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Greenhoff!
One of the last youth players to be brought to the club by Sir Matt Busby, Brian Greenhoff spent eleven years at Old Trafford, during one of the most infamous periods in Manchester United's history. Signed as an apprentice just weeks after the legendary European Cup triumph of 1968, injuries prevented Brian making his debut senior appearance until 1973. When he did it was part of the only United side to have been relegated since the war. Nevertheless, Brian was named Supporters Player Of The Year that season and went on to form an iconic defensive partnership with captain Martin Buchan as the club won the Second Division title before taking the top flight by storm under the flamboyant management of Tommy Docherty. Brian was man of the match in the treble-busting FA Cup Final of 1977 helping defeat fierce rivals Liverpool at Wembley. In Greenhoff!, Brian shares his experiences of the famous youth policy of Busby and Jimmy Murphy, the players who did not make it, his fascinating relationship with Tommy Docherty and his struggle with Dave Sexton that brought an untimely end to his time at United. An England international, he also lifts the lid on his troubled times at Leeds and Rochdale and reveals the breakdown of the relationship with his brother James, one of the most famous footballing brothers in the history of the game. Greenhoff! is the story of one of the best loved players from a fascinating period of footballing history told with honesty and no little humour.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 21, 2013
I recall being devastated when Manchester United was relegated in the 70's, a sign of an aging team that had lost their way and a far cry from the European Cup victory of 1968. But under the management of Tommy Docherty they bounced back and got to two FA Cup finals' losing one and winning the other. New players were brought in to deliver the flair demanded by the fans and I remember with joy what an exciting team they were to watch and there were some great players pulling on the red jersey at that time.
This is the story of one of them, Brian Greenhoff, a highly versatile and professional player, at his best when in central defence partnership with the excellent Martin Buchan where he brought the ball out to drive the play forward. His brother Jimmy was eventually also brought in as a striker, so this was (I think) the first instance of two brothers playing at United. More of that later.
So this is `Brian's tale' from joining United as a teenager and seeing through a number of managers before falling foul of the dubious management of Dave Sexton and then moving on. It also covers his England career. It is a known fact that after a falling out with his brother post United, they have not spoken for 20 years. It is said that this relates to their joint managership of Rochdale and while this did sow the seed, it was actually a wedding invite (or lack of) that was the final straw.
Brian comes over as a stand-up guy and a grafter with stacks of personal integrity and expectations of similar behaviour from those he deals with. It was lack of character from those he dealt with that had him falling out with Sexton and his brother.
So this is a tale of football in the 70's when it was not the big money game it is now and when you left the big clubs you had to find ways of earning the money to feed your family. In today's cash rich game, it is hard to imagine a footballer that spent 10 years at a big club not having sufficient banked to not have to work.
I remember the team with great fondness and it was good to find that one of the players turned out to be as nice a guy as you hoped he was.
This is the story of one of them, Brian Greenhoff, a highly versatile and professional player, at his best when in central defence partnership with the excellent Martin Buchan where he brought the ball out to drive the play forward. His brother Jimmy was eventually also brought in as a striker, so this was (I think) the first instance of two brothers playing at United. More of that later.
So this is `Brian's tale' from joining United as a teenager and seeing through a number of managers before falling foul of the dubious management of Dave Sexton and then moving on. It also covers his England career. It is a known fact that after a falling out with his brother post United, they have not spoken for 20 years. It is said that this relates to their joint managership of Rochdale and while this did sow the seed, it was actually a wedding invite (or lack of) that was the final straw.
Brian comes over as a stand-up guy and a grafter with stacks of personal integrity and expectations of similar behaviour from those he deals with. It was lack of character from those he dealt with that had him falling out with Sexton and his brother.
So this is a tale of football in the 70's when it was not the big money game it is now and when you left the big clubs you had to find ways of earning the money to feed your family. In today's cash rich game, it is hard to imagine a footballer that spent 10 years at a big club not having sufficient banked to not have to work.
I remember the team with great fondness and it was good to find that one of the players turned out to be as nice a guy as you hoped he was.
July 2, 2013
This book is a fantastic read. I was very fortunate to meet Brian Greenhoff at the launch of this book in December 2012. Following his shock death in May 2013, I will treasure my signed copy of this book. Thankfully he managed to get this book finished and his family, friends and football fans have something to commemorate and remember his life with.
It is a must read book for all Man Utd fans with any interest in the history of the club.
It is a must read book for all Man Utd fans with any interest in the history of the club.
May 6, 2013
good read
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews