Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late

by Oliver Holt, Kieron Dyer

Kieron Dyer's memoir, Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late , is the first intimate and unsparing portrait of the failures and excesses of the generation of English footballers made rich beyond their wildest dreams by the post-1990 World Cup boom in the game and the explosion of the Premier League. It shares the same brutal honesty and self-awareness of the bestselling No Nonsense by Joey Barton and GoodFella by Craig Bellamy.In the public mind, Kieron Dyer came to symbolise so much of what was self-destructive about a group of football players known collectively as the 'Baby Bentley generation'. Nicknamed 'The King of Bling' by the tabloid press, Dyer was caught up in many of the scandals that characterised the history of a talented crop of players who promised so much and delivered so little, a generation whose wages and lavish lifestyles began to alienate them from the fans who once worshipped them.The brash young man is gone now, and in his place is the quiet, caring, wise man who was such a favourite on I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here! in 2015. Dyer narrates, in uncompromising detail, how a generation of talented English footballers, taken out of working class childhoods and presented with a world of glitz, glamour, wealth and temptation, failed to cope with the riches that were presented to them and often fell apart.Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late is about a moment in time, a social and historical record of English football at the start of its gold rush. For Dyer, the end of the book brings a measure of personal redemption and peace but for the English game, there is only a lingering sense of waste and regret for an opportunity lost.

Genres: Football, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography

288 pages, Paperback

Published February 22, 2018

Reviews

[Yousif Al Zeera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written memoir that keeps you well engaged right from the beginning as he is about to reveal "The Secret" which he kept to himself for around 3 decades. Kieron Dyer, one of the finest and most outstanding talents in his generation, was meant to be a world-class player among the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry etc but he eventually fell a bit (or a lot) short for obvious and "non-obvious" reasons.

We all know how injuries can ruin big talents from making it at the very top but there could be other non-apparent issues as well.

Kieron's desire to open up and share his thoughts, weaknesses, failings, the good, bad & ugly times in and off the pitch and, most importantly, "The Secret", just shows how much he matured and smartened compared to the earlier perception football fans and people in general had about him.

[Pamela Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating portrayal of how footballers developed into the multi- millionaires they are today. Going from an apprentice cleaning boots to an England player driving fast cars, 'too much too soon' is both sad and heartwarming. Excellent read of a very difficult time for the sport.

[Harry 林 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even more total respect to Dyer....

As a Newcastle fan from outside of England, around that time... Internal news around the club practically nonexistent in my country. Internet access was not as easy as it is today.. So.. I've learn lots of things by just reading this, and got so much more respect for him for all the struggles & anxieties he had at the club.

It's even more unbelievable, back then.. Dyer was my second favorite player after Shearer in that era. Despite the various injuries he was dealing with back then.

I was the first one to feel disappointed when he decided to leave. But by reading this book, I became able to accept his decision for his own mental health.

In the end, this book seems to be a puzzle breaker for all the uncertainty that I once felt as a fan at around that time. This book is highly recommended, especially for all the Newcastle United fans around 1999-2007, when Dyer was still playing at the club.

[Derrick C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. You know, in a world where the truth doesn't always come out for fear of a pointed finger or two, sometimes testimony carries more weight. And this is definitely one of those times. I appreciate that Kieron was a coach's player, even though not always a fan's player, at least not in Newcastle. (where the fans somehow knew more than the coaches) And oh the injuries! That kinda overshadows the revelry and lecherousness, though it was there. And yes, peer pressure is overwhelming at any stage; how much more so when you haven't been trained how to say no, and yes child molestation or abuse or both and it's ravages affect many, both boys and girls. That being said, it's a story of resilience in every way, and I thoroughly enjoyed going along for the ride....

[SC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very honest and open. For me, this also gave a very interesting insight into the turbulent times at Newcastle in the early 2000s and also the perennial underachievement of the England squad. For someone who never quite fulfilled the potential many of us saw in him, Dyer was not shy in admitting the error of his ways in his younger years. It shows that the decisions one take in his life can, unknowingly at that point in time, have a ripple effect affecting him later on.

[Grant S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kieron talks candidly about being abused as a child and his injury blighted career.
I found this a bit more thoughtful than the usual footballers autobiography.
Keiron comes over as fairly sensitive and regretful of a lot of the excesses of his youth and early days in the sport.
Enjoyable football memoir.

[mark summerscales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tells the other side of it.

Not bad although I've read better autobiographies. This tells the story behind the scandal headlines of the era. Shows he's learned and that's what life's about.

[Jaan Liitmäe · Rating 4 out of 5]

For every Prem-fan really enjoyable piece to understand how English kids are under huge pressure from early on if they show any glimpse of promise as footballers. Injuries part is really tough as well. Actually good one!

[Dave B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly very good read for the sports fan. Dyer is honest throughout the book, and admits his regrets. Great to read about the greatest English born manager of all time, Sir Bobby Robson, and Dyers relationship with him.

[Christopher Wood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oliver Holt must have asked absolutely no questions of Dyer when transcribing this rubbish. On the plus side it confirms all the worst of aspects of your typical premiership footballer. Dyer was there throughout but it was never his fault, he was just watching or he had a spurious excuse.

[Cahdii · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. It's lighthearted and insightful.

[Aaron McBride · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very honest, and a great insight into the world of football around the turn of the century.

[Katie Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest

Very honest account of a very colourful career.
He was very honest about unacceptable behavior and his chronic bad luck with injuries

[Dave Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not great heard most of it on podcast Dyer went on few years back.

[Lumumba Mthembu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange how Kieron Dyer is involved in scandal after scandal without direct responsibility for any. Proof that biographies are just another side of the story.

[Philip Smalldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest and insightful read

[Spencer Preece · Rating 4 out of 5]

More interesting than I thought it would be and some interesting anecdotes and honesty.

[Neil Smithson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read !

I chose this book as I have always liked Kieron as a player , this book is a warts and all book and is truly engaging from the first page, Kieron goes behind the stories good and bad and it's a riveting read , from young man to King of Bling to stories of the infamous Boozing at Newcastle, fight with Bowyer , through the highs of playing for England to the torrid time he had with injuries. This book is a real insight and eye opener at times , This is a must read and is thoroughly interesting . I have a lot of respect for Kieron.

[Robin Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honest and insightful.