Books about Chelsea

Review

Product Description: Maverick is one of the kinder words uttered about Mickey Thomas, the 'Welsh George Best', during a remarkable football career spanning spells at Wrexham, Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton - and Kirkham Open Prison FC. Mickey's world didn't just revolve around pulling on boots on a Saturday afternoon for club and country. His life was dedicated to pulling birds, pranks and generally getting into scrapes which would make Paul Gascoigne look like a choirboy. But no-one knows about the heart-breaking events in his private life which Mickey has kept secret for twenty years.How he hit rock bottom, and below, and survived as one of the greatest characters the game has ever known. From his early days growing up on a rough council estate, leaving school at 14 without the ability to read and write, through to his spells at the bright lights of Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, where he became a cult hero for fans who recognised his rogue and unique genius, this is football's ultimate rollercoaster ride story. There are extraordinary highs, and heart-rending lows - none more so than the episode in 1993 when he was jailed for passing counterfeit money to apprentices. Through it all, Mickey has endeared a generation of football fans with his good humour and boundless energy and enthusiasm for the game and life. Mickey's story is the most exciting, enthralling and touching football autobiography of 2008.

Review by - Nathan Davies

Roman Abramovich may have spent zillions on expensive foreign talent and helped to transform Chelsea into one of Europe's leading clubs but in my opinion there has been a price to pay other than the extortionate transfer fees. Stamford Bridge may now be home to an abundance of football talent but the majority of the highly paid squad of superstars seem to be devoid of passion, commitment and loyalty - all the qualities that help to make a cult hero. Subsequently, I was not surprised to find that Chelsea's Cult Heroes by Leo Moynihan doesn't include enthusiastic biographies of any of Abramovich's big money signings but an abundance of players who turned out for The Pensioners before the stench of filthy lucre consumed the King's Road. Indeed, as I write, the only player featured in this well-researched volume that remains at Stamford Bridge is John Terry - who has been at the club since leaving West Ham United as a youngster and now bleeds blue blood. The characters who make this book so readable and who gave Chelsea such a fierce reputation before money sterilised the club include William ‘Fatty' Foulke, Jimmy Greaves, Peter Osgood, Joey Jones, Kerry Dixon, Dennis Wise and Ruud Gullit among others. With a foreword by Tony Banks this is a must for all Chelsea fans in search of the hidden fabric of the club.

Review by - Nathan Davies

This is a revised and updated new edition of the best selling "Chelsea Miscellany", more than 7,000 copies of which have been sold since first edition publication in September 2005. It is packed with random Chelsea FC facts, stats, lists, tables, anecdotes and quotes, from the club's record scorer to the name of Frank Lampard's bulldog and the sayings of Jose Mourinho. This is the ultimate trivia book of the Premier League champions. I believe it is important for supporters to know the history of their club so that they can appreciate the present and this well-presented hardback is the ideal reference point for anyone wanting to know more about Chelsea. There are sections entitled "Successful Skippers", "You'll Never Beat The Chelsea!" and even a piece entitled "The Wit and Wisdom of Ken Bates". I particularly enjoyed flicking through the coloured centre pages showing Chelsea kits from 1905-2007. Foreword by Pat Nevin. This is a must-have item for Chelsea supporters.