- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: John Blake Publishing Ltd (5 July 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1844549801
- ISBN-13: 978-1844549801
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 233,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Bill Nicholson was revered as one of the most honest football managers in the business and between 1960 and 1964 he turned Tottenham Hotspur into the finest team in Britain. This book, the first biography of Nicholson, commemorates the 50th anniversary of Tottenham's pioneering 1961 Double - the first of the 20th century - when Nicholson followed up in 1963 by becoming the first manager to win a European trophy. By moulding great players like Dave Mackay, Danny Blanchflower, John White, Cliff Jones and Jimmy Greaves into an almost perfectly balanced team backed by Spurs' inspirational anthem, 'Glory, glory, Hallelujah', he set new standards of attacking play, unsurpassed even by Real Madrid and today's Barcelona team. The eight of nine children, Nicholson was born in Scarborough in 1919. At the age of 17 he took the night train alone to London, signed for Spurs as a ground-staff boy on GBP2 a week and spent the rest of his life with the club as player, coach, manager, scout and President. He never had a contract, spurned bonuses and lived ten minutes' walk from the ground with his remarkable wife, who was know as Darkie, until his death in 2004. In his 1984 autobiography, Nicholson forecast all the problems that have engulfed today's game, and his is still revered by Tottenham fans as one of the most important figures in the club's history. His daughters have co-operated fully with author Brian Scovell on this book, which offers a new, kinder impression of this much-loved man.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a supporter who was 'there' when Bill Nicholson's `Super Spurs' were carrying all before them in the early 1960s, I am obviously very interested in that era and have many of the books written to mark the achievements of, arguably, Britain's greatest club side.
As it is now nearly 50 years since the double was won I am aware that this provides a great publishing opportunity and I was particularly keen to obtain a copy of this book by Brian Scovell.
Although it centres on painting a portrait of Bill Nicholson - the man as well as the manager - and to a certain extent succeeds, it is let down by a litany of factual errors and sloppy proof reading.
I give a few examples. In the second picture section the caption refers to Terry Dixon rather than Dyson and a picture captioned: `The Spurs dressing room at half time in the 1967 Cup Final' features Danny Blanchflower talking to Cliff Jones. Anyone who know anything about Spurs knows that Blanchflower had hung up his boots three years earlier.
In the text talking about the second leg of Spurs first European cup tie against Gornik at White Hart Lane it says: `Pohl... soon made the aggregate 5-2'. This is nonsense. Spurs were 4-2 down from the first leg but within 20 minutes had levelled the scores at 4-4 and although Pohl did score possibly the best goal of the match, Spurs were than heading towards an 8-1 victory.
Another glaring error is the assertion that in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the double season Spurs `scraped through 3-2 against Charlton at The Valley. The match was actually at White Hart Lane.
I could go on but suffice to say that a potentially excellent book is spoiled by lack of proper research. And it is a great pity.
As it is now nearly 50 years since the double was won I am aware that this provides a great publishing opportunity and I was particularly keen to obtain a copy of this book by Brian Scovell.
Although it centres on painting a portrait of Bill Nicholson - the man as well as the manager - and to a certain extent succeeds, it is let down by a litany of factual errors and sloppy proof reading.
I give a few examples. In the second picture section the caption refers to Terry Dixon rather than Dyson and a picture captioned: `The Spurs dressing room at half time in the 1967 Cup Final' features Danny Blanchflower talking to Cliff Jones. Anyone who know anything about Spurs knows that Blanchflower had hung up his boots three years earlier.
In the text talking about the second leg of Spurs first European cup tie against Gornik at White Hart Lane it says: `Pohl... soon made the aggregate 5-2'. This is nonsense. Spurs were 4-2 down from the first leg but within 20 minutes had levelled the scores at 4-4 and although Pohl did score possibly the best goal of the match, Spurs were than heading towards an 8-1 victory.
Another glaring error is the assertion that in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the double season Spurs `scraped through 3-2 against Charlton at The Valley. The match was actually at White Hart Lane.
I could go on but suffice to say that a potentially excellent book is spoiled by lack of proper research. And it is a great pity.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
how can a writer of 24 books get so much wrong with dates and facts, had to put the book down well before the end , couldnt take anymore , didnt anyone read it through before getting it published ?
my advice to anyone thinking of buying this book is to try the charity shops , they'll pay you to take one away with you, yep , its that bad
my advice to anyone thinking of buying this book is to try the charity shops , they'll pay you to take one away with you, yep , its that bad
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While Bill Nic was a perfectionist, the author clearly wasnt
Did you know Man walked on the moon in 1961, no nor did I!
Derby County won the European Cup, news to me
Clyde beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final, wish they had, but they didnt
Throughot the book there is inaccurate info.
While a lot of the anecdotes may be true, unfortunately glaring mistakes leave you unsure.
Do not waste your money on this book.
Sadly my son did.
Did you know Man walked on the moon in 1961, no nor did I!
Derby County won the European Cup, news to me
Clyde beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final, wish they had, but they didnt
Throughot the book there is inaccurate info.
While a lot of the anecdotes may be true, unfortunately glaring mistakes leave you unsure.
Do not waste your money on this book.
Sadly my son did.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A good read, errors notwithstanding!
An enjoyable read, with some interesting information not available in other books about Bill Nicholson, but there are (as mentioned by other readers) some fairly bizarre errors,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. HOLMES
A muddled story
I found this book to be rather muddled, it was almost as if I had a copy that had not been edited I found it hard to read although some of the facts were interesting. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. J. R. Sales
Dear Bill
By the time I met Bill Nicholson, he was reaching the end of his managerial career at Spurs, and I just wish I'd known him in the glory days. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Julie Welch
What a Shame
This book did not do great service to one of the best managers in the game. Try reading Hunter Davies The Glory Game, old now that is a good read. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Surveyor
Billy Nic, the Legend
I have always admired the way Bill Nicholson created a brilliant football Team from little resoures & very little money compared to todays Football clubs. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Denzil
BILL NICHOLSON FOOTBALL`PERFECTIONEST
A Wonderful and must have book for all spurs loyal fans really enjoyable,make a great present,a book i will read again and again,many thanks.
Published 6 months ago by brutas
Bill Nick, one of the greats, not so the book
As an ardent and life-long Spurs fan I enjoyed reading this book, as it gave a pretty good insight into Bill and football at the time. Read more
Published 10 months ago by spursfan1947
Disappointed
It was disappointing that a book to honour the life of the great Bill Nicholson who was such a perfectionist in everything he did should have so many errors and imperfections. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. William L. Holmes
Good read
I purchased this for my Husband who is not a great reader but is and has been a Tottenham fan for many years. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Helen
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