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13 Father's Day Books for your Sports Mad Dad

4 min read

Buying gifts for friends and family can be a daunting task. Buying a gift for your dad on Father's Day can be nothing short of a nightmare. What do dads even like, anyway? Well, with this this list of vintage sports books you're sure to find something your old man will appreciate - whether it's a sports guide to get him off the sofa and back onto the football field, or an antique sporting picture collection to remind him of his pre-beer belly days!

 

1. The Art of Winning Games Without Actually Cheating by Stephen Potter

Let's start with an obvious choice for obvious reasons - dads will always want to be seen as the men of the house. What better way to reassert this dominance than by reigning victorious over all others during a heated family game night? This copy of The Art of Winning Games Without Actually Cheating is perfect for helping your dad achieve just that, but be warned... once the winning starts, the gloating never stops!

 

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2. The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship by Stephen Potter

Continuing the list with another rousing read by Stephen Potter, The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship will further lend your dad a helping hand on how to conquer all competition from the get-go - including a variety of sports he may not quite be up to scratch with in his ripe old age!

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3. Sporting Pictures of England by Guy Paget

On seconds thoughts, perhaps a slightly less rousing gift may be a good idea if you have a particularly competitive pops... this Sporting Pictures of England book is a brilliant gift idea for any of the older dads out there who grew up in a time significantly different to our own. While not everyone is able relate to the fanaticism of modern sports (football fans can get particularly rowdy nowadays, can't they?), this picture book provides excellent insight into classic English sports, including hunting and much more.

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4. British Chess by Kenneth Matthews

Or perhaps your old man simply isn't all that enthusiastic about exerting his energy too much anymore. Who can blame him? He's already taken on the role of dad after all, and that takes more effort than any sport ever could. This vintage chess book includes the history and interesting facts of this timeless board game, making it ideal for a dad who isn't caught up in the sheer brutality of rugby or the lightning-quick pace of football.

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5. Fishing With Mr Crabtree - In All Waters

Speaking of peaceful sports-like activities, what dad doesn't enjoy a spot of fishing on a quiet Sunday? This vintage fishing book includes tips, guidance, explanations, and even comic strip guides on fishing, making it the perfect gift for father's day as summer begins - what a catch!

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6. English Cricket by Neville Cardus

Ah, cricket. Having been founded in the 16th century, is there any finer example of a classic English sport? This vintage cricket book is a stellar choice for any dad who is a fan of classic cricket - and I think it's safe to say there are a lot of dad-fans out there when it comes to this spiffing sport!

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7. Rothmans Jubilee History of Cricket

Given what a staple of British culture cricket has been for decades, it wouldn't have felt right only having one classic cricket book mentioned on this list. Beginning with details on the shaping of modern cricket as far back as the late 19th century, this vintage sports books is both informative and interesting, making it ideal for any cricket-mad dad out there.

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8. Classic Snooker by Ray Reardon

What English dad hasn't spent a good deal of time over the snooker table, a queue in one hand and a pint in the other? This classic snooker guide makes for the perfect Father's Day gift to help your old man keep on top of his game, with great tips and advice crammed into one vintage snooker book by none other than snooker champion Ray Reardon.

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9. Know the Game - Table Tennis

One of the greatest and most popular indoor sports in existence, table tennis is the perfect way to partake in a little father and son bonding. In that regard, this book makes the perfect gift, as well as being an effective way to keep your dad active even inside the house. Table not included!

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10. Know the Game - Card Games

Another Know the Game classic, and another great choice for any dad out there who isn't quite so willing to climb up from the couch, this book of card games serves perfectly for some one-on-one son/daughter-and-father bonding. Besides, what says "classic dad" more than a good old pack of cards?

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11. Play Better Golf Collection

If any one of these books doesn't quite hit the spot, then why not grab a full collection of them? This Better Play Golf book collection contains six (yes, six!) unique guides on how to improve different parts of your golf game, which is sure to be a reliable and valuable gift for any and all of the many golfing dads out there wanting to turn their double bogey into an ace.

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12. Vintage Boxing News Annual 1967

You can take the dog out of the fight, but you can't take the fight out of the dog! Not every old man is old at heart, and this boxing annual from 1967 is the perfect way to get him feeling rowdy again - so purchase this at your own peril...

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13. The Man Who Didn't Wash His Dishes

Okay, so this one might not strictly (or at all) be a sports book, but it's a fun reminder for your dad to clean the dishes every once in a while. It might not even do the trick, but it's sure to get a good laugh out of your old man on Father's Day - and what's the point of celebrating such days, if not with a little laughter? And as a bonus, if this gift does do the trick, it's sure to make your mother happy too! 

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