{"product_id":"the-unseen-sir-alf-a-different-kind-of-hero-paperback","title":"The Unseen Sir Alf: A Different Kind of Hero (paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-expanded=\"true\" class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded\" style=\"padding-bottom: 24px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Unseen Sir Alf\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e tears up the traditional narrative of Sir Alf Ramsey’s life and career. Using new evidence to tell Alf’s story afresh, it changes everything we thought we knew about England’s 1966 World Cup-winning manager.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlf despised most journalists, was kind to fans, often rude to his FA employer but loved his players. He looked conformist but was really a radical. Yet this odd, complex character became a national hero after England’s 1966 World Cup win, and he should be one again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWritten by a history academic with a deep love of football, this groundbreaking book:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReshapes our understanding of English football’s only World Cup-winning manager\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUses fresh historical evidence in every chapter to rethink Alf’s story for new generations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShows how Alf’s life issues have ties to the stories of modern football figures such as Gareth Southgate, Gary Lineker and Hope Powell\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReveals how Ramsey faced and overcame many barriers: a racist nickname, prejudice against ‘gypsies’, poverty, snobbery, war, being a banned Sunday footballer, not playing professionally until 26, and probable neurodiversity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDemonstrates how Alf’s success has lessons not only for anyone who feels different, but for modern England as a nation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eSo, who really was Alf Ramsey, and what might modern England learn from him? This book holds all the answers.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrant Bage has written football fanzines and academic textbooks. He plays and watches football, is an Honorary Fellow of The Historical Association and has a history PhD. His latest book, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Unseen Sir Alf: A Different Kind of Hero\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, draws on five years’ intensive research. Grant’s professional expertise as a manager, researcher and writer, plus his experiences as a fan, make him the perfect person to write this book.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePitch Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e20 x 13 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePaperback\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e352 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eJune 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9781836804369\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Grant Bage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58239994528125,"sku":null,"price":16.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-06-0308.03.35.jpg?v=1780486911","url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/products\/the-unseen-sir-alf-a-different-kind-of-hero-paperback","provider":"Stanchion","version":"1.0","type":"link"}