Tom Williams – författare

‘Excellent' – Simon Kuper, author of the bestselling FOOTBALL AGAINST THE ENEMY‘The definitive story of how French football came of age’ – Christian Karembeu‘Erudite and engrossing' – Vincent Duluc, lead football writer, L’ÉQUIPETHE PLAYERS, THE TEAMS, THE GOALS, THE GAMES, THE SCANDALS, THE GLOOM AND THE GLORY: THE STORY OF FRENCH FOOTBALL’S TURBULENT EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.French football is an enigma: a mixture of brilliance and farce, flair and frailty, stunning success and abject failure. Its domestic league is mocked on social media as an uncompetitive ‘Farmers League’ and its clubs ridiculed for underachieving in European competitions. But France have reached four of the past seven men’s World Cup finals, French players star for the world’s best clubs and at its best – the roar of the Vélodrome, the glamour of the Parc des Princes, the shimmering brilliance of Zinédine Zidane, Éric Cantona and Kylian Mbappé – French football has few equals. When it comes to scandal, meanwhile, the French are the best in the business, from sensational match-fixing affairs to squabbles over sex tapes and meltdowns within the national squad.Tom Williams brings to life French football’s evolution over the last 40 years. He details how the idealistic romanticism of the national team in the early 1980s gave way to an Italian-style pragmatism that would lead Les Bleus to the summit of the international game, and examines how several star-studded club sides grappled with the thorny notion of how to win. By delving into French football's rich history, the book explains the myriad ways – tactical, technical and cultural – in which France has shaped the game’s evolution around the world.Featuring exclusive interviews with great figures of the French game such as Alain Giresse, Jean-Pierre Papin, Emmanuel Petit and Blaise Matuidi, and with a cast of characters that also includes Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Chris Waddle and Lionel Messi, it's a book no football fan will want to miss.----‘A comprehensive account of the highs, lows and scandals of French football’ – Jonathan Wilson, author of the bestselling INVERTING THE PYRAMID

‘Excellent' – Simon Kuper‘The definitive story’ – Christian KarembeuA REVISED AND UPDATED EDITION, INCLUDING NEW EXCLUSIVE PSG CONTENTGlory, scandal and how French football came of ageLe foot français has come a long way over the last 40 years, with France reaching four of the past seven men’s World Cup finals (winning two) and French players starring for the world’s biggest clubs.Culminating in a comprehensive account of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph in 2025, Tom Williams explores French football’s turbulent modern transformation. From match-fixing affairs to sex-tape scandals, monumental matches to heart-stopping headbutts, he details how philosophies, personalities and power struggles have defined each era.Featuring exclusive interviews with French greats such as Alain Giresse, Jean-Pierre Papin and Blaise Matuidi, and with a cast including Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane and Kylian Mbappé, Va-Va-Voom is the inside track on France’s footballing revolution.

Why the field of robotics tends to reinforce white patriarchal systems of power—and how roboticists can work to change these systems.In Degrees of Freedom, Tom Williams explores critical questions at the intersection of robotics and social justice. He considers the ways in which roboticists design their robots’ appearance, how robots think and act, how robots perceive people, and the domains into which robots are deployed. The book highlights not only the ways roboticists tend to reinforce white patriarchal power structures but also how roboticists might instead subvert those power structures by applying theories and methods from a diverse range of fields.Drawing on computer science; history and politics; law, criminology, and sociology; feminist, ethnic, and Black studies; literary and media studies; and social, moral, and cognitive psychology, the book connects questions of robot design with larger abolitionist movements by presenting a vision for a more socially just future of robotics.

The role of the operating department practitioner has evolved considerably in recent years, and both trainee and practising ODPs need a practical, up-to-date resource on terminology and current practice. Each entry in the second edition of Operating Department Practice A-Z has been fully updated and contains both a short definition and a more detailed description of the term or procedure, with supporting information to give the reader a deeper understanding of the field. In addition, the book contains useful appendices on medical terminology and abbreviations, normal values, medical and scientific symbols, and a list of useful websites for further reference. Written by two of the UK's most experienced Operating Department Practice lecturers, Operating Department Practice A-Z, second edition provides practical, concise information for all peri-operative staff members.

