Ron Greenwood


Book Description

This is the first full-length biography of Ron Greenwood, West Ham United's most successful trophy-winning manager - a man who was instrumental in the development of 1966 World Cup-winning heroes Moore, Hurst and Peters. Ron lacked the ruthlessness of his more feted contemporaries, Bill Shankly and Don Revie, with whom his trophy success did not compare. But his West Ham team of the mid-1960s had its own moments of heady triumph - an FA Cup win in 1964 (the club's first), a European Cup Winners' Cup victory in 1965 (only the second European win by an English club) - and crucially they were always easy on the eye, even in defeat. Then there was the little matter of supplying three team members to England's World Cup victory in 1966, at a tournament in which their perfection of Greenwood's near-post cross ploy proved devastating. After 16 years at West Ham, Greenwood became England manager in 1977 and led them to the 1982 World Cup. An impeccable sportsman, deep thinker and skilled communicator, he was a noble servant to football.




Robbo - My Autobiography


Book Description

Bryan Robson is widely remembered as a fearless and inspirational player and captain, both for club and country, whose presence lifted team-mates and intimidated opponents. At his peak, he was acknowledged as the most complete midfield player in the country, and played at the highest level despite a series of devastating injuries. He began his playing career at West Bromwich Albion, then moved to Manchester United in 1981 for a then record British transfer fee of £1.5 million. He soon became captain, and enjoyed regular Cup success, eventually winning the Championship. He also won 90 caps for England, 65 of them as captain. His autobiography reveals a fascinating insight into his days with the England and United camps and characters such as Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker, Roy Keane and Alex Ferguson. He puts the record straight on the 'drink culture' that Ferguson sought to stamp out at United, and describes his pain when he discovered he was surplus to the manager's requirements. He candidly reflects on the highs and lows of his football life, and discusses incidents on the pitch as well as some of the clashes that have happened behind the scenes.




Harry Redknapp - The Biography


Book Description

Harry Redknapp is one of the biggest and best-loved characters in English football. From West Ham to Bournemouth, Portsmouth to Tottenham, legions of fans regard him as one of the game's true legends.• Harry's long career has been packed with twists and turns and plenty of controversy. Signing for West Ham as a 17 year-old, Harry Redknapp made 149 appearances before moving to Bournemouth where he stayed until 1982, leaving to take up his first coaching position with the club. After a major car accident in 1990 Harry was forced to reconsider his career options and made the switch from Bournemouth to West Ham. In 2003 he headed to Portsmouth in what was to be a turbulent time. With a brief spell at Southampton, Harry returned to Portsmouth and in 2008 he steered them to their first FA cup victory in 69 years.• In October 2008 Harry Redknapp joined Tottenham Hotspurs working his 'Harry Houdini' magic to lift them out of the relegation zone in just two weeks. And in 2010 they have made it to the knock-out stages in the Champions Leagues for the first time.




After Extra Time and Penalties: Memories of a BBC Football Correspondent


Book Description

After almost a quarter-century as the BBC's Chief Football Correspondent, Mike Ingham MBE shares a candid, comprehensive and sometimes controversial account of how the world of broadcasting and football changed beyond recognition throughout his career.




Bobby Moore


Book Description

The new edition of the bestselling biography. Bobby Moore was the embodiment of all that was great about English football. Captaining England to glory in 1966 and West Ham to victory in several major tournaments, he was loved and respected throughout the world as football's golden boy. This definitive and authorised biography illuminates the extraordinary story of a sporting hero, from exciting accounts of his World Cup triumph to candid memories of his friendships with Beckenbauer, Eusébio and Pelé. It also reveals the inside story of a life beyond football, updated to include fascinating new material on Moore's enduring legacy in the years following his tragically premature death. Award-winning sports writer Jeff Powell, a close friend and confidant to the Moore family, has created a powerful and fitting tribute, honouring the golden era of English football and the exceptional man at its helm.




What Was Football Like in the 1980s?


