Jamie Vardy: Leicester City

by Frank Worrall

Vielä muutama vuosi sitten olisi ollut hyvin uskaliasta lyödä vetoa sen puolesta, että pienestä ja heiveröisestä Jamie Vardysta tulisi yksi jalkapallomaailman pelätyimmistä maalitykeistä. Vuonna 2007 hän pelasi alasarjoissa Stocksbridgen riveissä ja tienasi 30 puntaa peliä kohti. Hän kävi samaan aikaan töissä tehtaalla, ja raskas työ oli hajottaa hänen selkänsä. Vardy pelasi juniorina Sheffield Wednesdayssa, mutta ei kelvannut ykkösjoukkueeseen. Nöyryytykset jatkuivat, kun Vardy joutui pitämään elektronista tunnistetta saatuaan tuomion pahoinpitelystä. Hän joutui pyytämään vaihtoa toistuvasti kesken pelin ja juoksemaan kotiin, jotta ei rikkoisi kotiintuloaikaansa. Vähemmän sinnikäs mies olisi murtunut.

Kahdeksan vuotta myöhemmin, tähdenlennon kaltaisen nousunsa jälkeen, Jamie Vardy näytti epäilijöille ja sytytti Valioliigan liekkeihin. Loppuvuodesta 2015 hän teki maalin yhdessätoista peräkkäisessä ottelussa ja rikkoi Manchester Unitedin Ruud van Nistelrooyn kaksitoista vuotta vanhan ennätyksen. Tässä kirjassa tunnettu urheilutoimittaja Frank Worrall kertoo, miten Jamie Vardy eteni Sheffieldin mutaisilta kentiltä ja pääsi lopulta Kettujen paitaan miljoonan punnan siirtosummalla, joka oli alasarjojen ennätys, voittaen matkan varrella Mestaruussarjan ja terrorisoiden Valioliigajoukkueiden puolustuksia. Jamie Vardyn uskomaton tarina on tosielämän ryysyistä rikkauksiin -tarina, josta kaikki pojat ympäri maailman haaveilevat.

Genres: Football, Nonfiction, Biography

315 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange book. I get the sense Worrall needed to rush it to press immediately after Vardy's goal-scoring streak (although the book does include some quick comments on the team's championship, several points in the book mention it going to press midseason). The first few chapters are interesting, but then it gets wandering. There's no inside look and no interviews for the book. Worrall mostly collects reports, including news stories and online conversations, meaning most of the book reads like a giant report rather than a book.

It also contains tangents that I can only assume are there to make a short bio into a book-length project (this include backgrounds of some of LC's best players, the team's history in European play, and other non-league players who found EPL success). It becomes repetitive and could have used more attentive editing.

I read the last 2/3 of this as a skim, and I don't see this one being of much interested beyond serious Vardy/LC fans.

[Zach Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

A remarkable sporting feat, but please find “Justin’s” review below and I feel exactly the same. The book wandered at time, and seemed to be made from reports with no actual interviews.

Still a freak for any type of sports underdog story, and being from North America and a footy fan, I can’t imagine a competitive in a sport over here.

[Kelvin Zhou · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s an amazing rise for Vardy from non league to winning the title of the echelons of the British football league and representing England. That was no mean feat. However the book is not well written as there are a lot of repetition and pretty much you get the gist of it midway through.

[Juuso Tall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kirja on todella hätäisesti tehty, samoja asioita toistetaan luvusta toiseen. Kirjan jäsentely on myös hyvin kummallinen ja suomennos luokaton.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Funny how some books can unexpectedly evoke emotions in you. This book made me feel absolutely raging!

It started so promising... The first 20 pages detailed a brief summary of the first decade of his career. Then... Nothing?!!

A chapter dedicated to Emile Heskey, another dedicated to Gary Lineker, and a few more chapters detailed the recent careers of Kevin Phillips, Ian Wright and Charlie Austin.

The rest of the book discussed why Vardy should be selected for the England Euro 2016 squad and a summary of Leicester City's 2013/14 and 2015/16 seasons.

Where were the insights? Where was the rich tapestry, the history of Vardy's life? I didnt learn anything from this book - other than some random fans views "John on twitter said..." Interspersed with opinions of journalists - the same press that repeatedly wrote Leicester off all season. Not sure I'm that interested in what they have to say!

And what does it take to employ a decent proof reader?!! So disappointed and almost a DNF - and thats coming from a passionate LCFC fan!!

[David Laden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Worrall's biography on Jamie Vardy was very good. His recollections of from when Jamie was first released from his boyhood club at 16 up until his biggest season at Leicester City, where they won title. He goes in depth about Jamie Vardy's goal-scoring record and his accomplishments during his career. The one thing I would change about this book would be for Worrall to go less in depth about Leicester City's history and more about the legendary 5000-1 odd title winning season and Jamie Vardy's impact on the team ad their incredible feat. Overall, Good Read and I hope to read more books by this author

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes repetitive but the basic story is an interesting one and Frank Worrall gives some insight into a footballer who appeared to come from nowhere to lead Leicester City to the top of the Premier League,

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story how a average guy started from the bottom of the ladder, to the principal of the game. Excellent story if you like football stuff.

[Daniel Castle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promising first half but a poor second half. Great story but too repetitive.