Jimmy Adamson: The Man Who Said No to England

by Dave Thomas

Jimmy Adamson was a football enigma, revered by some, disliked by others - a supremely elegant player of the '50s and early '60s, a title winner and a respected coach, but a manager whose spirit was ultimately shattered. In 1962, Adamson had the world at his feet: FA Cup finalist, Footballer of the Year and invited to become England manager, having been assistant at the World Cup in Chile. But Adamson said 'no'. In 1970 he predicted that Burnley would become the 'Team of the Seventies', but despotic chairman Bob Lord's selling policy saw the vision fade and die. Controversially sacked in 1976, Adamson moved to Sunderland and then endured two torrid years at Leeds United before turning his back on the game. This is a poignant story of broken dreams, failed ambitions and personal tragedy, ending in estrangement from the club he loved. A story of what might have been.

Genres: Football

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Dave Thomas


Dave Thomas has written more than 20 books about Burnley FC. Dave started watching Burnley in 1960. A former headmaster, he now lives in Leeds but travels to Burnley for every game.