Book Description

What Was Football Like in the 1980s? provides a fascinating and insightful perspective on the game in a decade when football faced major challenges on and off the field. The author's own memories and experiences are augmented by a wealth of research to bring you the definitive account of the clubs, players, managers, referees, grounds, crowds and competitions that defined '80s football. The book examines the Hillsborough, Heysel and Bradford fire tragedies, along with the increasingly commercialised aspects of the game and the evolution of televised football. The scourge of hooliganism - which reached its height in the 1980s - is also given due consideration. What Was Football Like in the 1980s? is an enthralling and illuminating account of a truly remarkable decade for the beautiful game, penned by a respected football author and journalist. How different was the sport 30 to 40 years ago? Richard Crooks gives you the answer, leaving no stone unturned.




Danny Blanchflower


Book Description

The biography of Danny Blanchflower In these days of player' agents, corporate hospitality, share options and television bonuses, it's often the football, the glory and the romance of the game, that gets overlooked. Back in the 1950s and 1960s there was no footballer in love with his trade than Danny Blanchflower. An elegant and inspirational midfield force, he captained the Spurs 1961 Double-winning side and led Northern Ireland, against the odds, to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup. Equally eloquent off the field, he was no stranger to controversy, writing about the game with a great clarity and passion, and working tirelessly as an innovator, forever trying to transform football as a spectacle for player and fan alike. Drawing on extensive interviews with family, friends and colleagues (including Jackie Blanchflower, Sir Stanley Matthews, Johnny Haynes, Geoff Hurst, Pat Jennings and Derek Dougan), Dave Bowler skilfully recounts the story of one of football's greatest thinkers and iconoclasts.




My Life in Football


Book Description

When Trevor Brooking was still at school, the Essex-born teenager was one of the most eagerly pursued prospects in London, but he chose to go to West Ham United - the only club that was prepared to allow him to complete his studies - and so began a lifelong attachment to the Upton Park outfit. In 1967 he made his debut for the club, and went on to play for them until 1984, helping them to win two FA Cup trophies, and scoring the only goal in the 1980 final. A cultured midfielder at the heart of West Ham's side, he was soon seen as crucial to England's fortunes, helping them to qualify for the World Cup finals in 1982. Brooking recalls the highlights of his career, playing with and against some of the most famous names in the sport, and provides revealing details about life with West Ham and England. His story recalls a time when he was a symbol of solidity during the era of flared trousers, punk, and the turmoil of the Revie regime. Respected by fans and his peers alike, Brooking has been at the forefront of the FA's work to develop the game in recent years, and his views on the future of football are essential reading.




John Lyall


Book Description

Legendary West Ham manager John Lyall, who sadly died in 2006, is remembered with affection as one of the all-time great football managers by former colleagues and football fans alike. Lyall was widely regarded as man of great integrity and is credited with laying down the foundations of the footballing beliefs and values of today's West Ham United. This new in-depth biography documents Lyall's football career from West Ham groundstaff boy in 1955, through his playing debut, injury, and eventual steps into coaching and management under the watchful eye of Ron Greenwood. A much-loved and respected figure at Upton Park, Lyall had a lasting influence on the club’s development and the team’s style of play and during his time in charge, West Ham twice won the FA Cup. Later, when Lyall took over at Ipswich Town, he led the club to promotion to the inaugural Premier League in 1991/92. John Lyall – A Life in Football pays tribute to one of the most influential footballer managers of recent years and is a lasting legacy to a true gentleman and champion of the beautiful game.




Tommy Doc


Book Description

Tommy ‘The Doc’ Docherty was a combative Scotland international wing-half who became a brilliant but erratic manager. His 1960s Chelsea team was a glorious reflection of his colourful personality, and a decade later he reinvented his relegated Manchester United side as a vibrant attacking force. He was also, however, a hostage to his own decision-making, costing Chelsea a shot at the First Division title when he banned eight players for breaking their curfew. Most famously, he was fired by United after FA Cup glory because he’d fallen in love with the physiotherapist’s wife. He was a much-travelled manager, and ‘I’ve had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus’ was among the well-worn one-liners that created the image of ‘The Doc’ as football’s stand-up comedian. But in Tommy Doc, David Tossell looks beyond the wisecracks, interviewing Docherty himself, as well as former players and colleagues, to examine a remarkable career and reveal the personal heartaches behind the laughter.