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Greavsie: The Autobiography
James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves is one of the greatest footballers to have graced the English game, a goalscorer of legendary prowess. His gripping and characteristically humorous autobiography journeys from Jimmy's childhood in the East End, via his early career at Chelsea and his short and troubled stay at A.C. Milan, to his emergence as one of the great stars of sixties football while at Spurs and an outstanding England forward. Jimmy's record as a striker is extraordinary - he was the leading goalscorer in the First Division - now Premiership - for six seasons and during his playing career was never out of the top five. There are darker aspects too: the bitter disappointment of failing to make the World Cup-winning team of 1966, and the battle against the alcoholism that followed his retirement from the game.
This book is both Jimmy's story and the story of football in the golden era of the fifties and sixties before money changed the game. It is populated by the great players whom Jimmy played with and against and animated by wonderful anecdotes about the game. It is an account of how football was then and how it has changed.
This book is both Jimmy's story and the story of football in the golden era of the fifties and sixties before money changed the game. It is populated by the great players whom Jimmy played with and against and animated by wonderful anecdotes about the game. It is an account of how football was then and how it has changed.
543 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2003
32 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jimmy Greaves
42 books1 followerJames Peter Greaves is a former England international footballer who played as a forward. He is England's fourth highest international goalscorer (44 goals), Tottenham Hotspur's highest ever goalscorer (266 goals), the highest goalscorer in the history of English top-flight football (357 goals), and has also scored more hat-tricks (six) for England than anyone else. He finished as the First Division's top scorer in six seasons. He is a member of the English Football Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 26, 2023
I have watched (and played) plenty of football during my life but there is no doubt whatsoever that Jimmy Greaves was the greatest, and coolest, goalscorer that I have ever seen. He was mercurial around the penalty box and once there, it was more often than not certainly a goal. He scored 357 goals in 516 Football League matches, all in the top flight of English football. In 57 appearances for England he scored 44 goals and he scored 55 goals in various Cup competitions. Incredible and it was an absolute delight to watch him, as I did often in my time in London.
I was aware of his burgeoning reputation when I first saw him at Blackpool on 12 December 1959 when I was an impressionable young lad of 13. Blackpool beat Chelsea 3-1 and the Blackpool defence kept a tight rein on him so he did not score his side's consolation goal. I went home and said to my Dad, 'Jimmy Greaves isn't as great as I thought, our defence kept him quiet.' I must confess to a slight disappointment because he was already one of my footballing heroes. A week or so later he was playing at nearby Preston and, with Blackpool away from home, I travelled to watch the game. This time on my return home I said to my Dad, 'I withdraw everything I said about Jimmy Greaves, he is magnificent.' The reason was that, although Preston - through Tommy Thompson who scored all their goals - netted four times, Jimmy scored five and he had three other efforts disallowed! His reputation for me was secured.
By the time I went to London Jimmy had left Chelsea, much to the chagrin of their supporters, had had a very brief spell at AC Milan and had returned to Tottenham Hotspur. I was, therefore, able to watch him on numerous occasions and in one classic spell of just over a month I saw him score five for England, three for Tottenham and then both goals in Spurs' 2-1 victory over Stoke City, for whom another of my heroes and later great friend, Stan Matthews, was playing - and still looking good -at the age of 50.
He continued such form for the rest of his career although when he moved to West Ham United towards the end he was not quite as prolific as in his earlier days. He had left Chelsea for he had seen that the way ahead for the club was not necessarily one that he wanted to be involved in. His move to AC Milan was done somewhat begrudgingly and it proved something of a disaster, although he did score nine goals in not so very many games. But he did not fit in and did not like the regime at the club.
Fortunately he managed to persuade AC Milan that he wanted to return to England and Spurs' manager Bill Nicholson outbid his former club Chelsea for his signature. Nicholson negotiated a £99,999 transfer fee for, as he said at the time, he didn't want Jimmy saddled with the tag of the first £100,000 player. By that time the maximum wage had been abolished in English football and - not by any means by today's exorbitant standards - he was paid a fair wage for his services.
