I have to admit that I am not a big book reader. The only books that I tend to attempt to read are autobiographies. The best autobiographies that I have read so far are:
Steven Gerrard is my favourite footballer (past and present). It is therefore obvious that in the age where everyone with a claim to fame brings out an autobiography I would get his one. Gerrard captains Liverpool and has also captained England. He is Liverpool's talisman and is well known for his heroic performances in the face of adversity. Most notably in the final game in champions league group stages against Olympiacos in 2004, when he scored a "beauty" in the last minute of the game putting Liverpool through to the knockout stages. Liverpool would go on to win the competition after another inspiring Gerrard performance in the final. I think that Stevie G is the ultimate model professional and it shows in this book. You rarely hear anything about his personal life in the press so it was intriguing to see what makes him tick, his opinions and his past. A must have in every Gerrard fan‚s collection.
Paul Gascoigne, Gazza, as he is also known, is a very interesting character and has had a very interesting life in which he has dealt with highs and lows in his football and personal life. The book explains his life as a child, time as a YTS (youth team player) and his early professional career, the 1990 World Cup, his troubled big move to Italy, time playing for Rangers, being dropped for the 1998 World Cup, marital problems and drink problems etc. It also contains a lot of hilarious anecdotes that you would expect from Gazza.
Lenny McLean aka 'The Guvnor' is a well known bare knuckle boxer from the East End of London. He had an eventful life; losing his dad at age 6, being beaten by his step father, street fighting, petty crime and bare-knuckle boxing (he is renowned for being the greatest ever British Bare-Knuckle boxer and at one point was known as the hardest man in Britain). He was also a bouncer come bodyguard and was known as ‘The King of Bouncers’. He also had a brief acting career appearing in ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’. There were also plans to produce a film based on his life which fell through. The book, released after his death is a collection of thoughts and stories of those who knew and loved him. His story is a brutal one but makes great reading. RIP Lenny McLean
Vinnie Jones is a famous British footballer come Actor. He has been successful in both careers, captaining his clubs and country (Wales although he was born in England), and appearing in many successful British and American films; most notably, Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Mean Machine.
As a footballer he was known as a hard man and this continues in his acting. The book talks about his eventful life and explains his experiences as both a footballer and an actor. There are many funny anecdotes such as the time he famously grabbed Paul Gascoigne’s ‘you know what’s and of times as part of ‘the Crazy Gang’ at Wimbledon FC.
George Best is widely accepted as one of the all-time 'great' footballers and certainly the best to come from British shores. He was the first celebrity footballer and lived a champagne lifestyle. It was his drinking that finally got the better of him when he died in 2005.
Even as a Liverpool fan, and someone who wasn't alive during his playing days, I have to accept that he is a legend. As I said I am too young to have witnessed him in his playing days but I have seen many clips of his goals and skill. Sadly he never played in the World Cup due to the poor strength of the Northern Ireland team at the time. He is regarded as the greatest player never to have played in the World Cup
Ever more sadly, he became addicted to alcohol as was well documented. The book details his life before , during and after his playing days and is a very interesting read.