''Excellent'' – Simon Kuper, author of the bestselling FOOTBALL AGAINST THE ENEMY''The definitive story of how French football came of age'' – Christian Karembeu''Erudite and engrossing'' – Vincent Duluc, lead football writer, L''ÉQUIPETHE PLAYERS, THE TEAMS, THE GOALS, THE GAMES, THE SCANDALS, THE GLOOM AND THE GLORY: THE STORY OF FRENCH FOOTBALL''S TURBULENT EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.French football is an enigma: a mixture of brilliance and farce, flair and frailty, stunning success and abject failure. Its domestic league is mocked on social media as an uncompetitive ''Farmers League'' and its clubs ridiculed for underachieving in European competitions. But France have reached four of the past seven men''s World Cup finals, French players star for the world''s best clubs and at its best – the roar of the Vélodrome, the glamour of the Parc des Princes, the shimmering brilliance of Zinédine Zidane, Éric Cantona and Kylian Mbappé – French football has few equals. When it comes to scandal, meanwhile, the French are the best in the business, from sensational match-fixing affairs to squabbles over sex tapes and meltdowns within the national squad.Tom Williams brings to life French football''s evolution over the last 40 years. He details how the idealistic romanticism of the national team in the early 1980s gave way to an Italian-style pragmatism that would lead Les Bleus to the summit of the international game, and examines how several star-studded club sides grappled with the thorny notion of how to win. By delving into French football''s rich history, the book explains the myriad ways – tactical, technical and cultural – in which France has shaped the game''s evolution around the world.Featuring exclusive interviews with great figures of the French game such as Alain Giresse, Jean-Pierre Papin, Emmanuel Petit and Blaise Matuidi, and with a cast of characters that also includes Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Chris Waddle and Lionel Messi, it''s a book no football fan will want to miss.----''A comprehensive account of the highs, lows and scandals of French football'' – Jonathan Wilson, author of the bestselling INVERTING THE PYRAMID

''Excellent'' – Simon Kuper, author of the bestselling FOOTBALL AGAINST THE ENEMY''The definitive story of how French football came of age'' – Christian Karembeu''Erudite and engrossing'' – Vincent Duluc, lead football writer, L''ÉQUIPETHE PLAYERS, THE TEAMS, THE GOALS, THE GAMES, THE SCANDALS, THE GLOOM AND THE GLORY: THE STORY OF FRENCH FOOTBALL''S TURBULENT EVOLUTION OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.French football is an enigma: a mixture of brilliance and farce, flair and frailty, stunning success and abject failure. Its domestic league is mocked on social media as an uncompetitive ''Farmers League'' and its clubs ridiculed for underachieving in European competitions. But France have reached four of the past seven men''s World Cup finals, French players star for the world''s best clubs and at its best – the roar of the Vélodrome, the glamour of the Parc des Princes, the shimmering brilliance of Zinédine Zidane, Éric Cantona and Kylian Mbappé – French football has few equals. When it comes to scandal, meanwhile, the French are the best in the business, from sensational match-fixing affairs to squabbles over sex tapes and meltdowns within the national squad.Tom Williams brings to life French football''s evolution over the last 40 years. He details how the idealistic romanticism of the national team in the early 1980s gave way to an Italian-style pragmatism that would lead Les Bleus to the summit of the international game, and examines how several star-studded club sides grappled with the thorny notion of how to win. By delving into French football''s rich history, the book explains the myriad ways – tactical, technical and cultural – in which France has shaped the game''s evolution around the world.Featuring exclusive interviews with great figures of the French game such as Alain Giresse, Jean-Pierre Papin, Emmanuel Petit and Blaise Matuidi, and with a cast of characters that also includes Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Chris Waddle and Lionel Messi, it''s a book no football fan will want to miss.----''A comprehensive account of the highs, lows and scandals of French football'' – Jonathan Wilson, author of the bestselling INVERTING THE PYRAMID

