Jenny Leonard 💙

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

So proud of our brother John’s final book, Escape from Berlin. John died before publication, but the story is as he intended. V emotional for our family ❤️ @PitchPublishing @JohnLeonard1908 Escape from Berlin: England's Bert Sproston https://t.co/ZEj2aex9zW

[Football and War @footballandwar]

@footballandwar highly recommends the late John Leonard's final book. It is now on sale - so why not buy a copy!

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@PitchPublishing Thank you @PitchPublishing

[Pitch Publishing 📚 Sports Books @PitchPublishing]

🔴⚪️ From 2018, Tony Waddington, is the biography of the former Stoke City manager, charting how he reversed the fortunes of an ailing football club.

📚 An advocate of free-flowing football and uncompromising defence, 'Waddo' reinvigorated old pros, inspired young stars and led his club to its first major trophy. He did so as director of what he fondly called 'a working man's ballet'.

https://t.co/iJ1Kl9Ndg7

[Pitch Publishing 📚 Sports Books @PitchPublishing]

📚 Published in 2020, and shortlisted for the Football Book of the Year, Flight to Bogotá charts an infamous episode in sports history, when UK footballers turned their backs on club and country before the 1950 World Cup for a sporting El Dorado.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England’s Neil Franklin led the rebellion, only to return home with his career in tatters. But the players’ vociferous defence of their behaviour enlightened a shocked nation.

https://t.co/NRSo78NjfL

[Pitch Publishing 📚 Sports Books @PitchPublishing]

⚽️ Escape from Berlin: England’s Bert Sproston and the Football Refugee is an inspiring footballing tale of redemption.

🏟️ From the terraces of the Olympiastadion to the turmoil of pre‑war Europe, this is a powerful true story of courage, coincidence and the extraordinary reach of football in history’s most dangerous hour:

— The true story of how England defender Bert Sproston helped rescue Jewish teenager Rolf Friedland from Nazi Berlin

— A compelling journey through 1930s Germany, the rise of fascism and the peril facing Jewish families

— Inside the notorious 1938 England–Germany match, where players were ordered to give the Nazi salute

— How a chance post-match autograph request became a desperate plea for freedom – and succeeded

— A moving narrative of sport, politics and humanity, showing football’s power to both divide and save

— Meticulously researched, revealing the real people, real risks and real courage behind an overlooked moment in history

https://t.co/BUAYPSa6fF

[Pitch Publishing 📚 Sports Books @PitchPublishing]

REMEMBERING JOHN LEONARD

✍️ Pitch author John Leonard was a distinguished news and sports journalist with nearly 40 years’ experience, most of it spent at ITN as a programme editor for both ITV News and 5 News.

💔 John passed away in January 2026, shortly after completing Escape from Berlin. The final stages of production were lovingly overseen by his sisters, Jenny, Fiona, Catherine and Frances, who ensured his work reached readers exactly as he intended.

📚 He wrote a number of books with us, including Flight to Bogotá: England’s Football Rebel, Neil Franklin, shortlisted for Football Book of the Year at the 2021 British Sports Book Awards, and cementing his reputation as a writer with a rare ability to blend deep research with compelling storytelling.

🧵 You can find out more on John’s work and legacy on the thread below.

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

So proud of our brother John’s final book, Escape from Berlin. John died before publication, but the story is as he intended. V emotional for our family ❤️ @PitchPublishing @JohnLeonard1908 Escape from Berlin: England's Bert Sproston https://t.co/ZEj2aex9zW

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

So proud of our brother John’s final book, Escape from Berlin. John died before publication, but the story is as he intended. Very emotional for our family ❤️ Escape from Berlin by John Leonard | Waterstones @PitchPublishing @JohnLeonard1908 https://t.co/7ILl6mrtt3

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@scheritage1863 Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏻

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@footballandwar Thank you for your kind words. It is greatly appreciated.

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@JimWilkz23 Thank you Jim. It is good to hear how much you enjoyed John’s writing

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@wizardsofdrivel Thank you. And thank you for supporting John’s work.

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@fslconsult Thank you Dave. Your kind words are very much appreciated.

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@sarahkern101 @JohnLeonard1908 Thank you so much Sarah

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@ghosh_annesha @JohnLeonard1908 Thank you Annesha for your kind words and for sharing your memories of John 🙏🏻

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@JamesPrattTV Thank you James for sharing your memories of John. We very much appreciate it 🙏🏻

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@Everystepalong @JohnLeonard1908 Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏🏻

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@NeilJamesWriter @JohnLeonard1908 Thank you Neil

[Jenny Leonard 💙 @emeraldsteps]

@RoddyMcDougall @JohnLeonard1908 Thank you Roddy