This One's On Me - Jimmy Greaves. It was first published in 1979 and part of a cache that I bought at a Spanish charity fair for €2.00 in a bundle that had 500 Spanish Verbs, Antony Beevor's Spanish Civil War among others. Jimmy Greaves was one of my all time sporting heroes and we used to go to the Saturday matinee just to see Movietone News showing all of 20 seconds of Greavsie scoring cup-tie goals. Years later Movietone showed colour snippets of more of Jimmy's goals. Jimmy Greaves had it all, football talent, money, fame. When I looked at the cover my first thought was to consign it to the bin. These were the days before mass television coverage (1960's and 1970's).
Then I read the first line "My name is Jimmy G. I am a professional footballer and I am an alcoholic." Before I had finished the first page the author admitted that he was writing the book to help clear his revenue debts in the UK. Delay in paying his due was caused by his abuse of alcohol. This is not a misery memoir. However, it shows how anybody can succumb to alcohol addiction.. Jimmy Greaves was born Roman Catholic, had a normal upbringing and suddenly was transferred from Chelsea to Tottenham Hotspur where he became a member of the original Dream Team who played attractive attacking football. He did not become addicted to alcohol overnight; it took some years and he pulls no punches describing his nadir and his need to overcome his demons. His wife found several bottles of vodka hidden in the house and in a temper emptied the lot down the sink. Jimmy literally went through his trash bin to drain what was left of the vodka to ease his dreadful need. Instantly, he admitted that he needed help and went to Alcoholics Anonymous. His cure was not instant and Jimmy takes up through his need to go from a dreadful descent to an inspiring ascent.
He recounted his drinking sessions, how he felt and named names of other famous footballers who joined his drinking circle, not that any of them would be happy with the naming. Alcohol was not the cause of him being omitted from the 1966 World Cup Final; he was injured. However, his friendship with Alf Ramsey was not a buddy-buddy one. In fact, Greaves walked away from international football as he did not wish to be training with England and not part of the set-up. The book although only 160 pages gives extensive accounts of his training, management meetings, tactics, goal scoring records, friendships and his football moments in Italy.
I don't think the book was ghost written. But, anybody who likes football would find the read to be a good one and written from the heart. I'm glad I couldn't find the bin in which I was about to consign it. Thank you Jimmy Greaves!
