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Product Description
Product Description
Most Manchester City supporters regard Colin Bell as their club's best ever player. He graced the midfield during their greatest years as they won all domestic and European honours, and represented England 48 times before a serious knee injury ended his career prematurely when he was just 29.
Now, in this revealing autobiography, 'King Colin' has opened up. He talks about never knowing his mother, who died when he was a baby, and of being brought up by his aunt and then his father and older sister. He then leads us through the glory years, singles out his greatest opponents and compares the modern game with the era he dominated, before sharing his views on the infamous tackle in a Manchester derby that ended his footballing dreams. In a remarkable development, he reveals for the first time his private battle against cancer and explains how this book has helped to save his life.
With tributes from the likes of Malcolm Allison, Sir Geoff Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton, Colin Bell - Reluctant Hero is the story of a footballer whose brilliance on the field demanded adulation but who was never comfortable in the spotlight. A player who truly preferred to let his feet do the talking.
From the Publisher
If Manchester City legend Colin Bell were playing today, he'd be one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world and would command the wages of, and comparison to, the likes of Zidane, Ronaldinho or Ballack. Most Manchester City fans regard Bell as the club's best ever player. He graced the midfield during their greatest years, as they won the League Championship, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup-Winners' Cup. The man they nicknamed 'Nijinsky', due to his supreme athleticism, captained Bury at the age of 17 and represented England 48 times before a serious knee injury effectively ended his career when he was just 29.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Colin Bell was one of the few footballers I've seen in the flesh who I'd describe as a genius. He deserves a greater testament to his time as a player than this book provides.
I appreciate that this is an autobiography of a footballer and not a work of high literature, but it fails for me because it is written in a very simplistic, almost schoolboy narrative. I understand that Colin Bell was not a gifted writer and I also appreciate that Ian Cheeseman is a worthy broadcaster but the book lacks depth.
I wanted to know more detail about his on pitch tussles against some of the best players of his time. I wanted a bit more of the banter that went on behind the scenes. I wanted more opinion as to why the Mercer/Allison management team was one of the most successful of it's day. That's essentially my problem with the book...I was just left wanting so much more.
Colin Bell remains one of my favourite players of all time. I was in the crowd when he sufferred the injury that cost him his playing career and deprived the England team of midfielder of the highest order as he approached his peak. This book gives what I feel is a mere taste of the Colin Bell story, and whilst it is a quick & easy read, I won't return to it again but satisfy myself with the glorious recollections of Colin Bell and the memories I have of the late sixties to early seventies Manchester City team that provided so much entertainment to the Blue half of Manchester for all too brief a period.
I appreciate that this is an autobiography of a footballer and not a work of high literature, but it fails for me because it is written in a very simplistic, almost schoolboy narrative. I understand that Colin Bell was not a gifted writer and I also appreciate that Ian Cheeseman is a worthy broadcaster but the book lacks depth.
I wanted to know more detail about his on pitch tussles against some of the best players of his time. I wanted a bit more of the banter that went on behind the scenes. I wanted more opinion as to why the Mercer/Allison management team was one of the most successful of it's day. That's essentially my problem with the book...I was just left wanting so much more.
Colin Bell remains one of my favourite players of all time. I was in the crowd when he sufferred the injury that cost him his playing career and deprived the England team of midfielder of the highest order as he approached his peak. This book gives what I feel is a mere taste of the Colin Bell story, and whilst it is a quick & easy read, I won't return to it again but satisfy myself with the glorious recollections of Colin Bell and the memories I have of the late sixties to early seventies Manchester City team that provided so much entertainment to the Blue half of Manchester for all too brief a period.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A good book about a quiet man. A quiet man who was lord of the field. He didn't need words to show who was the best, his feet and his brain proved that.
I pride myself in being a fan of City for 40 years and priveleged to have seen that golden era of the magnificent team the late 60's and early 70's.
This book is not full of "let me tell you what I did son" stories.
It is about a quiet, modest North East lad who went to the top of his game, only to have his career ended by injury far too early.
He showed strength and determination to get back on the field, at the same time, trying to maintain his dignity and raise a family.
The book tells it all, home and pitch life, up to the present day.
The author has done loyal fans a service by letting us know the real Colin Bell.
Sit back, open it up and enjoy.
I pride myself in being a fan of City for 40 years and priveleged to have seen that golden era of the magnificent team the late 60's and early 70's.
This book is not full of "let me tell you what I did son" stories.
It is about a quiet, modest North East lad who went to the top of his game, only to have his career ended by injury far too early.
He showed strength and determination to get back on the field, at the same time, trying to maintain his dignity and raise a family.
The book tells it all, home and pitch life, up to the present day.
The author has done loyal fans a service by letting us know the real Colin Bell.
Sit back, open it up and enjoy.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Good easy read about a true legend,typical of the rags to have ended his career.Wish him good health for many many years to come.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bell
A fantastic read of a time when footballers were footballers and not pd an easy read of a footballing legend Colin Bell
Published 25 days ago by Georgia
Xmas gift
The recipent of this present was a late teenage football fan of Man City, he was thrilled that I had thought out of the box for this as a gift. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hayley Daniels
Colin Bell - Reluctant Hero
As a City fan who had seen Colin play at Maine Road in the early 70's I could not put this book down. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Judy W
What a ding-dong;Bell rings out hard and clear.
O.K.,I admit,that when I was a schoolboy and learning my own skills in the beautiful game,I thought that 'I' was Colin Bell! What a ding-dong player this man was. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Parmanova BLADE
JUST GREAT!
As a life long city fan, this is easy........its a great book about a great player who comes across with humility and honesty. you will not be disappointed.
Published on 5 May 2010 by Ian D. Larnder
colin bell. reluctant hero
only took two days to read this book as i couldnt put it down. true revealing account of one of englands best unsung footballers
Published on 15 Nov 2009 by D. Woodman
A sentimental and heart warming story
The book is just like a miniskirt, long enough to cover the main parts and short enough to keep you interested!
Very easy to read, and a fantastic look into Colins life. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2005
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