When Joe Mercer's father returned home from World War One, he took a football out of his kit-bag and threw it to his four year old son. From that day on, young Joe was obsessed with football. Gary James' acclaimed book covers the highs and lows of Joe's life - from his birth in Ellesmere Port, right through to his struggle with Alzheimer's Disease and subsequent death in 1990. Joe was a hugely talented and successful footballer, with glory coming at Everton and at Arsenal where, as captain, Joe helped his side win every honour available. He also gained much respect during his time as captain of England. As a manager, Joe took Aston Villa to the Second Division title and League Cup glory within three years of his arrival, after first learning what the role involved at Sheffield United. At Manchester City, he created a side of true quality and skill, returning the glory days to Maine Road. A history of success the Blues are rightly proud of. After helping Coventry City gain many admirers, Joe put the fun back into international football as he guided England through with a smile, a laugh and a genuine love of the game. In addition to the successes, Joe had more than his fair share of problems - two serious injuries as a player, a stroke at Villa, and a power struggle at City causing him to leave feeling unwanted - yet he somehow managed to retain his famous smile. This is the biography of Joe Mercer, OBE, written with the full co-operation of his family, friends and colleagues. It demonstrates Joe's love of the game, and of life, recalling the days when his infectious grin cheered thousands. Joe was a one-off, a truly great, successful man. He never changed, going through life and football with a smile.
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This is a well told story of a special football man. It is not a football story of any man. Read it.A" Graham Taylor, Former Aston Villa & England Manager, The Daily Telegraph. A welcome indulgence and entertainingly informative.A" David Miller, The Times. Mercer was one of the last great gentlemen in a sport that has sometimes become too professional and sinister for its own liking. James' book is a fine tribute, lovingly told and lavishly illustrated.A" Stephen Kelly, Four Four Two magazine Ask any Arsenal fan who is the greatest player ever to grace the Marble Halls... one name will be repeated an amazing number of times, Joe Mercer. This book demonstrates what an extraordinary character and asset to English football he was.A" Arsenal Matchday Magazine A superbly researched book tracing the remarkable career of a remarkable man. This is one biography not to be missed.A" Paul Hince, Manchester Evening News Impressive text - hundreds of fantastic old photographs - this one is without doubt a must.A" Winners Worldwide Soccer Book Review
About the Author
Gary James has been researching and writing about football since the mid-1980s. He has written several landmark publications and articles on the sport's history, clubs, players and personalities. In recent years these articles have appeared in publications as diverse as The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, The Times, When Saturday Comes, and the match programmes of both Manchester clubs. He has also lectured on the game. Gary cares deeply about football and wants to see the history and development of the game accurately recorded. Joe Mercer was City's manager when Gary was born and, inevitably, Gary's interest in Joe's life and career developed as a result. In the 1980s he met Joe for the first time and became determined to write a biography worthy of the great man. Research for this book has seen Gary interview players, fans, broadcasters, journalists, critics, friends and other figures from every aspect of Joe's life in his quest to accurately portray a footballing legend. For more information on Gary's work visit: www.manchesterfootball.org Facebook: James Ward PublishingA" BY THE SAME AUTHOR HISTORICAL/FACTUAL From Maine Men To Banana Citizens (1989), Temple Press The Pride of Manchester (with Steve Cawley, 1991), ACL & Polar Manchester: The Greatest City (1997 & 2002), Polar Publishing Farewell To Maine Road (2003), Polar Publishing Manchester City Hall Of Fame (2005), Hamlyn Manchester City The Complete Record (2006), Breedon Books Manchester City: 125 Years Of Football (2006 & 2007), At Heart Publications Manchester: A Football History (2008), James Ward The Big Book Of City (2009), James Ward FICTION Atkinson For England (with Mark Brown, 2001) BIOGRAPHY Football With A Smile: The Authorised Biography of Joe Mercer, OBE (1993 & 1994), ACL & Polar TELEVISION The History Of Football (2007), Channel M
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The story of Joe Mercer is one of a gentleman. Probably one of the last to grace the game. Any man who can take Man City to the Championship deserves a memorial as fine as this.
Excellent stuff, well researched and very thorough.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Joe Mercer's life is covered in fine detail by Gary James, who does not appear to have left a single stone unturned in his quest for the truth. Reading this book makes you wonder why Mercer was never knighted, unlike some other footballers who achieve a fraction during their lifetime. Many clubs will look upon Mercer's time with them as some of the best years in their history, and he still has hero status at Maine Road.
Its worthwhile looking for other books by the same author. If all his books are as well researched then you can't go far wrong.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By BTH
Format:Hardcover
First of all and for the record, let me begin by saying that I've known the author, Gary James, for nigh on 20 years. He first came to my attention when we were all much younger: in 1990 when he was promoting the book he co-wrote with Steve Cawley, The Pride of Manchester: History of the Manchester Derby Matches.
Later James wrote a book about Joe Mercer: Football with a Smile: The Authorised Biography of Joe Mercer OBE. I readily recall that it was the most comprehensively researched and detailed football biography I'd read at the time. Come to think of it, it still is. Reviewing it in January 1994 for Bert Trautmann's Helmet, I wrote that he: "had left no stone unturned in the quest for accurate information and the result is a comprehensive and entertaining record of the life of a truly great football man."
