Read this years ago...couldn't put it down. Just gone and dug it out of the garage to read again on the summer hols.
Gekoski is a Cov supporter. He spent the season following the team. He had access to the training ground, team coach etc. spent time speaking to players, Strachan, Richardson etc. I'm literally flicking through now to remind me. Think he should ask to do a follow up book next season, imagine Fisher and Waggott's reaction.....would be a best seller!!!!
It's about one of our seasons in the premier league and was written by a bloke who was given unusually good access to the club and team. He even got to travel on the team coach and said even the chairman wasn't allowed by Gordon to do that. I used to read it on the way to games and it was a very interesting look at the club from the inside. Well worth a read especially if you can get it cheaply.
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Think they might possibly have it at Fargo Village.
A shop there that has a section of Coventry City stuff. Old books and video's and mugs and programmes etc. Stuff going back 50 years or so.
As some have said above, it's definitely worth a read. Its been years since I read it and I don't know where my copy is, but a good insight into how the players and staff interact and what they get up to between games. Didn't realise how may afternoon naps they take. And, I think, Hucks was the butt of some good banter because he was painted as a bit thick.
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Deleted member 5849
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I always wondered just how thick he was given in his day Trevor Peake was 'The Professor'for his to O Levels, where Huckerby was Forrest Gump!
Yes it's a great book and won sport book of the year I believe. Gekoski is an interesting character, an American who was/is a first edition book dealer. I think he had been a lecturer at Warwick University's American literature faculty. Every city fan should read it, as someone said earlier, it shows how far and fast we've fallen.
It's an interesting read though it gives limited genuine insight into what was behind the optimism I.e. Richardson of the time.
http://www.just14agiftsandgoodies.com/
Great little shop with loads of old Cov programmes, pictures of both Cov and England, different shirts and my personal favourite, the West End Aggro mug!!
Slightly off topic, I used to lodge with his ex wife in Leamington, who, from what I remember had a large rare book collection which was supposedly his but she wouldn't give him back.
Haven't read the book though.
Haven't read the book though.
it's a great read but Gekowski clearly thought that it would be a fascinating account of a club on the brink of relegation year after year. All good, but he was granted unprecedented access to the club in the the most sucessful season since the cup win.
The failure to recast the book to reflect this (it should be the story of a near miss, the Sheff utd quarter final) and continue with the publicity and title that focus on relegation was very disappointing; as was the strange decision not to travel to some matches (he jokes about not wanting to go to northern clubs beginning with B), missing the 5-1 win at Bolton for instance when it became clear that something special was happening.
The failure to recast the book to reflect this (it should be the story of a near miss, the Sheff utd quarter final) and continue with the publicity and title that focus on relegation was very disappointing; as was the strange decision not to travel to some matches (he jokes about not wanting to go to northern clubs beginning with B), missing the 5-1 win at Bolton for instance when it became clear that something special was happening.
nothing was behind the optimism it's just the way he was. knew him and his family pretty well. maybe one day i should write a book about those times!!!
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Jack Griffin
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Does it need a sequel? There must be plenty of material, but I think publication of any such book till SISU have departed implausible.
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Huckerby
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Jack Griffin
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Hucks is OK, give his twitter a/c a scan to get an idea of his character if you want. https://twitter.com/hucks6dh6
Agreed...enjoyed reading that one many years ago.
Tony Cascarino's book was quite good-he was very honest.
Tony Adam's book was interesting too, especially when you found out how much beer he drank and could still function as a pro.
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Huckerby
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Mine arrived the other day, going to start on it tonight. Will let you know what i think
Unlike when he told the FAI that he had an Irish grandparent ;-) (I seem to remember he eventually fessed up that his claim to be qualified to play for Ireland was invalid).
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/oct/29/newsstory.sport12
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just ordered this, cheers
maybe we could start a skybluetalk book club for the closed season, least give us something to talk about over the next 9 weeks
was strange to read in staying up that he has a problem with northern towns beginning with the letter B, I always had a problem with the ones beginning with H
