Any recommendations for football autobiographies??

[Goldstone Rapper]

I've got a feeling that Jimmy Case has released an autobiography, although I myself have never seen it. When I was working on my Albion book 'A Few Good Men' Jimmy willingly co-operated in the chapter devoted to him but made me aware from the start that he wanted to keep the majority of the Liverpool stuff back for his own book which he was about to start working on - and that was back in 2007.

I loved Cascarino's 'Full Time'- read the thing cover to cover in a day on holiday. Found Stan Bowles' autobiography in a second hand shop just before Christmas and that's just marvellous for its outrageousness. Plenty of tales about him and fellow QPR 'wide boy' Don Shanks who of course signed for the Albion in 1981. Dated Mary Stavin, a former Miss World - as you do!

Unbound.co.uk tried to get advanced purchases to get Jimmy Case's autobiography written but they didn't get enough pledges and so the project was abandoned in August this year, sadly. Seems to be a strange model to get a book project off the ground, especially as they set quite a high bar for pre-orders.

Thanks for the tip on Stan Bowles' autobiography. I'm sure they'll be cheap copy on Amazon or eBay.

 

[Hiney]

Not exactly autobiographies, but Alex Ferguson did a couple of season diaries in the 90s

Very interesting

 

[Durlston]

Lee Sharpe - My Idea Of Fun.

Such a talented footballer who p1ssed it up the wall somehow. Into the Manchester club scene, there's an entire chapter on him denying that drugs destroyed his career. Fantastic book.

(He shagged my sister's best mate when she was at Manchester University. )

 

[Ernest]

Just read Andy Morrisons and it was an entertaining tale, Craig Bellamy's was also a cracking read and recommended. I got the new George Best biography for Christmas but have yet to read that

 

[DumLum]

Reading Harry Redknapps at the moment and its excellent but what's one you can highly recommend?

I'm also enjoying this at the moment. I didn't know Jimmy Melia tried to get him to become our coach.

 

[Russconha]

Search for this - Garrincha: The Triumph and Tragedy of Brazil's Forgotten Footballing Hero

Brazil's very own George Best, but better.

 

[fire&skill]

My Father And Other Working Class Football Heroes by Gary Imlach

 

[Brownstuff]

Be careful what you wish for - Simon Jordan (from the library obviously and had to wear gloves to avoid any Palace germs)
Good read

 

[The Modfather]

Check out Garry Nelson's biog

 

[wolfie]

If you want to get away from modern football and get a feel for "the good old days" I can strongly recommend
"The Way it Was" by Stanley Matthews

 

[darters74]

Be careful what you wish for - Simon Jordan (from the library obviously and had to wear gloves to avoid any Palace germs)
Good read

Read this on holiday this year - weren't all that. My fav autobiography is Phil Tufnell's. Read that in 2 days. If you want light hearted entertainment, that's the one to get. This was before he went in the jungle and was on A Question Of Sport.

 

[catfish]

Only A Game by Eamon Dunphy is a great read. Not sure if it's still in print though.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

Great book. My sporting life....Frank Worthington...can download it from Audiobooks for 99p

 

[8th battalion East Lancs]

Stan Ternent's - Stan The Man A Hard Life In Football.

"one of the greatest characters in the game"

Alex Ferguson's words not mine.

Although I would say that he's a proper chap, funny and had Neil Warnock shitting himself.

 

[pauli cee]

George best, blessed life, do it...

 

[RowleyBirkinQ.C(deceased)]

Not an autobiography but I recommend "The best footballer you never saw" the story of Robin Friday. Story of a very gifted, hedonistic yet troubled footballer.
Short bite sized and easy to read chapters

 

[Seagull on the wing]

Not an autobiography but I recommend "The best footballer you never saw" the story of Robin Friday. Story of a very gifted, hedonistic yet troubled footballer.
Short bite sized and easy to read chapters

...but as you say...a very troubled man
Great player saw him play for Reading

 

[RowleyBirkinQ.C(deceased)]

...but as you say...a very troubled man
Great player saw him play for Reading

Wow, was he as great as they say?

 

[edna krabappel]

Footballers' autobiographies as a rule don't tend to be great reads.

Just read Zlatan's, which was somewhat more interesting than many, though by no means unputdownable.

 

[ali jenkins]

I've read the Paul McGrath, Bobby Robson and Ferguson ones and wound recommend all of them.