| Big Mal: The High Life and Hard Times of Malcolm Allison, Footba Click
HERE for original thread with all of the images and colours
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| stupalace |
Product Description
Synopsis
Malcolm Allison is one of the most controversial figures of the last half-century of English football. Leader of the famed 'West Ham Academy', his playing career was cut short by the loss of a lung to tuberculosis. Disillusioned, he became a professional gambler before acknowledging that football was his calling. After humble beginnings as a coach, he began a celebrated partnership with Joe Mercer, turning Manchester City into one of the most stylish teams English football has produced. Along with the trophies came the birth of Big Mal, the larger-than-life personality who helped revolutionise televised football. He became instantly recognisable for his cigar and Fedora, and equally notorious for a string of affairs with beautiful women.As the dark side of Big Mal took over, he was banned for life from the touchlines, became embroiled in a series of boardroom battles and spent time in police cells and rehabilitation clinics fighting the effects of alcoholism. Yet, despite the often-destructive effect of his Big Mal persona, Malcolm Allison retains his status as one of the most incisive minds to have graced the game.
This book tells both sides of the story, tracing the life and times of one of the most charismatic characters in British sport.
out september 2008 , pre-order at amazon and get it for £10.55
# Hardcover: 336 pages
# Publisher: Mainstream Publishing (4 Sep 2008)
# Language English
# ISBN-10: 184596330X
# ISBN-13: 978-1845963309
March 17 th 1975
The FA has turned down Malcolm Allison's request for the lifting of his seven-year-old touchline ban. A disappointed Allison says, '1 don't think referees get any better, but perhaps I have. My disciplinary record has been exemplary during the last two years. It is alright at Selhurst Park, where I have a 'phone link with the bench, but at away matches we are at a disadvantage'..
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/bob.dunning/thirty46a.htm |
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| Dorking .Eagle |
There was a little bit of discussion about this book on page 10 of this thread
Looks like it is going to be essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of characters. |
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| Away Day Eagle |
A timely reminder chaps.
Please post up details of any book signings.
I'll certainly be travelling up to get mine signed in person :p
Be even better of it was on a Friday with an northern away game the next day. Here's hoping :p |
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| Away Day Eagle |
Brilliant stuff - here's the cover
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| Dorking .Eagle |
quote:
Originally posted by Away Day Eagle
A timely reminder chaps.
Please post up details of any book signings.
I'll certainly be travelling up to get mine signed in person :p
Be even better of it was on a Friday with an northern away game the next day. Here's hoping :p
I'd be up for that too! |
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| La Bombonera |
quote:
Originally posted by Away Day Eagle
A timely reminder chaps.
Please post up details of any book signings.
I'll certainly be travelling up to get mine signed in person :p
Be even better of it was on a Friday with an northern away game the next day. Here's hoping :p
Save a seat for me Nigel ... first class carriage, champagne and cigars (the latter outside the station beforehand of course).
They couldn't have picked a finer cover-photo.
Great stuff :p |
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| Away Day Eagle |
Fixtures are out soon, by that time we should have a book signing date and hopefully tie up the two.
:cool: |
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| Baldy |
quote:
Originally posted by Away Day Eagle
Fixtures are out soon, by that time we should have a book signing date and hopefully tie up the two.
:cool:
Perhaps you had better let Sky know ?
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :hmph: |
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| La Bombonera |
quote:
Originally posted by Away Day Eagle
Fixtures are out soon, by that time we should have a book signing date and hopefully tie up the two.
:cool:
Got to be done :p |
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| Eagle Kneevil |
| I think that I own that coat. |
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| Away Day Eagle |
quote:
Originally posted by Baldy
Perhaps you had better let Sky know ?
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :hmph:
:veryangry :veryangry :veryangry |
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| G Raff |
| Does he not have Alzheimers? Could make book signing weird. |
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| Sam Spade |
quote:
Originally posted by G Raff
Does he not have Alzheimers? Could make book signing weird.
