Stand Up Pinocchio: Thommo the Greatest Football Story Ever Told

by Phil Thompson, Ken Rogers

Phil Thompson was born and bred a Liverpudlian and remains committed to the cause. Few others can offer such a remarkable insight into life at Anfield from Shankly to Houllier and beyond.

Born in Liverpool in 1954, Phil later moved to his spiritual home of Kirkby where his footballing abilities were soon noticed and he quickly acquired a range of schoolboy honours before signing professional forms for his beloved Reds in 1971.

As he staked a claim for a first-team place, Kop messiah Bill Shankly would memorably declare: “Aye, Phil Thompson. The boy tossed up with a sparrow for his legs and lost!”

Shanks, however, was in no doubt about the young Thommo’s qualities and Phil would go on to claim a host of Anfield honours including seven League Championships, three European Cups, two League Cups and an FA Cup.

The proudest moment of his footballing life came in 1981 when he led the Reds to a third European Cup with a 1-0 defeat of Real Madrid in Paris, later parading the trophy at his local pub, The Falcon.

He left the Reds after winning 42 England caps before returning to Anfield in a coaching capacity under Liverpool player manager Kenny Dalglish.

Despite being controversially sacked by Reds boss and former teammate Graeme Souness in 1992, he sensationally returned to Anfield as Gerard Houllier’s right-hand man in 1998, going on to revive the glory days by claiming a famous treble of trophies in 2001.

Coming full circle and happy to be a fan again, he shared in the joy of the Reds’ 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul – as highlighted during remarkable scenes on SKY TV.

Genres: Football, Autobiography

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Philip Bernard Thompson is an English retired footballer, who played as a defender for Liverpool team of the 1970s and 1980s.

Reviews

[Mrs E Wetherall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lad from Kirby done well

A wonderful trip down memory lane. This book takes you through the great years of the Reds. Very honest and sometimes difficult to read. I've loved loved the club for 45 years and they were all heroes to me...except Djouf and Diomede of course! 😁 This has given me a different view of some people. They say never meet your heroes. Enjoyed this book hugely and Phil comes across as a nice, ordinary bloke who invented the phrase keeping it real. If you love the Reds read this.

[David Stimpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read good memories

As a Fan of Real Football .I love to read of the Great Days and the Great Players . I love to read about the legends from Teams when I was Young .This Book gave me a lot of Happy Memories .

[Marmalade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A legend of the Kop and Liverpool in general

[Robert Hinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr Liverpool

Good autobiography the passion he has for Liverpool Football club and the City and Surronding areas shines through the book

[J F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read for any LFC fan across the years

TBH bang average but no worse than the majority of Football related Autobiographies…..
If you’re a fan a must read

[Ipswichblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Phil Thompson as a player and also latterley as a Sky pundit. I enjoyed the book with some interesting ancedotes from his time at Liverpool

[Barry Lowry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining even for a Spurs fan! Would recommend.

Phil Thompson is a good story teller and he tells it straight in this very good autobiography.
Would definitely recommend.x