Pitch

Inside every issue of Pitch magazine you will find stories, long and short, covering at least 30 different sports. There’s football, cricket, rugby – both types – golf, MMA, boxing, athletics and F1. And loads of others. Because ultimately we are sports fanatics.

DRAWING ON OUR INFLUENCES

WHEN CRICKET CAME TO TOWN

Pitch

FRONT ROW / CONTRIBUTORS

CASHING OUT

In 60 Seconds… With Ezra Collective • WE TOOK A MINUTE OF FEMI AND TJ KOLEOSO’S TIME TO ASK A LIFETIME OF QUESTIONS. SPORTING OR OTHERWISE.

Now Playing. • Songs that have soundtracked this fantastic summer of sport.

SCHEMATICA Please welcome LIMIT3D to the tee • On 24 hours notice, Bryson DeChambeau announced he would be using 3D-printed irons before the 2024 Masters. The ‘novelty’ proved to be a Major-winning novelty at Augusta and an indication of future club design.

Rated. • The latest and greatest football gear for those that want it most.

…Windsurf. • Keeping you out of the drink one wave at a time.

Kerri Walsh-Jennings.

Basic, Better, Best… • THROUGH HISTORY

Speedway. • It's not as easy as it looks. Or sounds.

Whatever Happened to… The 4-4-2? • Superseded by the relative wokeness of tiki-taka, gegenpress, and inverted fullbacks, this once-untouchable nigh-on cultural phenomenon gave formality and structure to English football. Only for it to simply disappear.

Bilbao • A guide to the Spanish port’s sporting charms.

Backyards – No.6 Stade Rochelais @ Stade Marcel-Deflandre • France's belligerent best.

Club Call: Atalanta BC • Bergamo’s Nerazzuri by style form and function.

Alt. Icons. LOSING WINNERS • Andy Afford takes a goz at some of the world’s most unlikely top ‘worst’ performers and performances.

Book Talk. • Jade Cradock turns the page on sports latest and greatest long reads.

In 10 Characters, or Less… • A whole sport through one pool of superstars.

The Solheim Cup • Pitch tees up the most highly coveted trophy in women’s golf.

Where is it happening?

For The Record • The Solheim Cup in numbers.

Getting The Nod • Forget qualifying, Pitch plucks out five of the best to make it via the captain’s picks in Solheim Cup history.

When the foot obeys the head • PAUL SIMPSON LOOKS AT THE FORMATIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND EXPERIENCES OF MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA, OUTLINING WHY THIS SERIAL WINNER IS REVERED BUT RARELY, IF EVER, FULLY UNDERSTOOD.

THE GUARDIOLA PARADOX

Queen of Courts • How Diede de Groot, a nature-loving tennis champion deals with winning, losing, and letting go in the name of progress.

Quittin' Time: What's So Wrong With Being A Faded Great? • Deciding when an athlete’s time is up has always been a bit of a matrix. A combination of personal soul searching, outside media conjecture; all played out in the court of public opinion. Pitch editor and former journeyman professional cricketer, Andy Afford, rakes over the coals of his own mid- tempo career whilst taking pot shots at the respective merits of the retirements of others.

DJOKING AROUND • IN HIS LATEST BOOK, SEARCHING FOR NOVAK, MARK HODGKINSON UNCOVERS THE RAGE, FORGIVENESS, SHAME, PRIDE AND LOVE BEHIND THE ENIGMA.

AYRTON SENNA

Helmets of Distinction • Lids that made an impact across sport

Showreel • TWO DECADES SPENT TAKING PHOTOS OF SPORTSPEOPLE. EVERY JOB HAS A STORY.

SHOT(S) • MOMENTS THAT MATTERED FROM A BLOCKBUSTER SUMMER OF SPORT.

OBITS • In passing.

Baddies. No.12 Byron Moreno • The series delving into the darker arts of former sports personalities reaches its 12th edition – a shady ref from Ecuador. More Stories of Modern...