Did you know that Henry VIII owned the first pair of football boots? Or that David Attenborough is responsible for yellow tennis balls? A Load of Old Balls is the curious story of us and sport. It's about our mind-blowingly determined attempts to be the fastest, the strongest, the most skilful. In this endlessly entertaining tale of play and belonging, astonishing violence and jaw-dropping cheating, we learn what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed and discover why Michael Palin was disqualified from a conker tournament. Crossing millennia, continents and cultures, Harkin and Ptaszynski - the brainy researchers for BBC's QI and co-hosts of No Such Thing As A Fish -show us sport as we've never seen it before.
Hand Wash
UK Standard Delivery
£3.99
Next Day Delivery
£5.99
Northern Ireland Standard Delivery
£3.99
InPost Delivery *NEW*
£2.49
Evri Parcel Shop
£3.99
Evri Parcel Shop - Next Day Delivery
£5.99
Premium DPD Next Day Delivery
£7.99
Premier - unlimited free next day delivery for a year with Premier Delivery for £9.99
Please note, some delivery methods are not available for products delivered by our brand partners & they may have longer delivery times
Something not quite right? You have 28 days from the day you receive it, to send something back.
Please note, for hygiene reasons, some of our items cannot be returned or refunded, including; Underwear, Pierced Jewellery, Grooming Products and Fragrance.
Items of footwear and/or clothing must be unworn and unwashed with the original labels attached. Also, footwear must be tried on indoors. Items of homeware including bedlinen, mattresses, and toppers, and pillows must be unused and in their original unopened packaging. This does not affect your statutory rights.
Click here to view our full Returns Policy.
Boxer Gifts
A Load of Balls
Protect Your Purchase?
Extend your warranty and protect your purchase against accidental damage and defects.
Protects your new A Load of Balls against breakdowns and faults once the manufacturer's warranty period is over.
Covers issues not included in your manufacturer's warranty, such as accidental damage or theft.
Get a replacement or a cash refund up to the full amount you originally paid for it.
FAQs
XCover is an authorised protection provider owned by Cover Genius, a leading insurtech firm ranked #1 in the Financial Times list of fastest-growing companies. With over 7 million customers globally and an average 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google and Trustpilot, XCover Protection is backed by some of the world's largest insurers including Lloyd's, Generali, Sompo, and Munich Re.
After purchasing XCover Protection, you'll receive a confirmation email with a link to activate your XCover Account. Your coverage starts from the day of purchase. Once activated, you can log in to view your protection documents, certificate, and coverage details at any time.
To file a claim, log in to your XCover Account, select the protection plan you'd like to claim against, and click 'Make a Claim'. You'll need to provide supporting documents relevant to your claim. XCover aims to complete 95% of claims within 3 days, with instant payment on approved claims.
Depending on your country and the type of claim, there may be a small excess or deductible applicable when making a claim. You can find the specific details in your protection wording by logging into your XCover Account.
If you wish to return your product, you'll need to submit a claim through your XCover Account. If approved, you'll receive a shipping label and have 7 days to send the item to the return partner. Once assessed and approved, you'll receive a payout reimbursing you for your item.
- Extend your return window to 35 days
- 100% protection against any shipping mishaps
Did you know that Henry VIII owned the first pair of football boots? Or that David Attenborough is responsible for yellow tennis balls? A Load of Old Balls is the curious story of us and sport. It's about our mind-blowingly determined attempts to be the fastest, the strongest, the most skilful. In this endlessly entertaining tale of play and belonging, astonishing violence and jaw-dropping cheating, we learn what led ancient Egyptian athletes to have their spleens removed and discover why Michael Palin was disqualified from a conker tournament. Crossing millennia, continents and cultures, Harkin and Ptaszynski - the brainy researchers for BBC's QI and co-hosts of No Such Thing As A Fish -show us sport as we've never seen it before.
Hand Wash
UK Standard Delivery
£3.99
Next Day Delivery
£5.99
Northern Ireland Standard Delivery
£3.99
InPost Delivery *NEW*
£2.49
Evri Parcel Shop
£3.99
Evri Parcel Shop - Next Day Delivery
£5.99
Premium DPD Next Day Delivery
£7.99
Premier - unlimited free next day delivery for a year with Premier Delivery for £9.99
Please note, some delivery methods are not available for products delivered by our brand partners & they may have longer delivery times
Something not quite right? You have 28 days from the day you receive it, to send something back.
Please note, for hygiene reasons, some of our items cannot be returned or refunded, including; Underwear, Pierced Jewellery, Grooming Products and Fragrance.
Items of footwear and/or clothing must be unworn and unwashed with the original labels attached. Also, footwear must be tried on indoors. Items of homeware including bedlinen, mattresses, and toppers, and pillows must be unused and in their original unopened packaging. This does not affect your statutory rights.
Click here to view our full Returns Policy.