On Days Like These, Tim Rich
On Days Like These, Tim Rich
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
Club: $15.99

On Days Like These
The Lost Memoir of a Goalkeeper

Author: Tim Rich

Narrator: Rupert Farley

Unabridged: 8 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Quercus

Published: 05/25/2023


Synopsis

'Emotional, insightful, beautifully written. A story of making saves and being saved. The best football book I have read this year.' Henry Winter

Sir Alex Ferguson looked at Joe Sealey: 'You know your dad saved my career?' Joe replied: 'And you saved his.'

More than three decades before, in 1990, Ferguson's managerial career stood at its lowest ebb. After three barren years at Old Trafford, he was facing dismissal. There was just the FA Cup final left. Manchester United were lucky to escape with a 3-3 draw at Wembley. For the replay, Ferguson took the gamble of his life, replacing his long-standing keeper, Jim Leighton, with Les Sealey, on loan from Luton. United won. Ferguson remained, winning another 24 major trophies.

Les Sealey would play in another three finals for United. When he died suddenly, aged 43, Les left behind a warm, witty, and detailed autobiography in the form of a Tupperware box full of cassette tapes. His death, however, threw his son, Joe, into a tormented spiral of alcoholism and drug abuse before he was dragged from the brink.

On Days Like These, longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, is the story of a remarkable double rescue. Of a football club and of a man.

'Brings alive early 90s #MUFC & the mad genius of Ferguson' Sam Wallace

About Tim Rich

Although he began his career in sports journalism as a cricket writer for the Sunderland Echo, Tim Rich has been captivated by football for half a lifetime. Working for The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The 'i' Paper, he has covered Newcastle United under Bobby Robson, Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson and, latterly, Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool. On Days Like These is his third book and follows his acclaimed biography of Marcelo Bielsa, The Quality of Madness, which was shortlisted for The Daily Telegraph Football Book of the Year. He lives in Cheshire with his stepdaughter, Rose and their three cats.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Flyss

I’m only really a casual football fan, but picked this up as I had heard it came about when a set of tapes that Les Sealey had recorded years before came to light and were passed on to his son. This is for sure a story about a talented goal keeper, a warts all insight into the footballing profession......more

Goodreads review by Matt

Not big on footballers biographies, but really enjoyed this. Enjoyed the dual narrative going on. And Les Sealey came across as a great guy.......more

A great story about one of football's real characters and a new insight into Fergie's early days at Old Trafford.......more


Quotes

The skilful reworking of an unfinished memoir. A brilliant retelling of Les Sealey's life; and his family's grief. Brings alive early 90s #MUFC & the mad genius of Ferguson. All created from audio cassettes of memories Sealey left behind. Loved it.

Emotional, insightful, beautifully-written book about the 1990 FA Cup final, Les Sealey, Alex Ferguson, Sealey's son Joe and a box full of cassette tapes. A story about making saves and being saved. Best football book I've read this year.

Hilarious and heart-tugging in equal measure The Sun

It isn't just a touching tribute: it also offers a rich portrait of the near-unrecognisable world of English football on the precipice of the Premier League - and the vast riches that would change it forever. the Telegraph