The Ademola Bookmen Podcast

Episode 8: Peter Crouch - How to be a Footballer

In Episode 8, Al and Johnny visit the first literary work by Peter Crouch, the all volleying, sometime header-ing, everyman of English football.
At 6ft 7 inches, Crouch is the 3rd tallest player ever to play in the Premier League and while he ended his career as a universally liked person, his road to stardom started with regular abuse from fans, including his own. So bad was the guff that he received for his unusual body shape, his father ended up in physical fights with fellow matching going supporters. 
From roboting for the future King of England to being described by a government minister in Trinidad and Tobago as the country's most hated ever Englishman, Crouch has certainly left his mark. Published in 2018, How to be a Footballer was written just as Crouchie was finishing up his playing career with Stoke City. Tune in to find out to hear Al and Johnny's take on this, the first in the Peter Crouch canon of three books. 
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Music by Darragh Fenlon: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vf6hiFpsMvTd3oTHv1o5H?si=Wa4sj22eTvG5xuIMKjIqrA 

Episode 7: Paul McGrath - Back from the Brink

In the introduction to his Back from the Brink, his 2006 autobiography, Paul McGrath is described by his ghostwriter, Vincent Hogan, as "undeniably Ireland's best loved sportsman". In Episode 7 of the Ademola Bookmen Podcast, Al and Johnny wrestle with what must surely be one of the heaviest books in the football canon. The book, which won both the William Hill and Boylesports sports books of the year in Ireland in 2006, covers McGrath's heartbreaking childhood as an orphan in a series of Dublin orphanages, his illustrious club career with Manchester United and Aston Villa, his legendary displays in an iconic Ireland team, and his decades' long battle with alcoholism. Treat your ears, have a listen...
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Music by Darragh Fenlon: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vf6hiFpsMvTd3oTHv1o5H?si=Wa4sj22eTvG5xuIMKjIqrA 

Episode 6: Didier Drogba - Commitment

With Ademola Lookman plotting a course to the final of the African Cup of Nations where he may (fingers crossed) find himself taking on Ivory Coast, the Ademola Bookmen Podcast bring you our AFCON special. 
Didier Drogba, the greatest Chelsea player of all time according to Chelsea fans. A scorer of great goals - that one against Liverpool in 2006 comes to mind. A scorer of big goals - the first player to score in four FA Cup finals and the man whose penalty won Chelsea their first ever Champions League. And, well, just a scorer of lots of goals - the first African to score 100 Premier League goals and Ivory Coast's all time highest scorer. If he's that good at scoring goals, his book must be brill. 
Published in 2015, Commitment, covers Didier's early childhood in Abidjan and France, his early years playing Ligue 2 in France, before making a name for himself in Marseilles and ultimately at Chelsea where he couldn't stop scoring goals and winning things - leagues, cups, Champions Leagues, all that good stuff. Sadly the book was finished before his stint with the Montreal Impact so we will have to wait for the next book to hear about the Canada years...
In Episode 6, Al and Johnny tussle with the great goalador's book. Tune in to find out if you should be rushing down to the shops to buy your own copy right now.
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Episode 5: Joey Barton - No Nonsense

In 2016, as his playing career was coming to an end, Joey Barton published his autobiography. Titled "No Nonsense", the book takes us through Joey's turbulent childhood in Liverpool; being spurned by Everton, the team he supported as a boy; and through his professional career with teams including Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Marseilles.
Barton's years as a player were punctuated by regular controversies on and off the field, including a 74-day stretch in prison following a violent altercation with a man and a 15-year-old boy during a night out in Liverpool. The book predates Barton's stints as manager of Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers and his more recent controversies commenting on, among other things, women pundits in men's football. 
In Episode 5, hosts Al and Johnny take on the no nonsense midfielder's literary effort. Top bins or hatchet job from the tough tackling tweet-machine Joey Barton? Tune in and find out. 
Comments and book suggestions are very welcome here and on our social media channels:
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All music by Darragh Fenlon: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vf6hiFpsMvTd3oTHv1o5H?si=Wa4sj22eTvG5xuIMKjIqrA 

Episode 4: Ian Wright - A Life in Football - Part II

South London icon and Arsenal/Palace legend Ian Wright's book has such heft that it took us two episodes to get through it. Join Al and Johnny as they wander with Ian through the streets of Brockley, the gates of Chelmsford prison, all the way up the steps of Wembley Stadium, and right into the hearts of (many although not all) football fans everywhere. This is Part II in which Ian tells us all about London in the 70s and 80s. 

Episode 3: Ian Wright - A Life in Football - Part I

South London icon and Arsenal/Palace legend Ian Wright's book has such heft that it took us two episodes to get through it. Join Al and Johnny as they wander with Ian through the streets of Brockley, the gates of Chelmsford prison, all the way up the steps of Wembley Stadium, and right into the hearts of (many although not all) football fans everywhere. This is Part I, in which Ian scores goals and wins trophies. 

Episode 2: Zlatan Ibrahimovic - I Am Zlatan

"It was a fairytale and I was Zlatan". These are the final words of the Zlatan book, described by the Guardian as the greatest ever football biography. Is this just more Zlatan hubris or is I am Zlatan the literary equivalent of an overhead kick from 50 yards out? Listen to hosts Al and Johnny as they wrestle with this most pertinent of questions right at the juncture of football and literature. 

Episode 1: Jamie Vardy - From Nowhere, My Story

In the first episode of the Ademola Bookmen Podcast, hosts Al Bond and Johnny Coughlan tackle the literary heft of the Jamie Vardy story. The skittle vodka swilling goal machine takes us from the lows of the English 8th tier to the highest of highs, the top of the Premier League. Is it worth a read? Listen & find out.