Product Description

With a reputation as a hard player who lived a hard life, Swan's football days were littered with bizarre twists and turns. Before the Autoglass Trophy final at Wembley in 1993, he partied until dawn, staggered out onto the pitch and was named Man of the Match. Nine days later, he followed the rules and went to bed early in preparation for the Division Two play-off final- and ended up getting sent off as his side were defeated by West Bromwich Albion. While at Plymouth, Swan suffered a torrid time - shunned by fellow players, despised by supporters and living alone in a haunted house. And during his time at Port Vale, he met a young local lad by the name of Robbie Williams. The two soon became firm friends and incorrigible drink partners - with often hilarious results. But no matter how he partied off the field, he still set himself the highest of standards in his professional life.Falling foul of several managers along the way, he was often in trouble with referees, too, picking up 10 red cards and countless bookings. But on the other side of the coin is a caring man who always took time out at his various clubs to visit children in hospital. After retiring in 2000, Swan initially struggled to come to terms with his life outside football, but he has since become a cult figure in Hull, where he now commentates on Hull City's matches. A larger than life character with no regrets, Peter Swan tells the remarkable story of the highs and lows of his 16-year career - from Wembley joy to the chronic knee condition that forced him out of the game and could see him confined to a wheelchair.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #246236 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 282 pages

Customer Reviews

Super swanny ole ole ole!
I have read many many football books and have found autobiography's to be in the main very dull(exceptions: tony adams,stunning and tony cascarino's,moving).The ghost writer in this book also did neil redfearns which falls into the aforementioned dull category (monday training tuesday exeter away played well but lost blah blah blah) so it was more in hope than expectation that i read this book.I say more in hope because i support port vale and swanny played for us for 3 years during some of our happier times also i was a proper home and away boy then and can recall all of the incidents he mentions from his time with us.And he was a legend,the kind of footballer any one would want in their side.Back to the book and although it follows the traditional formula it is a very funny and frank account of life in the lower leagues where in ain't all glitz and glamour and you have to battle for every chance and take it when you get it.I would recommend this book especially for fans of hull,bury and burnley and for any fan who has had stan ternant as manager of their team (seems like a top bloke),but even if you have no affliation with any of these you should enjoy this...
Thanks for the memories "super swanny"

pushing for the play-off places
this isnt an unputdownable rollercoaster ride of a book but it is an interesting account of a real life journeyman footballer who played in the lower leagues....Im a big football fan but Id never heard of him so I was looking forward to a real life account that told it like it was and not some superstar premiership striker that writes his autobiography when hes 23. The book more than anything makes you realise that football is a job. no more ...no less. Youre paid to play and thats the bottom line. this is very clear in swanny and he makes no attempt to disguise it. it also shows it as a very cruel sport in that once you can no longer contribute youre out. theres no mercy. once youre finished there will be a million more coming behind you so youre out and theyre in. loyalty doesnt exist.... well except for the loyalty that existed to the bank balance. its a good book... i enjoyed the read...its well written and easy to read and sometimes very funny...its not going to win trophies (bit like swanny) but its definitely pushing for the playoff places even if we are talking about the old third division.