I read sometime ago that he is unwell and had an onset of Alzheimers and lived in what was quoted in the article as "semi secure" accomodation. Frankly it was a bit of a "look how far he's fallen" type story, so it could be he is just being looked after in a home.
Some Man. City players from his era keep in touch, and take him to City games occasionally which he apparently enjoys.
I am not sure whether book signings with the Big Man would be possible or even appropriate, which is very sad.
G Raff, I know that no offence was meant at all, but, like many others who have known and loved victims of this terrible disease, weird would not be a choice of word I would use to describe the problems associated with it.
But there again, it wouldn't be the first time that I'd been a picky, sanctimonious twat on these boards!
:p |
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| geoffh |
| Big Mal is a legend but aren't book signings usually done by the actual author rather than the subject of the book. Big Mal did write his Autobiography in 1975 - 'Colours of My Life' publisher Everest Books ISBN 0903925 559 which Palace did sell at the time. It was co written with James Lawton of the Daily Express £3.25 face price a lot of dosh at the time. Loking at my copy I purchased onday of 3-0 home win v Grimsby . |
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| stupalace |
quote:
Originally posted by geoffh
Big Mal is a legend but aren't book signings usually done by the actual author rather than the subject of the book. Big Mal did write his Autobiography in 1975 - 'Colours of My Life' publisher Everest Books ISBN 0903925 559 which Palace did sell at the time. It was co written with James Lawton of the Daily Express £3.25 face price a lot of dosh at the time. Loking at my copy I purchased onday of 3-0 home win v Grimsby .
you can pick it up for a couple of quid on amazon |
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| geoffh |
| I think it came out in paperback as well couple of years later |
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| arussell |
I'll be very surprised if there are any book signing's with Big Mal for this given his health.
That is a great cover though. |
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| BigMalauthor |
Excuse me for jumping into this thread, but I saw that you were discussing my upcoming book about Malcolm Allison. In answer to some questions about whether Mal would be doing a book signing the answer is no. Partly because he would not be up to such an event in his current condition but also because the book, as a few people pointed out, is not an authorised biography. It has, however, been written with the knowledge and cooperation of his family - I interviewed his son Mark and partner Lynn as part of my research and both have been most supportive of the project.
Glad to hear of the interest in someone who has proved to be such a great subject to write about.
David Tossell |
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| EdMan |
quote:
Originally posted by BigMalauthor
Excuse me for jumping into this thread, but I saw that you were discussing my upcoming book about Malcolm Allison. In answer to some questions about whether Mal would be doing a book signing the answer is no. Partly because he would not be up to such an event in his current condition but also because the book, as a few people pointed out, is not an authorised biography. It has, however, been written with the knowledge and cooperation of his family - I interviewed his son Mark and partner Lynn as part of my research and both have been most supportive of the project.
Glad to hear of the interest in someone who has proved to be such a great subject to write about.
David Tossell
How does that work then - the man's son and partner both support the project but big mal himself doesn't authorise it?
just curious... |
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| BigMalauthor |
Malcolm is not well enough to have participated in the book but his family were happy to contribute - and with their blessing a donation from the royalites is going to the Alzheimer's Society, which provides research into the kind of illness (dementia) from which Malcolm is suffering.
David Tossell |
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| stupalace |
| How much of his book will be about his time at Palace ? Unfortunately his autobiography didn't really mention us a lot |
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| BigMalauthor |
Well, I guess an amount appropriate to the percentage of his managerial career that he spent at Palace. The best part of three chapters focus on his arrival at Selhurst Park and his first spell there. After Manchester City, it was obviously the most signficant and newsworthy part of his coaching/managerial career.
Hopefully there is plenty in there to interest Palace fans.
David Tossell |
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| Pub Idol |
quote:
Originally posted by BigMalauthor
Well, I guess an amount appropriate to the percentage of his managerial career that he spent at Palace. The best part of three chapters focus on his arrival at Selhurst Park and his first spell there. After Manchester City, it was obviously the most signficant and newsworthy part of his coaching/managerial career.
Hopefully there is plenty in there to interest Palace fans.
