Real footballers & men
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A great read that should be a must read for all current players that masquerade as professional footballers nowadays. It should be placed in front of them when they sign their contract, endorsements and image rights! They do not know how lucky they are!
Its an intersting story of professional football of that era (1950s & 60s) but also a social commentary of life as well, with class divides all too apparent.
As a member of the tartan army it appalls me the way the players were treated at our world cup attempt in 1958. No manager and the team picked by a selection committee that had never played the game. No wonder we have never done well!
It is also a good story of a father and son relationship, told perhaps in regret after his death.
I highly commend this book to all, not only sports fans.
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My father and the working class football heroes
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This book tells of channel 4 presenter Gary Imach's adventure to find out more about his footballing father Stewart Imach following his death from cancer.
It is a well written descriptive story of a relationship between a father and his son, made all the more interesting because Gary's father is no longer thre to speak about himself.
His story is told through newspaper outings,phtographs and old programmes, anything that Gary could get his hands on to discover what kind of a man his father was.
The book could have been written about any sportsman in the world because it's not the sport that matters. The book is about many different people and a boy who lost his father when he was young.
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My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes
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Fully deserves Sports book of the year.
Interesting contrast between fotballers right up to the 60s on a maximum wage and todays multi millionaires.
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my father and other working class heroes
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It is normal for me to stay well away from books about footballers but the cover drew me in. Gary Imlachs very personnal account of the career of his father is a must read for any fan of football, however let me at this point infirm you that there is danger that you will feel a rise in the temper because as Imalch points out slavery was alive and kicking in the fifties and sixties, clubs could sell players while they slept with no consultation. Here is a powerful story of one of our greats who was man of the watch for the 1959 cup final and yet 6 years later was found playing for Dover in the southern league, here was a man who played for Scotland in the world cup but was not given a cap. I urge you all read this and pass it on.
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What A Refreshing Read!
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This book is absolutely superb! I bought it for my father who constantly drones on about how great football was in the 50's and how "down to earth" all the players were. I always replied with a "yeah, right!" until he encouraged me to read this after him. Gary Imlach really knows how to write. The style is easy and flowing and I almost felt I knew his father. It seems my Dad was right and football was a more honest and respectful sport back then. My own father has often told me tales of taking the bus up to Highfield Road (we're Coventry City fans!) in the 50's. He said that players would take the same bus! It's a concept I can't quite get my head around! I cannot imagine standing next to one of the many talented Coventry City players on a bus! No sarcasm, please! Seriously, a great insight of a time when football was innocent and written with great affection.
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