- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Headline Book Publishing; First Edition edition (7 Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747221944
- ISBN-13: 978-0747221944
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.2 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
164,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > British > Football Clubs > Liverpool
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
John Barnes : The Autobiography: A title with a lot to live up to--much like the player's career itself. From the moment he scored his fantastic goal in the Maracana in Rio versus Brazil in 1984, the pressure was always on Barnes to scale every peak in the game and to do so in a similarly electrifying style. More than a decade and a half later, the abiding memory of the player in the eyes of many football fans is of John Barnes the enigma, the man of great talent who could never quite produce the very best on the big occasion, particularly in an England shirt. Yet to fail to look past this would be to misjudge the man and to overlook his achievements directly inside the game and on a broader scale.
With the help of Daily Telegraph football writer Henry Winter, Barnes tells the whole story from his point of view and is not afraid to touch on some of the wider issues that involved him during his playing career. And that is where the interest lies. In the desire to pigeon-hole, it is easily forgotten that Barnes was one of the key members of arguably the greatest British club side of all time. Or that he was involved at Hillsborough on the day when so many tragically lost their lives. Or that he was one of the first extremely high-profile black players in this country and faced torrents of unacceptable racial abuse within the game for many years, yet has emerged with dignity in tact. Barnes it is clear has much about which to offer his thoughts, which are very perceptive and clearly put, and that is the attraction of his book. At a time when the sport is ridden with so many clichés, John Barnes offers up some clear thinking.
While his playing career did not always manage to satisfy everyone, those awaiting an interesting perspective on football in the 80s and 90s will not be disappointed. --Trevor Crowe
Product Description
Battling against racism and the England establishment's mistrust of genuine flair, John Barnes soon became an icon for a generation of football fans. He will always be remembered for the extraordinary goal he scored for England against Brazil in the Maracana stadium. This is his autobiography.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
John Barnes has not only given an account of his upbringing and glory days (and the less glorious times) with Watford, Liverpool and England, but he has provided a perspective on professional football from a black man's point of view. It's more his remarks on racism in British football that are most interesting and his insights to the English psyche. Your average person will be embarrassed by the racist taunts and jeers Barnes received throughout his playing career. At least we hope you will be embarrased if not outraged by the racism he encountered from the many slurs and bananas thrown his way. He has dealt with racism nearly all of his life, so it's no surpise this ugly isde of the game and society is a constant theme throughout his book.
There are some very funny anecdotes that lighten the book and make for some pleasurable reading. However, at no time does the author let you forget that he is as serious and passionate about football as anyone else, even if he does not wave his fist in the air and scream and shout. Here lies another misconception ( he's laid back so he must not really care) about John Barnes the person that he does his best at every opportunity to correct.
There are times when I get the impression he is aplogizing for not living up to the publics expectations of him, yet he provides a clear and insightful account of why it's not always easy to perfrom the same way for your club as it is for your country. Overall, I would have to say John Barnes' autobiography is well worth reading for both the football fan and non-football fan alike.
Ajit Korgaokar, Nashville, TN USA
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
John Barnes has always been my big hero. In this book he tells about his life, coming to London seeing snow for the first time, facing racism, breaking into the Watford first team, reaching the cup final, joining Liverpool, the dreadful Hillsborough disaster, the decline of LFC, the socially inapt Ruud Gullit, the move to Charlton and finally taking over the managerial role of Celtic. In between he has a bit of an ego trip telling about his family and everything they do, and his views on reincarnation etc. doesnt have to be agreed with. Always interesting for the Liverpool fan is the little stories about who drank the most, Steve Nicol getting the mickey all the time etc etc. If you are a Barnes fan or Liverpool fan this is compulsory. If not, reading Faust would be time put to better use. But its better than watching TV anyways.
this is a great book. It tells you more than just about John Barnes the footballer, it tells you about John barnes the man.
Tracing his life from his days as a young boy in Jamaica through to his early days in football with Watford, his constant fight against racism, life at liverpool and up untill his management career kicked off at Celtic.
this is a must read for any football fan or anyone who wants to read about an interesting man. Buy it now.
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