Jack and Bobby: A Story of Brothers in Conflict

by Leo McKinstry

Jack and Bobby Charlton both played prominent roles in the finest hour of English soccer, the 1966 World Cup triumph. Each played for the dominant club of their era, and summed up the style of their respective teams. Bobby was at Manchester Utd during their glory days under Sir Matt Busby, while Jack came to professional soccer late, working in a coal mine before Leeds signed him. The two retired from soccer in the same year, and since, their relationship has been strained. This book will investigate the reasons for this, including in-depth interviews with many people the two have been in contact with over the years.

Genres: Football, Nonfiction, Sports, Biography

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Leo McKinstry writes regularly for the Daily Mail, Sunday Telegraph and Spectator. He has also written nine books including a life of Geoff Boycott, which was recently named one of the finest cricket books written in a Wisden poll. His best-selling biography of the footballing Charlton brothers was a top-ten bestseller and won the Sports Book of the Year award, while his study of Lord Rosebery won Channel Four Political Book of the year. Most recently he has written a trilogy about the RAF in the Second World War, including Spitfire, Lancaster and Hurricane.

Born in Belfast he was educated in Ireland and at Cambridge University.

Reviews

[Fergus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a good read until it got to the Irish section. After that the mistakes were so frequent and embarrassing that it nullified the previous chapters.

A thorough proof read should have been done before the print.

RIP Jack

[Robert Beever]

Good read

So many differences. Totally different people . Two very successful people in the same industry. Highly recommend to all generations.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having joined the bores who go on about how much better football was when they were younger some years ago, it was never in doubt that I would enjoy this book. There is still something for readers who don’t like football though. There are two brothers out of four, with a talent for football. The elder one isn’t as good at it as the second one, but they both are successful in what they do. The younger of the two joins a first division club, that nurtures his talent, and he quickly makes a name for himself as an exciting goalscorer – one of a team of young players with the world at their feet. Until returning from an away game in Europe, when a number of his team mates and friends perish when their plane crashes on takeoff. Meanwhile, the elder brother has joined a team that seems to be going nowhere, but he doesn’t seem to care all that much. He much prefers shooting and fishing but, clearly with an eye on the future, takes and passes a coaching course at the age of 22. Football fans will by now have recognised that Bobby is the younger brother, and will remember that Jack, his brother seemed to be in the shadows while in their playing days. They may also recall that the tables were turned when it came to management, with Bobby having a brief career which is probably best forgotten, while Jack took to it much better – and at the same time re-inventing himself as a man of the people, self assured, confident and almost fearless – almost the opposite of Bobby. This book fills in some of the gaps of these events, which span well over 40 years and I would say that it is an absorbing read for non football fans as well as us lucky people. The author introduces and includes a number of players and managers who are inspirational, cynical, kind, cruel, greedy and generous – in fact having all the characteristics that keep any good book going. As for the main two subjects, and their being ‘brothers in conflict’ – there isn’t a great deal to tell us why, but we do see that they are poles apart in just about everything. Bobby is reliable, polite and utterly professional at all times, very much a man that it is hard to find fault with. He was always my favourite as a footballer, but Jack seems to be a much more three dimensional character, his own man, much braver and full of self belief. Added to this, his forgetfulness with names, lack of personal organisation and bloody mindedness, and he provided a number of laugh out loud moments, for me anyway. Yes, a book about football, but much more a book about relationships, adversity and dealing with being a public figure for a long time.

[Donna Boultwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into the characters of two great footballing heros.

[Angela Reeves · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring unless you like football