Bob latchford autobiography

Bob Latchford was one of those nearly men of English football. A top-drawer centre forward, capable of superb feats, but who somehow ended his distinguished career without a single major medal. During 11 successive seasons of top-flight football between and , England international Latchford scored more goals than any other First Division player and cost a British record fee.

Yet Latchford is best remembered on a national level for his contribution to a newspaper circulation war during the season. His football career took many twists and turns. Some of them could be regarded as dead end moves and it is not for nothing his autobiography is titled A Different Road. Born in Birmingham in January , Latchford came from a footballing family.

Snapped up by his local club, Bob formed a potent Birmingham attack with Bob Hatton and Trevor Francis which eventually took the club into the top flight.

Bob latchford autobiography: In this thoughtful and revealing

Latchford might have been a Championship winner at the end of his first full season. He scored 17 League goals for an Everton side seemingly destined to be champions. Top on Easter Monday, Everton were scuppered after defeats by bottom club Carlisle and another against the club who replaced them, Luton. Latchford describes this failure as the biggest regret of his career and blames manager Billy Bingham for neglecting to sign Peter Shilton as replacement for error-prone keepers Dai Davies and David Lawson.