Unlike many of his contemporaries (if, indeed, he has any) James leaves no stone unturned in order to chronicle the ups and downs in the career of the legendary player and manager; days spent researching in Manchester's Central Library and hours whiled away at the homes of Mercer's former clubs, Arsenal and Everton amongst others, poring through the archives have guaranteed that. His research is forensic and, yet, never dull. In fact, it is the opposite and unsurprisingly the book is illustrated with photographs throughout - some of them, I suspect, previously unseen and many of them quite superb.
In recent years the flow of football and, indeed, Manchester City books has changed from a modest trickle to a veritable flow; from fans, players and journalists alike. We've seen everything from hasty hagiographies to cut and paste jobs and even the odd cut and run. Yes, some have been passable, but most have been awful.... Read more ›
Later James wrote a book about Joe Mercer: Football with a Smile: The Authorised Biography of Joe Mercer OBE. I readily recall that it was the most comprehensively researched and detailed football biography I'd read at the time. Come to think of it, it still is. Reviewing it in January 1994 for Bert Trautmann's Helmet, I wrote that he: "had left no stone unturned in the quest for accurate information and the result is a comprehensive and entertaining record of the life of a truly great football man."
Unlike many of his contemporaries (if, indeed, he has any) James leaves no stone unturned in order to chronicle the ups and downs in the career of the legendary player and manager; days spent researching in Manchester's Central Library and hours whiled away at the homes of Mercer's former clubs, Arsenal and Everton amongst others, poring through the archives have guaranteed that. His research is forensic and, yet, never dull. In fact, it is the opposite and unsurprisingly the book is illustrated with photographs throughout - some of them, I suspect, previously unseen and many of them quite superb.
In recent years the flow of football and, indeed, Manchester City books has changed from a modest trickle to a veritable flow; from fans, players and journalists alike. We've seen everything from hasty hagiographies to cut and paste jobs and even the odd cut and run. Yes, some have been passable, but most have been awful.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By John
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A great book on a footballing legend, both as a player and manager. Joe and Malcolm Allison created a brilliant team at Manchester City in the sixties and early seventies which in told in this book, as well as Joe's career as a player. An excellent tribute on 'Genial Joe.'
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Tomas Pol
Format:Hardcover
Any fan of Manchester City that wants to know anything about City just get any book written by Gary James.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Gary James is a highly accomplished and respected author whose versatility is demonstrated in his various past football related works which range from fact to fiction. His meticulous approach has enabled him produce some fabulous books, most of which are dedicated to his true love: Manchester City Football Club. City fans are lucky to have such a conscientious and clever writer whose relentless pursuit of perfection has led to an ever expanding collection of quality books which grace many a Mancunian bookshelf.
Gary's latest offering is an updated version of his previously acclaimed biography of the late, great, Joe Mercer; a true football legend whose popularity transcends the affections of City supporters alone. To this day, an artist's impression of Joe in his playing days can be seen etched onto the exterior walls of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and his great skill and prowess on the field is still remembered with great affection amongst many an aging Evertonian. Indeed, anyone old enough to remember the 1970s will recall Joe's stint in temporary charge as manager of an England team in complete disarray at that time. Under Joe's tutelage it wasn't long before the smile was restored to the face of English football.
However, the name `Joe Mercer' will be forever synonymous with the great Manchester City Team of the late 60s/early 70s and dedicated followers of the Blues will find a great insight into the life of the man who created, with Malcolm Allison, the last and probably ever fully English team to win the championship.
The book is supplemented with fantastic and imaginative colour imagery which serves to enhance the text, not that this is needed. Had Joe been able to read Gary's tribute, I'm sure he would have been proud and delighted with the work that Gary has created.... Read more ›
Gary's latest offering is an updated version of his previously acclaimed biography of the late, great, Joe Mercer; a true football legend whose popularity transcends the affections of City supporters alone. To this day, an artist's impression of Joe in his playing days can be seen etched onto the exterior walls of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and his great skill and prowess on the field is still remembered with great affection amongst many an aging Evertonian. Indeed, anyone old enough to remember the 1970s will recall Joe's stint in temporary charge as manager of an England team in complete disarray at that time. Under Joe's tutelage it wasn't long before the smile was restored to the face of English football.
However, the name `Joe Mercer' will be forever synonymous with the great Manchester City Team of the late 60s/early 70s and dedicated followers of the Blues will find a great insight into the life of the man who created, with Malcolm Allison, the last and probably ever fully English team to win the championship.
The book is supplemented with fantastic and imaginative colour imagery which serves to enhance the text, not that this is needed. Had Joe been able to read Gary's tribute, I'm sure he would have been proud and delighted with the work that Gary has created.... Read more ›
By Martin
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Really interesting story about a very modest man who achieved so much in his lifetime. A must for all Arsenal historians - thanks.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
FANTASTIC BOOK. 1000%. PERFECTION. A FANTASTIC READIND BOOK FOR EVERY COLLECTER pf EVERTON MERCHANDISE. LOVELY COLOURFUL PICTURES & WORDS VERY NICELY PRINTED. :) XXXX
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