Books by Alyson Rudd
Award-winning sports journalist at The Times, Alyson Rudd has returned to chair the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award judging panel for a remarkable seventh year. A published author of both sports books and novels, Alyson is also a qualified football coach and referee.
Interviews with Alyson Rudd
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1
The Escape: The Tour, the Cyclist and Me
by Pippa York & David Walsh -
2
Finding the Edge
by Jimmy Anderson, with Felix White -
3
Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport
by Emma Wilkinson & Lily Canter -
4
States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football
by Miguel Delaney -
5
The Last Bell: Life, Death and Boxing
by Donald McRae -
6
Engulfed: How Saudi Arabia Bought Sport, and the World
by James Montague
The Best Sports Books of 2025, recommended by Alyson Rudd
The Best Sports Books of 2025, recommended by Alyson Rudd
Every year, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award—the world’s longest-running sports writing prize—highlights the very best new books in the genre. We asked Alyson Rudd, chair of the judges, to introduce us to this year’s winner—The Escape, by cyclist Pippa York and reporter David Walsh—and the six runners-up.
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1
The Racket
by Conor Niland -
2
These Heavy Black Bones
by Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell -
3
When I Passed the Statue of Liberty I Became Black
by Harry Edward -
4
Unique: A Memoir
by Kelly Holmes -
5
Munichs
by David Peace -
6
My Beautiful Sisters: A Story of Courage, Hope and the Afghan Women’s Football Team
by Khalida Popal
The Best Sports Books of 2024: The William Hill Award, recommended by Alyson Rudd
The Best Sports Books of 2024: The William Hill Award, recommended by Alyson Rudd
Good sports writing should appeal not only to fans but also to readers with no special connection to a sport, says Alyson Rudd, chair of the judging panel of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. She talks us through the six excellent books that made the 2024 shortlist, from life on the lower rungs of the tennis circuit to women’s football in Afghanistan.
