Product Description

Iwan Roberts has played for more clubs than he's had teeth knocked out by defenders (but only just!), and this is the story of his final season. With Norwich battling for promotion to the Premiership in 2003/04, All I Want for Christmas is a stunningly candid, fly on the dressing room wall insight from the club captain, striker and fans' hero. It's not a tale of mansions, fast cars and promotional trips to the Far East, but a gritty tale of a real footballer's life and his reflections on his career as he rides the emotional rollercoaster of his club's glory days.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #597089 in Books
• Published on: 2005-06-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Delia Smith, Norwich City Director
Read, laugh, cry, enjoy…

Customer Reviews

Great story of an underdog
This book is NOT just for Norwich fans!! It's a nice change to read a book which chronicles the day to day life of your average joe footballer. As a Spurs fan I really enjoyed this - despite not knowing half the characters you really get a sense of who the dressing room characters are and what it's REALLY like to be a player - and be dropped, worried about your form etc. The fact that he's written the book at the end of his career really lets you in to how he's feeling - worried about his future and his family. There are some great stories (although no stories about how he slept with Ulrika etc!) but what's more interesting is how b***dy normal the life of a journeyman player can be!! The bits where, for example, he embarrasses his kids even though he was a Division One 'star' are hilarious. Very very funny and I'd put it in the category of if you liked Gary Nelson's book, you'll like this. I read it in a couple of days on holiday and gave it to my wife, who also could not put it down and kept saying what a lovely bloke he was. Makes you feel okay about paying their extortionate wages!!

Could not put it down!
This book is simply a must for all Norwich fans, because not only does it chart one of the most successful campaigns in the club's history, but it also gives the reader a terrific insight into exactly what goes on at the football club. Roberts reveals practically everything - the pranks, the bust ups, what goes on during those long coach journeys from Norfolk and talks openly about incidents throughout his long career.
It is also easy to read as it is written in diary form and from my point of view, never got boring. This is partly becuase it is Roberts' last season as a Canary and as the realisation dawns upon him that his contract is unlikely to be renewed, he puts on a brave face but inside is over whelmed with sadness.
Written by a true legned and worth every penny.

Not just for canaries
All I want for Christmas chronicles the Champioship winning season of Norwich City but also includes a great deal of autobiographical detail from throughout Roberts' playing career - including explaining his hatred of Wolves.
It also provides an insight into the battles faced by players as they near the end of their careers as their bodies begin to fight back.
Roberts is honest about his physical struggles and also his opinions of other players and even his 'gaffer'. The NCFC legend shows himself to be an exemplary model for any player - especially for his admissions of often seeking retribution for poor challenges on the field.
An absolute must have for any canary fan - I promise all those emotions of games throughout the season will come flooding back, from the sending off of Muscat at the New Den to the promotion party of Watford. But also a good read for any football fan - remember it isn't all Ferraris and fun in football.