{"title":"Books by Wayne Barton","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781785316265","title":"Que Sera; Sera","description":"In the 1980s Manchester United was the footballing byword for underachievement. The club had struggled to rediscover its identity after the shock dismissal of Tommy Docherty in 1977 and a four-year spell under Dave Sexton, a highly respected coach but the polar opposite of his predecessor. Ron Atkinson brought the thrills back to Old Trafford and won two FA Cups before being dismissed in November 1986. 'Big Ron' was the latest in a long line of managers who tried but failed to win the prize United wanted most - the First Division championship. Yet contrary to his reputation for glorious failure, Que Sera, Sera reveals how Atkinson's footballing ideals made him the perfect man to lead the biggest club in the country. Drawing on meticulous research and exclusive interviews, Wayne Barton shines a guiding light on a greatly neglected period of Manchester United history that was filled with big characters and big controversy. Here, for the first time, are the unbridled views of the players, chairman Martin Edwards and 'Big Ron' himself.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305294377333,"sku":"9781785316265","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785316265_cbba7ea7-6724-44c5-9324-3ce74523a2f8.jpg?v=1786025676"},{"product_id":"9781801500746","title":"The Last Busby Babe","description":"Sammy McIlroy experienced one of the most memorable careers in football. After all, who else can say they played with George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, experienced relegation, won trophies and played under six different managers at Manchester United? With more than 400 appearances, McIlroy - the last player signed by the legendary Sir Matt Busby - is a bona fide Old Trafford legend, and is an intrinsic part of the fabric of its illustrious history. One of the few footballers to have played in two international tournaments for Northern Ireland (and been captain in one), 'Super' Sam went on to manage his country after a successful spell in charge of Macclesfield Town. He tells his extraordinary story with remarkable candour and emotion, pulling no punches. From the anxiety of his homesickness to the exhilaration of his club debut, from the lows of his heartbreaking exit from United to the highs of leading his country out in a World Cup, The Last Busby Babe finally puts on record one of the greatest careers in football history.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307269304693,"sku":"9781801500746","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781801500746_330481b7-3199-49ef-bbb3-96cff1b59c7c.jpg?v=1786026920"},{"product_id":"9781836800149","title":"Beckham","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew footballers in history have commanded as much media attention as David Beckham. From the moment he announced himself to the world with a breathtaking goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996, he became public property. Over the next two years, as he embarked on a relationship with a Spice Girl and was sent off in a crucial World Cup game for England, he was loved and loathed in equal measure. The restoration of brand Beckham saw him installed as England captain and almost universally loved by the time he blazed a trail across the globe with stops in Madrid, Los Angeles, Milan and Paris. But what about the player behind the celebrity? What about the boy born to play for Manchester United - the midfielder who exemplified the idea that dedication and hard work can pay off? Isn't it time he was celebrated too? Drawing on exclusive interviews with former Beckham team-mates, acclaimed footballer writer Wayne Barton explores Beckham's contribution as one of the greatest players of his generation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307647578485,"sku":"9781836800149","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781836800149_c13d1219-fa40-46a7-9bbb-786d3ad0720e.jpg?v=1786028393"},{"product_id":"9781909360419","title":"You Can't Win Anything with Kids","description":"The 1995-96 season would see the birth of the greatest football team Britain has ever seen but it began with a crisis at Old Trafford and rebellion within the ranks of supporters. The Manchester United behemoth had stirred in 1993 to win the title their fans craved and they retained it a year later playing dynamic counter-attacking football. Yet by August 1995 fans were calling for manager Alex Ferguson's resignation following the sales of Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis. A defeat at Aston Villa in their first league game of the season prompted former Liverpool player Alan Hansen's to utter the immortal words \"You can't win anything with kids\" and he was not the only one to dismiss a title challenge for Ferguson's men. With Eric Cantona still suspended following his attack on a Crystal Palace fan earlier in the year and Newcastle storming into a 10 point lead, United's young team looked anything but champions. Yet by season's end Hansen was left looking shame-faced as United powered to their second League and Cup double in three seasons, overcoming nation's sweethearts Newcastle in the league and Liverpool's over-hyped youngsters in the FA Cup final. Four seasons later the same players would win an unprecedented treble to underline their status as the finest English club team of all time. Wayne Barton recalls the twists and turns of a season that saw controversy, mind games, television outbursts, divine interventions and the return of a legend.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308803993973,"sku":"9781909360419","price":9.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781909360419_c7fe17bb-e1ff-4479-bdd4-21bc19d83b98.jpg?v=1786029417"},{"product_id":"9781916811355","title":"True Genius: George Best","description":"'Remember me for the football' was George Best's last wish before his untimely death, aged just 59.   'True Genius' is the definitive family-backed account of his remarkable career, now to be released in paperback, 20 years on from George Best's death.   Written by celebrated Manchester United author Wayne Barton, this biography goes into unparalleled depth to tell the complete story for the first time of how the lad from Cregagh, Northern Ireland, became the game's first superstar.   Barton has spent years trawling the archives and spoken to a host of former team-mates, managers, friends and close family to tell his story, going behind the scenes and researching matches and official records in microscopic detail.   