This Weeks Book Review:
The Official Manchester United Almanac
Written by: John D. T. White Foreward by: Sir Alex Ferguson CBE
You've worn the shirt, you've witnessed the drama and now it's time to uncover
the great legacy that lies behind Manchester United.
In the new and revised Manchester United biographic dedicated to the past leg-
ends of the club, John D.T white serves up his latest instalment
'The Official Manchester United Almanac'
with a comprehensive overview of the reds ground breaking success both in Euro-
pean and domestic competition. In his fifth book about United, this offers an in
depth look at the players, movers and shakers down the years whose skills have
graced the Old Trafford turf.
Foreworded by Sir Alex Ferguson himself, this book offers those who truly bleed
red the ultimate United experience to feel a part of the club's illustrious history
with a look at the winning philosophy adopted by legendary manager Sir Matt
Busby that moulded the club's youth academy and became the pillar of their
success, marking a club tradition and identity still upheld today.
Whether it's Norman Whiteside making history in an FA Cup final or King Eric's poetic
justice of the mid 1990's, Reds fanatics are sure to be overwhelmed by this chrono-
logical account of events which is tracked over twelve calendar months. This timeless
documentation of all there is to know about United will please all readers as White
blends past and present events to underpin the Old Trafford club's unchanging identity
without limiting its genius to 'beginning' and 'end' as most club biographies do.
Undoubtedly the book touches on the most pivotal moments which shaped the club's
legacy - from their formation as a Newton Heath FC to the euphoria of their first ever
English league triumph, which would set a precedent for future success. It also feat-
ures a moving account of the victims of the Munich air disaster on February 6 1958
to which the book is dedicated.
However, the downside to this book is the absence of Manchester United's Champions
League final triumph in May 2008. The climatic end to a hard fought race with arch rivals
Chelsea for an unprecedented double, which came to the boil in a scintillating encounter
in Moscow. The game which ended in an epic penalty shoot victory for United was arg-
uably the most poigniant tribute to the Bubsy babes on the 50th anniversary year of the
disaster, but is not included here.
Regardless of the books notable misgivings, it is packed with a glossary of handy club
trivia for those stato's looking to brush up on their club knowledge as its comprehensive
delivery of club facts and accounts bridges the gap between fan and club.
This is the ultimate club bible every Red across the globe has been anticipating for the
last 10 years and will teach you all you ever wanted to know about managers, players
and the history of Manchester United. Its infectious display of football history makes
an attractive read both for neutral and avid United fans and is sure to leave you hooked,
dare I say a converted Red as you uncover the phenomenon which is United with the
turning of every page.
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