Tony Book
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Keith Book | ||
| Date of birth | 4 September 1934 | ||
| Place of birth | Bath, England | ||
| Playing position | Right back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1951–1952 | Peasedown Miners | ||
| 1952–1955 | Royal Army Medical Corps | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1956 | Frome Town | ||
| 1956–1964 | Bath City | 387 | (12) |
| 1964 | Toronto City | ||
| 1964–1966 | Plymouth Argyle | 81 | (3) |
| 1966–1974 | Manchester City | 244 | (4) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1973–1979 | Manchester City | ||
| 1989 | Manchester City | ||
| 1993 | Manchester City | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
|||
Anthony Keith "Tony" Book is a retired English footballer and manager who was born in Bath, 4 September 1934. Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle. At the age of 31, he joined First Division Manchester City, where he became captain. Under Book's captaincy, Manchester City won four trophies, making him the most decorated Manchester City captain of all-time. Book had a five-year tenure as Manchester City manager from 1974 to 1979, and subsequently held various coaching roles at the club until 1996.
Book was born in Bath, but at the age of four moved to India when his father, an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry, received an overseas posting. During World War II, Book's father served in Burma, and Book lived with his mother and brothers in army quarters in a number of places in British India, including Mumbai and Multan. In September 1945, the Book family returned to England. Tony started secondary school in Bath, and gained his first experience in competitive football when he was selected to play for both Bath boys and Somerset boys.
After leaving school at 16, Book became an apprentice bricklayer and played amateur football as an inside-forward for Peasedown Miners, until he was called up for national service in 1952. While playing for his army team Book converted to the full-back position and had a trial with Chelsea courtesy of a recommendation from army team-mate Frank Blunstone, but was not taken on.
After completing his national service, Book returned his bricklaying job in Bath and started playing for Frome Town. During the 1955–56 season Frome suffered financial difficulties, and sent letters to all their players permitting them to leave if they wished. Book showed his letter to a colleague, who played for Bath City of the Southern League. He in turn informed the Bath chairman, and Book signed for the club in January 1956. He spent seven and a half years at Bath, becoming captain in the latter part of his Bath career, and winning the Southern League title in 1960. In the 1962 close season, Malcolm Allison became Bath manager, beginning a long association between the two.
...
Wikipedia