Bobby Moore: The Man in Full - Softcover

Dickinson, Matt

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0224091735 ISBN 13: 9780224091732

Publisher: Random House UK, 2015

Synopsis

The definitive biography of England's greatest soccer player and World Cup winning captain by one of the country's most-respected soccer writers   "Immaculate footballer – Imperial defender – Immortal hero of 1966... National treasure – Master of Wembley – Lord of the game – Captain extraordinary – Gentleman for all time" So reads the inscription beneath Bobby Moore’s statue at Wembley stadium. Since his death at 51 from pancreatic cancer, this has been the accepted view of a British national hero. But how much do we really know of England’s only World Cup-winning skipper? We know that Bobby Moore was an extraordinary captain and defender, but alongside his legendary feats on the field he knew scandal, death threats, bankruptcy business, and the sack. He divorced after a long affair, was rumored to have friends in the underworld, and he loved a drink. The tragedy of his life was to be ignored by the sports world in his latter years and to drift into obscurity. After he applied to be England manager, the FA didn’t even bother to send a rejection letter. There was no job in the game and, famously, no knighthood. As well as the undeniable moments of glory, this long overdue, definitive biography doesn't shy away from the grit. Tracing his journey from the East End to a pedestal outside Wembley Stadium, it looks, for the first time, at Moore’s life from all sides, through the testimony of teammates, rivals, family, and friends. What was Moore like to play with, to drink with? What was he like as a husband, father, opponent, and captain? A struggling manager and a failed businessman? This is the story of an Essex boy who became the patron saint of English soccer, revealing a lifetime of intrigue, triumph, and tragedy in between.

About this title

About the Author:

Matt Dickinson is chief soccer correspondent for the Times. He won Young Sports Writer of the Year (1993) and Sports Journalist of the Year (2000). He is most famous for conducting the interview with England Manager Glenn Hoddle which led to the latter’s resignation.

Review:

"Brilliant" -- Oliver Holt * Daily Mirror * "Devastating. No ghosted autobiography can match the nuanced insight of the latest book on Bobby Moore, a hero flawed by alcohol" -- Ian Herbert * Independent * "Well-researched and written, this book brings us the real Bobby Moore" -- Matthew Syed * The Times * "A tragic tale, admirably researched and poignantly told" -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times * "It's an immaculately researched voyage of discovery into a footballing enigma. We'll never know the man in full, but this comes close" -- Ben East * Metro *

About this edition

• Publisher: Random House UK
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0224091735
• ISBN 13: 9780224091732
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336