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Tony Book

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Tony Book
Personal information
Full name Anthony Keith Book
Position(s) Right back

Anthony Keith Book was an English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division Manchester City, where he became captain. Under Book's captaincy, Manchester City won four trophies, making him the most decorated Manchester City captain of all-time. Book had a five year tenure as Manchester City manager from 1974-1979, and subsequently held various coaching roles at the club until 1996.

Early life and non-league career

Tony Book was born in Bath, but at the age of four moved to India when his father, an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry, received an overseas posting.[1] During World War II, Book's father served in Burma, and Book lived with his mother and brothers in army quarters in a number of places in British India, including Mumbai and Multan. In September 1945, the Book family returned to England, and Tony started secondary school in Bath, and gained his first experience in competitive football when he was selected to play for both Bath boys and Somerset boys.[2]

After leaving school at 16, Book became an apprentice bricklayer and played amateur football as an inside-forward for Peasedown Miners, until he was called up for national service in 1952.[3] While playing for his army team Book converted to the full-back position and had a trial with Chelsea, but was not taken on. Following the completion of his national service, Book returned his bricklaying job in Bath and started playing for Frome Town[2], before moving to Bath City of the Southern League in January 1956. He spent seven and a half years at Bath, becoming captain in the latter part of his Bath career. In the 1962 close season, Malcolm Allison became Bath manager, beginning a long association between the two.

Professional career

At the close of the 1962-63 season, Allison received an offer to coach Canadian team Toronto City over the summer and took Book with him. Though Allison left after a short time to take up a position at Plymouth Argyle, Book stayed three months, in which time he was voted the best full-back in Canada.[4]

Upon his return to England, Book was signed for Plymouth by Allison for a fee of £1,500, and Book entered the Football League for the first time at the age of 30, though Plymouth believed him to be 28 - Allison had advised Book to doctor his birth certificate as he thought the Plymouth board would not pay £1,500 for a 30 year old.[5] After making 81 league appearances, Book followed Malcolm Allison again to Manchester City two years later, this time for a transfer fee of £17,000.[6]

Book prospered under the management of Joe Mercer and Allison. He made his Manchester City debut in the opening match of the 1965–66 season, a 1–1 draw with Southampton,[6] and became a near-permanent fixture in the team. In his first season at the club he missed just one game,[7] becoming the inaugural winner of the club's Player of the Year award[8] in a season in which the club gained promotion to the First Division as Second Division champions.

In the 1967 close season, Book was named captain following the transfer of previous captain Johnny Crossan to Middlesbrough, and was henceforth nicknamed Skip by his teammates. His first season as captain was a very successful one, leading Manchester City to their second league championship and playing every game. An Achilles injury sidelined Book for the first four months of the 1968-69 season, but he returned to the team in time for the start of their FA Cup run. In the week preceding the cup final, Book was named the 1969 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year Award, sharing the accolade with Dave Mackay.[9] The following Saturday Manchester City played Leicester in the FA Cup final. Manchester City won 1-0, and captain Book lifted the trophy. The following season City became the first team to win a European and domestic trophy in the same season, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the League Cup. Book retired from playing in 1974.[7] He made 242 football league appearances for the club, and is City's most successful captain in terms of trophies won.

Management Career

In November 1973, Manchester City manager Johnny Hart resigned due to ill health, and Book took temporary responsibility for first-team affairs, and was named assistant manager when Ron Saunders became the next permanent manager. At this point Book retired from playing to concentrate on management. Saunders was sacked after less than six months, and Book again took on the caretaker role, and was appointed permanent manager one game later. In 1976, Book's City side won the League Cup final, making him the first person to win the competition as both player and manager. Book remained manager until 1979, when he was replaced by his former mentor Malcolm Allison. He then became a loyal stalwart to the club in several other roles until 1997.

As of 2007 Book is retired, but holds two honorary positions; he is Honorary President of Manchester City[10] and Life President of the Manchester City Official Supporters Club.[11] He was inducted into Manchester City's Hall of Fame in January 2004.[12]

His brother Kim Book was a goalkeeper for Bournemouth, Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and Doncaster Rovers while Kim's son Steve was also a goalkeeper, principly with Cheltenham Town.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Book, Tony (2004). Maine Man. Mainstream publishing. p. 21. ISBN 1-84018-812-X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Penney, Ian (2002). The Legends of Manchester City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-326-8.
  3. ^ Maine Man 32-33
  4. ^ "Tony Book". Manchester City Supporters Homepage. Retrieved January 10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Maine Man, p46
  6. ^ a b "Tony Book". Football Heroes. Retrieved August 14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b Clayton, David (2002). Everything under the blue moon: the complete book of Manchester City FC - and more!. Edinburgh: Mainstream publishing. ISBN 1-84018-687-9. p35
  8. ^ Julian Baskcomb (ed.) (1995). Manchester City Official Handbook 1995-96. Polar. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0. p180
  10. ^ "Club Directors and Officials". Manchester City official website. Retrieved August 14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "About the OSC". Manchester City Official Supporters Club. Retrieved August 14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Hall of Fame". Manchester City official website. Retrieved August 14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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