He blossomed with England but injury in the final group match of the 1966 World Cup put him out of the team so he missed out on a World Cup Final place. But, like the consummate professional that he was, he supported his team-mates from the sidelines and enjoyed their success just as much (well, nearly as much!) as they did. His move to West Ham came when Nicholson decided that Spurs wanted to rebuild for the future and with his new club Jimmy kept up his brilliant record of having scored in the first game he played for every senior team he joined.
But by then his goalscoring powers were waning and he knew the end was nigh. In addition he had begun a drinking culture that was to subsequently drag him into alcoholism. He tells the story of that awful time quite dispassionately and it is such a sad tale for his wife Irene and he were inseparable; it was heartbreaking when they both agreed that a divorce was the only answer as Jimmy adored Irene and their four children.
At the time he had become a successful businessman but that all went wrong, too, and, living on his own in a flat, he was distraught. He continued to play some minor football but even that ended prematurely. This part of the autobiography is particularly heart-wrenching and one feels for both he, Irene and the children.
He was always quite a character on and off the field and radio and television realised this and got him involved in various programmes that brought out his cheeky sense of humour. 'Saint and Greavsie' was the most popular but even that ended in tears when the TV company involved just didn't make contact after the end of what was the to be the final series. But by then Jimmy had seen enough of life to be pretty sanguine about it.
He comments on the differences in the game from when he started to today and his comments are amusing but so accurate. I particularly liked the one when he was delineating all the changes for the worse that have taken place in the game and everything associated with it as his point has always been one of my bugbears. He says that a football programme in his day had the teams lined up so that the supporter knew exactly how the two sides were to take the field - even with the Tannoy announcements about team changes - but today the programme, that he likens to a ladies' magazine rather than four pages of essentials for the football fan, has the club's whole squad listed with no particular player noted as likely to play in the game to be watched. He makes a simple one word comment on that situation, 'Useless'!! How true.
And his observations on players' salaries are most interesting and are given without any malice or thought for how much better he might have been in such circumstances; he loved every minute of his time playing football and he believed that it always had to be fun. There is plenty of nostalgia at his look back at how it was then.
'Greavsie' is a marvellous and gripping read that covers for me the period when football was how it should be played rather than today's oh, so different game ... and Jimmy makes that point most forcibly.
And there is a happy ending as Jimmy and Irene got back together to resume their lifelong love affair and their family life.
I was aware of his burgeoning reputation when I first saw him at Blackpool on 12 December 1959 when I was an impressionable young lad of 13. Blackpool beat Chelsea 3-1 and the Blackpool defence kept a tight rein on him so he did not score his side's consolation goal. I went home and said to my Dad, 'Jimmy Greaves isn't as great as I thought, our defence kept him quiet.' I must confess to a slight disappointment because he was already one of my footballing heroes. A week or so later he was playing at nearby Preston and, with Blackpool away from home, I travelled to watch the game. This time on my return home I said to my Dad, 'I withdraw everything I said about Jimmy Greaves, he is magnificent.' The reason was that, although Preston - through Tommy Thompson who scored all their goals - netted four times, Jimmy scored five and he had three other efforts disallowed! His reputation for me was secured.
By the time I went to London Jimmy had left Chelsea, much to the chagrin of their supporters, had had a very brief spell at AC Milan and had returned to Tottenham Hotspur. I was, therefore, able to watch him on numerous occasions and in one classic spell of just over a month I saw him score five for England, three for Tottenham and then both goals in Spurs' 2-1 victory over Stoke City, for whom another of my heroes and later great friend, Stan Matthews, was playing - and still looking good -at the age of 50.
He continued such form for the rest of his career although when he moved to West Ham United towards the end he was not quite as prolific as in his earlier days. He had left Chelsea for he had seen that the way ahead for the club was not necessarily one that he wanted to be involved in. His move to AC Milan was done somewhat begrudgingly and it proved something of a disaster, although he did score nine goals in not so very many games. But he did not fit in and did not like the regime at the club.
