Everton News, Season 2011-12
Southall to publish autobiography
Due for publication in August, it represents the first time that one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and one of English football's defining figures over a career that spanned more than two decades has decided to tell his extraordinary life story.
For more than sixteen years Southall kept goal for Everton and Wales, becoming his club and country's greatest servant, as well as Everton's most decorated player. Uncompromising, unorthodox and often unkempt, Southall's career followed an incredible trajectory: from football-mad binman, to the greatest goalkeeper in the world in the space of a few years.
Now he lifts the lid on a career that saw him win virtually every major honour, offering a window not just on Everton's glory years and the rapidly changing landscape of British football, but also the latest chapter of his life - working with disengaged young people. It is also a story of a time before the game was all about money; when a young player's love of the game and ceaseless commitment to excellence could see him rise to the very summit of world football.
A reflective and thoughtful man with trenchant views on the direction of the modern game, Southall's amazing story represents the ultimate antidote to the dull stereotype of the modern footballer.
deCoubertin Books will shortly be announcing a special competition for fans of Neville to help choose the title of his book.
Original Source: de Courbertin Books
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(as in "of Defence")
Oh yeah, "The Safest Hands In Soccer"
Saved by the Ball !
I'll get me coat
Dust in time
Dust up at half time
He was a hero of course but I never quite got over his expressed view one year that it would do us good to be relegated. As Toffeeweb?s number one poster boy Bill said at the time: ?Nev, you?re out to lunch.?
I always wondered whether he would go into management. I once heard someone at a game talking about this to a mate. ?Imagine the team talk?, his mate replied. .
So, Bin Lids for Goalposts.
Cant see that ever being chanted again from Glawdys Street.
"Lush Tall Evil One"
I think he's got his title right there.
Bin Lardun
but
Nevilton
"If you don't believe you can win, there is no point in getting out of bed at the end of the day."
Can't see them using it as a title though.
a few weeks ago i had a vivid dream where i met big nev socially. we got on really well and had a few drinks. eventually he came around to my place to listen to music. then he totally ripped into and ridiculed my music collection. what an arse!
never meet your heroes!
eyecatching on the shelves and says the two most importnat things for this book:
1/ Nev was the best point blank shot stopper the league's ever seen
2/ Point Blank states it'll be an open/honest autobiog
Paul Wharton
Got a nice ring to it ??
Number 1 - sounds good to me otherwise..
A reference to his former profession and his insight to his 16 year careeer.
Go Big Nev! I cannot wait to read it.
I've a photo somewhere of the great man making his way on crutches around the dog track at Wembley before kick off. Had he played in that Final Rush would not have had a brace that day - Nev always seemed to get the better of his Wales roomate?!
It's a shame that the word "legend" is so overused and undervalued these days (ordinary people use it when referring to their mates). Sadly the way people talk nowadays means there are no undiluted superlatives left to describe the likes of Southall, except perhaps one...
"The Absolute Best!"
Or 'These hands are made for saving'
Or "Got to catch a ball or two' (to the sound of 'got to pick a pocket or two').
Big Nev - now with 75% extra
Blue Stopper, Loo Blocker
Love the big man and he gave me some of my best memories of following the Blues from Ireland in the 80s.
That is an Evertonian life but the best.
Lifting the lid.
Tha's got to be the winner for me. Well done ha ha
Remember Match of the Day, when John Motson was shouting about Wednesday's equaliser for a couple of seconds until he realised that the impossible had happened, Nev had saved it?
How many goalies have ever got PFA and Sports writers Footballer of the year. Enough said.
Giles#904 - I'm simultaneously intrigued by the bukkake reference. Did I miss something?
Anyhow, best goalie I ever saw. Unbeatable on his day. Never gets the credit etc......
I wouldn't even put Shilton above him. For instance Nev would have put his cap on that goal he conceded in the World Cup semi final at Italia 90.
Strangely enough, I do believe his peak years as a goalkeeper were after our 80s glory. Maybe because he had more to do with our side in decline.
Title for his book? Neville Save-all.
"The Garbage Collector"
Non shall pass.
The goodison cat. (much better than that anfield one those simple folk over the park are always talking about...!)
Stopper.
The benchmark.
Evertons Great Orme. (he was our rock!?)
Refuse as in binman
As for a book title?
Possibly "What The Fuck Is Going On?" (from his post-sitting stunt at half time against Leeds, when we were 3 down).
Actually the title will probably be along the lines of 'Big Nev' or 'Number 1', but it's the lines AFTER the titles that I like.
You know, the lines like 'Be afraid...be very afraid'.
I'd suggest 'He saved footballs, but..did football save him?'.
(Or possibly 'The story of the only Neville to play for Everton, who could trap a ball without looking like a cunt and pass to a man in a blue shirt').
no sorry you're right he was the only Neville
How (phonetically) do you pronounce your surname?
That game was on ESPN classic not too long ago. I only saw Nev towards the twilight of his career. I knew he was good but FFS I've never seen a goalkeeping display like that. It was like he had three arms.
From what I remember absolutely fucking nobody set foot in his area with getting twatted for the honour. Only Schmichael is in his league.
I was about 13 at the time. Think the Holland manager called him the best keeper in the world after the game. He was unbelievable in that game and for a 4/5 year spell from 84-89 was one of the best, or indeed the best there was.
Lifting the Lid, pure genius that fella.
"Neville Southall rubbishes his detractors and crushes the many rumours surrounding his rise to the top...bag this one whilst stocks last!" (The Sun)
"If I had only known, I would have been a binman" ?
However, Peter #976, Sir I salute you, I was at that game and recall for a season or two later "the save" (and you know which one) lead the intros to MotD. That day, and I cannot remember the goal, two things stood out, Southall and, for me Bracey chasing them around like a madman, at times we just chased and chased and they just went backwards.
Suppose it is out of the question that anyone has the save in question on YouTube or something?
Bukkake!?
So to a title for his book, Man of the Match (and we lost 7 - 1), or Better than the Bank(s) of England!..
(Copyright) Tommy Gibbons 2012. So don't try and rob the titles from me when the competition starts!! ... lol
Truly the greatest keeper ever to wear the shirt... and Gordon West takes some beating.
Pubteam goalie.
We had a goalie we called The Cat, too.
He was shite.
But litter trained.
And then with a couple of minutes to go the ball was lofted into the box and Nev charged out and claimed. Two big hands. None of this punching nonsense. Calmed everyone down. Gilesy, the RTE co-commentator, was gushing with praise. What a true legend.
Sigh...
Legend for not only my club but also my country. Even played left wing for my home town Aberystwyth for giggles.
Much respect; it will be the only biography I will of read.
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865 Posted 24/02/2012 at 14:54:17
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Big Nev always told it the way it was.