Product Description

Featuring the candid recollections of: Gary Bailey, Billy
Garton, Bryan Robson, Gordon McQueen, Arthur Albiston, Clayton Blackmore,
Alan Brazil, Frank Stapleton, Arnold Muhren and Ron Atkinson.

Manchester United might not have won the league title during the 80s, but
they triumphed in two FA Cup finals with a team blessed with grit, flair
and some remarkable perms.

Andy Mitten has tracked down eleven of the key names from this fondly
remembered era to hear their stories - stories of working class boys living
the dream of playing for Britain's biggest and most glamorous club, playing
hard both on and off the pitch.

Through the 11 chapters - each a mini-autobiography of each player - we
build up a picture not just of life at United, from the football to the
fights, the booze sessions to the mad pranks, but of an era where
footballers still lived alongside the fans who watched them from the
terraces, went to the pub after training and, crucially, hung up their
boots with little or nothing to show for their efforts apart from dodgy
knees and a medal or two if they were lucky.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31762 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

Footballers are not all bling, women and cars...
I wrote a review for this in 2007, but I think I used some industrial language from the book itself and the review never got published!

Here we go again: I loved this book because I really felt I was sitting right next to Andy Mitten and my heroes from the 80s listening in and asking them questions. Mitten creates a cosy, almost "cuddly" atmosphere in his writing and asks the right questions at the right time. The whole book is so smooth and easy to read.

Difficult to choose a favourite chapter, but Clayton Blackmore's wise words about his father "I've not told him I love him yet" impressed me greatly from a man who I knew had a great right foot (and a nice suntan!) but I had thought was a Welsh scally. Clayton, I was wrong about you. Sorry.

Missing chapters? Remi Moses. I can guess Andy tried to contact him, but was "chubbed".

OK, let's see if Amazon can publish this review - no rude words this time!

Excellent!
Truly excellent! From the poignant story of Billy Garton to the swagger of 'Big Ron's' remembrances this paints a picture not only of a Manchester United that has disappeared but of a whole world of football that has gone too!

For all fans who were there and can remember the Ralph Milnes, Russell Beardsmores, and Peter Davenports of United in the 1980s. The trips to QPR, Luton, and Forest this is an absolute must read.

Fantastic again Andy!

It's what makes United special
As a match going red since the late sixties I cannot relate to modern day Manchester United.When the Glazers took over my season ticket went back and FC United became a new venture for me. Reading Andy's book made me realise just why I fell in love with the club.Players in those days were heroes not overpaid primadonnas like they are today and to get an insight into what it was all about for them gave me a pride I haven't had since that night in May 99.
Excellent book for any true red..well done Andy and keep the fanzine going strong