WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024: DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

Conor Niland was crowned the 36th winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year last month for his fascinating insight into the professional world of tennis, The Racket.

Who will follow in Conor’s footsteps and lift the award next year? Entries are now open for 2025.

This month’s newsletter has details of the 2025 awards and titles to read ahead of some of this month’s sporting events.

WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK CLUB

Every month the book club discusses current or previous entries on Talksport. This month sees the panel chat about ‘My Beautiful Sisters’ by Khalida Popal, which was shortlisted this year. The author will join Adrian Durham and our very own Neil Foggin to talk about the book – a gripping memoir about courage, the power of teamwork against all odds and the existence of hope in dark times as Kabul is recaptured by the Taliban.

Listen to the podcast here.

WHAT TO READ THIS MONTH

Another busy month of sport sees the PDC Darts World Championships from Alexandra Palace, the long-awaited rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, the Next Gen ATP Finals and the FINA World Swimming Championships.

Here are some books to whet your appetite:

World Darts Championships

• Fear and Loathing on the Oche: A Gonzo Journey Through the World of Championship (2018 shortlist)

King ADZ dives headfirst into the tempestuous world of darts, meeting former legends, future stars, dominant internationals, the owners, the referees and, of course, the fans. Darts may be a simple game to many, but to most, it’s absolute mayhem.

Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury

• Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing (1996 winner)

Donald McRae’s vivid journey through the intense world of boxing. He examines the way in which race and violence beat at the heart of our society and asks what forces men to pursue this most brutal kind of stardom.

• In Black and White: The Untold Story of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens (2002 winner)

McRae’s second winning book is the biography of two of the world’s greatest athletes – boxer Joe Louis and athlete Jesse Owens. It tells the story of their enduring friendship, their career highs and personal lows.

• Born Fighter (2020 shortlist)

Ruqsana Begum’s tells the story of how she rose to become a Muay Thai world champion. Her book is a tale of empowerment that will inspire anyone who has ever had to battle against the odds and against all the opposition to achieve their goal.

Next Gen ATP Finals

• The Racket (2024 Winner)

Our current champion. Conor Niland’s book is the story of pro tennis’s 99%: the players who roam the globe in the hope of climbing the rankings and squeaking into the Grand Slam tournaments. He paints a vivid picture of the social dynamics on tour, the economics of the game, and the shadows cast by gambling and doping.

• Chasing Points: A Season on the Pro Tennis Circuit (2018 longlist)

Gregory Howe’s book offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a touring tennis professional from the perspective of a real ‘underdog’.

FINA World Swimming Championships

• A Boy in The Water (2018 joint winner)

A life-affirming story of a determined boy, a visionary coach, and how the dream of a record-breaking Channel swim became reality. Tom Gregory’s story is one of a remarkable friendship and a love letter to the intensity and freedom of childhood.

• Swell: A Waterbiography (2017 shortlist)

Part social history, part memoir, Swell shines a light on the ‘swimming suffragettes’. It celebrates some amazing achievements, some ridiculous outfits and some fantastic swimmers who challenge the stereotypes of what women are capable of.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Here are some of the main dates for the 2025 William Hill Sports Book of the Year:

• Closing date for entries: Friday, 29th August 2025
• Last day for books to be received: Friday, 5th September 2025

Books must be published between 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2025 to be entered.

GIVEAWAY

Would you like to win all six books on the 2024 shortlist? How about signed copies? Well, you can. Look out for next month’s Sports Book of the Year newsletter for more details.