One of the Greatest Football Books of all time (All Played Out - Pete Davies)

Member Name: huggy2009

Product:	All Played Out - Pete Davies
Date:	31/05/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Amazing Access, writing and interviews

Disadvantages: The UK press look like a bunch of hateful animals

All Played Out

For me this is the definitive book about the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Pete Davies was given unparalleled access to the England team and his tale of their journey to the brink of victory shows the team ethic that developed in the squad, it covers the characters who developed through the squad and although we all know how it turns out has you rooting for the team.

For me, the thing that comes out most from the book is the pressure put on the England Manager, Bobby Robson, from the press and the FA which made him leave immediately after the tournament.

The book is written in a fly on the wall style but is eloquent and builds up the tournament as a whole, Davies is given the most amazing access to the England team and he really doesn't fit in with the biting tabloid press who dismiss him as not one of them. The book was written prior to the current glut of books post-hornby it has more in common with Hunter Davies season with Tottenham Hotspur in the sixties as no club or national team would allow such unlimited access now. We find out about the players revolt that forced Robson to change tactics mid tournament, we also have the development of Gazza from boisterous kid in the squad to star of the team and the hub of everything positive that came from the team.

I love this book and can't rate it highly enough, it is serious and eloquent, it has the hope and romance of any good sports book, it is realistic and doesn't build things up too much, but for anyone who is a passionate England fan or a football fan in general it offers an unrivalled sense of the camaraderie, childishness, in-fighting, team spirit and by the end sheer bloody-mindedness of a squad that felt it had to win to spite the press as much as anything else.

Players are interviewed and are brutally honest, Robson is a man on the edge and it's a shame as he is truly a genuinely nice man who knew what he was doing and improved the English game no end.

The press come out of this story really badly, at times they are seen as vicious story hungry animals prepared to destroy lives and do whatever they can to get a story, some of the set-ups they created buying drinks for England fans and encouraging trouble to create a story have stayed with me to this day and I lost respect for them the day I first read this and nothing they've done since has regained it for me. Fans are circumspect in being interviewed to avoid being tarred with the hooligan brush but those who are appear normal and to be having the time of their lives and are a credit to their country.

Davies interviews a number of players and their passion for their country is something to fill you with pride, I do find that Brian Robson, Terry Butcher and Gary Lineker especially are fascinating, the odd player interview is sad and Bobby Robson is disappointed when he hears about these.

Alongside the experiences of the players and fans, Davies talks about his experiences in Italy during the tournament and enjoys the contrast with the English, he also talks about all games in one of the most memorable tournaments in the history of the World Cup.

We all know how it ends, but Davies majestic description of the semi-final between England and Germany has you hooked, it is magical and reminds me of Norman Mailers 'The Fight' in its honest, poetic description of a truly magical event. Overall its in my top five greatest sports books ever. The book is available for £12.27 on Amazon and is easily available on Ebay or sites such as readitswapit for much less.

Summary: One of the Greatest Football Books of all time