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Back from the Brink
by Justin Blundell
£10.95 Paperback - ISBN 190174647X
Published November 2006
"A fascinating account of the club’s austerity years"
CLIFF BUTLER, OFFICIAL CLUB HISTORIAN
"A gripping
read, thanks to the author's meticulous research and keen eye for anecdotes
and bizarre facts.
A finely crafted, insightful
piece of club history"
Jon Spurling, FourFourTwo
- Book of the month - Jan 2007 - Full
Review
IN
THE RICH HISTORY OF MANCHESTER UNITED THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL GREAT CRISES
- BACK FROM THE BRINK TELLS THE STORY OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THEM
ALL...
In this amusing, irreverent and fascinating account, Justin Blundell traces
the events of the club's lost youth between the end of the Great War and
the worldwide economic crisis that almost scuppered the club yet ushered
in a new era under James Gibson.
Along the way, we re-visit some of the most important events in the club's
history; the extraordinary boycott attempt of 1930, the incident on the
Moors that almost wiped out an entire team and the birth of the youth
policy that paved the way for the Busby Babes and the glorious post-war
period.
Featuring over 120 player profiles, from greats such as Billy Meredith,
Frank Barson and Joe Spence to the one-game cloggers who lit up Old Trafford
afternoons with their endeavour, courage or lack of ability. Blundell's
punchy account deserves to stand alongside the many volumes written about
the post-war glory years - it tells the story of how United survived the
Depression Years and came back from the brink. More...
The Insider's Guide to Manchester
United:
Candid Profiles of Every Red Devil Since 1945
by John Doherty
with Ivan Ponting
£20.00 Hardback
ISBN 1901746410
Published November 2005
CONTAINING
JOHN DOHERTY'S SUBJECTIVE views on each of the 348 men to the end of
season 2004-05 who have played for the club at senior level since the
war, The Insider's Guide To Manchester United is the definitive Manchester
United players' guide. Documenting every player to have appeared for
the Red Devils since the war, Doherty (an original Busby Babe and chairman
of the United Old Boys committee) candidly reveals the strengths, weaknesses
and his personal memories of United's finest.
More...
The Real Jason Robinson
by Dave Swanton
£17.95 Hardback
ISBN 1901746488
Published October 2005
As
the scorer of the only try in England's historic World Cup victory in
2003, Jason Robinson's career has scaled the peaks. Yet while his career
has been statistically impressive - with 37 tries in 102 starts for
Sale, 22 tries in his 35 England appearances and a remarkable 11 tries
in 10 Lions appearances - it is perhaps for his character and personal
achievements that Jason is best loved.
As England's first black Rugby Union captain. Jason has given what has
in the past been regarded as a stuffy, public school game a much wider
profile.
More...
The Birth of the Babes
Manchester United Youth Policy 1950-57
by Tony Whelan
Foreword by Sir Alex Ferguson
Preface by Cliff
Butler
Published May 2005
The emergence in the 1950s of talented footballers such as Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton was a result of the first truly comprehensive scouting and coaching operation English football had known. As a player Matt Busby had learned through bitter experience of the 'sink or swim' approach that prevailed at most football clubs and realised that the harnessing of the full talents of footballers required a more involved approach. If a player had a gambling or drinking problem for instance, this would affect his performance on a Saturday and would therefore become the club's problem. More...
This Simple Game -
The Footballing Life of Ken Barnes
As Told to Jimmy Wagg
£16.95 - Hardback - ISBN
1901746496
Published December 2005
Ken
Barnes was widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation
never to have won an England cap. During a distinguished playing career
with Manchester City, Ken appeared in the FA Cup finals of 1955 and 1956
and later captained the club before retiring in the early 60s. He spent
nearly a decade away from Maine Road as a manager of Wrexham and Witton
Albion before returning to Maine Road as a coach under Joe Mercer. Ken
subsequently went on to serve under every City manager as either a coach
or chief scout from Joe Mercer to Joe Royle. In his time Ken has seen
tactical trends come and go - from the ‘deep lying centre-forward’
via ‘wingless wonders’ to today’s ‘holding midfielder’
and is uniquely placed to give his opinions on them all. More...