Books by Wayne Barton

'Remember me for the football' was George Best's last wish before his untimely death, aged just 59. True Genius is the definitive family-backed account of his remarkable career published to coincide with what would have been his 75th birthday. Written by celebrated Manchester United author Wayne Barton.

The 1995-96 season would see the birth of the greatest football team Britain has ever seen but it began with a crisis at Old Trafford and rebellion within the ranks of supporters. The Manchester United behemoth had stirred in 1993 to win the title their fans craved and they retained it a year later playing dynamic counter-attacking football. Yet by August 1995 fans were calling for manager Alex Ferguson's resignation following the sales of Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis. A defeat at Aston Villa in their first league game of the season prompted former Liverpool player Alan Hansen's to utter the immortal words "You can't win anything with kids" and he was not the only one to dismiss a title challenge for Ferguson's men. With Eric Cantona still suspended following his attack on a Crystal Palace fan earlier in the year and Newcastle storming into a 10 point lead, United's young team looked anything but champions. Yet by season's end Hansen was left looking shame-faced as United powered to their second League and Cup double in three seasons, overcoming nation's sweethearts Newcastle in the league and Liverpool's over-hyped youngsters in the FA Cup final. Four seasons later the same players would win an unprecedented treble to underline their status as the finest English club team of all time. Wayne Barton recalls the twists and turns of a season that saw controversy, mind games, television outbursts, divine interventions and the return of a legend.

The first comprehensive biography of Rooney's playing career, with brand new stories and exclusive new insights plus unique archive images.

You've heard of David Beckham: the world-famous celebrity, actor, model, entrepreneur, philanthropist and charity ambassador. But what about the footballer behind the brand? Drawing on exclusive interviews with former Beckham team-mates, acclaimed author Wayne Barton explores Beckham's contribution as one of the greatest players of his generation.

In the 1980s Manchester United was the footballing byword for underachievement. The club had struggled to rediscover its identity after the shock dismissal of Tommy Docherty in 1977 and a four-year spell under Dave Sexton, a highly respected coach but the polar opposite of his predecessor. Ron Atkinson brought the thrills back to Old Trafford and won two FA Cups before being dismissed in November 1986. 'Big Ron' was the latest in a long line of managers who tried but failed to win the prize United wanted most - the First Division championship. Yet contrary to his reputation for glorious failure, Que Sera, Sera reveals how Atkinson's footballing ideals made him the perfect man to lead the biggest club in the country. Drawing on meticulous research and exclusive interviews, Wayne Barton shines a guiding light on a greatly neglected period of Manchester United history that was filled with big characters and big controversy. Here, for the first time, are the unbridled views of the players, chairman Martin Edwards and 'Big Ron' himself.

When Manchester United were relegated in 1974, just six years after winning the European Cup, it was front page news. How could such a thing happen to the biggest club in Britain? Such a scenario would be even more unthinkable today than Leicester City winning the league. The story is one of the most dramatic in football history and yet, still, largely unexplored. Based on a BT Sport film being developed alongside the book, Too Good to Go Down examines the demise of Manchester United, from the moment Bobby Charlton described the club not winning Division One in 1968 as the best thing that could have happened, through the turbulent reigns of Sir Matt Busbys successors, to the crushing blow of relegation which, ironically, came at a time when the clubs young team were just about to bloom and win over a whole new generation. With brand new, in-depth and exclusive interviews with Tommy Doherty, Sammy McIlroy, Alex Stepney, Stuart Pearson, Lou Macari, Pat Crerand, Willie Morgan, Gordon Hill, Martin Edwards and Paddy Barclay, the most controversial story in the history of footballs biggest institution is fi nally told in full detail.

Featuring colour photographs, this beginner's guide covers tools and materials, the best woods, holding and sharpening chip carving knives and laying out and transferring patterns. It also contains chapters on borders, grids, rosettes, free-form design, positive image design and lettering.