ENGLISH PSYCHO (Psycho - Stuart Pearce)

Member Name: C_Padd

Product:	Psycho - Stuart Pearce
Date:	11/01/02 (345 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very entertaining read, Good player and good person

Disadvantages: Not a literary genius

What people remember of Stuart Pearce can be summed up in two penalties. The first against Germany, the semi-final of Italia ’90 where he and Chris Waddle missed to put England out, then in Euro ‘96 against Spain he clear delight at scoring. Those images are etched with me, and others I am sure, but there is more to the man than those two moments. ‘Psycho’ can be a representative of his character as a player, but is also the title of his autobiography.

I really don’t like it when pop stars or footballers release a best selling autobiography in their mid-twenties. What can they have achieved in that time? Stuart Pearce has been around, he is an interesting person, with a great story. From growing up in London, his football career, love of horses, family life, and plenty of great stories along the way this is a great book, one of my favourite football autobiographies I have read.

Stuart Pearce has had a very good career, and is still going strong. Football plays a big part to him, and this book fully covers all his football life, for the local teams, Forest under the charismatic Brian Clough, West Ham and Newcastle. Pearce was a late starter from today’s young stars that have been with clubs since they were 8 years old, he has had to work for all he has got, being picked from the non-league scene to a regular for England. Not bad at all. Along the way he had picked up plenty of stories, especially with Clough, such as an away game at Millwall, notoriously tough area where Clough made the Forest team walk the last 250 yards to the ground through all the fans away from the safety of the team bus, and many more. It will clearly help having an interest in football, though not essential but it does help to know the background.

The book also includes much of Pearce’s early life. Growing up in a tough district of London he has strong ideals in life, even when he had made it in football he is thankful o
f what he has got. Not like the younger generation of John Terry and Jody Morris who have too much money too young. He came into the game late, having been a fully trained electrician again he takes nothing for granted and accepts all he gets graciously. There are again some run ins with the boys in blue (not Chelsea), and he has had a very close escape from a car crash. Pearce also has a large interest in horse racing, clearly he does enjoy the horses, not betting or winning money, but cares for the horses. He is also happily married with kids, again he is close to them which comes out well in this book.

Stuart Pearce has been a regular in the left back role for England for many years, and has played in some very memorable games. Who can forget his penalty against Spain in Euro ’96, such a great picture of a release of emotions after missing one in Italy six years ago in the semis against the Germans. Also the free kick against France that hammered the bar, in the same game a nasty incident involving him and an elbow. He has had a great career internationally, again he has a lot of stories to tell, but he is clearly very proud of this, full commitment whenever he pulled on the White of England, and this comes across in the words.

The book is written by Bob Harris, a famous sports writer himself. I am always a bit dubious when I see a book written by someone I consider is not a literary genius, which Pearce is not, and probable would never claim to be. Still this book is clearly what Stuart wanted to say, there is very little editing, it comes out just as Pearce would have said it, and nothing is lose. It is not glossed over, or exaggerated to make it a better read, it is just a good account of an interesting footballer. The book is out in paperback, and hardback. I picked my paperback up for £6.99, look around though. There are a selection of pictures of Pearce in his playing career, as well as general life photos in the book, as w
ell as the cover photograph being very good.

Well there you have it, even when I write about books, I still manage to write about football. I like Pearce as a player, and a person. This book is very interesting, but you do not need to be a huge football fan to enjoy it. He is not bigheaded, as many footballers may seem today, but is a good honest bloke, who has worked hard for all he has got and I believe he fully deserves it. This book may not be the best written piece you will ever read, but is very enjoyable.

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