Fortunately he managed to persuade AC Milan that he wanted to return to England and Spurs' manager Bill Nicholson outbid his former club Chelsea for his signature. Nicholson negotiated a £99,999 transfer fee for, as he said at the time, he didn't want Jimmy saddled with the tag of the first £100,000 player. By that time the maximum wage had been abolished in English football and - not by any means by today's exorbitant standards - he was paid a fair wage for his services.
He blossomed with England but injury in the final group match of the 1966 World Cup put him out of the team so he missed out on a World Cup Final place. But, like the consummate professional that he was, he supported his team-mates from the sidelines and enjoyed their success just as much (well, nearly as much!) as they did. His move to West Ham came when Nicholson decided that Spurs wanted to rebuild for the future and with his new club Jimmy kept up his brilliant record of having scored in the first game he played for every senior team he joined.
But by then his goalscoring powers were waning and he knew the end was nigh. In addition he had begun a drinking culture that was to subsequently drag him into alcoholism. He tells the story of that awful time quite dispassionately and it is such a sad tale for his wife Irene and he were inseparable; it was heartbreaking when they both agreed that a divorce was the only answer as Jimmy adored Irene and their four children.
At the time he had become a successful businessman but that all went wrong, too, and, living on his own in a flat, he was distraught. He continued to play some minor football but even that ended prematurely. This part of the autobiography is particularly heart-wrenching and one feels for both he, Irene and the children.
He was always quite a character on and off the field and radio and television realised this and got him involved in various programmes that brought out his cheeky sense of humour. 'Saint and Greavsie' was the most popular but even that ended in tears when the TV company involved just didn't make contact after the end of what was the to be the final series. But by then Jimmy had seen enough of life to be pretty sanguine about it.
He comments on the differences in the game from when he started to today and his comments are amusing but so accurate. I particularly liked the one when he was delineating all the changes for the worse that have taken place in the game and everything associated with it as his point has always been one of my bugbears. He says that a football programme in his day had the teams lined up so that the supporter knew exactly how the two sides were to take the field - even with the Tannoy announcements about team changes - but today the programme, that he likens to a ladies' magazine rather than four pages of essentials for the football fan, has the club's whole squad listed with no particular player noted as likely to play in the game to be watched. He makes a simple one word comment on that situation, 'Useless'!! How true.
And his observations on players' salaries are most interesting and are given without any malice or thought for how much better he might have been in such circumstances; he loved every minute of his time playing football and he believed that it always had to be fun. There is plenty of nostalgia at his look back at how it was then.
'Greavsie' is a marvellous and gripping read that covers for me the period when football was how it should be played rather than today's oh, so different game ... and Jimmy makes that point most forcibly.
And there is a happy ending as Jimmy and Irene got back together to resume their lifelong love affair and their family life.
October 14, 2010
I usually don’t bother too much with the football books and autobiogs as footballers rarely have anything interesting to say or deliver any great insight into what goes on at a club. However, Greavsie bucks that trend in some style.
By far and away it’s one of the best football books I have read and delivers a great insight into how football was in the ‘old days’ (50’s/60’s) and how things changed during the 80’s and 90’s. Furthermore, it also gives a brief glimpses as to how society changed during these periods.
Greaves speaks eloquently and with great humour about his life and career that no modern player seems to be able to match. And maybe there’s the difference. Modern day players are so closeted away from ‘real life’ and come into money so young that they lose the ability to speak to the man in the street in any meaningful way. Not to mention as they are still involved in the game, and are possibly even eyeing a career in management, that they don’t want to rock the boat or burn any bridges.
It was amazing to me to read of how the game itself has changed with clubs/teams moving away from all out attack and entertainment to professional boredom. Last year Chelsea became the first Premiership team to score more than 100 goals. In either ‘58 or ’59 our teams managed it, another four over 90 and about 5 more over 80 (or something like that, without the book to hand I can’t confirm). And that sport of stat would be repeated season in, season out.
Fans were happy to lose a game if it was at least exciting and entertaining. I can’t believe any modern fan would be happy with that these days.
