Wisden makes play for sports books with new imprint

02.06.10 | Catherine Neilan in The Bookseller

The legendary cricketing publisher Wisden is stepping outside cricket for the first time in more than 75 years, with the launch of a new imprint. Wisden Sports Writing will "showcase Britain's best writers on all sports", with the books being edited by Matthew Engel (pictured), the former editor of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.

They will be the first non-cricket books produced by the Bloomsbury-owned firm since John Wisden’s Rugby Football Almanack was discontinued in 1925-26.

Engel said: "We intend to publish only a handful of books each year and the aim is that every one of them will be of very high quality.

"Wisden has always aspired to excellence, and we want this series to reflect our values: elegant, intelligent and witty books that will transcend individual sports and say something about life."

Engel added: "The main criterion, though, is whether they are books I want to read, and I think that’s a pretty good basis on which to edit anything. Our first three authors are all in the top echelon of their profession, and I’m confident they are going to set an unbeatable standard."

The first three writers signed up for the new venture include two winners of the Sports Journalist of the Year award, Patrick Collins and Ian Ridley, plus The Guardian’s Screen Break columnist, Martin Kelner, who is writing a history of sport on TV. Their books are scheduled for publication in 2011.

None of the first batch of books will be on cricket, though Engel said they were not necessarily being excluded. “It’s just a question of finding the right authors and the right subjects,” he explained.

Collins' book - his first - will be explore the world of the sports fan, while Ridley, whose footballing experience includes two stints as chairman of Weymouth FC, will be travelling the country to examine how the game has changed in the 20 years of the Premier League.

The cricket almanack is due to celebrate its 150th edition in 2013, and the publisher said it would not be affected by the new project.

Engel will be working closely with Jill Coleman, the managing director of A&C Black, Charlotte Atyeo, A&C Black’s sports and fitness publisher, and consultant Christopher Lane, the former managing director of John Wisden.
"However tough it was for publishing in the 1920s, it’s harder now," said Engel. "But I firmly believe that readers want high-class writing. And I’m hugely encouraged that Bloomsbury share that view."

Bloomsbury imprint A&C Black acquired Wisden two years ago.