‘At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world... Sparky and very funny' – Paul Hayward‘A reminder that there are few better means of celebrating both our differences and similarities than the game of football' – The GuardianA new edition of an expertly compiled and utterly fascinating compendium of the weird and wonderful words and phrases used to describe football around the world.In this revised glossary of football words and phrases, discover the rich, quirky and joyously creative global language used by fans, commentators and players.From placing a shot 'where the owl sleeps' in Brazil, to what it means to use your 'chocolate leg' in the Netherlands, via 'Anglican' – a phrase adopted by Czechs to describe a disputed goal – and the now ubiquitous 'it's coming home', this comprehensively researched book entertains and informs in equal measure.Discover why a 'café crème' is more than a classic bistro order, what it means when an Indian coach uses his 'brain weapon' and why Dundee United supporters should keep their heads down in Nigeria.With over 750 terms from 89 countries (including 29 ways to describe a nutmeg), this is the definitive guide to the global language of football.

''At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world... Sparky and very funny'' – Paul Hayward''A reminder that there are few better means of celebrating both our differences and similarities than the game of football'' – The GuardianA new edition of an expertly compiled and utterly fascinating compendium of the weird and wonderful words and phrases used to describe football around the world. In this revised glossary of football words and phrases, discover the rich, quirky and joyously creative global language used by fans, commentators and players.From placing a shot ''where the owl sleeps'' in Brazil, to what it means to use your ''chocolate leg'' in the Netherlands, via ''Anglican'' – a phrase adopted by Czechs to describe a disputed goal – and the now ubiquitous ''it''s coming home'', this comprehensively researched book entertains and informs in equal measure.Discover why a ''café crème'' is more than a classic bistro order, what it means when an Indian coach uses his ''brain weapon'' and why Dundee United supporters should keep their heads down in Nigeria.With over 750 terms from 89 countries (including 29 ways to describe a nutmeg), this is the definitive guide to the global language of football.

''At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world... Sparky and very funny'' – Paul Hayward''A reminder that there are few better means of celebrating both our differences and similarities than the game of football'' – The GuardianA new edition of an expertly compiled and utterly fascinating compendium of the weird and wonderful words and phrases used to describe football around the world. In this revised glossary of football words and phrases, discover the rich, quirky and joyously creative global language used by fans, commentators and players.From placing a shot ''where the owl sleeps'' in Brazil, to what it means to use your ''chocolate leg'' in the Netherlands, via ''Anglican'' – a phrase adopted by Czechs to describe a disputed goal – and the now ubiquitous ''it''s coming home'', this comprehensively researched book entertains and informs in equal measure.Discover why a ''café crème'' is more than a classic bistro order, what it means when an Indian coach uses his ''brain weapon'' and why Dundee United supporters should keep their heads down in Nigeria.With over 750 terms from 89 countries (including 29 ways to describe a nutmeg), this is the definitive guide to the global language of football.

This book of poetry reflects Toms more serious side. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit, each poem being written in the early hours of the morning. It is what I call real bloke poetry. Though it is suitable for a general audience, it is aimed at real blokes. I am hoping to make it available for prison ministry.

This book is about artists and activists who have embraced mimicry as a subversive tactic. Bringing together the contributions of seventeen writers, it addresses the ways in which artists have responded to power and ideology by imitating its outward forms. These contributors address in particular the current age of fantasy and political deception, and they consider the work of artists who have reacted by using dissimulation and make-believe themselves. Chapters include discussions of mimicry in reference to a number developments and debates: the post-truth era, the neoliberal consensus, the politics of race and gender, online subcultures, and the rise of the new right.An electronic version of the introductory chapter is available under a creative commons licence.