Tony Book

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Lore & Background

Book was born in Bath, but at the age of four moved to India when his father, an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry, was posted. During World War II, Book's father served in Burma, and Book lived with his mother and brothers in army quarters in a number of places in British India, including Mumbai and Multan. In September 1945, the Book family returned to England. Tony started secondary school in Bath, and gained his first experience in competitive football when he was selected to play for both Bath boys and Somerset boys. After leaving school at 16, Book became an apprentice bricklayer and played amateur football as an inside-forward for Peasedown Miners, until he was called up for national service in 1952. While playing for his army team Book converted to the full-back position and had a trial with Chelsea courtesy of a recommendation from army teammate Frank Blunstone, but was not taken on. After completing his national service, Book returned to his bricklaying job in Bath and started playing for Frome Town. During the 1955–56 season Frome suffered financial difficulties, and sent letters to all their players permitting them to leave if they wished. Book showed his letter to a colleague, who played for Bath City of the Southern League. He in turn informed the Bath chairman, and Book signed for the club in January 1956. He spent seven and a half years at Bath, becoming captain in the latter part of his Bath career, and winning the Southern League title in 1960. In the 1962 close season, Malcolm Allison became Bath manager, beginning a long association between the two. At the close of the 1962–63 season, Allison received an offer to coach Canadian team Toronto City over the summer and took Book with him. Though Allison left after a short time to take up a position at Plymouth Argyle, Book stayed three months, in which time he was voted the best full-back in Canada. Upon his return to England, Book was signed for Plymouth by Allison for a fee of £1,500, and Book entered the Football League for the first time at the age of 30, though Plymouth believed him to be 28 – Allison had advised Book to doctor his birth certificate as he thought the Plymouth board would not pay £1,500 for a 30-year-old. After making 81 league appearances, Book followed Malcolm Allison again to Manchester City two years later, this time for a transfer fee of £17,000. Manager Joe Mer

In Their Own Story

In November 1973, Manchester City manager Johnny Hart resigned due to ill health, and Book took temporary responsibility for first-team affairs. He was named assistant manager when Ron Saunders became the next permanent manager, at which point Book retired from playing to concentrate on management. Saunders was sacked after less than six months, and Book again took on the caretaker role, and was appointed permanent manager one game later. The first notable victory of Book's management was a 1–0 Manchester derby win, best known for the back-heel scored by Denis Law. Book's first full season as manager resulted in an eighth-place finish, an improvement upon the previous season, when the team finished 14th. In 1976, Book's City side won the League Cup, making him the first person to win the competition as both player and manager. City continued their run of form into the following season, enjoying an impressive league campaign where they finished in second place, only a point behind winners Liverpool. Book remained manager until 1979, when he was replaced by his former mentor Malcolm Allison. In 1981 he was invited by new manager John Bond to look after Youth Development at the club. In 1986, working with Glyn Pardoe, they coached a young City side that would win the FA Youth Cup for the first time that year. He then became a loyal stalwart to the club in several other roles until 1997, including as caretaker manager again in 1993.

Reader's Guide

Tony Book was a right-back who captained Manchester City to four major trophies, including the 1967–68 First Division title, the 1968–69 FA Cup, and the 1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup and League Cup. He later managed City from 1974 to 1979, winning the League Cup in 1976, and remained with the club in various roles until 1996.

Did You Know?

• Book was the inaugural winner of Manchester City's Player of the Year award in 1966–67.
• He shared the 1969 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award with Dave Mackay.
• Book was nicknamed 'Skip' by his teammates after becoming captain.
• He was the first person to win the League Cup as both a player and a manager.