Product Description

Frank McLintock was a leading player of his generation and is acclaimed as one of Arsenal's greatest captains. After transferring from Leicester, in 1970 he led Arsenal to a famous victory in the Fairs Cup and followed this up with even greater glory a year later, winning an historic league and FA Cup double. He left Arsenal in 1973 after being controversially dropped, and enjoyed four successful years at QPR. He retired from playing in 1977, to make an ill-conceived and hasty move into management. Following this difficult period he entered the often shady world of agents, and faced perhaps his worst moment in the game, becoming involved in the infamous bung scandal over Teddy Sherringham’s transfer from Forest to Spurs. His is a captivating football story spanning 45 years during which he achieved fabulous success and faced shattering lows, all told with enthusiasm, humour, honesty and intense passion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #141353 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Frank McLintock made his debut for Leicester City at 19 and played over 200 games, including three cup finals. In 1964 he transferred to Arsenal for a British record fee of £80,000 and made over 400 appearances. He was voted Player of the Year in 1971. He moved to QPR in 1973 and then went into management at Leicester, QPR, Brentford and Millwall. Leaving management, he became an agent for many leading players and he is now a regular pundit for Sky.

Customer Reviews

'True Grit' is true McLintock
Frank McLintock was always the most honest of players; hard-working, ambitious, determined, and with an absolute never-say-die spirit. Before there was Tony Adams, before there was Patrick Vieira, before there was Thierry Henry, Arsenal had the greatest captain the club could ever wish to have.

He was the heart and soul of the Arsenal team that won the Fairs Cup (Eufa Cup) in 1970, and the League and FA Cup double a season later. It was his never-say-die spirit that rescued the dream of the double when all seemed lost with seconds to go in the Cup semi-final v Stoke. It was McLintock that got his head to the ball and forced a Stoke defender to handle on the line, thus giving Peter Storey the chance to equalize from the penalty spot and allow Arsenal to fight another day. It was McLintock that always led by example and drove his troops on, demanding ever more of them in the quest for greatness. Arsenal owe so much to this one man.

As you read through his life story, though, you will be shocked at how he came to be treated by the Arsenal big wigs, especially the under-appreciative and pompously arrogant Bertie Mee (about whom a book has been written that contains the title 'gentleman' - which he surely wasn't). Yet, in recounting the treatment he received at the hands of people such as Mee, McLintock harbors no lasting grudge. He just tells things the way they were.

'True Grit' is a compelling read because it is quite a story of a young man from a poor part of Glasgow who achieved what he did in Football through sheer hard work and determination; absolutely through 'true grit.' The book is as 'honest' as its author, and that alone makes it another notable success for Frank McLintock.

Certainly pulls no punches.......
Frank Mclintock, as his performances in an Arsenal shirt showed, is no shrinking violet & certainly gives a forthright. no nonsense account of his career & offers several anecdotes of football's golden era.

It's a good football book & gives insights into the chemistry of not just Arsenal but also other football clubs of note; however, I did find Mr Mclintock's unswerving self conviction just a little too much at times but, on balance, that probably goes with the territory.

An interesting character from a time when football stars were just moving from working class heroes to mega stars.