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Simply the Best: The Inside Story of How Wigan Became Rugby League's Greatest Cup Team and Won Eight in a Row
Simply The Best is the inside story of hard men and extraordinary achievement. Wigan became rugby league's greatest cup team in history when they won eight Challenge Cups in a row at Wembley. On the way, greats such as Shaun Edwards, Martin Offiah, and Jason Robinson joined with local talent to show the world how sporting empires are built.
256 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2017
About the author
Frank Malley
13 books4 followersFrank Malley could tell you he has kicked with Jonny Wilkinson, played tennis with Greg Rusedski, sailed with Ben Ainslie and played in a cup final at Wembley.
All of which are true, but in reality he is a writer who spent a lifetime watching, reporting and marvelling at the feats of men and women with talents he could only ever dream about. It has taken him around the world to places as diverse as Tirana and Tokyo.
As a columnist and deputy sports editor with the Daily Express for 15 years and as chief writer with Press Association Sport, he covered Olympic Games, World Cups in football and rugby and top events in golf, tennis and motor racing.
He was also shortlisted for Columnist of the Year in the Sports Journalists’ Association awards.
Born in Wigan, he is the author of eight books, most recently THE KILLING CIRCLE - published by Sharpe Books (October 2023). The third and final book in the Emily Stearn series. An action-packed thriller in which the main code-breaking character infiltrates a gang of female mercenaries who are intent on stealing the UK's defence secrets.
THE HIT LIST, book 2 in the Emily Stearn thriller series, published on March 2nd 2023 by Sharpe Books is a fast-paced spy story pitting a young female British Intelligence officer against a top Russian assassin. It is the sequel to THE 13TH ASSASSIN, a cosy murder mystery cum spy tale, also published by Sharpe Books on 19 April 2022. This book was inspired by a holiday in the seaside resort of Weymouth overlooking Portland Bay, famous for the Portland Spy ring which operated in the 1950s and 60s.
His first novel, WHEN THE MIST CLEARS, was published on 14 May 2020 by Whisper Publishing and was inspired by his part-time voluntary work for charity, transporting cancer patients in an ambulance car to radiotherapy treatment. The book is a tribute to some of the inspiring characters who, despite their fears, invariably make the car journeys funny, irreverent and life affirming. All royalties go to the Primrose Car Service (part of the Bedford Hospital and Friends charity).
The sequel, a crime mystery entitled IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, featuring the same main characters, was released in August 2022.
Non-fiction publications:
LIVING ON THE DEADLINE is a memoir of his life as a sports journalist, described by the Library Journal of America as ‘Fun and exciting to read’ and ‘A warm and witty reflection of a career well spent’.
All royalties from this book go directly to a Multiple Sclerosis charity.
SIMPLY THE BEST– The inside story of how Wigan became rugby’s greatest cup team, pays homage to his home town of ‘pie eaters’ and arguably one of the most successful sports teams of all time. Royalties from this book also help support the Joining Jack charity, which was set up to aid Jack Johnson, the son of former Wigan player Andy Johnson, when he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The charity, backed by England rugby union captain Owen Farrell and many other sports stars, has grown into a multi-million-pound initiative which helps thousands of children suffering from the disease.
CHAMPIONS - the 26 year quest for glory, tells the story of Manchester United’s first Premier League title win. The book rose to number four in the UK best sellers’ charts and was endorsed and promoted by George Best.
He enjoys cycling, playing the piano and is a keen pub quizzer and box-set watcher. He lives with his wife, Carole, in a small, picturesque village in deepest Bedfordshire.
All of which are true, but in reality he is a writer who spent a lifetime watching, reporting and marvelling at the feats of men and women with talents he could only ever dream about. It has taken him around the world to places as diverse as Tirana and Tokyo.
As a columnist and deputy sports editor with the Daily Express for 15 years and as chief writer with Press Association Sport, he covered Olympic Games, World Cups in football and rugby and top events in golf, tennis and motor racing.
He was also shortlisted for Columnist of the Year in the Sports Journalists’ Association awards.
Born in Wigan, he is the author of eight books, most recently THE KILLING CIRCLE - published by Sharpe Books (October 2023). The third and final book in the Emily Stearn series. An action-packed thriller in which the main code-breaking character infiltrates a gang of female mercenaries who are intent on stealing the UK's defence secrets.
THE HIT LIST, book 2 in the Emily Stearn thriller series, published on March 2nd 2023 by Sharpe Books is a fast-paced spy story pitting a young female British Intelligence officer against a top Russian assassin. It is the sequel to THE 13TH ASSASSIN, a cosy murder mystery cum spy tale, also published by Sharpe Books on 19 April 2022. This book was inspired by a holiday in the seaside resort of Weymouth overlooking Portland Bay, famous for the Portland Spy ring which operated in the 1950s and 60s.
His first novel, WHEN THE MIST CLEARS, was published on 14 May 2020 by Whisper Publishing and was inspired by his part-time voluntary work for charity, transporting cancer patients in an ambulance car to radiotherapy treatment. The book is a tribute to some of the inspiring characters who, despite their fears, invariably make the car journeys funny, irreverent and life affirming. All royalties go to the Primrose Car Service (part of the Bedford Hospital and Friends charity).
The sequel, a crime mystery entitled IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK, featuring the same main characters, was released in August 2022.
Non-fiction publications:
LIVING ON THE DEADLINE is a memoir of his life as a sports journalist, described by the Library Journal of America as ‘Fun and exciting to read’ and ‘A warm and witty reflection of a career well spent’.
All royalties from this book go directly to a Multiple Sclerosis charity.
SIMPLY THE BEST– The inside story of how Wigan became rugby’s greatest cup team, pays homage to his home town of ‘pie eaters’ and arguably one of the most successful sports teams of all time. Royalties from this book also help support the Joining Jack charity, which was set up to aid Jack Johnson, the son of former Wigan player Andy Johnson, when he was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The charity, backed by England rugby union captain Owen Farrell and many other sports stars, has grown into a multi-million-pound initiative which helps thousands of children suffering from the disease.
CHAMPIONS - the 26 year quest for glory, tells the story of Manchester United’s first Premier League title win. The book rose to number four in the UK best sellers’ charts and was endorsed and promoted by George Best.
He enjoys cycling, playing the piano and is a keen pub quizzer and box-set watcher. He lives with his wife, Carole, in a small, picturesque village in deepest Bedfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 20, 2018
I absolutely loved this! Such a lovely reminder of a wonderful time in this fan’s life. Fantastic insight from so many favourite players too (particularly you, Joe Lydon).
April 10, 2020
Informative, funny in places. Enjoyed this read as someone trying to learn my team's history.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews