Product Description

Stewart Imlach was an ordinary neighbourhood soccer star of his time. A brilliant winger who thrilled the crowd on Saturdays, then worked alongside them in the off-season; who represented Scotland in the 1958 World Cup and never received a cap for his efforts; who was Man of the Match for Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final, and was rewarded with the standard offer - GBP20 a week, take it or leave it. Gary Imlach grew up a privileged insider at Goodison Park when Stewart moved into coaching. He knew the highlights of his father's career by heart. But when his dad died he realised they were all he knew. He began to realise, too, that he'd lost the passion for football that his father had passed down to him. In this book, he faces his growing alienation from the game he was born into, as he revisits key periods in his father's career to build up a picture of his football life - and through him a whole era. "My Father and Other Working-Class Heroes" brilliantly recaptures a lost world and the way it changed, blending the personal and the historical into a unique soccer story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22695 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

The Guardian
"brilliantly recaptures a lost world, while the grief that
inspired its writing is evident on every page"

Synopsis
Stewart Imlach was an ordinary neighbourhood soccer star of his time. A brilliant winger who thrilled the crowd on Saturdays, then worked alongside them in the off-season; who represented Scotland in the 1958 World Cup and never received a cap for his efforts; who was Man of the Match for Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final, and was rewarded with the standard offer - GBP20 a week, take it or leave it. Gary Imlach grew up a privileged insider at Goodison Park when Stewart moved into coaching. He knew the highlights of his father's career by heart. But when his dad died he realised they were all he knew. He began to realise, too, that he'd lost the passion for football that his father had passed down to him. In this book, he faces his growing alienation from the game he was born into, as he revisits key periods in his father's career to build up a picture of his football life - and through him a whole era. "My Father and Other Working-Class Heroes" brilliantly recaptures a lost world and the way it changed, blending the personal and the historical into a unique soccer story.

From the Publisher
The most highly acclaimed sports book of 2005, now available in paperback - the moving story of one man's search for his father, and for the game he played

Customer Reviews

More than just a book about football
If I've read a better sports book than Gary Imlach's rich, touching tribute to his father, then I can't think what it is. Come to think of it, I don't think I've read many better books on any subject.

Gary Imlach follows the life of his father - Stuart - who went from a childhood in a pre-war fishing town in Scotland to, via various clubs, Scottish international in a World Cup and FA Cup winner with Nottingham Forest. Stuart Imlach's achievements are not what the book is based around, however; the stuff that is constantly yanking on your heartstrings is Imlach's relationship with his father.

From his meticulous tracing of his father's childhood, his playing career and his time coaching at Everton, Gary Imlach doesn't go for the treacly, over-sentimental approach. Given his father's understated, quiet demeanour, that wouldn't have worked. Imlach simply describes the various mistreatments endured by (and brief glories enjoyed by) his father in a stoic, matter-of-fact way that you get the impression his father would have approved of. I'd defy anyone not to have a `something-in-my-eye' moment when looking at Stuart's proud smile when wearing the Scotland cap some friends have made for him.

The book brilliantly explores two themes: the way in which football and footballers have changed (not necessarily for the better), and, more importantly, the relationship between fathers and sons of a certain generation. Many will no doubt see echoes of their own relationship with their father in Imlach's words, and those lucky enough to still have their fathers will no doubt cherish their relationship with them a little bit more. And how many books can you write such a sentence about?

To Dad, With Love
This is a very moving book and I would hope, should any of the current crop of Premier League players read it, a humbling one too. Gary Imlach has produced a book that serves as both a timely reminder about what football is really about and a beautifully crafted love letter to his late father.

A friend recommended it to me. His copy has passed through a lot of hands but I thought I'd buy my own copy. I trust his recommendations and wasn't disappointed.

It's not really a football book, more a social history of our recent past. Having a father who had a similarly botched cartilege operation (leaving a bit in the joint to playfully work its way around!) and who took me to see my first match, which coincidentally, featured Blackpool at the time when Stewart Imlach was part of the management of that team back in 1977, I even discovered a slight connection with the author.

Highly recommended.

When footballers were footballers not popstars
A really enjoyable and touching read. It takes you back to a time when footballers weren't bathing in money and completely out of touch with reality. They were struggling to get along and had only their talent to rely on. A great book and obviously a labour of love too.