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There are accounts of the many managers Dougan fell out with - Joe Mercer and, especially, Bill McGarry amongst them. How his participation in an all-Ireland XI for a friendly with Brazil ended Dougan's international career. Most controversially, Dougan's time as Wolves' chief executive under the Bhattis gets an airing. For me, this is the most fascinating chapter of his career, as fellow directors of the time attempt the impossible by portraying the brothers in a sympathetic light. Were the Bhattis stitched up by Wolverhampton council because the town fathers didn't want 'foreigners' owning their best-known asset? It's a fascinating topic and one worthy of a book of its own. Like his part in the Duncan Edwards Sports Clinic appeal, the authors give Dougan a sympathetic verdict here, and in both episodes he comes over as a man who let his exuberance run away with him. In sharp contrast is the chapter dealing with his relations with Wolves striker John Richards, which ended in the men scarcely on speaking terms. Richards wasn't the only one to find Dougan a man who made friends and enemies with equal ease. Never was the term 'likeable rogue' better employed. --The Stirrer
The Doog is a must-read for all Wolves fans, and a fascinating history for anyone with an interest in football. --David Ballinger, Shropshire Star
The Doog is a must-read for all Wolves fans, and a fascinating history for anyone with an interest in football. --David Ballinger, Shropshire Star
Review
One of the most charismatic and fiery footballers of his era.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Derek Dougan - Football's most controversial figure" the strap line tells us. Well, I thought, he's in with a stiff bit of competition here, Maradona might have something to say about this.
I remembered Dougan from the early 70s, a swashbuckling strong, fast forward, the type of player that Andy Gray thinks he himself was, with pace that scared full backs and a face the scared children. I also remembered him from the 80s when he was chairman of a sinking Wolves that plummetted down the league, but what I knew nothing of was the earlier career of one of the few players still playing when I became interested in football who had played in the 1958 World Cup.
The first thing that astounded was how old the Doog was, I never really thought about his pre-Wolves years but this book certainly fills in those gaps. Written in a similar style to many football autobiographies there is one significant difference. The authors do not fawn upon Dougan's memory and point out inconsistencies and hypocracies as they see them.
The picture of The Doug as a man is of a complex individual who perhaps didn't live up to the standards in his personal life that he expected of others. He comes across as a man who would be your best friend and do anything for you, but once you disagreed with him you were in the wrong. No questions, he was right and you weren't, as a succesion of managers and ultimately his striking partner and friend, John Richards, were to discover.
The self assured arrogance and even bullying nature does come through in the book, but is balanced by a caring and principled nature of someone with strong, albeit inflexible, convictions. Dougan is not often talked about as a footballing genius beyond the gates of Molinuex, but speak to the Wolves fans of that generation and they will tell you different. A flawed genius, but a genius notheless.
So, was Dougan football most controversial figure? That is for you to judge yourself, but read about his involvement in a fatal car crash, his work for the PFA at the time when freedom of contract was achieved, the arranging of an all-Ireland team to play Brazil and his ultimately doomed time in the Wolves boardroom, and you may come to the conclusion that if he isn't, he's running the competition pretty damn close!
I remembered Dougan from the early 70s, a swashbuckling strong, fast forward, the type of player that Andy Gray thinks he himself was, with pace that scared full backs and a face the scared children. I also remembered him from the 80s when he was chairman of a sinking Wolves that plummetted down the league, but what I knew nothing of was the earlier career of one of the few players still playing when I became interested in football who had played in the 1958 World Cup.
The first thing that astounded was how old the Doog was, I never really thought about his pre-Wolves years but this book certainly fills in those gaps. Written in a similar style to many football autobiographies there is one significant difference. The authors do not fawn upon Dougan's memory and point out inconsistencies and hypocracies as they see them.
The picture of The Doug as a man is of a complex individual who perhaps didn't live up to the standards in his personal life that he expected of others. He comes across as a man who would be your best friend and do anything for you, but once you disagreed with him you were in the wrong. No questions, he was right and you weren't, as a succesion of managers and ultimately his striking partner and friend, John Richards, were to discover.
The self assured arrogance and even bullying nature does come through in the book, but is balanced by a caring and principled nature of someone with strong, albeit inflexible, convictions. Dougan is not often talked about as a footballing genius beyond the gates of Molinuex, but speak to the Wolves fans of that generation and they will tell you different. A flawed genius, but a genius notheless.
So, was Dougan football most controversial figure? That is for you to judge yourself, but read about his involvement in a fatal car crash, his work for the PFA at the time when freedom of contract was achieved, the arranging of an all-Ireland team to play Brazil and his ultimately doomed time in the Wolves boardroom, and you may come to the conclusion that if he isn't, he's running the competition pretty damn close!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A well written, informative book. It will appeal to any Wolves supporter who followed the club from the 60's through to the 80's.
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