One caveat I would make is that you do need to be a football fan to read this (as you might expect) and there are plenty of passages where Greaves simply recounts runs of results. For a footie fan that’s great but for the no fan it would probably be utter boredom.
By far and away it’s one of the best football books I have read and delivers a great insight into how football was in the ‘old days’ (50’s/60’s) and how things changed during the 80’s and 90’s. Furthermore, it also gives a brief glimpses as to how society changed during these periods.
Greaves speaks eloquently and with great humour about his life and career that no modern player seems to be able to match. And maybe there’s the difference. Modern day players are so closeted away from ‘real life’ and come into money so young that they lose the ability to speak to the man in the street in any meaningful way. Not to mention as they are still involved in the game, and are possibly even eyeing a career in management, that they don’t want to rock the boat or burn any bridges.
It was amazing to me to read of how the game itself has changed with clubs/teams moving away from all out attack and entertainment to professional boredom. Last year Chelsea became the first Premiership team to score more than 100 goals. In either ‘58 or ’59 our teams managed it, another four over 90 and about 5 more over 80 (or something like that, without the book to hand I can’t confirm). And that sport of stat would be repeated season in, season out.
Fans were happy to lose a game if it was at least exciting and entertaining. I can’t believe any modern fan would be happy with that these days.
One caveat I would make is that you do need to be a football fan to read this (as you might expect) and there are plenty of passages where Greaves simply recounts runs of results. For a footie fan that’s great but for the no fan it would probably be utter boredom.
July 31, 2019
This book is great on a period of football history which is long gone now. It's a book for football fans, full of statistics and anecdotes about the names and games of the 40's, 50's and onwards, but it's fascinating as history, too, giving a real window into life in wartime and post-wartime Britain.
The book tells the story of Greaves' football career (including the 62 and 66 World Cups), the alcoholism which very near cost him everything and his subsequent rebirth as a funny, relaxed TV presenter.
Greaves' trademark humour is evident throughout and his is always a human voice, contadictory sometimes, honest always.
The book tells the story of Greaves' football career (including the 62 and 66 World Cups), the alcoholism which very near cost him everything and his subsequent rebirth as a funny, relaxed TV presenter.
Greaves' trademark humour is evident throughout and his is always a human voice, contadictory sometimes, honest always.
September 26, 2019
An interesting overview of the career of Jimmy Greaves, both as a footballer and a television presenter, as well as an account of his struggles with alcohol. It gets a tiny bit "old man shouting at clouds" in the final chapters as he laments the fact that the early 2000s are Rather Different to the 1950s, but it's otherwise a solid read for anyone interested in the world of English football in the 1960s,
June 2, 2017
This is a marvellous biography, expansive, witty, touching and very humble. Not really suitable for non-football fans, but a great read. Gives a lot of insight into the rapid transition from the 50s to present day including TV. I have seen Jimmy in his speaking tour and he is as easy to listen to as to read.
June 17, 2017
Too factual in terms of I scored 2 times against Villa, then 4 in the next game versus Bolton before not socring until Christmas against Everton. When it got into the periods of his alcoholism it was interesting. I feel by not spending more time on his career in the media that we missed out on some good insights and stories.
November 2, 2025
I don't think i've read a more detailed or interesting autobiography of a sportsman than this. We start from birth and the book ends in the early 21stCE. Most time is spent on Jimmy's playing career, a chapter for each season.
While he reads as quite dispassionate about his ability as a goal-scorer, an ability which is still difficult to imagine having more of, but is very passionate on how he approached the game, his time in the game and the fun he had. That he had fun, and wanted to have fun was very important.
The pen-portraits of his heroes and/or team-mates are evocative, and at times i almost felt myself wishing Chelsea and Spurs not just England. And while i might be getting soft in my old age to even contemplate such a thing, i think i'll credit the writing, and the people involved. Bill Nicholson's after-dinner speech after Tottenham won the FA Cup in 1967, recorded here, is a thing of beauty, to be remembered by all who have to give a speech.
There are difficult parts; the descent, and it surely is a descent into alcoholism makes for difficult reading. It's great that he came back up to continue the metaphor, sadly not everyone does.