David Tossell
David,
I am really keen to get a copy of the two fingers at the bridge photo. I have tried everywhere to get it on the web and so far no joy.
Can you help ?
Thanks. |
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| BigMalauthor |
The picture on the cover is a Getty Images copyright picture. You could check it out through their website - no idea what they charge individuals looking to acquire prints (or even if they supply them).
By the way, if you look closely he is actually holding up three fingers in the picture (predicting the score against Chelsea)!
David Tossell |
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| Nelson Muntz |
David.
Do you know if Malcolm well enough to realise how loved he is by a large part of the Palace support?
Also, do you know you are going to be inundated with questions about him?
Also you do know that many many Palace fans will be buying your book, don't you? |
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| BigMalauthor |
I am happy to answer as many questions as I can (always happy to talk about my books)... especially if it encourages more people to buy! so, fire away...
I don't know enough about Malcolm's condition to know exactly what he does and doesn't recall. Certainly the affection with which he is still regarded by Palace fans is obvious by visiting sites like this.
David |
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| Maidstoned Eagle |
| David, will you be mentioning the Fedora Day celebration that Away Day amongst others organised in the great mans honour last year? It'd make a nice footnote. |
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| BigMalauthor |
I haven't mentioned that as I was not aware of it at the time I had to submit the manuscript (several months ago now). A possible footnote for a future edition perhaps. I have mentioned that stall holders around Selhurst Park in 1976 were doing a great trade in cheap replica Fedoras and, of course, told the story of how Malcolm came to select that particular form of headwear as his lucky FA Cup hat
David |
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| Kevan Woz Awful |
Dear David, I have ordered my copy today and thank you for writing a new book about my all time favourite Crystal Palace manager.
I have been lucky enough to spend some time in Mal's company during his time at Palace including a fabulous day out away to Bury when I sat next to him in the stand for the whole match. Now that really was an experience! even if the majority of my generous & complimentary halftime drink mysteriously 'evaporated' during the second half.
He is a great bloke, I wish you every success |
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| Mal Adjusted |
quote:
Originally posted by BigMalauthor
I haven't mentioned that as I was not aware of it at the time
So you do a book about Big Mal and you don't come to the memory lane formum of the UK's biggest football site - a forum and a site where the great man is a revered.
:grrr:
You missed a golden opportunity there mate. I can think of no finer source of anecdotes and information about Big Mal's time at Palace.
However- as you hold out the prospect of making amends with a second edition I will forgive you. I'll forgive you to the extent that I'll buy the first edition knowing full well that in a couple of year's time I'll be buying the second edition as well.
:grrr:
All I need now is some big bloke who wears a fedora to act as my back-up celebrity signer. Anybody seen Away Day? Wonder what he'd charge. |
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| BigMalauthor |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mal Adjusted
[B]So you do a book about Big Mal and you don't come to the memory lane formum of the UK's biggest football site - a forum and a site where the great man is a revered.
My humble apologies... :)
I did, however, speak to a few of the players who served under Mal at Palace and others who were close to him at that time, so hopefully have done justice to his years at the club
David |
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| Gollum |
David,
Good luck with the book. Big Mal is held dear to the hearts of many of the Palace faithful. I was one of the many who bought a replica fedora in 76 and have still got it in the loft somewhere.
We didn't achieve much (any) success with the big man but we had a hell of a fun time with him at the helm.
Out of interest, which players did you interview ? |
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| Mal Adjusted |
quote:
Originally posted by BigMalauthor
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mal Adjusted
[B]So you do a book about Big Mal and you don't come to the memory lane formum of the UK's biggest football site - a forum and a site where the great man is a revered.
My humble apologies... :)
I did, however, speak to a few of the players who served under Mal at Palace and others who were close to him at that time, so hopefully have done justice to his years at the club
David
I shall be forking out my cash to make sure you have done him justice !
I shall also be keen to see if Venables acknowledges the debt he owes Big Mal.
Who came up with the idea? Also, what's the initial feedback from City fans - especially to the choice of picture on the front cover? |
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| BigMalauthor |
Don't want to give everything away, but suffice to say I interviewed a few of the guys involved in the Cup run.
