"It matters a great deal who is going to win, but not at all who won"
Sol Campbell
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The authorised biography, Simon Astaire, London: Spellbinding Media, 2014. ISBN 978-1-9099-6403-7
There will be few if any better football books published this year. While it is a biography, not an autobiography, the volume of direct quotations from Campbell leaves the reader in no doubt that the book really is Sol’s own story. The advantage of the accomplished professional writer’s input cannot be overstated. We read, for example, that in a particular match Gazza dribbled past defenders leaving them “with the feeling that something had suddenly brushed against them in a ghost train at a funfair”.
Most of the publicity about the book on publication was about Campbell’s claim that only the colour of his skin kept him from being long-term England captain. This was strenuously denied by the FA. This was a 3 page section of a 300 page book taken out of context by those in search of a sensational headline. That said, Campbell raises issues of racism in football in a balanced and coherent manner – issues that the football authorities should not turn a blind eye to.
The inside story of his move from Tottenham to Arsenal is probably the most interesting part of the book. His reasons are set out fully. The account of midnight meetings to ensure that no one knew about the move until the official announcement, has an element of James Bond about it!
Sol has the unfortunate distinction of having goals harshly disallowed against Argentina in France 1998 and against Portugal in Euro 2004, which would have changed his country’s football history.
Another fascinating aspect is the honest account of the impact of Sol’s fame and fortune on his family: “The family had been ripped apart by his fame, his success. His brother’s prison sentence, the gossip and lies about his sexuality…”.
While his relationship with his father was never close, his father gave him a mantra which served him well in life: “Only one chance – take it”.
Prayer plays in big role in Sol’s life. There are several references to him praying. Two quotations reinforce this: “The only thing I believe in first is God, not superstition”. And
“‘I thank God for being part of my life and for leading me here”. There is also a paragraph on Linvoy Primus and the Christian group at Portsmouth.
An excellent book