Product Description

SHORTLISTED FOR 'BEST NEW WRITER' IN THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2009. Mid-Atlantic, 10 April 1954: The Queen Elizabeth's crew organise the committal to the deep of a coffin containing the remains of Liverpool Football Club, relegated that day to the Second Division. Istanbul, 25 May 2005: Liverpool's heroes hold aloft the Champions League trophy, after the greatest final ever. Between those pivotal dates, the Mighty Reds touched glittering heights and plumbed the darkest depths, amassing more silverware than any other British club while grappling with Hillsborough and Heysel's traumas. That much is well documented, but what about the fans who followed Liverpool FC every step along the turbulent way? Now, for the first time, a Kopite has written an absorbing chronicle of those momentous years.In "Anfield of Dreams", Neil Dunkin takes you on a guided tour of his beloved club and reveals a wealth of stories defining him, his city and Liverpool fans: Cavern club sessions with the Beatles; the Blitz's rain of death on Merseyside; his grandad ramming and sinking a U-boat; the Battle of Spion Kop that baptised Anfield's legendary terrace; the inimitable sense of humour that kept Kopites laughing. On this journey of a lifetime, the cast of characters includes Shankly, Paisley, Dalglish, Benitez, Pele and even Ursula Andress. The fun and games on foreign expeditions involve a psychotic cook's 'delirious meat sauce' in Rome; misunderstandings over audience participation at an Amsterdam sex show; a hair-raising taxi ride with a drunken driver to Rio's Maracana stadium; high jinks in the High Andes; laser-guided eagles inside Mexico's fabulous Azteca arena; and a secretive trek up one of Istanbul's tallest minarets.Through sheer originality and diversity, this story of passionate devotion to his club will fascinate not just Liverpool supporters, but anyone with a passing interest in football. In its midst one reassuring lesson shines out from Liverpool football club's unique history: Dreams do come true.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67246 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
Dunkin talks with great passion about the beautiful game in a language football fans will appreciate. This is not a book solely for Liverpool supporters; anyone who worries that clubs have become highly prized assets should read it and realise that is not an inevitable state of affairs. --The Birmingham Post

A fascinating relationship between travel and sport exists only in the heart of the true fan. There is a real sense of this unique perspective in Dunkin's passionate ode to Liverpool FC, which culminates in the "sublime" Champions League victory in 2005. The ups and downs in the club's and the city's history and heritage are cleverly and lovingly charted in the year that Liverpool is the European City of Culture. Football lovers will lap this up but Dunkin's passion and fine line in anecdotes make the book worthy of a much wider readership. --Daily Express

Superb --Red All Over

Redlady21 on Liverpool Daily Post football forum
An amazing book

From the Publisher
Michelle Stanistreet of the Daily Express travel section selected ANFIELD OF DREAMS by Neil Dunkin as one of her four favourite new titles in 'Off The Shelf: The Very Best Travel Books' in the Daily Express on the 28th June 2008.

She wrote: 'A fascinating relationship between travel and sport exists only in the heart of the true fan. There is a real sense of this unique perspective in Dunkin's passionate ode to Liverpool FC, which culminates in the ""sublime"" Champions League victory in 2005. The ups and downs in the club's and the city's history and heritage are cleverly and lovingly charted in the year that Liverpool is the European City of Culture. Football lovers will lap this up but Dunkin's passion and fine line in anecdotes make the book worthy of a much wider readership.'

Customer Reviews

A gem of social history
This isn't just a sports book, it's real social history charting one man's journey through 50 years of following Liverpool FC through the changing character of the city. A gem for researchers and an excellent read whether you are interested in sport or not.

The Anfield of human conflict
This is a stunning piece of modern social history and one of the best books I've read on any subject. It's well-written straight from the heart and often very funny. There are chilling moments too, such as the author's account of the Heysel stadium disaster in 1985. The book deserves a wider audience and should appeal to football fans and non-fans alike. Excellent stuff.

Twists, turns... and not just on the football pitch
There is so much more to this book than football: funny anecdotes and quotes, travel to far-flung places and music. Not a football fan, this was a true surprise - non-stop entertainment bound in a book that makes you laugh and cry. An emotional rollercoaster that's awakened an interest in Liverpool - and a visit to Anfield on my next visit to the UK!