A good read

[Steph]

Just been out with the dog and as is my custom read the Observer as I was walking, Read the business news, article about Ang San Suu Kyi but then turned to the sports pages and after the report of Cousin Audley's expected thrashing turned to the other pages - ignored the comments about the game with oddly shaped balls and came to the Paul Wilson's page - shrugged and considered it was the state the game has got itself into but then turned to the above - Paul Haywards interview with John Giles of "That damned United".

 

There are many that consider smells can bring you back to earlier memories, some feel that it is old haunts - me it is reading about Leeds and Leeds players. I can remember the marathon FA cup Final against Chelsea when I was doing A level Zoology at Southgate Tech evening classes. I failed the A level for the second time BTW.

 

For all their faults Leeds had an intelligent manager and, with Johny Giles etc intelligent players. It seems that modern footballers can never understand the qualities that made this game the mass working class game that it was in the mid to early 20th century before the "prawn sandwich brigade" destroyed it. Having to change shirts because there is blood on it - I ask you. Who are the pansies that run our game now.

 

Enough of this rant to quote Johny Giles,

 

"I saw Ronaldo last week rolling on the ground and holding his face and remonstrating with colleagues. In my opinion great players dont do that."

 

"There was definitely pressure on referees. It was a game within a game. The referees didn't always know what was going on, you know? It sounds cruel, but you have to get into the mentality of players. Players dont think about moral wrongs. It was a battle. Football is a hard game. Footballers are not philosopers."

 

'Then he offers one of the most compelling definitions you are ever likely to hear of strengh of character in a footballer: the winning spirit so often spoken of only in abstract terms: "I call it moral courage. There is a saying in the game about - the sunshine boys- . You're three nil up with 10 minutes to go and they're saying ' Give me the ball!' They cant get enough of it. At one nil down, it's : 'Don't give me the ball' "

 

John Giles - A football man, The autobiography (Hodder and Stoughton £19.99) is out now.

 

If the book is as good as the report in the Observer this may go down with Eamon Dumphy's "Only a game" as the book that should be on the shelf of all football lovers.

 

http://www.guardian....es-leeds-united

[Enfield United]

I'm always looking for a footballers autobiography, thanks for the tip.

[Arkwright]

I'm always looking for a footballers autobiography, thanks for the tip.

 

Try Bert Trautmanns "From Hitler Youth to FA Cup Hero", a really good read.

Or Matt Le Tissiers book, that's just fun.

[MbrunoB]

"Football Ambassador: The Autobiography of an Arsenal Legend" about Eddie Hapgood and "Football Wizard – The Billy Meredith Story" are both very good with the Eddie Hapgood being the first recognised auto-biography of a footballer.

[Gazza]

LeTiss book is a good read, best I've read in a while is Ian Holloway's it's pre Blackpool's heroics but still quality.

Both Steve Claridges books are brilliant too.

Funniest, Nial Quinn's & Stan Bowles.

[townerboy]

A Season With Vernona is excellent. As is the Miracel of Castel Di Sangro. Both highly recommended football books.

[Mr Happy]

I have to say that the Shoot annual is also a jolly good read!!

[Steph]

Following your recomendation I bought Trautmans book for myselt at Christmas. Have read the first two chapters and the writing is very powerful.

[andyetfc]

Steph.

 

Did you wrap it up and put a label on it?

[Arkwright]

Following your recomendation I bought Trautmans book for myselt at Christmas. Have read the first two chapters and the writing is very powerful.

 

He certainly has a story to tell.

Though not about football, try 'The Game' by Ken Dryden, one of the best sports books I've ever read.