Full Time: the Secret Life of Tony Cascarino - Paul Kimmage

This book came out during a period of brutally frank footballer's autobiographies and ranks alongside Tony Adams and Steve Claridge's efforts as one of the best in this genre. Tony Cascarino was a footballer, he started his career at Gillingham and moved through the leagues to Millwall where he was a great succcess up front alongside Teddy Sherringham, Cascarino subsequently had a successful career despite constant media criticism of his lack of ability, by playing for Aston Villa, Chelsea, Celtic and most successfully Marseille. This book charts his journey to these clubs, on the way we discover that Cascarino is crippled by self doubt and actually ...  Read the complete review

I have to confess I only read this as we had gone to my parent's for the weekend and I had forgotten to pack my book. It was a choice between one of my Mum's historical bodice-rippers or this book that my husband had taken with him. Sheer laziness won - this was to hand so I decided to read this - and an excellent decision it transpired to be. This book is dynamite - an absorbing and entertaining read, I couldn't put it down. I laughed out loud and I surreptitiously blinked away the odd tear as well. Between 1982 and 1999 Tony Cascarino played football for Gillingham, Millwall, Aston Villa, Celtic, Chelsea, Marseille, Nancy and the Republic of ...  Read the complete review

I've always had a soft spot for Tony Cascarino. Besides scoring some very important goals for Ireland he seemed like a proper joker who was always up for a laugh through his few remaining teeth. Full-Time written by former cyclist Paul Kimmage is a personal account of Cascarino's life to date. It's about as honest and enjoyable a sports book you're ever likely to read. Born of Anglo/Italian parents, Cascarino endured a tough childhood by a wicked father. Although the pair are now close, these early experiences shaped a personality that is devoid of confidence. He qualified to play for Ireland through the grandparent rule but reveals for the ...  Read the complete review