Here are 16 of the best sports books of 2020, from Muhammad Ali to Ken Scotland, via Craig Whyte, David Murray and Fergus McCann.
Football fans may have been denied entry to grounds but stadiums provided a rich source of material in several new volumes celebrating the game.
Simply scroll down and click through the pages to see The Scotsman’s recommendations for the sports books of the year.
9. The Exe Men: The Extraordinary Rise of the Exeter Chiefs (Polaris)
Robert Kitson on how a team from Devon became champions of England and Europe. It's no overnight sensation, this was a success built on years of talent spotting and development, and lots of hard work. Exeter Chiefs' double success was a jolt to the English game's traditional powerhouses and had a strong Scottish flavour, with Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray, Sam Skinner and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne all playing their part. Kitson, the Guardian's rugby writer, deserves credit for a great story well told. Photo: Contributed
10. Busby's Last Crusade: From Munich to Wembley: A Pictorial History (Birlinn)
The story of how Manchester United rose from the ashes of the Munich air disaster in 1958 to become champions of Europe 10 years later. The crash almost killed manager Matt Busby but he returned to rebuild another great United team after his first was destroyed. Author Jeff Connor, a former Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday staffer, is an engaging writer and his words are accompanied by over 200 images. Photo: Contributed
11. Into The Bear Pit: The Explosive Autobiography (Birlinn)
Craig Whyte is the venture capitalist who bought Rangers from David Murray for a pound then oversaw the club's descent into administration. Whyte was vilified but inherited an institution mired in debt. Here, he gets to tell his side of the story and he doesn't sugar-coat it. Choice quotes include: “I thought the board were a bunch of pompous buffoons and meeting them served no purpose. I decided they were all going to have to go sooner rather than later.” Photo: Contributed
12. More Than A Game: Living with the Old Firm (Luath)
Archie Macpherson frames his history of the Old Firm around the notorious 1980 Scottish Cup final which ended in a riot and led directly to the banning of alcohol in sports grounds in Scotland, a ban which remains for football. Few are better qualified than the veteran commentator to dissect an age-old rivalry which continues to dominate the Scottish game to an unhealthy degree. Photo: Contributed