My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes

If I've read a better sports book than Gary Imlach's rich, touching tribute to his father, then I can't think what it is. Come to think of it, I don't think I've read many better books on any subject.

Gary Imlach follows the life of his father - Stuart - who went from a childhood in a pre-war fishing town in Scotland to, via various clubs, Scottish international in a World Cup and FA Cup winner with Nottingham Forest. Stuart Imlach's achievements are not what the book is based around, however; the stuff that is constantly yanking on your heartstrings is Imlach's relationship with his father.

From his meticulous tracing of his father's childhood, his playing career and his time coaching at Everton, Gary Imlach doesn't go for the treacly, over-sentimental approach. Given his father's understated, quiet demeanour, that wouldn't have worked. Imlach simply describes the various mistreatments endured by (and brief glories enjoyed by) his father in a stoic, matter-of-fact way that you get the impression his father would have approved of. I'd defy anyone not to have a `something-in-my-eye' moment when looking at Stuart's proud smile when wearing the Scotland cap some friends have made for him.

The book brilliantly explores two themes: the way in which football and footballers have changed (not necessarily for the better), and, more importantly, the relationship between fathers and sons of a certain generation. Many will no doubt see echoes of their own relationship with their father in Imlach's words, and those lucky enough to still have their fathers will no doubt cherish their relationship with them a little bit more. And how many books can you write such a sentence about?

This is a very moving book and I would hope, should any of the current crop of Premier League players read it, a humbling one too. Gary Imlach has produced a book that serves as both a timely reminder about what football is really about and a beautifully crafted love letter to his late father.

A friend recommended it to me. His copy has passed through a lot of hands but I thought I'd buy my own copy. I trust his recommendations and wasn't disappointed.

It's not really a football book, more a social history of our recent past. Having a father who had a similarly botched cartilege operation (leaving a bit in the joint to playfully work its way around!) and who took me to see my first match, which coincidentally, featured Blackpool at the time when Stewart Imlach was part of the management of that team back in 1977, I even discovered a slight connection with the author.

Highly recommended.

A really enjoyable and touching read. It takes you back to a time when footballers weren't bathing in money and completely out of touch with reality. They were struggling to get along and had only their talent to rely on. A great book and obviously a labour of love too.

If you click on the "Football" category of the Amazon website you'll find there are 9,159 titles (probably more by the time you read this). About 1% of these are actually worth the money and this book is very high up on the list.
You might recognise Gary Imlach as the likeable guy who presents the Tour de France and used to do the American Football (when you didn't have to pay Rupert Murdoch for the privilege).
On one level this is a biography about his dad, Stewart, a professional footballer in the 1950s and early 1960s, who played for Bury, Derby, Forest, Coventry and Crystal Palace, (as well as Scotland) and went on to coach the great Everton side of 1970 (Alan Ball, Joe Royle and all).
On another level it's about the life of any professional footballer at the time - the clubs simply owned the rights to these guys and the choice was to do as you were told or leave the professional game. They even controlled your access to housing!
On a third level it's about the process of Gary Imlach writing the book and his relationship with his father, discovering how much he didn't know and things he wished he had asked.
It is a very, very good book not least because as disillusion spreads with the way football is marketed these days it is an invaluable reminder that all was not perfect in 1950s and 1960s English football. The working class heroes lived life with the sword of Damoclese dangling in the form of a career-ending tackle or the whim of a manager.
The only vaguely negative thing I ahve to say is that this took a little while to grow on me. After the first chapter or two, I was quite disappointed, in fact. The writing style is quite understated and Imlach senior was not involved in many truly dramatic incidents so it might take a little while to tune in. All I can say is: stick with it. It really is worth it!
Clearly this was a very personal book to write, almost therapy for the author; here's hoping he has another book under way!

As an avid reader of sporting literature I have of late become a little lethargic to the genre. For every odd and very rare gem (Paul Mcgraths autobiography being an example) theres countless examples of pure un-adulterated dross filling our shelves, libraries and cyber shelves.

This book however, re-ignites the faith in the sporting written word. As a book it works on so many levels.

For Gary Imlach itself it serves as an autobiography for a broadcaster who many of us know and have seen, but has never really forced his way into the public domain as much as other, vastly less intelligent and insightful sports journalists. Among the most interesting is the picture formed of being a footballers son in the early 60's. Not the reality blurring lifestyle which todays footballers offspring enjoy/endure, but still enough perks and benefits to make it enjoyable.

Secondly, it serves as a fantastic biography of his father Stuart. Imlach manages to portray his father exactly in the manner of the stereotypical black and white era footballer: Brylcreem hair, tricky winger, family man, humble and hard working. Yet, despite that he never seems to fall prey to the stereotypes of books and articles of other players from the era. Partly because of its first hand and close recollection, the book manages to portray some well worn ground in a new, original and very entertaining manner.

The third ongoing strand of the book is the critique of the footballing industry itself which is intrinsically woven into the story as Stuart Imlachs career progresses. The working of small, amatuer Scottish clubs, the unfussy nature of arriving in England, the frankly appaling lack of players rights (no wonder the modern player is so keen to take whatever they can) through to the modern day hesitancy of the Scottish FA to acknowledge their 'lesser' lights of days of yore.

All in all this is a book which simply cannot be put down lightly. As detailed above, there is so many aspects to it that the reader will never be bored, and the exceptional narrative from Imlach bonds together the fascinating tale with skill, ease and brilliance.

Among the finest books I have ever had the joy to read, I urge all to check it out.