In recent years sports writing has gravitated from the back pages of newspapers into a genre of writing that is serious, bold and exhilarating. The publication of classic books such as Nick Hornby’s landmark memoir Fever Pitch;  the surge of interest in footballing personalities; the inclusion of high quality sports sections in the Sunday broadsheets and the realisation from publishers that there is a huge untapped market out there are just a few of the elements that have helped to bring this about. Sporting literature address a wide range of issues and titles included in this selection explore ideas around class, race, politics, sexism and poverty. And they can also offer as much tension and nail-biting appeal as the edgiest of thrillers as well as examining the challenges of the natural environment, human ambition and obsession, the frailty of life, humour and self-discovery.