John Giles: A Football Man - My Autobiography

by John Giles

'The dream was football . . .'John Giles had a gift. At the age of three, he could kick a ball the way it was supposed to be kicked. And he knew that every hour that passed without kicking a ball was an hour wasted.'It was the same dream that most of the kids had at that time . . .'In A Football Man, Giles tells the story of a dream pursued and realised beyond his wildest imaginings, from his humble beginnings in Ormond Square in 1940s' Dublin,counting down the minutes to his next game of football, to that unforgettable moment when the original football man - his dad, 'Dickie' - announced that his young son, at just fourteen, was on his way to Manchester United.'What I didn't realise was that my dream would come true.'Full of anecdote, insight and wry humour, Giles recounts his rise through the ranks at Manchester United, before and after the Munich Disaster; the great players he knew, the good and the bad times under Matt Busby; his sensational debut for Ireland which he served as player and manager; his starring role in the brilliant, controversial Leeds United of the '60s and '70s; and his challenge to the portrayal of himself and Brian Clough in The Damned United. He also describes his enduring friendship with the 'kid from across Dublin's Tolka Park', Eamon Dunphy, and his career on RTÉ2's football panel, where Giles' intelligent and insightful analysis have made him an even more well-loved and respected national figure.

Genres: Biography, Football, Nonfiction, Irish Literature

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being of the red persuasion of Manchester, and old enough to have watched Giles play at Old Trafford in the early sixties, I was particularly interested in reading about his United years. 1956-63., particularly his take on his departure across the Pennines. Chapters 2-9 make up a large part of his autobiography covering this period.
Naturally, Johnny Giles' football career is known for his time at Leeds United, and as this covers the period from their second division season through the Revie years to 'The Damned United' and Armfield's arrival, I found much in the memoir revealing.
Perhaps his time in management, both with West Brom, the Republic and Shamrock Rovers, could have been given greater spread in the book, instead of being crammed into the final chapter. Nice to read he thinks a statue of Tony Brown should be erected in West Brom. 'Bomber' Brown is my cousin.
Always fascinating to read of the experiences of players of this era. When footballers were made of steel, and football grounds were built of wood. Today it's the other way round.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah, memories. Must be quite a good book. I hated Johnny Giles when he played for Leeds. I rather liked the fellow who was telling me this story.

[Joe Stamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to be a football fan, before Sky and The Premier League came along and ruined the beautiful game. I've read a lot of football books over the years, from Stanley Matthews and Bert Trautmann to Brian Clough. However, as someone who first started following Leeds United in the late 1960s and has been going to watch them at Elland Road and all around the country since 1976, John Giles' biography is of particular interest. I've read many books written by and/or about Leeds United personnel, from those written many years ago to more recent ones such as this. The content and quality vary. This entry in the genre is very well-written and easy to read. John Giles comes across as an honest man who says what he means. He covers his early years, the period he played for those in the red shirts from the wrong side of The Pennines, and of course dedicates a good portion of the book to his time with Leeds United. As other have pointed out, his time after he departed Leeds receives fairly scant coverage. It's interesting to read Giles' version of some of the events I've read and heard about from other sources. It's refreshing to be reminded of a time when football was a man's game, played by the working classes for the working classes, when trophies were played for instead of bought. I could go on, but I'll start ranting... This is one of the best football biographies I've read, and John Giles has risen even higher in my regard. The only downside is that it's yet another reminder of how far the beautiful game has fallen.

[Mahlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Giles was a key member of the iconic "dirty, cheating" Leeds United sides of the 60's & 70's. That was all I knew about him before I read this book. He is currently a football correspondent for Irish television. He has obviously mellowed with age, but his opinions still have bite. Even though I'll always dislike Giles the player, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I like Giles the Author very much.

[MR PADRAIG MAC DONNCHADHA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this autobiography. I felt it was told in a very honest way. I was really impressed and inspired by the sense of responsibility to the talents he was gifted with that John talked about. The book reminded me very much of Eamon Dunphy's biography of Matt Busby, A Strange Kind of Glory and his biography of Roy Keane, to a certain extent. I was shocked by how badly footballers were exploited by the game. There seems a sense of irony around how football managers exploited footballers and how they themselves were then exploited by the directors of the football clubs.
Having seen the movie "The Damned United", I would have loved if there was more about short time that Brian Clough managed Leeds as told from John's perspective, rather than a chapter which was a criticism of the movie & book, but I understand that this would probably not be in keeping with John's character as he seems to only say as much as he feels he needs to.
I felt the book told us more about what John did and thought rather than what he felt. Perhaps John didn't feel the need to share more about his feelings, but as a reader I felt he was only sharing so much, and so I felt a little short changed. Perhaps the book is just too balanced and analytical and lacking in raw human emotion. John's own philosophical and stoic outlook contrasts strangely with the passion the game of football generates in the football supporter.

[Rory Socket · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is at its best when he talks about his time with Leeds United and his up and down relationship with the club board.
Its hard to believe that Giles after such a glittering career with the club left in very quiet circumstances when one considers the send offs players get these days.
I would have liked to have heard more about his time with Shamrock Rovers but overall a very good read.

[Tedly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book by a legend, started a bit slowly but soon picked up a pace that made it hard to put down.

Johnny gives a great account of a truly great club and team in its heyday. A read that was hard to put down.

[barry mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Good story about his time at Leeds United and Ireland a good read well with reading one of the better football books

[Paul McCormack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given the subject, should have been much better

[John MB · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the attacking pillars for that great leeds united team. The book is great, our mr giles is rather opinionated and that add a nice bit of spice to his view point as he talks about his career. Love the early days chapters, its facinating what football has evolved into following such humble origins. A great book, solid 4 stars.

[Patrick Ellard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent autiobiography of irelands greatest ever footballer from his humble beginnings in inner city Dublin, to his early career at Man Utd and eventually his time playing for the brilliant Leeds united team of the 60's and 70's. It's very well written with some interesting insights into the players of the time and how much football has changed the years since John has stopped playing. It's a must read for all football fans and particularly Ireland and Leeds fans.

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

All people and events in this book are before my time, and if I'm honest, not all that interesting to me. While I did enjoy learning about Giles' career, it was all a bit pedestrian and political. Almost every time he talked about a falling out with someone, he was quick to let the reader know he invariably enjoyed a drink with so and so, and they're now pensioner bffs. I did enjoy seeing Liam Brady with big hair, that was amusing.

[Ronan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written football autobiography. However, it focuses too much on Giles' club career and not on his international one for my liking. This man was the first ever player-manager of Ireland, but many international games are totally overlooked. That said, it's really insightful with regards to his club career and football in general in the 70s.

[Alec Mcallister · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great deal better than most football books, but that is hardly surprising given that the ghost writer is Declan Lynch, an excellent writer who actually has a real and deep interest in football. Giles is honest and interesting and Lynch puts that across well without getting his fingerprints too much on the book. A good and happy partnership.

[Godowd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book for someone who remembers the great footballers of the 70's. Some quite funny anecdotes and some withering comments on the current stars.