Product Description

Bobby Moore was the embodiment of all that was great about English football. Captain of West Ham United, whom he led to the 1964 FA Cup and the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup, and Captain of England in their triumph in the World Cup in 1966; he was loved and respected throughout the world. In this definitive and authorised biography, award-winning sportswriter Jeff Powell - for many years a close friend and confidant to Moore and his family - has written a powerful and fitting tribute to this legendary man.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #200679 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Review
'It is Powell's lucid picture of Moore the footballer...which makes the most indelible impression...an admirable portrait.' Daily Telegraph '...a worthy testament to a fine man and a simply marvellous footballer.' Ian Wooldridge, Daily Mail

About the Author
Jeff Powell is the chief sports writer on the Daily Mail. During a career that has spanned a number of decades, Powell was voted British Spirts Journalisy of the Year in 1985. Three further awards as British Sports Reporter of the Year have been supplemented by several commendations for his work.

Customer Reviews

Excellent biography by a superb writer
This book, when compared to Tina Moore's biography of the same subject, shows why a professional wordsmith makes such a difference. Powell's opening two chapters, setting the significance of Bobby Moore in a cultural context both for the English nation and for football as a sport, stands up in itself as a marvellous essay on why sport is significant, why it is important, and why it matters to so many. He captures the brilliance of Moore entirely, even to those who may never have seen him play. It was the embodiment of values that had such significance for this figure. Jeff Powell understands this, and elegantly and thoughtfully argues for the bigger context always to be in our minds.

Tina Moore's biography, unfortunately, shows all the hallmarks of a bored middle-aged woman desperate to 'make it' as a writer. Despite knowing Bobby Mooore for so many years, being married to him, bearing his children etc, she shows little or no real understanding of why his memory is cherished so highly by millions of people the world over. She has written a hackneyed celebreity bio, of the sort that Katy Jordan might write about her time with Peter Andre. I am glad that I read Powell's book first; had I read Tina Moore's book first, I would have formed the opinion that Moore was a rather dull fellow with little or nothing to commend him to the popular culture as a whole. Powell's book soars with the spirit of great sport and its importance, and will be lapped up by any Hammers fan wanting an insight into their greatest icon.

My advice: give Tina Moore's plodding, unstylish celebrity-biog a wide berth, and relish brilliance of Powell's opening two chapters, which are worth the price of the book alone.

Labour of love, by a friend.
That Jeff Powell loved Bobby Moore is not in doubt. Whether he therefore qualifies to write a dispassionate overview of the England hero's life is another matter. He would probably say that this is not supposed to be a dispassionate work, and on that basis, it works.

It tells the story of Moore's life, in a slightly haphazard manner - the timeline jumps back and forth at times - but includes all of the major incidents, and many of the minor ones. In common with most footballers' biographies, it presents its subject as the author of all good things in his life, and a victim of circumstance when things go awry. The quotes attributed to Moore sometimes paint him as slightly self-serving (incidents where drinking was alleged are dismissed as "a couple of lagers", and claims of women being involved are simply lies), but he is also unashamedly aware of his own worth as a player, electing himself captain of his all-time World XI.

It is the break-up of his marriage that caused me most discomfort. True, he baldly accepted the blame for it and said no more on the subject. But Powell eulogises about Moore's mistress, and later wife, whilst immediately writing Moore's childhood sweetheart, Tina, out of the story altogether. One wondered what her reaction was to the news that Moore was terminally ill - after a lifetime with him, her thoughts would have been interesting.

Despite all that, an interesting read, one that will at times leave you with a lump in your throat. It would have been nice to see one or two warts as well as the halo, though.

LEGEND
A well balanced and well written book about one of the world,s greatest footballers. It follows the highs and lows especially towards the end of his life when he was forgotten by westham (the club not fans) and england. A must read for all football fans