Phil Ascough

The Rugby World Cup: it’s the scrum of the earth, the biggest, the best and the most prestigious rugby union tournament in the world. It also throws up some of sport’s most enduring and exciting rivalries, as well as the age-old culture clash of northern versus southern hemisphere. But do you know your All Blacks from your also-rans? Your hooker from your haka? Or do you think a 99 goes in an ice cream? Never Mind the Drop Goal is the ultimate collection of Rugby World Cup teasers. Test yourself and your fellow fans individually or as a team, in the pub, in front of the TV, or en route to a match. Some questions are as tough as a touchline kick for goal, others as straightforward as a penalty in front of the posts. First question: are you up to the challenge?

England haven’t won it since 1966 but every time the World Cup is played, there’s always hope that this year will be the year. The World Cup has its critics but time stands still when your team plays. Hope and horror, passion and pain – and that’s just the draw for the final groups! Never Mind the Penalties is the ultimate collection of World Cup teasers, pulling together the highs and lows, the match-winners and the madness, the bizarre and the beautiful from football’s greatest tournament. Test your mates in the pub, liven up the pre-match warm-up, deliver a little half-time entertainment, and create your own penalty shoot-out. Keep a copy in your pocket as you count down to kick-off – it’s an essential part of your World Cup build-up.

Two fantastic football grounds since the war, two amazing seasons in the Premier League, two spells in administration. Too many questions that we can’t answer, but quite a few that we can. Hull-based journalist Phil Ascough has trawled through his own memories, picked the brains of fellow followers of the black and amber and shaken up the stories to produce a compilation designed to furrow a few eyebrows and also raise a smile. A true reflection of life with the Barmby Army or a load of Bullards? Only you can be the judge of that!