Jimmy Greaves

The One and Only

Norman Giller

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781801503662
• Year: 2022

Jimmy Greaves: The One and Only is the sensational and official biography of arguably the greatest British goalscorer of all time, authorised by Jimmy's widow, Irene, and told by his friend of 64 years, Norman Giller. This brutally honest 'warts 'n' all' account covers the many highs and lows of Jimmy's extraordinary triple career as great footballer, master TV raconteur and then stage comedian, interrupted by six years of alcoholism. Jimmy and Irene lost their four-month-old son to pneumonia when they were barely out of their teens, and Norman examines how this tragedy set the tone for Jimmy's life. A parade of legends - Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Harry Redknapp among them - give personal glimpses of Greaves, and Norman, who delivered the eulogy at Jimmy's funeral, reveals stories of him that will surprise and shock his army of admirers. How did missing the 1966 World Cup Final really affect him? Was he ever drunk on the pitch? Who were his favourite players, and what did he consider his greatest goal?

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction by Irene Greaves
• Kick Off: Starting at the end
• 1. A rare diamond of a goal
• 2. Getting sober out of our minds
• 3. Bombs, footballs, schools and scouts
• 4. Chelsea, the ‘All the Best’ club
• 5. England and the Haynes partnership
• 6. Tragedy and then the Italian Job
• 7. The Glory Glory Years
• 8. Drinking for England
• 9. Bobby Moore on tape
• 10. The G-Men on the road to Wembley
• 11. The 1970 World Cup Rally adventure
• 12. Reminiscing with the Real Mackay
• 13. Hammered with the Hammers
• 14. Rising with the Sun
• 15. The TV-am Soap Opera
• 16. Saint and Greavsie
• 17. Safe as the Banks of England
• 18. The Cloughie connection
• 19. Stand and Deliver
• 20. Best of the Best
• 21. The 50-year milestone
• 22. The final years
• 23. Quote, unquote … The tributes
• 24. The Great Entertainer
• Extra-time: The Jimmy Greaves Facts and Stats File
• Photos