While there have been many books on George Best, this is the only biography that captures the football story so exhaustively, unearthing revealing material that will shed new light on one of the game's most naturally gifted players. Supplemented with rare and unseen images painstakingly researched and restored from the Daily Mirror, this is the ultimate portrait of a true football genius.   True Genius was adapted into a documentary by BT Sport, to coincide with the hardback release in 2021.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308982612341,"sku":"9781916811355","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781916811355_707c148d-b70d-4841-883a-8d4012361a31.jpg?v=1786030164"},{"product_id":"9781916811317","title":"The Man Who Kept The Red Flag Flying: Jimmy Murphy","description":"This updated, family authorised biography of Manchester United hero Jimmy Murphy, new to paperback, celebrates the career of the man who managed the club after the Munich air disaster and took charge of Wales at the 1958 World Cup.   Alongside Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, nobody in the long history of Manchester United is as important as Jimmy Murphy.   As legendary Manchester United manager Busby lay in an oxygen tent in his hospital bed, recovering from the horror of the Munich plane crash, he clutched the friend of his close friend and faithful right-hand-man Murphy. Murphy stepped into Busby’s shoes and answered United’s call in their hour of need. More than that, he provided the spark which would see a phoenix spectacularly rise from the flames.   Murphy would be at Busby’s side as the club famously conquered England and Europe, driven by a new generation of Babes. Murphy would remain United’s assistant manager up to 1971, going on to become a club scout, unearthing and recruiting famous talents like Gordon Hill and Steve Coppell. In his other role as Wales’ football manager, he would mastermind his country’s appearance in the World Cup finals – taking Wales to the brink of the semi-finals in 1958.   The Man Who Kept The Red Flag Flying has been written in full cooperation with Murphy’s family, with unique insight from sons Nick and Jimmy Junior. It features contributions and comments from Sir Alex Ferguson, George Best, Tommy Docherty and Ron Atkinson, among many, and rare excerpts from the Daily Mirror and Manchester Evening News archives.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309433008501,"sku":"9781916811317","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781916811317_c73feaf6-4f07-41a4-97ac-11cefbc2f68e.jpg?v=1786030162"},{"product_id":"9781909360624","title":"Too Good to Go Down","description":"When Manchester United were relegated in 1974, just six years after winning the European Cup, it was front page news. How could such a thing happen to the biggest club in Britain? Such a scenario would be even more unthinkable today than Leicester City winning the league. The story is one of the most dramatic in football history and yet, still, largely unexplored. Based on a BT Sport film being developed alongside the book, Too Good to Go Down examines the demise of Manchester United, from the moment Bobby Charlton described the club not winning Division One in 1968 as the best thing that could have happened, through the turbulent reigns of Sir Matt Busbys successors, to the crushing blow of relegation which, ironically, came at a time when the clubs young team were just about to bloom and win over a whole new generation. With brand new, in-depth and exclusive interviews with Tommy Doherty, Sammy McIlroy, Alex Stepney, Stuart Pearson, Lou Macari, Pat Crerand, Willie Morgan, Gordon Hill, Martin Edwards and Paddy Barclay, the most controversial story in the history of footballs biggest institution is fi nally told in full detail.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313125044597,"sku":"9781909360624","price":10.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781909360624_6bb585b9-e800-4f58-979b-57ca34d0d053.jpg?v=1786029422"},{"product_id":"9781914197697","title":"Duncan Edwards: Eternal","description":"NEVER in the history of the game has one life brought both joy and tragedy in such huge measures.   Duncan Edwards was the jewel in the crown of the Busby Babes, an all-time legend at just 21, who was denied the chance to achieve even greater footballing success by the Munich Air Disaster in 1958.   This fascinating new biography, with support from friends and relatives, includes rare and unseen pictures and tells the story of the boy who left his home in Dudley to earn his Manchester United debut at the age of 16 – and made such an impression that he was an England international at 18.   The most forensic account of this remarkable life and career includes new interviews, as well as contributions from icons of United and the wider English game – plus quotes from Edwards himself.   He packed so much into a short career, collecting 18 caps, winning the First Division title twice, and helping Matt Busby’s team take their first steps in European football, but it was an all-round game that had no weakness that impressed most.   Team-mate Bobby Charlton summed Edwards up best: “Sentiment can throw a man’s judgement out of perspective. Yet it is not the case with him. A few are great, and deserve respect. But Duncan Edwards was the greatest.”‘Eternal’ is the complete story of an extraordinary footballer, whose influence on Manchester United and the success that followed can still be felt today.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313173180789,"sku":"9781914197697","price":18.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781914197697_03109e27-8e17-4e76-8bf6-d33d96366805.jpg?v=1786030453"},{"product_id":"9781916811249","title":"Football, Taught By Matt Busby","description":"The world’s biggest football club comes under scrutiny like no other sporting institution on earth. Yet how did Manchester United become the global behemoth it is? And how and why did Matt Busby take the club to the summit of the game - and build an empire that lasted for decades?Football, Taught By Matt Busby delves into the DNA of Manchester United, the world’s most famous football club, exploring the identity and philosophy of the team from its beginnings in Newton Heath to its global prominence today.   