S&S signs new England football team biography by Hayward

Simon & Schuster has signed a historical biography on England’s football team by Paul Hayward, the Daily Telegraph’s chief sports writer.

Deputy publishing director Ian Marshall acquired world rights from David Luxton of David Luxton Associates, after Hayward previously ghosted memoirs for Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alex Ferguson. The publication date is yet to be set.

"After our success with Simon Wilde’s England: The Biography, which told the story of England cricket, we wanted to follow it up with a book that looks at the story of England’s football team," said Marshall.  "As arguably the top sportswriter of our times, Paul was our first choice for the job and I was thrilled that he was immediately inspired by the project and that we were able to reach a deal to work together on this important book. The story of our national obsession with the England team couldn’t be in better hands, and this will be an essential read for fans of the game."

Hayward added: "It’s a privilege to be given the chance to write a biography of the England football team over a century and a half for such an illustrious publisher. Drawing on archives and personal histories across the country, I intend to tell the full story of the No 1 fixation in English sport, not as chronology but thematically. My 25 years on the road with England are the starting point in a quest to cast fresh light on the national team – and on us. Together we aim to create a book that will inform, challenge and, above all, entertain."