More Than a Shirt by Joey D’Urso longlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025

We are thrilled to share that More Than a Shirt by Joey D’Urso has been longlisted for the world’s longest established and most valuable literary sports-writing prize, the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2025.

Since 1989, the award has shone a spotlight on outstanding sports writing, with past winners including Duncan Hamilton, Michael Holding, Jeremy Wilson, and Lauren Fleshman. The 2025 judging panel will be chaired by Alyson Rudd, with Clarke Carlisle, Elis James, Gabby Logan, Mark Lawson, Dame Heather Rabbatts and Michelle Wilder making up the rest of the panel.

The reading panel said More Than a Shirt, ‘takes an integral part of football culture and tilts it so you view it in a whole new light.’

The shortlist will be announced on 30th October with the official awards ceremony taking place on 25th November where the winner will be announced.

The winning author will receive both the coveted William Hill Sports Book of the Year trophy as well as £30,000 in cash, whilst the rest of the shortlisted authors will receive a leather-bound copy of their book along with £3,000 in cash each.