At a time when the club’s identity has been questioned following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, Wayne Barton seeks to unravel the core principles that have shaped the club’s success over decades, through research spanning over a decade, and interviews with key figures associated with the club.   Drawing on never-before-heard interviews with Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as conversations with over one hundred former players, managers, coaches, and officials, this book is the definitive study of Manchester United’s playing style and heritage.   For the first time, the intricate details of the club’s football philosophy are connected, from the Busby era to Ferguson’s reign, and beyond. This book is set to become a vital reference point for fans, historians, and coaches alike.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313192186229,"sku":"9781916811249","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781916811249_b97eb5f4-b414-4bc2-98a5-7c70287d3ada.jpg?v=1786030160"},{"product_id":"9781399413848","title":"Manchester United After Munich","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Another forgotten corner of Manchester United’s incredible history receives the Wayne Barton treatment.' – \u003cb\u003eMatt Barlow, Football Writer for the \u003ci\u003eDaily \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eMail\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Wayne Barton’s knowledge of Manchester United is unparalleled' \u003ci\u003e-\u003cb\u003e The Mirror\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA COMPELLING AND MOVING STORY OF MANCHESTER UNITED'S REJUVENATION AFTER THE MUNICH AIR CRASH.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 1958 Munich Air Crash that ripped the heart from one of Britain’s greatest ever teams. In this book, Wayne Barton, author of 20 Manchester United titles, has produced a forensic account of how those post-tragedy years forged the character of one of the world’s biggest clubs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBarton focuses on the five years immediately after the tragedy,  how the shattered ambitions of the club were revived and rejuvenated by recovering manager Matt Busby and his assistant Murphy. The engrossing story is told through in-depth research and exclusive interviews with many players from the era. They include Harry Gregg, Jackie Blanchflower, Bill Foulkes and Albert Scanlon, who all survived the crash; Albert Quixall, David Herd, Pat Crerand, Wilf McGuinness and others who became stars of the rebuilt team; and supporters and back room staff who witnessed an extraordinary period at the club.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe scars of that fateful night will never fade, but in its aftermath a spirit of resolve, a belief in homegrown players and a never-say-die attitude developed and became essential elements of Manchester United’s DNA.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368009970037,"sku":"9781399413848","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399413848_f21bfede-ec19-4deb-aece-540b740f7ce8.jpg?v=1786019328"},{"product_id":"fergie-the-lost-tapes","title":"Fergie: The Lost Tapes","description":"\u003cp\u003e'A treasure trove of insights into the greatest manager of all time' \u003cb\u003e Rob Smyth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A definitive, unique and painstakingly researched history of an extraordinary era'  I\u003cb\u003ean Herbert, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSIR ALEX FERGUSON – MANCHESTER UNITED’S GREATEST MANAGER – TOLD THROUGH PREVIOUSLY UNHEARD RECORDINGS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor more than two decades, Sir Alex Ferguson defined dominance in world football. Winning thirteen league titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups, four League Cups and one Cup Winners’ Cup, he built one of the most formidable dynasties the sport has ever seen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eForty years on from his arrival at Manchester United, his extraordinary story is re-examined in a ground-breaking way.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough 400 hours of exclusive audio archives recorded between 1986 and 2013, Wayne Barton uncovers the authentic voices of Sir Alex Ferguson and the playerswho shared in Manchester United’s golden age. Rich in first-hand testimony, the result is an unparalleled portrait of a managerial genius.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is Ferguson’s United as it has never been heard before – a definitive intimate and forensic account of the most successful era in football history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book includes \u003cb\u003eEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS \u003c\/b\u003ewith Andres Iniésta, Jamie Carragher, Martin Edwards, Rene Meulensteen, Michael Knighton, Paul Parker, Ron Atkinson, Harry Redknapp and more.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs well as \u003cb\u003eRARE RECORDINGS\u003c\/b\u003e from David Beckham, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, Phil Neville, Arsene Wenger, Peter Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Teddy Sheringham, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57503543427445,"sku":"9781399420396","price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399420396.jpg?v=1786867247"},{"product_id":"king-eric-portrait-of-the-artist-who-changed-english-football","title":"King Eric: Portrait of the Artist Who Changed English Football","description":"Once voted by Manchester United fans as the greatest player in the club's history, Eric Cantona is still immortalised in song around Old Trafford more than two decades after he abruptly retired from football aged just 30.   New in paperback, King Eric is an original and exhaustive exploration of the Frenchman's colourful career during the 1990s. Featuring fresh interviews with club legends and those closest to the action, it chronicles Cantona's transformative impact on a club desperately chasing a first league title since 1967.   From the untold story of his initial arrival in snowy South Yorkshire to the inside track on his all-conquering reign at Old Trafford, respected Manchester United author Wayne Barton re-examines the life and legacy of a unique character who changed the landscape of English football forever.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57510201786741,"sku":"9781916811614","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781916811614.jpg?v=1787130536"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-wayne-barton.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}