Tommy Banks...Is this a story that is any different to the plethora of footballers' autobiographies that cram the bookshelves of the High Street retailers? The reality is that this is a story of a very talented, very proud and extremely honourable and dignified man. A man who recognised the wrongs of the professional footballers' contracts in the post-war era and, in his own words and dialect, was determined to "purrit reet." This down to earth charismatic Farnworth lad played an integral and pivotal role in changing the way footballers were treated and paid. There is absolutely no doubt that the celebrity footballers we recognise today bear no comparison to the men that Tommy took up the cause for. However they would do well to read, recognise and, most importantly, respect the part that Tommy and several others played in changing the landscape of the present modern day footballer. Tommy Banks...family man, coal miner, hod carrier, Bolton Wanderer and England footballer, a warm hearted man with a bulldog spirit and a builder of dreams. Ah'm tellin' thee is a humble, honest and heartfelt account of a local lad made good. Tommy was astute and quick, wingers didn't like playing against him, he was belligerent, he would clatter them if required and played mind games with them. Francis Lee Today's multi-millionaire footballers owe a great debt to the son of Farnworth who might well have been formed out of the very coal pits which featured in that area as he was granite like, a great player, great person and a great character. from the Foreword by Gordon Taylor Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association I admire him, a gifted footballer he was also a leader, you could hear him all over the field roaring out instructions and praise. Dennis Stevens He had a lot to say on and off the field but knew his football and was a master of his craft. If you had any soft spot in your make up he'd exploit it, few if any got the better of him. Every time I see him I always try to think of something fun to say but he always beats me to it, a lovely man. Bobby Charlton
I've read this book and I have loved it!
The first thing that strikes you about this book is the fact that footballers can write, and some of them can do so very well. The author here, Ian Seddon, also used to tread the same turf as Tommy Banks on the Burnden Park theatre in the early seventies, as well as playing under 'Big Ron' Atkinson at Cambridge United in the latter part of that decade. So already that qualifies him as a genuine writer, someone who know's his stuff. The 'traditional' autobiography uses journalists as ghost writers, and at best, these are the screamers. That is to say, the one's complaining at the television screen and the ridiculous foul that has been committed that to be fair, they only knew about because of the slo-mo replay! Seddon has walked the same path as Banks, and is therefore justified to retell his story.
This boy from Farnworth did good. From the turf of the farmyard to the Burnden Park turf, taking in Wembley and the 1958 World Cup Finals. And if that never gave him nationwide recognition, his modelling career soon would. But every step, every path he strode down, he remained pinned to his northern roots, his family- instilled values. Values that spilled into the professional world of football and its 'lump of coal' wages, and his 'Brother' Matthews speech that sits comfortably in many a old professional's memory. Nonemoreso because it could have single-handedly abolished the Maximum Wage in 1961. And what he did with his 1958 FA Cup Final winning shirt will make you gasp with astonishment.
You can list the accomplishments of many a magnificient footballer, but I swear to you....not one of them, except Tommy Banks, will have a musical production in their honour.
Seddon's subtitles throughout this book bring the tales to life. Tommy always has an input, we just need to know what he's saying. And increasingly, the astuteness, the cleverness of Banks' shines through in this terrific book of a genuine footballer that was good enough, and proud enough, to wear the shirt of England.
Well done Tommy, my new best friend , and well done Ian.
Chris Goodwin, reviewed on England Football Online
