SBOTY
WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024: NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
November is finally here! It’s nearly time to announce the 36th winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year!
Since 1989, we’ve seen the likes of Duncan Hamilton, Michael Holding and Jeremy Wilson walk away with the top prize, while last year saw Lauren Fleshman win with her book ‘Good for a Girl’.
This year’s winner will come from one of six titles on our shortlist. Find out which books have made the coveted list in this newsletter.
WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK CLUB
Every month the book club discusses a contender for the big prize on Talksport. This month, the panel chat about ‘The Racket’ by Conor Niland. The author will join Adrian Durham and our very own Neil Foggin to talk about the shortlisted book, telling his story from within the fascinating world of tennis, from being involved in Nick Bollettieri’s famed tennis academy to facing Novak Djokovic at the US Open.
SHORTLIST 2024
THESE HEAVY BLACK BONES – REBECCA ACHIENG AJULU-BUSHELL
WHEN I PASSED THE STATUE OF LIBERTY I BECAME BLACK – HARRY EDWARD
MY BEAUTIFUL SISTERS – KHALIDA POPAL
UNIQUE – KELLY HOLMES
MUNICHS – DAVID PEACE
THE RACKET – CONOR NILAND
WHAT TO READ THIS MONTH
Another busy month of sport sees Cheltenham’s November Meeting, the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, Mike Tyson take on Jake Paul, the Grand Slam of Darts and Snooker’s UK Championship.
Here are some books to whet your appetite:
Cheltenham November Meeting
Doped (2013 winner)
- Jamie Reid’s gripping true-story racing thriller set in Britain in the 1950s and early 1960s. It tells the true story of one of the biggest doping scandals in British racing history.
Seabiscuit: The True Story of Three Men and a Racehorse (2001 winner)
- The bestselling true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse, Seabiscuit.
Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano
Headshot (2024 Longlist)
- Rita Bullwinkel tells the story of the eight best teenage girl boxers in the United States. It’s told over the two days of a championship tournament and structured as a series of face-offs.
Jake Paul v Mike Tyson
Damage (2021 shortlist)
- Tris Dixon uncovers the difficult truths of boxing and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. He chronicles the lives of fighters affected by it.
Muhammad Ali: His Life and Time (1991 winner)
- Thomas Hauser’s comprehensive and honest portrait of Muhammad Ali’s sporting accomplishments, as well as the high drama of life outside the boxing ring.
Grand Slam of Darts
Who Darts Wins
- John Woodhouse delivers a fascinating and entertaining insight into the world of darts and its unique place in British culture.
Staying Power
- Enjoy a year in the life of darting royalty – Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor. It’s full of triumph, disaster, spats and hecklers.
Snooker UK Championship
Unbreakable (2023 Shortlist)
- Unbreakable takes you beyond the success and record-breaking achievements of Ronnie O’Sullivan to share the reality – and brutality – of making it to the very top.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
With the shortlist now confirmed, all that’s left to do is crown the 2024 winner.
This year’s Sports Book of the Year Awards takes place on Tuesday, 19th November.
JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER
While six titles vie for the top prize, all 17 books that made the longlist are still in contention to win the second Judge A Book By Its Cover. Don’t forget to vote for your favourite @BookiePrize!
This competition, voted for by the public, rewards the cover artists of this year’s top entrants. The winner will get £500.
