JONNY BRICK GIVES US HIS TAKE ON THE BEST OFFERINGS IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS READING MATERIAL…
ON THEIR successful Budpod, comedians Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie talk about the so-called Louis Line, remembering when Louis Armstrong picked eight of his own discs for Desert Island Discs.
Since the comedians think this is both naff and cool, something can be said to be above or below the Louis Line depending on how cool or uncool it is.
When it comes to my Football Library, I have transferred this line to Jamie Vardy. His book, From Nowhere, is the benchmark for footballers’ memoirs. His life story, from Sheffield scallywag to Wembley via European football with Leicester, is genuinely interesting. However, the frequent mentions of his agent makes it looks like he was in the room with him while he was being asked questions by his ghostwriter Stuart James, and the book is written in Vardy’s laddish voice.
All the same, his time at Fleetwood Town is a great description of life in Non-League, and not many footballers have to be subbed to beat a curfew from a court case.
There are plenty of books that whizz way above the Vardy Line. Here are some which could be on your Christmas list, all of which have come out in the last 12 months and now adorn the Library shelves.
Troy Deeney – Redemption
I can see the stadium on Vicarage Road from my window, so it is unsurprising that I should firstly recommend the recent release of Troy’s story, originally titled A Hornet In Your Face. The change of title was smart because he moved to Birmingham City a month before the book came out. In it, helped by ghostwriter supreme Oli Holt, Troy tells of his tough upbringing, the importance of Elton John in his life and the therapy he has undergone to understand why he is who he is. Amongst all of this, he scores over 100 Watford goals and becomes a thorn in Arsenal’s cajones.
Olivier Giroud – Always Believe
Yes, he is ridiculously handsome but did you know Monsieur Giroud is a practicing Christian? Given that Jesus’ birthday is on December 25, it seems apt to recommend a book, brought out on Pitch Publishing, that celebrates a pious footballer who has even forgiven Frank Lampard for not playing him at Chelsea. Now living in Milan, Giroud is one of those understated footballers like fellow memoir-writers Luka Modric and Juan Mata who seem like a good guy just trying to get on with his job and speaking up for what he believes in. Yet most people will only want to know how Wenger got out.
Pat Nevin – The Accidental Footballer
There’s a sequel already written and a threequel in the works by former Scotland international and indie music head Pat, who was known as ‘The Footballer’ to listeners of John Peel’s Radio 1 show. Pat played football because he loved it, first at Celtic, then at Chelsea and Everton, but had a solid hinterland beyond the dressing room, where fellow employees would bring the banter by cutting up his copy of the NME (he always bought two). Pat is a smart cookie as well, as fans of his broadcasting would concur.
Rafael and Fabio da Silva – The Sunshine Kids
This is another Pitch title, with a bright yellow cover that’s hard to miss on the shelves. Man United chronicler Wayne Barton has written 20 books on the Reds but I don’t think any of the writing processes will have been as fun as the hours he spent talking to the talented twins. Lest we forget, they were in the squads for two Champions League finals before they turned 21. With a warm introduction from the gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson, the boys from Brazil get under the bonnet of Ferguson’s last great team. Then they tell of injury woes and their post-United lives in places as varied as Cardiff and Istanbul.
It’s a fine story and, in fact, Manchester United fans are spoilt for choice this Christmas: the memoirs of Patrice Evra (I Love This Game) and Peter Schmeichel (One) both sit above the Vardy Line.
Ricky Hill – Love of the Game
As told to Adrian Durham, Ricky’s story should not be forgotten. He won three England caps and is still a cult hero at Luton Town. Alas, he had to leave Britain to get work as a manager, and his story is one of banging a head against a brick wall to ensure fairer representation for non-white managers. I spoke to him for the Football Library radio show and could have spent all day with him, such are his anecdotes about David Pleat, managing around the world and having a solid family unit supporting him.
Glenn Hoddle – Playmaker
Graham Taylor wrote one, Kevin Keegan wrote one, Sven wrote one, and it’s only right and proper for another man who took on the Impossible Job to write his story. It was also celebrated in a BT Sport film in October. Glenn was a footballer ahead of his time, England’s star player in the 1980s, the King of White Hart Lane and a key part of Arsene Wenger’s team at Monaco. He then went into management himself and also started soccer camps for rejected young footballers. Ikechi Anya was one beneficiary, who played for Watford and Scotland after working hard under Glenn’s tutelage.
Jackie McNamara – His Name is McNamara
I know it’s a funny old game but I was so angry at some of the anecdotes Jackie tells in his memoir, written a year after he was rushed to intensive care with a brain injury. The great Celtic player who went to the 1998 World Cup with Scotland is brilliant at explaining why football management is absurd and, ultimately, a losing game. Despite this, his love of the game which his father Jackie Senior played comes through on every page. Jackie came to the Library to talk about his book and revealed himself to be a thoroughly good egg.
● Jonny Brick runs the Football Library Radio Show at soundcloud.com/jonny_brick.