My main exposure to Mr Greaves was through Saint & Greavsie, and there are some lovely passages about that show. I think i can confirm the programme achieved one of its aims; my Dad who couldn't take ball sports at any price would make room to sit with me and watch Saint & Greavsie even though he knew little and cared less about football.
If you want to know what Jimmy wanted to have had known about him (it's sad to have to use the past tense now) i think this is the book to read.
While he reads as quite dispassionate about his ability as a goal-scorer, an ability which is still difficult to imagine having more of, but is very passionate on how he approached the game, his time in the game and the fun he had. That he had fun, and wanted to have fun was very important.
The pen-portraits of his heroes and/or team-mates are evocative, and at times i almost felt myself wishing Chelsea and Spurs not just England. And while i might be getting soft in my old age to even contemplate such a thing, i think i'll credit the writing, and the people involved. Bill Nicholson's after-dinner speech after Tottenham won the FA Cup in 1967, recorded here, is a thing of beauty, to be remembered by all who have to give a speech.
There are difficult parts; the descent, and it surely is a descent into alcoholism makes for difficult reading. It's great that he came back up to continue the metaphor, sadly not everyone does.
My main exposure to Mr Greaves was through Saint & Greavsie, and there are some lovely passages about that show. I think i can confirm the programme achieved one of its aims; my Dad who couldn't take ball sports at any price would make room to sit with me and watch Saint & Greavsie even though he knew little and cared less about football.
If you want to know what Jimmy wanted to have had known about him (it's sad to have to use the past tense now) i think this is the book to read.
September 25, 2021
OK, so 3 stars is probably generous. If Jimmy Greaves hadn't just died it probably would have been a 2 star. The prose is turgid and heavy. It groans under the weight of Greaves' dad jokes. Did I learn a few things? Absolutely. The main problem is the overuse of certain phrases
The ball kissed the back of the net
Press boys
Yours truly
Gold leaf sunshine
It was a labour to get through this book, which is a shame as I believed it could have been really good. The final 60 pages are really just Greaves views on 'modern football' and 'modern life' which is just an excuse for him to ramble on about how things were so much better when he was growing up and how much better things were in the 60's. This rose tinted view does nothing to educate or inform, it is just a boring, sterile exercise. If you are of a certain age or enjoy Greaves' old fashioned sense of humour then you may enjoy it, otherwise just know Jimmy Greaves was a great striker for Chelsea and Spurs who also played for AC Milan, West Ham, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Barnet.
The best part of the book is Greaves' honesty regarding his alcoholism which unfortunately shouldn't be the best part of his story. Fair play to him for beating his demons and turning his life around but his book is a mess of contradictions, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
The ball kissed the back of the net
Press boys
Yours truly
Gold leaf sunshine
It was a labour to get through this book, which is a shame as I believed it could have been really good. The final 60 pages are really just Greaves views on 'modern football' and 'modern life' which is just an excuse for him to ramble on about how things were so much better when he was growing up and how much better things were in the 60's. This rose tinted view does nothing to educate or inform, it is just a boring, sterile exercise. If you are of a certain age or enjoy Greaves' old fashioned sense of humour then you may enjoy it, otherwise just know Jimmy Greaves was a great striker for Chelsea and Spurs who also played for AC Milan, West Ham, Brentwood, Chelmsford and Barnet.
The best part of the book is Greaves' honesty regarding his alcoholism which unfortunately shouldn't be the best part of his story. Fair play to him for beating his demons and turning his life around but his book is a mess of contradictions, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
Halfway line
Half way house
An interesting read especially the journey though Jimmy's footballing life and times .Full of cheeky chappie anecdotes around events witnessed from afar as a Spurs supporting teenager.In the playground I was Jimmy ,every goal fhollowed by the characteristic head down finger raised business as usual celebration.Modesty was the watchword .Jimmy was great but he seems to spend
a lot of time telling his readers exactly that.Not needed ,his stats more than speak for
themselves.His account of his post-football career continues in the same "how great am I vein"with everything going to pot with the game post - Greaves. The last third of the book was just the ramblings of someone whose time has passed based on the premise that things were better in the old days. Move on Jim great player,3rd rate philosopher.
