Villa literature

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Are any Villa player's (auto)biographies worth reading?

The only recent-ish one I've read is Paul McGrath's. 

I think the last one I read before that, was probably Andy Gray's "Shades of Gray". 

[PeterWithesShin]

I enjoyed the Gerry Hitchens one. Last time I checked it was in The Works at a decent price.

[Damo70]

Are any Villa player's (auto)biographies worth reading?

The only recent-ish one I've read is Paul McGrath's. 

I think the last one I read before that, was probably Andy Gray's "Shades of Gray".

I would say after McGrath's the next best is Cascarino's. The ones by Burridge and Merson are very good too. Woody and Nord is also a good book. The  stories of Gareth Southgate and his best mate at Palace as one became a wealthy international footballer and the other a lower league journeyman.

[Godfrey Brian]

Its only one chapter, eleven pages long but one of my favourite pieces of writing about the Villa comes from a book called 'Saturdays Boys' which is a compilation of twenty one chapters by twenty one different authors written about a variety of clubs. The one about Villa is written by Simon Inglis  and it begins and ends 'Yippee ya yayhhh, yippee ya yohhh...' It makes me smile every time I read it.
1p on amazon at the moment.

There's some good stuff in that book. I liked the bit about the Sunday team who played in Argentina's colours because of the "dove grey stockings."

Agreed. That's a great piece of writing by Simon Inglis, captures that 1960's period of Villa supporting to a tee. The lone voice during a Villa Park silence in a mindnumbing match "Has anyone got a Paracetemol" ?. Great stuff

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

I enjoyed the Gerry Hitchens one. Last time I checked it was in The Works at a decent price.

Actually, I do have the Gerry Hitchens biography on my Kindle, and I read the first few chapters.  I couldn't really get into it though - he was well before my time as a player, and seemed like a fairly dry read. 

[ADVILLAFAN]

"Playing football in Italy was like being in the bloody Army", or something like that.

[Godfrey Brian]

I've just finished reading " Encounters of the Third Kind" by Colin Abbott, the story of our third division days. It is a really good read with a lot of interviews with players of the time, match reports and photos not often seen all contained in a narrative which covers the slump right up to promotion. As a bonus it covers the 72 Youth cup in detail along with a history of our development in the competition. Some typos but bought home the bond between team and supporters which was created at that time. A different world but great to revisit! 238 pages, hardback -well worth the £17 price.

[Ron Manager]

I know its going way back in the history of Aston Villa but 'I lead the Attack' by our great Welsh international centre forward Trefor (Trevor) Ford is a very good read. He was the fifties version of Alan Shearer with far more aggression! Goalkeepers and opposition supporters hated
the Welsh Battering Ram with a vengence. He once sued Gil Merrick the England goalkeeper for insinuating that Ford treated him less than fairly!

[stubbsyandy]

Well, unless I've been conned, I have a second hand copy of Children of the Revolution heading my way right now, for £0.01 plus £2.80 postage, courtesy of Amazon.

Book now safely in hands, and in pretty much pristine condition.  What a bargain.

Whatever you do, don't take it to bed tonight intending to just read chapter one. Before you know it dawn will be breaking and it'll be time to get up.

Dave, that is so true, once you start it you cannot put it down.....

Dead right, my copy delivered yesterday, really good condition for £0.01p!!
Its going to be a fantastic read!

What did you think?

A bit late...but yes, everything I hoped it would be...brings it all back just couldn't get enough.all the pictures of faces etched in my memory

[dave.woodhall]

A bit late...but yes, everything I hoped it would be...brings it all back just couldn't get enough.all the pictures of faces etched in my memory

The best football book ever written.

[Flamingo Lane]

It is  a great work, and though it may sound soft it's brought a tear to my eye on a few occasions.