By Matthew Jones
March 30 2012

A review of the recently released autobiography of popular former Tranmere Rovers goalkeeper, captain and coach Eric Nixon

It's not often that a former Tranmere player releases a book, but for the second chance in a year, a Rovers hero has turned his memories into words as Eric Nixon follows in the footsteps of former striker and manager John Aldridge in releasing his very own autobiography.

The popular goalkeeper, an integral part of Johnny King's side that rose through the Football League during the 1980s and 1990s lived a long and successful career that saw him play for his boyhood club, Manchester City and captain Tranmere Rovers at Wembley, whilst he was also the first man to captain Tranmere in Euroepe in the Anglo-Italian cup.

He has now given fans a chance to relive those glory days, or for the younger generation, a chance to learn about such days and of the incredible players that helped get Tranmere there by compiling his own memories and experiences from his Tranmere  days in an engrossing book that really does tell all.

The book starts in Nixon's days with Tranmere, telling of his survival of a heart attack, before going back in time to his youth in Manchester, telling of his upbringing under his single mum following the premature death of his father, aged 38.

Nixon then continues to tell of his youth, how he walked into Manchester City and asked for a trial aged 19 and how it felt to play for the Maine Road club, whom he had supported all his life.

Then, after losing his place in the City team, Nixon discusses how he broke a Football League record before joining Tranmere and becoming a crucial part in the most successful team of the clubs history, playing at Wembley on a number of occasions and winning two promotions, with the giant goalkeeper at the heart of it all.

There are many great tales of "Nico's" time at Tranmere, including many a drinking session with the likes of Kenny Irons, Kenny Jones and Shaun Garnett, as well as indepth memories of some of Tranmere's greatest games, including the Wembley win over Bolton and the League Cup final against Leicester City.

Following his retirement, Nixon then discusses the difficulties of life after football, which has taken him all the way to Dubai as a personal trainer, as well as his family life and work as a coach, both with Tranmere Rovers and Fleetwood Town.

With 25 years having passed by since Nixon first joined Tranmere Rovers, the book devotes the majority of it's pages to the Wirral club and is well worth a read for any Tranmere fan, old or young.

Big Hands Big Heart, published by Trinity Mirror, is now available for around £12.99 in a number of bookstores across the Wirral, including Waterstones in Birkenhead and the Tranmere Rovers club shop.  The book is also available online from Amazon for £8.44.

Big Hands, Big Heart: Eric Nixon's Autobiography review

Discussion started by Total Tranmere (IP Logged), 30/03/2012 15:46

Total Tranmere
30/03/2012 15:46

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:04:04:17:51:23 by Deadly Submarine.

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