The book was my idea - it seemed like Malcolm was one of the few really big characters of that time (my favourite era, by the way) about whom no one had really written - not since Mal himself in the mid-70s. There was obviously a huge amount of material there and I wanted to explore the two sides of his character, the innovative coach and the showman, and look at how he struggled to balance the two.
Not sure of the City fans' reaction yet. Given that he helped to create the most successful team in their history I am expecting there to be considerable interest - but I have not stumbled upon a City fan forum where I can gauge interest in the way that I have here!
David |
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| Mal Adjusted |
quote:
Originally posted by BigMalauthor
Not sure of the City fans' reaction yet. Given that he helped to create the most successful team in their history I am expecting there to be considerable interest - but I have not stumbled upon a City fan forum where I can gauge interest in the way that I have here!
David
I was going to suggest this site
http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/phpB...5d264b37c70b784
But I see that it has a thread complaining that they should not be signing Andy Johnson - so I guess that proves they're a pretty dim bunch. :) |
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| stupalace |
David
Did you contact Hy Money about using some of her photos in your book? |
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| BigMalauthor |
No didn't use her photos, for various reasons. Also, don't forget that with only 16 pictures to cover 50 years in football there was only room for about three Palace-related pictures, plus the cover shot.
David |
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| La Bombonera |
David ... well done for coming on here and giving us some insight into the book. I for one, without a doubt, will be purchasing a copy, as will many other Palace fans I'm sure. In this current age of football literature (the vast majority of which can be best described as fairly inane and pointless), this will hopefully be a fitting tribute to the great man.
As for the cover photo; I have that on a tee-shirt which none other than Dave Swindlehurst took great interest in down the Racehorse in Carshalton a couple of weeks back. Straight away, Swindles embarked on what great bloke Big Mal was and how great it was at the time ... much to mine and jone-zee's delight!
Good luck with the book :p |
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| BigMalauthor |
Happy to oblige!
I have not set out deliberately to write a 'tribute' to Mal, but rather have let the story tell itself through the interviews I have conducted, together with a bit of comment and (hopefully) insight. But pretty much everyone I spoke to holds him in great esteem so that obviously comes through loud and clear. For example, it was great hearing through friends of Bobby Moore how much he loved Mal.
Of course, not all of his life or career was plain sailing - and even his friends acknowledge his faults - but it probably says a lot about his abilities as a coach that, even despite everything that he won, the feeling exists that he should and could have won even more.
David |
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| BigMalauthor |
No - and not heard any mention of such a book.
David |
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| David of Kent |
Good luck with the book, doubtless it shall be on my Christmas list this year.
I think the last time I saw Malcolm on telly was at half time of the FA Cup Semi Final against Liverpool (on video of course, I was at the game).
Half time had Ray Wilkins and various other media heads extolling Liverpools virtues and how the 2nd half was pretty much a formality. They then cut to Malcolm in the tunnell area (it looked like) and he (without any hint of sarcasm) proceeded to tell the world that we could and would turn this round.
Lo and behold......
It's my favourite memory of a guy that clearly had a lot of affection for the club, however I don't believe this was clouding his judgment in thinking we would turn it round, he just had a greater foresight and reading of the game than so many. |
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| stupalace |
| Just realised David Tossell is the author of Playing for Uncle Sam Brits in the NASL . A great book with loads of interviews with different players and a lot of them ex palace in the book . |
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| BigMalauthor |
Actually I did reference something from the second of those threads in the book. In talking about how Mal is still so highly regarded by Palace fans (even though they never won anything under him), I referred to the guy being pilloried as a 'snotty little oik' when he dared questioned Mal's place in the Palace gallery of greats.
David |
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| Away Day Eagle |
I take it Baldy's retort wouldn't have made it through the censors, when he refers to said 'oik'
quote:
Originally posted by Baldy
You complete and utter w@nker.:veryangry
:D |
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Big Mal: The High Life and Hard Times of Malcolm Allison, Footba Click
HERE for original thread with all of the images and colours
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