley finals, revolutionised the art of coaching and inspired his players to incredible achievements. But even more amazingly for those times, he was a Black man in a white world.As the illegitimate child of a mixed-race couple who gave him up fo...

Bloomsbury presents Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader by Tony Collins read by David IjitiThe remarkable story of one man’s struggle to overcome racism and revolutionise rugby coaching.In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no other: Roy Francis. He led teams to championships and Wembley finals, revolutionised the art of coaching and inspired his players to incredible achievements. But even more amazi...

An archaeological dig in the English countryside might be considered the safest of pastimes, but not for Simon Tappins. His life is turned upside down when a dramatic discovery sends him back two thousand years into a world time forgot. He is plunged into a dangerous period of British history, a pivotal point when the Roman Empire is collapsing and Saxon hordes are invading, sweeping aside the last legions. Simon is caught between the approaching Saxons and the ferocious but futile last st...

Why are the Olympic Games the driving force behind a clampdown on civil liberties?What makes sport an unwavering ally of nationalism and militarism?Is sport the new opiate of the masses?These and many other questions are answered in this new radical history of sport by leading historian of sport and society, Professor Tony Collins.Tracing the history of modern sport from its origins in the burgeoning capitalist economy of mid-eighteenth cent...

From the myth of William Webb Ellis to the glory of the 2003 World Cup win, this book explores the social history of rugby union in England.Ever since Tom Brown’s Schooldays the sport has seen itself as the guardian of traditional English middle-class values. In this fascinating new history, leading rugby historian Tony Collins demonstrates how these values have shaped the English game, from the public schools to mass spectator sport, from strict amateurism to global professionalis...

This ambitious and fascinating history considers why, in the space of sixty years between 1850 and 1910, football grew from a marginal and unorganised activity to become the dominant winter entertainment for millions of people around the world. The book explores how the world’s football codes - soccer, rugby league, rugby union, American, Australian, Canadian and Gaelic - developed as part of the commercialised leisure industry in the nineteenth century. Football, however and wherever it w...

Life is already difficult for a sixteen year old boy who is at least a lap behind his peers in the 1500 metre event at the Growing Up Olympics. But when his beloved Grandfather passes away, leaving a cryptic clue to the whereabouts of untold riches, the resultant road trip will increase the pace. Escaping the clutches of an over-protective mother, sexually deprived employer and a furious Asian funeral director, Felix Malholly makes his getaway. What follows is a journey involving diamond t...

This book is a hands-on guide that explores the human dimensions of documentary production, offering concrete tools to strengthen collaboration at every stage from pre- production to distribution.It reframes documentary production as a human system shaped by relationships, purpose, and ethical responsibility. Drawing on decades of international filmmaking and teaching, Tony Collins challenges craft-only approaches andshows how trust, listening, and shared agency determine bo...

Since it’s first publication, Rugby’s Great Split has established itself as a classic in the field of sport history. Drawing on an unprecedented range of sources, this deeply researched and highly readable book traces the social, cultural and economic divisions that led, in 1895, to schism in the game of rugby and the creation of rugby league, the sport of England’s northern working class.Tony Collins’ analysis challenges many of the conventional assumptions about this key...

FAMILY SECRETSDanielle Vine was stumped: she's been left a huge sum of money but she didn't know from who or why! She couldn't accept her inheritance until she found out where it came from, so she hired gorgeous private eye Mitch Newman. Problem was she'd rather kiss the pragmatic man than listen to his ridiculous theories!FAMILY MANDanielle's case had Mitch tied up in knots! Not only did he know who left her that money, he also kne...

International intrigue, crime, and mystery all converge around one man -- attorney turned secret agent turned globetrotting investigator Frank Race! Tom Collins stars in sixteen classic radio thrillers from the late 1940s.Plunge into a world of post-war excitement as Frank Race brings his unique skills to bear against multinational criminals! Danger is his business, romance is his hobby, and adventure is his middle name. Tony Barrett co-stars as cab driver Marcus "Marc" Donovan, who often ...

Where Does Money Come From? reveals how, contrary to public perception, the bulk of today's money supply is created and allocated by commercial banks in their role as providers of credit. The authors argue that this system is inherently unstable, with little effective regulation of how much credit is provided, or whether it is used for productive or speculative purposes. Based on detailed research and consultation with experts, including from the Bank of England, Where Does Mo...