By Admin
February 28 2005

We take a look at what many consider to be one of the best football books ever written. A review of "All Played Out" by Pete Davies.

^{TITLE - All Played Out - The Full story of Italia 90'}

^{AUTHOR : Pete Davies}

PUBLISHER: Jonathan Cape

ISBN: 0224059548

PRICE: £8

AVAILABLE: Amazon, Borders (Birmingham)

^{All Played Out is one of those books from which you never know what to expect. Italia 90’ was just a distant memory full of memorable moments and happy thoughts. Davies does a great job and within minutes of turning the first page the memories start flood back.}

^{You don’t get many summers like that. The only one that compares is the summer of  1996. To read a book that brings back such happy emotions is a joy to experience.}

^{The fact that the author had access to the England Squad while staying in their hotel gives the book an extra dimension. His good relationship with Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Butcher makes it all that more special. It allows Davies to get in to give us an insight in to what takes place behind the scenes.} 

^{It’s not all England, England, England. Davies also takes in a whole host of other games at the various Italia 90’ cities. You get the feeling that the author set off on his journey to give us an objective view of the summer’s events, but half way through the book you get the idea impression he is fully immersed in the emotions of Planet Football.} 

^{While the main theme is England’s progress, the subplots of crowd trouble,  Diego Maradonna, FA Politics, Italian Organisation and the behavior of the English Press offers  the reader some eye opening information which they might not have been aware of at the time.}

^{Walsall fans might be interested to hear that one of the chapters begins with a quote from our very own Charlie Ntamark. -  “ It may be that I am marking Maradaona in the opening match. We all know about him – but he doesn’t know anything about me”. Charlie was unfortunate to pick up an injury and missed out on playing in that wonderful Cameroon side that went on to face England later on in the tournament.}

^{This book sees Pete Davies elegantly frame what I believe is the most magical summer that English Football has witnessed since 1966.} 

^{WHAT THEY SAY -} 

^{"Pete Davies is incapable of writing a dull sentence. One of the most outrageously entertaining books of the year" - Daily Post}

^{"The England players opened up their hearts to him and he retuned the compliment" Salman Rushdie}   

^{Exhilarating .. full of drama. full of its own reckless and compelling logic. The Independent.}