Bob Latchford was one of the outstanding goalscorers of 1970s English football, and *A Different Road* tells the story of the Birmingham-born striker who became a hero at Everton and one of the most feared centre-forwards of his generation. Between 1972 and 1983, Latchford scored more First Division goals than any other player, establishing himself as an icon for supporters of Birmingham City, Everton, Swansea City and England.
His journey began at Birmingham City, where he formed a formidable attacking partnership with Trevor Francis and Bob Hatton, before a British-record transfer took him to Goodison Park in February 1974. During seven years with Everton he scored 138 goals in 289 appearances and won 12 England caps. His goals made him a terrace favourite and brought Everton tantalisingly close to silverware; only Dixie Dean and Graeme Sharp have bettered his remarkable goalscoring record for the club.
Leaving Everton didn't bring the curtain down. Latchford enjoyed an Indian summer with Swansea City as they challenged remarkably for the First Division title, before his football journey took him abroad to NAC Breda in the Netherlands and then back to Coventry City, Lincoln City and Newport County, eventually finishing his playing career with Merthyr Tydfil. It was quite a road for a player whose name remains most closely associated with the royal blue of Everton.
Yet *A Different Road* is about much more than goals, transfers and football statistics. Latchford writes about the challenges, uncertainties and joys of life away from the pitch and his uneasiness with the fame that accompanied being one of Britain's most prominent footballers. The result is a thoughtful and revealing autobiography that shows the human being behind the centre-forward who, to a generation of Evertonians, seemingly “walked on water”.
And what's he been doing more recently? After retiring, Latchford eventually returned to Birmingham City as a youth coach in the mid-1990s, but later stepped away from football following the death of his wife. He subsequently settled in Germany with his partner and younger children and has largely lived away from football's day-to-day spotlight. Now his remarkable story has returned to centre stage through *A Different Road*, giving a new generation the opportunity to discover one of the great English goalscorers of his era — and those who remember him the chance to revisit a very different age of football.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
Publisher: Toffeeopolis — View More Books from the Publisher
Published: 24 September 2026
Price: £12.99
Paperback: 292 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1917064040
Dimensions: 15.24 x 1.52 x 22.86 cm