Half way house
An interesting read especially the journey though Jimmy's footballing life and times .Full of cheeky chappie anecdotes around events witnessed from afar as a Spurs supporting teenager.In the playground I was Jimmy ,every goal fhollowed by the characteristic head down finger raised business as usual celebration.Modesty was the watchword .Jimmy was great but he seems to spend
a lot of time telling his readers exactly that.Not needed ,his stats more than speak for
themselves.His account of his post-football career continues in the same "how great am I vein"with everything going to pot with the game post - Greaves. The last third of the book was just the ramblings of someone whose time has passed based on the premise that things were better in the old days. Move on Jim great player,3rd rate philosopher.
May 17, 2021
I found this quite interesting although perhaps it says more about me as a reader that the most intriguing parts were Jimmy's struggles, rather than when he was scoring goals for fun - the short period he spent with AC Milan, the injury which kept him out of the World Cup final in 1966, his issues with alcoholism and later his TV career. Having said that there are some lovely passages which capture the sights, sounds and smells of match days long gone in the 1960s. Worth reading for anyone with an interest in the history of football, although you may find at times the author's opinions a little too much "it was much better in the old days".
April 13, 2019
Good read
Good honest book Greaves does not hide his faults or his mistakes in life or football.Tells. the story off football in a less commercial era but probably a more enjoyable one for fans and players
Good honest book Greaves does not hide his faults or his mistakes in life or football.Tells. the story off football in a less commercial era but probably a more enjoyable one for fans and players
December 4, 2022
A fantastic book by one of England's greatest ever footballers. Jimmy Greaves is presented as a genuinely likeable, nice and funny person in this autobiography. This book is very interesting throughout and dull moments are hard to find.
May 17, 2020
Great insight
Brilliant and honest account of a great man. All the good and bad. The successes and failures. Great book. One of the greatest players ever.
Brilliant and honest account of a great man. All the good and bad. The successes and failures. Great book. One of the greatest players ever.
May 31, 2021
Good
Very interesting book.blunt and to the point.great goalscorer.told it like it was about his drinking and his remorse of how he treated his family
Very interesting book.blunt and to the point.great goalscorer.told it like it was about his drinking and his remorse of how he treated his family
October 27, 2021
Brilliant
Superbly written. Great memories. Astonishing record. Natural TV presenter. Would highly recommend this book to any F.A. official.
I would vote for this man.
Superbly written. Great memories. Astonishing record. Natural TV presenter. Would highly recommend this book to any F.A. official.
I would vote for this man.
August 15, 2025
Probably the best football biography I've ever read.
June 22, 2012
A very likeable personality who was a total goal machine, he could have achieved much more than he did, though he undoubtedly had a great career. His stark honesty about the alcoholism, together with his pleasing recovery then his celebrity status as a pundit, is captivating to read, and it feels like a happy ending. Good work, Greavsie.
April 13, 2014
The best football biog I've read. Well written, atmospheric, takes you back to pre-premier league/Sky tv football - the good & bad old days. Would certainly have loved to have seen Jimmy play. Wonder what his old sparring partner Saint's biog is like?
June 10, 2015
Just excellent. Funny, serious, sad, the whole lot. Greaves pulls no punches in this autobiography, nor does he hide anything or attempt to make things better than they were. One of the best biographies I have ever read.
January 31, 2017
One of the better, more memorable football biographies out there. Jimmy shares his highs and his very low lows and comes across as a likable guy. Its well written and shows you how football has changed over the years, not necessarily for the better. I would recommend it to fans of the genre.
May 23, 2012
A good autobiography of Jimmy Greaves life especially the post football part
October 21, 2014
This is a great insight into a footballer's life in the 50s, 60s and 70s before the Premiership and huge salaries. It's also lovely to read of an alcoholic who has come back from the brink.
Read
July 10, 2015How 2 approach football...
September 4, 2014
Excellent read - recommended.
August 4, 2012
Enjoyable read, lots of good memories.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews