2008-10-02 To Cap It All / My Story / Ken Sansom

I recall Ken Sansom being a fixture in the England team during the 1980s but am neither a fan nor an Arsenal fan (Leicester, actually, so you could argue that I'm the opposite :0)

I bought this book (some weeks after publication, so had to hunt for it in Waterstones) on the basis of a weekend interview on BBC Radio 5 in which Kenny covered his struggle against alcohol and gambling addictions; and (particularly, for me) his father's association with the seamier, shadier side of London's East End. Regrettably, the book doesn't seem to cover much more about this last aspect than was said on the radio.

Sansom comes across as a nice bloke, pre- and post- alcohol addiction, who would probably have been an ordinary chap, had he not found the fame and social advantages gleaned by a top footballer.

The writing is well structured in some parts (with the aid of a named ghost writer) but the middle part seems to "dob about", with some ideas repeated, as it would if you or I were reeling it off. It's as though these parts are pure transcription of recorded conversation (and I suspect they are).

This book is OK for fans who can remember Sansom's contribution to football. Buy it from the charity shop, market stall or website where I shall doubtless place it. Apart from this, I wish Sansom and all his family the best of luck with his rebuilt life and career.