Can't wait to get it. Thing is I had to purchase it from Cleethorpes up in Lincolnshire! :lol: Amazon lists it, but doesn't have a copy available at this time. Shame the club couldn't make a compromise and put this book in their shop. From the reviews I've seen, it is more than a fitting tribute to the man. Seems to me it would've done well as part of the club's stocklist.
I'll do that, HatterDon. I wanted to dive into the history of Fulham a bit more. This will play a big part in that during the off-season.
Got the book on Saturday. My first impression is..."WOW!" I've only gotten through three chapters. One thing I already notice is this book goes beyond most player biographies you see. Plumb and Coton have chosen to write short articles within these chapters. It is an engaging, conversational style focusing on a story featuring the words of a source or two (like Jimmy Hill, Bobby Robson, etc.) on a particular subject. These short sections within each chapter allow the reader to build a picture of the whole with Johnny Haynes. I think what makes this work different is that it doesn't take Haynes the man out of the context of his club or the times he lived in. You're not just getting a biography of a player with his great matches and his accomplishments on the pitch. This book goes beyond biography to serve in multiple capacities as a Fulham club history and a social history. Plumb and Coton have especially done a fine job giving a reader a sense of what Haynes was up against in the English football landscape of the 1950s and 60s. They takes great care to explain to those of us who may not know that Haynes competed in an era with water-absorbing balls, lousy pitch conditions, and referees who often turned a blind eye to tackles coming in from behind. There will be more as I read on. But it goes without saying that I think this book is worth both the price and the extortionist shipping fees! Fulham have done a grave disservice to the fans by refusing to give it a showing in their store in proper fashion. This book is a credit to both club and man; a labor of love that is evident from the first page you start reading.
Oh yeah. The best internet cartoon series ever created. Bawdy, Rude, and as anti-PC as it gets. If it wasn't for my complete respect for Mr. Haynes, I'd have an HDL image for the avatar.
Excellent stuff - there are several cartoons I dig there - Poker Night, Zombie College, Meet the Millers (talk about anti-PC), Mr Wong, etc... I was not trying to get off your topic, but I had to comment to you sometime.
