Overview

This is a football autobiography with an exciting and refreshing difference. Mike Yates tells his compelling real life story of what it is like to be one of the many thousands of young players who pass through the academy system, get very close to the first team and believe that they are about to make it, only to suddenly find themselves rejected. How football develops young players is becoming an increasingly hot topic and this book examines the situation from every angle in an enjoyable and easy-to-read style. What was it like to play alongside a young Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen and be immersed in the world of professional football with a squad of Liverpool Legends? How does the modern academy system compare to the old apprenticeship days? How can young players prepare themselves mentally for both success and failure? How can parents help young players and themselves? How can shattered dreams and a devastating setback be turned into a successful future? How can the game improve the development of young players as people? It features a thought provoking foreword written by Jamie Carragher. Fascinating insights into the game provided by interviews with Jamie Carragher and his dad Philly, Ian Rush, Jamie Redknapp, John Barnes, Jason McAteer, Frank McParland, Steve Heighway, Hughie McAuley, Jimmy Melia, Clarke Carlisle, Gareth Southgate, Gordon Taylor, Dave McDonough, Paul Dalglish, Tom Culshaw, and more...It features full colour photos throughout the book, including rare images of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen as young players. It is presented in hard cover, 320 pages, 9 X 6 .

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9781782801597

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Reviews

'Yatesy's true story gives an entertaining insider's view of the life of a young footballer and it does a great job of describing the many ups and the downs of the game. Anybody interested in football will enjoy this book. Young players and their parents should really make a point of reading it because it is full of valuable advice, all based on actual personal experience at the top level.' (Steven Gerrard) 'Mike Yates' story paints a very honest picture of the realities of being released, but it also shows how he turned his setback into an enjoyable career and a happy life. All young players should be encouraged to read this book because they will enjoy it and learn a lot at the same time. Maybe then the realities will hit home.' (Jamie Carragher) 'I am very happy to recommend this book to all aspiring footballers as a lesson that, even if you don't reach the top, you can achieve success in life.' (Gordon Taylor, OBE) (Liverpool Daily Post) 'Among the densely-populated arena of drab, formulaic football autobiographies, it is a tome that shines bright, offering something different with an absorbing story of what it is like to be one of those players who doesn't quite make it. Bolstered by asides with the likes of Steven Gerrard, John Barnes, Gordon Taylor, Clarke Carlisle and Jamie Carragher, and brought to life by rare photographs showing a young Gerrard and Owen in action along with newspapers cuttings, it is a labour of love that is essential reading for anyone associated with the game.'

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