From the publisher:
Bobby Moore was England's greatest ever captain and the finest, most graceful defender football has known. The two volume set looks at the life and times of Bobby Moore, up until he made his league debut against Man Utd in 1958. The book looks to build a world around 'Young Bobby', to present this figure who would emerge from the border lands of West Essex and East London to be the giant of a character in his chosen sport. As such, a picture is forged of the context of the place and time of development of the man who would become the spiritual factotum of all the Hammers. The reader will view this portrait depicted with in the landscape of West Ham in the late 1950s, its staff and supporters, as well as the historical setting of East London's docklands.
The author:
Like so many West Ham supporters Brian Belton was born only five minutes walk from the club ('I heard 'em cheering in me cradle'). As a teenager Brian worked primarily to support his habit of following West Ham around England.
In his twenties the Mayflower Centre shanghaied him to work with young people in the Canning Town area. Brian was now a youth worker and eventually was persuaded/ bullied/ bribed into taking a professional qualification with the YMCA College in London.
He gained a degree at City University and then became a Senior Youth and Community worker in Islington, whilst gaining a Masters Degree at Essex. He has published over 50 books, mainly on football.
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