Don’t Cry For Me, Next Door Neighbour, by Michael Fahey, published by Legends Publishing, Price: 12.99
IN Don’t Cry For Me, Next Door Neighbour, Michael Fahey charts the fortunes of the national sides of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland throughout the 1990s.
At a time when football was on the brink of massive changes, Europe was also in a state of flux.
First time author Fahey mixes the cultural l and political with the action on the pitch and it makes for a fascinating nostalgia trip for those old enough to remember those bygone days.
This is the kind of book you can dip in and out of at your leisure. You can read about a different year, a different tournament.
Personally, I particulary enjoyed the look back to Italia ’90 when England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland all featured in the World Cup finals.
While England made it all the way to the semis and, ouch, lost on penalties to West Germany, Jack Charlton’s Irish side also made waves as they memorably beat Romania on penalties, take a bow David O’Leary, before losing narrowly to Italy in the quarter-finals.
The exploits of Charlton’s boys in green in the early 1990s naturally caught the attention of Fahey, who hails from County Meath.
“While modern-day players boast physiques that outshone those of icons like Gascoigne, McGrath, or Southall, their obscene wealth and PR teams have rendered them less relatable to the average fan,” he writes.
“Obsessively data-driven and regimented, the game in 2024 is undoubtedly of a higher standard, but it lacks the charm and unpredictability that made football so utterly captivating in the 1990s.”
A sprinkling of pictures would have helped, but, then again, there is plenty packed into an in-depth 240-page tome to keep your attention – and the pages ticking over.
John Lyons Rating out of 10: 8
