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Manchester United Ruined My Life
 
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Manchester United Ruined My Life (Paperback)

by Colin Shindler (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Manchester United Ruined My Life + The Worst of Friends: Malcolm Allison, Joe Mercer and Manchester City + The Damned Utd
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  • This item: Manchester United Ruined My Life by Colin Shindler

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Product details

  • Paperback: 310 pages
  • Publisher: Headline; New Ed edition (6 May 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0747259836
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747259831
  • Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.2 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 179,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #13 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > Clubs > Manchester City

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

As a young Jewish boy growing up in Manchester, Colin Shindler learned early what it meant to be part of a minority. When a cruel twist of fate determined he support Manchester City, rather than their more consistently successful neighbours Manchester United, the youngster was doomed forever to live on the margins.

Manchester United Ruined My Life is a delightful, humourous look at what it meant to grow up in 1960s Jewish Manchester. Reconciled with rival fans only in summer, when both could sit peacefully side by side at the unimaginatively named "Old Trafford" ground of Lancashire County Cricket Club, Shindler will speak for many with his frustration at the marketing machine that is Manchester United plc. Pulling no punches--"When Alex Ferguson finally clears his desk, it is more likely to be at the request of the chairman of the Stock Exchange than the traditional choir of disaffected supporters"--he vents his fury at the unashamed commercialisaton of the game, the diasporic fan base (many of whom have never set foot inside England, never mind Old Trafford) and the feisty Scottish manager himself, with an obsession only true fans of the game will appreciate.

But more than just a sporting commentary lamenting the bygone Halcyon days of English soccer, Manchester United Ruined My Life is one little boy's story of his struggle to establish his identity among the challenges of religion, family and death. Shindler's prose is easy and accessible yet lyrical and evocative; there is no doubt his love for his city has endured. That this affection is somewhat rose-tinted, tinged with the distance a successful television career in London allows, takes nothing away from the book. Manchester United Ruined My Life is a commodity more valuable than Old Trafford shares--it is an enjoyable, highly readable, football book with real literary merit. Highly recommended for everyone who has ever sung "Stand Up, If You Hate Man U". --Lucie Naylor



Review

'This is a wonderful book ... It is also extremely funny' (Alan English, Sunday Times )

‘His prose ... is never less than sharp, smart and easy on the eye ... His writing is so attractive ... [I] would be thrilled to read more’ (Jim White, Guardian )

‘It is his childhood and absent friends that touch the rawest, universal nerve’ (Simon Garfield, Mail on Sunday )

‘Shindler’s art lies in conversational writing, and an ability to change gear deftly from humour to devotion and back through fanaticism to the black comedy of Manchester City’ (Howard Davies, The Times )

‘Shindler is both touching and convincing in his evocation of his formative years ... it’s skilful, entertaining and heading for the top of the league’ (Richard Pendlebury, Daily Mail )

‘Evocative, funny-sad and warm-hearted’ (Michael Henderson, The Times )

‘Sits in the same class as Fever Pitch ... Shindler’s down-to-the-bone honesty also reminds us self-indulgence can be great entertainment’ (The Times )

‘This could still be the most important football book since Fever Pitch capturing, as it does, the delicious irony that caused City fans to fall into a soon to be legendary chorus of "Are you watching Macclesfield?"’ (Mick Middles, Manchester Evening News )

‘As an example of the inherent irrationality of sport, his account - part autobiography, part social disquisition - could hardly be bettered’ (Stuart Bathgate, Scotsman )
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Customer Reviews

23 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (23 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Glad I don't support 'em!, 29 Feb 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Manchester United Ruined My Life (Hardcover)
What we have here is a well written book documenting the rise, fall, rise, fall, rise a little bit then fall straight into division two Manchester City. Don't be fooled though as the book deals with more than sport and therein the book stumbles. Without sounding too unfeeling, I found that the middle section of the book about Shindler's mother dying and his loss of faith afterwards somewhat heavy reading. The books apex comes unsurprisingly when City win the league in '68, but no-one remembers because of Uniteds victory in the European Cup of the same year. And, as the author states himself, all of City's achievements have been overshadowed by their nearest neighbour this book is also overshadowed by Hornby's Fever-Pitch but is still nonetheless a very worthwhile read
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This book has become part of my life. Thank you Colin!!, 20 Nov 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Manchester United Ruined My Life (Hardcover)
I haven't been able to put this book down and have started to read it for the second time. I hope that there will be a sequel. Colin Shindler is a superb author and he has put pen to paper and provided an unbiased opinion on what it is like to be a Man City Fan and why Man City have the best fans in the world.

The very title of the book has been selected to entice those masses that would have ignored it had it been titled "Manchester City shaped my life - thank's be to God".

It's good reading and is a must for any football fan, it's honest, funny and is a gem of a book.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A truly splendid read!, 20 Mar 2001
I enjoyed this form cover to cover. I grew up in the eighties supporting City and coming from Cheshire, so rants aside about Lancashire (Red) V Cheshire (Blue), this book although 20 years previous to my experience made me feel liek City have always been the same. Excellent. Only other let down was the title. "Manchester United ruined" , would have been better... we can only hope.....
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars MANCHESTER UNITED RUINED MY LIFE
A VERY ENTERTAINING READ. THE BOOK CHRONICALS THE PARALLEL ACHIEVEMENTS OF MAN.CITY AND MAN.UNITED.
ALSO THE BOOK INTRODUCES INTO THE NARRATIVE THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE... Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. J. DOBSON

1.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing the reviews
This hardened bitter blue is currently on TV, which prompted me to look at this. The hilarity of this book is in the reviews on here by those abu's obsessed by United. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Manchester majority

4.0 out of 5 stars ManYoo in the eyes of a supporter
Shindler's account of being a Manchester United fan ignites that part of us(ie those football fans) where our allegiance crosses barriers of race, creed and oceans so as to... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2007 by Jay

3.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant, but routine
This is a pleasant read, but there isn't much new about it. The book's tone and subject matter reminded me of Nick Hornby's rather better "Fever Pitch". Read more
Published on 10 Jul 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent nostalgic reading
Colin Shindler really captures the spirit of growing up in 60's Manchester. It matters not who you support or what your faith is, anybody in their 40's now, will remember these... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2000 by zzr1500@hotmail.com

5.0 out of 5 stars Puts into words what we all think
This a rare book, one which despite being from a totally different part of the country from the author and of a totally different age, I can completeley relate to, because I too... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A total classic!
Everyone who hates man utd should immediately buy this book! I found it reassuring to read about his habits and rituals, and now, mine don't seem so obscure! Read more
Published on 9 Jul 2000

1.0 out of 5 stars Drivvel
The title of the book is very misleading.

It seems to mostly be about bloody cricket. Don't buy this book,

Published on 27 Jun 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars The nostalgia & depth of feeling brought me to tears
Although I am 10 years younger than the author, I too lived through those times of the late 60's & early 70's. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2000 by eric_horridge@advantra.com.au

5.0 out of 5 stars As good as IN PIECES by Nick Hopton
Certainly an exciting read, and interesting to compare with the latest soccer and London novel IN PIECES by Nick Hopton. Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2000 by robinsaikia@aol.com

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