Product Description

Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson's appointment as Manchester United manager, this book looks at the times prior to (and just after) the Scotsman's arrival when things were very different at Old Trafford. Aside from two FA Cups the 80s was a lean decade for a club steeped in tradition and talent and fans had to watch on as arch rivals Liverpool dominate the Englsish and European stage. Andy Mitten has interviewed eleven United stars from the 80s and this is their story, always candid and often very funny, of what it was like at Old Trafford in the Sexton, Atkinson and Ferguson eras. The games, the bust ups, the managers, the drinking and gambling are all covered in this look at a period before football became big business and players multi-millionaires.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16013 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Jim White, Daily Telegraph
jaw-dropping, enraging, staggering and alarming, but always,
always charged with affection and enthusiasm, this is what nostalgia is all
about.

Michael Crick
Full of great anecdotes, detail and colour, bringing back just
what it was like following United in the pre-Ferguson era.

Daniel Taylor, The Guardian
Utterly compelling!

Customer Reviews

More essential than Rob Brady's book.
Those of you who know your history will recognise the authors name - sends a tingle down my spine everytime I open one of Andy's books, if I'm honest.
Crammed with fantastic memories from pre-Sky football, if you're like me and think football ain't like it was 15, 10, even 5 years ago, you'll love the irridescence and swagger of our reminiscing brylcreamed narrator. You can almost smell the sweaty burgers and imagine the first strains of 'Sally Cinnamon' playing over the tannoy as Remmer Moses walks out on the pitch at the theater.
Although these were barren, empty years for the club with only a smattering of domestic and European trophies, it transports you back to a better time for all true fans where the forecourt wasn't just a place the directors parked their BMW's.

In a word, SUBLIME.

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!