The Rise of Gerry Logan

‘The best book on football ever written.’ Franz Beckenbauer, winner of the World Cup as both player and manager. In Football Memories, Brian Glanville himself writes, ‘The central character, Garry, was a Scottish inside-forward based on Danny Blanchflower. This, largely because the footballer had to be untypically intelligent and aware, as well as an accomplished performer. Danny, so fluent, so original, and in certain ways so flawed, seemed an ideal model. Yet he, or his surrogate, could not carry the whole book. I used various voices. His wife’s. My own.’ Ever since J. B. Priestley’s pre-publication endorsement – ‘I enjoyed this highly original novel’ – praise has been constant: “This is a brilliant novel. Any footballer can see a little of himself in Gerry Logan, as I did when I first read it. The book tells what the pressures are like in the game, the temptations to which successful players are exposed and yet the human qualities tell us much about society and human nature in general.” (Derek Dougan). “The best novel on soccer I have ever read.” (Daily Herald). “Soars into first-class fiction.” (The Spectator).”An acid fable of our age, solid with expertise about football and its seamier secrets.” (Daily Mail). “The whole world of big time soccer, with its glamour and bitter feuds, made very real.” (Sunday Telegraph).