Heads Up: My Life Story

Alan Smith's book "Heads Up" is a brilliant, articulate, thoughtful man with a wonderful sense of humor that will capture the hearts of every football fan. It describes his rise in football, his successful partnership with Gary Lineker, and his move to Highbury, where he became the winner of two Golden Boots and one of the most highly-rated strikers in the game. The book also reveals what it was like forging a career in the tough First Division of old before the glitz of the Premier League took hold, the ins and outs of playing for George Graham, and how injury really does affect a career.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Alan Smith's book, Heads Up, is a captivating and insightful journey into the world of football. Like his game, it is incisive, thoughtful, intelligent, and consistently hits the target. Gary Lineker describes Smith as a brilliant, articulate, thoughtful man with a wonderful sense of humor, and the book encapsulates all he is and knows in a fantastic way that will capture the hearts of every football fan.

Tony Adams, a former teammate of Smith's at Arsenal, reflects on the team's era and the impact of Smith on their success. He describes Smith as a young, exciting team full of hope and desire, led by a manager bristling with ambition. Two of Arsenal's greatest triumphs in the modern era, Anfield 89 and Copenhagen 94, were defined by the goal-scoring prowess of Smith, known as "Alan Smudger Smith."

Smith's rise in football was vertiginous, as he played for Alvechurch in the Southern League one year and competed in the top flight twelve months later. His first three years at Leicester were characterized by a successful partnership with Gary Lineker, and when Lineker left for Everton, Smith stepped forward as the main goal-getter. His move to Highbury, however, enabled him to become the winner of two Golden Boots and one of the most highly-rated strikers in the game.

Heads Up is an honest, insightful, and authoritative book that reveals what it was like forging a career in the tough First Division of old before the glitz of the Premier League took hold. It delves into the ins and outs of playing for George Graham, rooming with Gazza, the truth behind Anfield 89, which team could have easily become the first Invincibles had Chelsea not spoiled it one February afternoon, how the highs of the game can quickly be converted into morale-sapping lows, and how injury really does affect a career.

After twenty years of writing for the Daily Telegraph, covering four World Cups, four European Championships, and countless club games, Alan Smith has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge about the world of football. His book is a testament to his talent as a writer and his deep understanding of the sport.

In conclusion, Alan Smith's book, Heads Up, is a must-read for football fans of all ages. It is a captivating and insightful journey into the world of football, filled with honesty, insight, and authority. Smith's story is a testament to his talent, determination, and resilience, and his book will inspire and entertain readers for years to come.

Weight: 292g
Dimension: 126 x 196 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472127853