Bobby Moore: Sporting Legend

by Jeff Powell

The new edition of the bestselling biography Bobby Moore was the embodiment of all that was great about English football. Captaining England to glory in 1966 and West Ham to victory in several major tournaments, he was loved and respected throughout the world as football's golden boy. This definitive and authorised biography illuminates the extraordinary story of a sporting hero, from exciting accounts of his World Cup triumph to candid memories of his friendships with Beckenbauer, Eusebio and Pele. It also reveals the inside story of a life beyond football, updated to include fascinating new material on Moore's enduring legacy in the years following his tragically premature death. Award-winning sports writer Jeff Powell, a close friend and confidant to the Moore family, has created a powerful and fitting tribute, honouring the golden era of English football and the exceptional man at its helm.

Genres: Biography

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Raymond Hey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed book. Read it on Kindle and there were a few spelling mistakes. Did not realise that Fay Wilson had played in World Cup final of 1966

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Powell is a respected sports journalist and was a close friend of England football captain Bobby Moore. These facts bring both positives and negatives to this biography of a very reserved and enigmatic man. On the one hand, the book is easy to read and has benefited from the close cooperation of Moore - his direct contributions are interesting and often revealing. On the other, it is a very one-sided view with little real challenge to Moore's public persona, and often strays into 'purple' journalistic prose in its praise of the captain.

Sadly Moore's early death from cancer shadows the book and there is a real sense of grief and loss in Powell's early chapters. Personally I preferred the chapters that dealt with his footballing career as his personal life is given quite a subjective and sometimes superficial treatment. The accounts of his early days at West Ham, his relationship with managers and teammates, and of course the World Cups of 1966 and 1970 with their contrasting fortunes were really engrossing and well written.

Overall, this is a solid sporting biography, but as the title might suggest, the hero persona is maintained and for me it lacked a more balanced appraisal. Definitely worth reading if you are a football fan though.

[Martin challis · Rating 3 out of 5]

No Moore heroes any more

Very true. The game of football misses gentlemen such as Moore, the human race misses gentlemen such as Bobby. I would have liked to learn more about the man, his childhood and his life aside of football. However I understand this work as a true friend's tribute to his hero.

[Zac Stojcevski · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting journey into the on and off field life of Bobby Moore as written by a mate. Perhaps unbalanced because of that as there is nary a negative tone throughout the book and even those are quashed. Nevertheless, informative and a real treat for football followers.