Some footballers are remembered for their silky skills or spectacular goals. Everyone who stepped onto the pitch with Billy Whitehurst was terrified. This is not mere hyperbole – when Vinnie Jones, a notorious hardman himself, refers to you as the toughest player in football, you have earned that reputation through hard work.
Rob Finch's biography of Whitehurst reads like a throwback to a different era of football—when the game was rawer, more physical, and perhaps a touch more colourful. The book charts Whitehurst's remarkable journey from council bricklayer to Newcastle United's record signing, purchased for £232,000 in 1985 – a testament to how his combination of intimidation and genuine footballing ability made him a valuable asset.
What makes this biography particularly engaging is its unflinching honesty. Whitehurst's story isn't sanitised for modern sensibilities. The book details his notorious reputation while also revealing the effectiveness of his play — scoring 47 goals in 195 games for Hull City proves he wasn't just about intimidation. His career total of 99 goals in 454 appearances across various clubs shows a striker who knew how to find the net.
The book is filled with enlightening anecdotes. Whitehurst's Tommy Cooper impressions during matches and his impromptu commandeering of the Hull City reserve team bus for a day at the races paint a picture of a character larger than life. These stories provide welcome relief from the more intense tales of on-field battles and off-field confrontations.
Finch's writing style serves the subject matter well. He doesn't attempt to moralise or justify Whitehurst's approach to the game; instead, he presents it as a product of its time. The book benefits from extensive interviews with former teammates, managers, and opponents, many of whom still speak of Whitehurst with a mixture of respect and residual fear.
Where the book truly excels is in capturing the essence of 1980s English football — a time before the Premier League's glamour, when the game was more working-class and arguably more connected to its roots. Whitehurst's transformation from miner's son to professional footballer embodies this era perfectly.
However, readers seeking a tale of redemption or profound personal growth might be disappointed. This work is a candid and unapologetic portrayal of a football player's style of play and life philosophy. This honesty enhances the book, capturing an authentic slice of football history that may cause modern readers to cringe, yet remains indisputable.
"Football's Hardest Man" is more than just a biography of a tough guy who played football. It's a window into a vanished era of the English game, told through the story of one of its most notorious characters. While some of the described events may cause a stir in today's more sanitised sporting world, they serve as a valuable reminder of the significant progress football has made, both positively and negatively.
For fans of 1980s football or anyone interested in the game's more colourful characters, this book is an essential read. Note that neither Billy Whitehurst nor his biography will sugarcoat anything.
This is a robust and unflinching portrait of one of football's most feared players and an era of the game we're unlikely to see again.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 is scheduled for delivery to you in the 1st week of ? 20??
Some publishers release new titles early, so our ETA above could change. Publisher: Visit Mainstream Publishing Co Ltd
Published: Date To Be AnnouncedPrice: £UnknownPaperback: 224 pagesISBN-13: 978-1840188271Dimensions: 234 x 153 (mm)
