I'm Not Really Here - Hardcover

Lake, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1846058244 ISBN 13: 9781846058240

Publisher: Century, 2011

Synopsis

Paul Lake was Manchester born, a City fan from birth. His footballing talent was spotted at a young age and, in 1983, he signed coveted schoolboy forms for City. Only a short time later he was handed the team captaincy.

An international career soon beckoned and, after turning out for the England under-21 and B teams, he received a call-up to the England training camp for Italia '90. Despite missing out on a place in the final squad he suitably impressed the management, with Bobby Robson earmarking him as an England captain in the making. As a rising star Paul became a target for top clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool, but he always stayed loyal to his beloved club, deeming Maine Road the spiritual home at which his destiny lay.

But then, in September 1990, disaster struck. Paul ruptured his cruciate ligament and sustained the worst possible injury that a footballer can suffer. And so began his nightmare.

Neglected, ignored and misunderstood by his club after a succession of failed operations, Paul's career began to fall apart. Watching from the sidelines as similarly injured players regained their fitness, he spiralled into a prolonged bout of severe depression. With an enforced retirement from the game he adored, the death of his father and the collapse of his marriage, Paul was left a broken man.

Set against a turning point in English football, I'm Not Really Here is the powerful story of love and loss and the cruel, irreparable damage of injury; of determination, spirit and resilience and of unfulfilled potential and broken dreams.

About this title

Review:

"His tale is one of incredible neglect, which makes for fascinating reading on a sporting, but mostly human level." (The Sports Diaries)

"Paul Lake could have been a world superstar but will forever be a legend at the club he loves" (Steve McManaman)

"Paul Lake was the most gifted in the group of young players who brightened Manchester City up for fans in the 1980s who were pining for the glory days to return...his is an inspirational human story" (David Conn The Guardian)

"I'd be frightened to put a price on his head these days ... Paul was as good a young player as I've ever worked with." (Howard Kendall)

"Without question, he is the best young player I have ever worked with" (Mel Machin)

Book Description:

The extraordinary memoir of Paul Lake, the greatest English footballer to never make the national team.

About this edition

• Publisher: Century
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1846058244
• ISBN 13: 9781846058240
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 416