Whenever a famous footballer dies, there is an inevitable degree of public grief, depending on the age of the individual and the circumstances of his demise. But newspaper obituaries, in the majority of cases, are not about mourning. They are about the celebration of the lives of often remarkable characters who have loomed large in the collective consciousness of their countless supporters, people who have admired them week by week, season by season; been touched by them, perhaps outraged by them, maybe even loved them in that special way which fans reserve for their sporting heroes.The "Independent" newspaper is renowned for its detailed and heartfelt biographies of important figures in every sphere of life. "The Book Of Football Obituaries" deals with the detailed life and times of over 150 players, managers and personalities who have died in the last 15 years. Between these covers rest the likes of George Best, Alan Ball, Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough, Emlyn Hughes, John Charles and many more. The list is formidable, the scale of their achievement truly uplifting, and the essence of these exceptional men is captured here. This collection, featuring iconic images of every person included in the book, reveals the depth and breadth of research and knowledge which goes into each obituary and forms a collection of stunning remembrances of some of the greatest personalities to grace the game in recent times.

About the Author
Ivan Ponting is a football writer with more than 30 books to his credit and since 1991 he has been contributing obituaries to the Independent newspaper. Occasionally he has detoured into the summer game, collaborating with David Foot to produce Sixty Summers - Somerset Cricket Since The War, which won the National Sporting Club's Cricket Book of the Year award in 2007. Married with two children, he lives in Somerset.

Reviews
The fascination in this collection lies not only in the range of the author's deft, detailed and unsentimental cameos, but also that Geoff Bradford, the only Bristol Rovers player to win a full England cap, rubs shoulders with Billy Wright and Raich Carter, and Ron Ashman, a Norwich City titan on the pitch and in the dugout, takes hi place alongside Brian Clough and Bill Nicholson. And every individual tale offers a historical brushstroke to the canvas of our national game, often intriguingly...Dead interesting - Nick Harris, Independent. ...offers such a rich tapestry of writing on some of the game's greats...the writing is rich in detail and sensitively expressed - the negatives, as well as the positives, are never ignored. The book could almost be a 'Who's Who' of British football, the unsung heroes being trumpeted along with the likes of Ball, Charles, Clough, Matthews, Ramsey - as well as Best, arguably the most colourful of them all...gives the reader a fascinating insight into the history and development of the game on these shores, featuring figures who excelled in a different era. Overall it is an excellent offering that should prove perfect to dip in and out of for fans of all ages - Western Mail. This collection of obituaries will be fresh, yet timeless, material for the vast majority of fans...Ponting relies on an encyclopaedic knowledge and a substantial library for detail...combines solid craft, good judgment and factual precision. He always writes well, occasionally sumptuously...a series of elegant and elongated pen pictures - When Saturday Comes. "Ivan Ponting's excellent collection is - akin to celebrating footballer's lives with a minute's clapping rather than with a minute's silence. And what great lives there are to recall and how well Ponting tells their tale. Ponting has done a quite superb job in helping us re-live their achievements which makes this an outstanding book to dip into whenever one becomes frustrated at the shenanigans of the modern game - Peter Sharkey, The Birmingham Post. Absorbing - David Powter, The Football Trader.



Book Information
ISBN 9781905449828
Author Ivan Ponting
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Know the Score Books
Publisher Pitch Publishing Ltd