“Knowing Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, although winning the US Open was a pretty good second.”
FA Confidential
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David Davies, London, Simon and Schuster 2008. ISBN9781847373687
The book’s subtitle is “sex drugs and penalties. The inside story of English football”.
The book is interesting in that it gives insights into the politics of the FA and the character of England managers, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle, Kevin Keegan and Sven Goran Eriksson - not to mention players like Gazza and David Beckham.
The author is very critical of most of the leadership of the FA. Graham Kelly was never there; Geoff Thompson “was the ghost in the FA machine.. never wanted to be the public face of the FA”. Brian Mawhinney gets an almost compliment “may not be everyone a cup of tea. Bristling with that Ulster edge, he wouldn't pretend to be the easiest character but he has sharpened up the Football League no end”.
There are a few references to religion: “Hoddle’s spirituality intrigued the media but I became a bit sensitive..Hoddle became religious as a player when England visited Jerusalem…
England is no longer a nation that respects people's faith or at least its traditional faiths which is a huge shame. When FA chairman Geoff Thompson spoke of his faith, he was ridiculed”.
There is an interesting paragraph on the conflict of interest the FA encountered in being responsible for discipline but also running the England team. A potential suspension for Alan Shearer which could have kept him from playing for England is quoted as an example
Davies says that it was a mistake for him to have written the Hoddle 1998 World Cup diary book with Hoddle - possibility only mistake he admits to the book which portrays himself as the voice of reason stopping everyone else from taking disastrous action.
Two interesting suggestions are mentioned: that the FA Cup third round draw should have all premier league clubs playing away to make the cup more exciting. Clive Woodward is quoted suggesting that England should practise penalty shootouts at the end of every friendly games to give players practice.
An easy read, with a lot of interesting content - but doesn't strike me as a very objective history.