Me, Family and the Making of a Footballer: Me, Family and the Making of a Footballer by Jamie Redknapp

‘a wonderful book … a great read’ Daily
Mail

‘a fascinating book … I really enjoyed it’ Piers
Morgan, Good Morning Britain

‘a heart-warming, funny and
insightful read. Perfect for a rainy day by the fire.’ FourFourTwo
magazine

One of the Guardian’s ‘Biggest Books of Autumn
2020’

‘A beautiful book about football, family,
friendship and finding out who you really are.’ JACK
WHITEHALL

‘One of the best books I’ve ever read about
what it takes to become a pro.’ FRANK LAMPARD

For the
Redknapp clan, football is a family concern; it’s the family business. Me,
Family and the Making of a Footballer is a deeply moving, heartfelt and beautifully
personal account of growing up as the second son of Harry Redknapp, and also
an enchanting love letter to football.

“I’m Jamie
Redknapp. Chances are my surname rings a bell. I want to introduce you to a
colourful cast of characters from my formative
years.

Growing up, Dad and grandad ‘Pop’ told us tall
stories from London’s East End, but there was no artistic licence needed when
I was actually kicking a ball about with legends like George Best, Bobby
Moore, and Geoff Hurst.

This book is the story of my
childhood and adolescence. Like many others, I guess it’s a pretty typical
mix of caravans and lollies, sweaty T-shirts and paper rounds, cheese
sandwiches and Glacier Mints, The A Team, E.T. and Chinese
takeaways.

But this is also the story of a journey
through an extraordinary childhood obsession with football. One minute it was
all about Shoot! magazine, endless keepy-ups and countless impromptu kickabouts.
The next, I’m playing for Bournemouth Reserves against terrifying,
fully-grown men.

Then I got my move to Kenny Dalglish’s
Liverpool. I might’ve been living off gristly sausages and Smash potato in my
dingy digs up on Merseyside, but I was living the dream. I was desperately
hoping it was the start of something special.

Writing
Me, Family and the Making of a Footballer has helped me discover so much
about myself. This book is my way of explaining who and what have made me …
well, me.”