About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 40. Chapters: Andy Gray (footballer born 1973), Andy Pape, Andy Sayer, Barry Lakin, Billy Wingrove, Bob Dowie, Brian Sparrow, Carlin Itonga, Carl Francis, Carl Richards, Darren Annon, Darren Collins, Dave Mehmet, David Howell (footballer), David McDonald (footballer), David Preece (footballer born 1963), Demba Traore, Dermot Drummy, Doug McClure (footballer), Fred Callaghan, Gary Smith (footballer born 1968), George Ludford, Glen Southam, Graham Pearce (English footballer), Graham Westley, Greg Heald, Henry Hughton, Jack Rawlings, John Bailey (footballer born 1969), John Burridge, John Hollowbread, Kevin Dare, Kevin Rattray, Lee Marshall (footballer), Lionel Perez, Lloyd Opara, Mark Bentley, Martin Buglione, Martin Robinson (footballer), Nathan Smith (footballer), Owen Coll, Paul Brush, Paul Canoville, Paul Friar, Paul Furlong, Paul Harding (association footballer), Paul Haverson, Paul Moran (English footballer), Paul Underwood, Peter Feely, Robin Friday, Sid Crowl, Sonny Pike, Steve Terry, Terry Glynn, Terry Hurlock, Terry McQuade, Tony Kinsella, Tony Witter, Yemi Abiodun. Excerpt: Robin Friday (27 July 1952 - 22 December 1990) was an English footballer who played professionally as a forward for Reading and Cardiff City during a career that lasted four years in the mid-1970s. Born and raised in Acton, west London, Friday was scouted, but not retained, by four professional clubs during his teenage years. After appearing for local semi-professional sides in the Isthmian League, he joined Charlie Hurley's Fourth Division Reading team in 1974. He quickly became a key player, and helped Reading to win promotion to the Third Division during the season. Friday's on-field performances were regarded as excellent, and he won Reading's player of the year award in both of his full seasons there, as well as being the leading goal scorer. However, his habit of unsettling opponents through physical intimidation contributed to a heavily tarnished disciplinary record. Friday was also known off the field for his heavy smoking, drinking, womanising and drug-taking. As his drug habit intensified, Friday's form began to dip in the first half of the 1976-77 season, leading Reading to sell him to Second Division side Cardiff City in December 1976. Friday travelled to join his new team by train, without a valid ticket and had to be bailed by Cardiff manager Jimmy Andrews before even signing for the club. He performed strongly on his debut, but afterwards his form declined and his personal life caused him to repeatedly miss matches altogether. Following a number of incidents, on and off the field-including kicking Mark Lawrenson in the face -Friday retired from football in December 1977, aged 25. He died in Acton in 1990, aged 38, after suffering a heart attack. The strongest aspects of Friday's game were his ball skills, footballing intelligence and physical and mental strength. Andrews labelled Friday "the complete centre-forward," and, along with numerous contemporaries, retrospectively rated Friday as good enough for the England national team. Both because of his
