Love of the Game (Hardcover)

Ricky Hill

ISBN 10: 1785318268 / ISBN 13: 9781785318269

Published by Pitch Publishing Ltd, Hove, 2021

About this Item

Hardcover. Ricky Hill grew up beneath the shadow of Wembley Stadium, where he sold programmes at England games as a boy. When he was seven, he was told by a teacher that only two in every hundred boys could possibly make it as a professional footballer. Ricky told her he would be one of the two. Ten years later, this gifted midfielder scored on his debut for Luton Town. Ricky stayed with Luton for 14 years, made 508 appearances and became a club legend. Emerging at a time when racism was rife, he was only the fourth black player to represent England. Later, as a coach, he had to fight to smash down barriers holding back black managers, and devised an equivalent of the NFL's 'Rooney Rule' to help BAME applicants secure senior coaching jobs in English football. While Ricky has won trophies and awards overseas, he has been overlooked in this country. In Love of the Game, he tells the shocking story behind his short spell in charge of Luton, and reveals just how much the football decision-makers in England have ignored him and other black coaches. Ricky Hill was a legend at Luton and became only the fourth black player to represent England. As a coach, he has won trophies and awards overseas but has been overlooked in his home country. In Love of the Game, he lifts the lid on how the decision-makers in English football have ignored him and other black coaches. Explosive and revelatory! Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781785318269

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Love of the Game (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd, Hove
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1785318268
• ISBN 13: 9781785318269
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Ricky Hill grew up beneath the shadow of Wembley Stadium, where he sold programmes at England games as a boy. When he was seven, he was told by a teacher that only two in every hundred boys could possibly make it as a professional footballer. Ricky told her he would be one of the two. Ten years later, this gifted midfielder scored on his debut for Luton Town. Ricky stayed with Luton for 14 years, made 508 appearances and became a club legend. Emerging at a time when racism was rife, he was only the fourth black player to represent England. Later, as a coach, he had to fight to smash down barriers holding back black managers, and devised an equivalent of the NFL's 'Rooney Rule' to help BAME applicants secure senior coaching jobs in English football. While Ricky has won trophies and awards overseas, he has been overlooked in this country. In Love of the Game, he tells the shocking story behind his short spell in charge of Luton, and reveals just how much the football decision-makers in England have ignored him and other black coaches.

About the Author

Ricky Hill has collaborated with Adrian Durham to write his story. Adrian has been a presenter at talkSPORT Radio since it began in 2000, and has written two other books, Is He All That?: Great Footballing Myths Shattered and Judas?: The Story of Paul Cooke. He is a former Mail Online columnist.