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Product Description
Product Description
'The dream was football . . .'
John Giles had a gift. At the age of three, he could kick a ball the way it was supposed to be kicked. And he knew that every hour that passed without kicking a ball was an hour wasted.
'It was the same dream that most of the kids had at that time . . .'
In A Football Man, Giles tells the story of a dream pursued and realised beyond his wildest imaginings, from his humble beginnings in Ormond Square in 1940s' Dublin,counting down the minutes to his next game of football, to that unforgettable moment when the original football man - his dad, 'Dickie' - announced that his young son, at just fourteen, was on his way to Manchester United.
'What I didn't realise was that my dream would come true.'
Full of anecdote, insight and wry humour, Giles recounts his rise through the ranks at Manchester United, before and after the Munich Disaster; the great players he knew, the good and the bad times under Matt Busby; his sensational debut for Ireland which he served as player and manager; his starring role in the brilliant, controversial Leeds United of the '60s and '70s; and his challenge to the portrayal of himself and Brian Clough in The Damned United. He also describes his enduring friendship with the 'kid from across Dublin's Tolka Park', Eamon Dunphy, and his career on RTÉ2's football panel, where Giles' intelligent and insightful analysis have made him an even more well-loved and respected national figure.
John Giles had a gift. At the age of three, he could kick a ball the way it was supposed to be kicked. And he knew that every hour that passed without kicking a ball was an hour wasted.
'It was the same dream that most of the kids had at that time . . .'
In A Football Man, Giles tells the story of a dream pursued and realised beyond his wildest imaginings, from his humble beginnings in Ormond Square in 1940s' Dublin,counting down the minutes to his next game of football, to that unforgettable moment when the original football man - his dad, 'Dickie' - announced that his young son, at just fourteen, was on his way to Manchester United.
'What I didn't realise was that my dream would come true.'
Full of anecdote, insight and wry humour, Giles recounts his rise through the ranks at Manchester United, before and after the Munich Disaster; the great players he knew, the good and the bad times under Matt Busby; his sensational debut for Ireland which he served as player and manager; his starring role in the brilliant, controversial Leeds United of the '60s and '70s; and his challenge to the portrayal of himself and Brian Clough in The Damned United. He also describes his enduring friendship with the 'kid from across Dublin's Tolka Park', Eamon Dunphy, and his career on RTÉ2's football panel, where Giles' intelligent and insightful analysis have made him an even more well-loved and respected national figure.
About the Author
John Giles was born in Dublin in 1940. A prodigiously gifted young footballer, at just 15 years of age, Giles signed for Manchester United. He moved to Leeds United in 1963 where he became the linchpin of one of the great sides of the 60s and 70s. He played for the Republic of Ireland for almost two decades. John is now a well-known and greatly respected football analyst.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Waited a long time for this book to hit the shelves because I thought it would a give real insight to Revie's Leeds during the glory years. It's a personal journey from his humble Dublin roots to unfulfilled dreams at Old Trafford which highlight some less than complimentary views of both Busby and Shankly. The move to Leeds was a brave decision at the time but was the making of one of the most intelligent and calculating midfield players of the modern game. Lots of personal thoughts,opinions and insights of the players and the game of today and yesteryear make this one of the better football autobiographies of recent years
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A thoughtful and intelligent book about a professional football career in the nineteen fifties, sixties and seventies, with many insights and comments about the big names of that era in football management (Busby, Shankly, Revie, Clough, Nicholson etc). And if you were a Leeds fan in the Revie era, and are in despair at all the nonsense and negativity that has been written about Leeds United under Revie's management, then this book goes a long way to redress the balance. Giles was my favourite Leeds player, and I always thought that he was the brains of the team. Having read the book over the past two days (it's very readable), it's clear that Giles is a clear thinker and an unsentimental commentator on the football world. Well recommended, especially for those who aren't inclined to believe all the rubbish that has been written elsewhere about Leeds United.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an honest account of the life of one of the most cultured and yet heavily criticised players of his generation. Giles tells it as it is, putting the boot into those who he feels need it, his description of his departure from Old Trafford is a fascinating insight into the minds of the men who managed the top clubs back then. Players were told what to do and even beloved men like Busby and Shankly are regarded as `company men`, more loyal to those who paid them than those who played for them. His words not mine. Giles makes a case for media bias against the great Leeds team of the sixties and seventies, pointing out that there were plenty of dirty hackers in all the other sides of the day. In much the same way JFK was the only womanising politician and George Best the only drunken footballer, Leeds have been unfairly portrayed as uniquely brutal. What comes across in this book is that John Giles was nobody`s fool and also the influence his father, the original football man had on him. His loyalty and devotion to Don Revie and the Leeds cause is also undeniable.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Honest with studs showing
A great journey through the life of one of the greatest footballers of all time. The book is very well written and perhaps even more importantly very well edited so you do not get... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Derrei
Careful Spender
I purchsed this book for a relation and they have assured me that it makes excellent reading. The service I received from Amazon coupled with the purchase price was excellent.
Published 5 months ago by Careful Spender
Thoughtful and insightful book on football
This is indeed an excellent account of the football career of a great player. It is well written with some excellent photo pages. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Yossarian
Cracking read from the Greatest Irish Player
John Giles clearly rates himself as one of the great players - and he's right. He would have made Roy Keane look like Tony Grealish. Read more
Published 8 months ago by C. Hoey
The other side of the coin
I really getting to read about things from inside that great Leeds team of Giles era , and Busby's United.He sheds new light on both Busby & Shankley for me. Read more
Published 11 months ago by El Dooderino
Good Without Being Great
This was a book I couldn't wait to get my hands on. In the end, I enjoyed it but was also left feeling a little disappointed. Read more
Published 12 months ago by CorkRebel67
my husband is a fan
bought for my husband who is an old leeds united fan from days gone by when they were a great team. he really enoyed the book, alot of good memories.
Published 14 months ago by natalie
COUL BE GOOD
I HAV BEEN A AN OF LEEDS UTD SINCE THE EARLY 70'S SO I HAD TO HAVE THIS BOOK ABOUT A GREAT PLAYER,HAVE NOT STARTED READING IT YET THIS WILL COME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTH'S WHEN WE GO... Read more
Published 16 months ago by T. T. Taylor
A great effort
Like a lot of Leeds fans I've waited a long time for something from John Giles and the wait has produced a balanced and thoughtful work. Read more
Published 16 months ago by MIKE in UK
John Giles: A Football Man
John gives an interesting perspective into life in the footballing world. He talks with honesty about past and present players and games, which highlights the difference between... Read more
Published 16 months ago by longmanbirch
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