Books

That big fat bloke

Big Fry: Barry Fry: The Autobiography (Harper Collins, £16.99)

I must say that I only borrowed this book! I know several committed Peterborough United supporters and their opinions on Barry Fry never vary: clueless about tactics but 'the business' when it comes to public relations. This book could be a testament to those views. Sir Alex Ferguson, in the foreword, describes the tome as 'a rollercoaster ride' and he understates the case. Big Fry could better be described as an exercise in concentration: were you not careful, you could lose track completely in the first few pages as 'Bazza' (or his ghostwriter) switches from club to chairman to incident with bewildering speed. Fry's life has revolved around football to the exclusion of everything else; often his own family. He has suffered some savage blows but seems always to have found triumph in adversity. If only a fraction of his anecdotes are true then the reader's life can suddenly appear rather drab in comparison. Fry disregards Sir Matt Busby's advice about booze, gambling and women; replaces Francis Lee in the Bolton Wanderers team; rubs shoulders with millionaire good guys (Peterborough owner Peter Boizot) and bad guys (Stan Flashman); suffers two heart attacks; and is sacked seemingly on a weekly basis. The complicated machinations and obscene amounts of money involved are a rare insight into the often shallow and tawdry world of professional football, although this is offset by some truly amusing - and amazing - episodes. Barry outjumps the great John Charles (allegedly) at Ninian Park to head his only League goal, and describes a funny incident at Bramall Lane when Dave Gaskell (later to join Wrexham) was arrested in the away dressing room after baring his bum in response to crowd abuse! Sadly - but perhaps not surprisingly - the book contains a number of spelling errors that rather let down Fry (or his proofreader). These include some shocking faux-pas with people's names, like his close friend Lil Fuccillo (various spellings) and the Dutch goalie Bart Griemink ('Grimmett'). Even the great Ronnie Rooke appears as 'Rook'. Also, one or two of the stories are, frankly, unbelievable. Would you seriously walk away from a club who owed you £162,000 without making any effort to retrieve it? I guess you might if your name was Barry Fry. He even managed Stan Collymore without any problems, for goodness sake! In a nutshell, Big Fry is a fat, expensive book about a fat, expansive geezer. But could I put it down ? NAAH!

Alun Thomas