This Is How It Feels: An English Football Miracle
£13.20£16.10 (-18%)
One of the great untold football miracles of all time.
Hard Shoulder, M62 Eastbound, June 1982…
Britain is on the verge of taking the Falkland Islands back from the Argentine invaders, Margaret Thatcher is three years into her tenure at 10 Downing Street and for the first time since the 1930s, three million people are unemployed – with the nation reeling from recession.
One of those searching for a job is standing at the side of the motorway which links the north of England’s east and west coasts with his thumb out. Newly-retired former Everton, Manchester City and England striker Joe Royle is trying to hitch a lift to Boundary Park for what he thinks is an interview for the post of manager at backwater Oldham Athletic. Behind him, smoke pours from his broken-down car’s engine. After a passing lorry takes him the rest of the way, Royle is told that the job is his – and that he will have to sell a player or the club will go bust. Later that day, bailiffs drop in and eye up his office furniture. That night he is in his own garage, stencilling the initials of players’ names on training kit as the reality of the task in hand hits home.
What happened next is one of the great, untold football miracles of all time as unfancied Oldham emerged from the shadows of their illustrious Manchester neighbours and embarked on a thrilling, white knuckle ride to the summit of the English game.
This is a story that has not been told before. It is a time when the impossible was possible, long before the vast millions in broadcast money arrived and the creation of the Premier League changed football in England forever. A time when an astute manager and wily chairman could scour the big clubs for castoffs and achieve the unachievable. It is something that will never be repeated and, in these times of huge salaries and commercial excess, is a tale of harder and yet often-happier times when small clubs could dream big.
In the 30th anniversary year of Royle’s remarkable revolution, it is the perfect time for This Is How It Feels to hit the book shelves.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Reach Sport (26 Aug. 2021) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Hardcover | 320 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1914197240 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1914197246 |
| Dimensions | 24.2 x 3.1 x 16.2 cm |
by Chris B
Told with a winning combination of fan passion and journalistic story-telling, This is How it Feels, is a cracking read.
Mike really gets under the skin of the club, the town and the many colourful characters who delivered The Latics’ golden era.
It brought back memories of Joe Royle’s stewardship of Man City – which i witnessed, his humour, loyalty and humanity.
This is a book for all sports fans to enjoy – a tale of unlikely success on a shoe-string and also the power of sport on the fortunes of a town and its people.
Having read this book, even as a non Oldham fan, I am really sorry to see this grand old club in its current sorry state. Perhaps the current owner should read Keegan’s book and learn a lesson or two?
by mjp1970
Great story – highly recommend giving this a read if you are a football fan. Brought back many memories from the 80s
by Original Aaronski
The best times in OAFC’s history, courtesy of Joe and Willy. Success that will likely never be repeated by a small town club again. We were the Beverly Hillbillies who struck oil and it was a helluva ride. Thanks to all.
by ben
A brilliant book for all sports fans. A proper journey of endeavour, regardless of the challenges.
by Stuart Hardy
Fantastic journey down memory lane to a time when Oldham became everyones second team. Really great read,couldnt put it down. thank you.
by nicola wood
My son is a Latics fan he found this book really interesting and informative
by PROF. M. GLEESON
Admittedly I have been a fan of Oldham Athletic my home town club since seeing my first live football match at Boundary Park 60 years ago so you will not be surprised to know that I absolutely loved reading this book by fellow Oldham lad Mike Keegan. But this is a book that can be enjoyed by any football fan. It is about the rise to Premier League status of a lowly small town club that was achieved without spending millions. All this took place after Joe Royle was appointed as the club’s raw new manager. Not only is the book historically accurate and behind-the -scenes informative, the story is told beautifully with passion and great wit by a Latics fan who also happens to be a top sport journalist. It will make you laugh; a pure delight.
by Malton
This is one of the best and funniest football books I have ever read. I am not a Latics fan but long followed Joe Royle’s career since following him as an Everton supporter in the 1967-1971 seasons. The book is full of interesting anecdotes which have clearly been well researched by the author who has spent time interviewing the players and employees of Oldham. It is a great insight to a previous era where managers persuaded other managers to part with their players and Joe Royle was adept at obtaining bargain transfers and goes into some detail about the players contracts. For instance, when Oldham signed a new goalkeeper, John Keeley, his agent insisted that the club paid for his contact lenses. Royle was a bit concerned that he had signed a goalkeeper with poor eyesight! I had forgotten how long Royle managed the club since my interest in him increased when he later became manager of Everton.