Andy Devaney
The William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025 has revealed its longlist, and as ever it’s a feast of words, wit, and sweat-stained storytelling. Since its launch in 1989, this prize has been the granddaddy of sporting literature—worth more than a decent centre-forward’s weekly wage back then, and still the most valuable honour in the game today.
Past winners include heavyweights like Duncan Hamilton, Michael Holding, Jeremy Wilson, Lauren Fleshman, and last year’s trailblazer Conor Niland, whose memoir The Racket lifted the lid on life as a tennis journeyman. This year, 15 titles are vying for the crown, with subjects ranging from cricket and football to cycling, boxing, athletics and the universal madness of VAR.
Who’s holding the whistle?
The 2025 judging panel has a proper line-up of its own. Alyson Rudd takes the chair, joined by Clarke Carlisle, Elis James, Gabby Logan, Mark Lawson, Dame Heather Rabbatts, and Michelle Wilder. Their task? To carve the longlist down to a shortlist by 30th October, ahead of the final ceremony on 25th November. Easy work if you enjoy being shouted at on social media for leaving out someone’s favourite sportsman.
The reading panel at William Hill did the first hard graft, sifting through the entries and producing a longlist described as “surprising and inspiring.” Neil Foggin, Media Manager at William Hill and one of the selectors, admitted: “We’re delighted to unveil this year’s longlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year.
The breadth of topics covered has yet again surprised and inspired us – from the intricacies of cricket and football to the cultural and human stories that sport continues to generate across the globe.
“Conor Niland’s unforgettable win last year for his memoir, The Racket, became the first tennis book to scoop the prize in the award’s 36-year history and we’re excited to see who lands this year’s title, with the quality of entries on offer getting stronger each year.
“Narrowing down the entries was no easy task for our reading panel, but what we have is a collection of books that truly capture the drama, spirit and influence of sport in all its forms. Congratulations to all the authors who have made it this far; it’s a huge achievement to be longlisted for such a competitive award.
“We also wish our judging panel luck in finalising the shortlist over the coming month – a hugely challenging task!”
The 15 longlisted titles
- Finding the Edge by Jimmy Anderson
- Ultra Women by Lily Canter and Emma Wilkinson
- I Can’t Stop Thinking About VAR by Daisy Christodoulou
- The Warrior by Christopher Clarey
- States of Play by Miguel Delaney
- More Than a Shirt by Joey D’Urso
- European Football’s Greatest Grounds by Leon Gladwell
- Chasing Salah by Simon Hughes
- The Last Bell by Donald McRae
- Engulfed by James Montague
- Go to War by Jon Spurling
- The Escape by Pippa York and David Walsh
- Test Cricket by Tim Wigmore
- The Power and The Glory by Jonathan Wilson
- The Art of Batting by Jarrod Kimber
Stakes and history
The winner will take home the iconic William Hill Sports Book of the Year trophy along with £30,000, while each shortlisted author receives £3,000 and a leather-bound edition of their work—classy enough to impress even the sternest mother-in-law.
Keep an eye on Donald McRae, who could match Duncan Hamilton’s record of three wins if The Last Bell prevails. McRae’s earlier triumphs came in 1996 with Dark Trade: Lost in Boxing and again in 2002 with In Black and White: The Untold Story of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens. Hamilton still leads the leaderboard with three titles, though history may be equalled this autumn.
Looking ahead
The shortlist lands on 30th October, with the grand announcement on 25th November. By then, one author will have scaled the literary Everest of sports writing, clutching a trophy, £30,000 in prize money, and bragging rights for life.
Until then, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year longlist stands as proof that sport isn’t just about the scores—it’s about the stories that refuse to be forgotten.
