Hard Tackles and Dirty Baths: The Inside Story of Football's Golden Era

by George Best

Poor training facilities, bad diets, packed stands, great songs, scary center-backs, world-class strikers and, after 90 minutes of kicking and being kicked, a brown ale in a dirty bath. One of British soccer’s greatest heroes talks about the golden era, before football became a circus of media hype

Genres: Football, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 27, 2006

About the author

George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish professional football player, best known for his years with Manchester United. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders. In 1968, his annus mirabilis, he won the European Cup with Manchester United, and was named the European Footballer of the Year. When fit, he was an automatic choice for the Northern Ireland team, but he was unable to lead them to the World Cup qualification, despite being capped 37 times and scoring nine goals.

In 1999, he was voted 11th at the IFFHS European Player of the Century election, and 16th in the World Player of the Century election. Pelé named him as one of the 125 best living footballers in his 2004 FIFA 100 list and Best was named 19th, behind Gerd Müller, at the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll. In his native Northern Ireland the admiration for him is summed up by the local saying: "Maradona good; Pelé better; George Best."

He was one of the first celebrity footballers, but his extravagant lifestyle led to problems with alcoholism which curtailed his playing career and eventually led to his death in November 2005 at the age of 59. His cause of death was a kidney infection, a side-effect of the immuno-suppressive drugs he was required to take after a liver transplant. Best's lovable, cheeky image won him many fans, during his career and after, despite his public drunkenness on TV, his convictions for drunk driving and assaulting a policeman, allegations of domestic violence, and his inability to give up drinking even after the transplant. GQ named him as one of the 50 most stylish men of the past 50 years.

Reviews

[Rodney McCain · Rating 3 out of 5]

George's final book, released just after his premature death in 2005; it is not based on his own career, rather is his recalling the events, teams and characters in the English game between 1963 and 1974, but is nonetheless an enjoyable read, if not particularly 'deep'.

[Romysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly wonderful time capsule that will take you back to the era of the beautiful game when it looked somewhat different. We have the numbers and the stats. We can see the results, and we can see who won trophies. But reading this account from a man who had been there, seen it, and played the game is a completely different experience.
Football was much more appreciated for what it was. It was pure, and players enjoyed playing it. It wasn't about money or fame. It was about playing the game. The rivalries were much more fierce. The game was genuine. The tackles were hard and the baths were dirty. That was Football. That was the game that George Best enjoyed the most. And I am glad he took me back there with him.

[Laurie Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is basically a list of matches, scores & names that bring back memories.
Nothing substantial. Disappointed.

[John M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up reading this one half way through as the anecdotes simply stopped being interesting and the ghost writer's voice took over too much. A shame really as some of the early bits are interesting and fun. There have been a lot of books about George Best - maybe the better ones are those that George had no hand in writing!

[Redfox5 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up on page 18. I thought there might be a little bit about how he grew up but it is all about football. I can't stay interested in who was scoring what goals. However the football union is pretty good. Wish they would take over from ours. Look at the bloody pay rise they managed to get them!

[Nathan Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly diverting collection of anecdotes, some more interesting than others. Engaging enough to while a few hours away, but if you're after something substantial then you'll be left a little disappointed.

[Bjorn Hardarson · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Good book about the season of 64-74, though I have to admit it is to long for me to know most of the names