STUDS-UP SAINTS

STUDS-UP SAINTS

From flying head-butts and flying tackles, to flying ashtrays and flying referees, Saints and Sinners is a frightening run-down of some of the hardest players ever to pull on a Southampton shirt - and their on- and off-field exploits which gave them such notoriety.

 

During more than twenty years of covering the club's fortunes, author Graham Hiley has amassed a wealth of anecdotes from some of the toughest men to represent Saints; including the likes of midfield enforcer Jimmy Case, uncompromising defender Neil Ruddock, serial red-card offender Francis Benali, Mark 'Psycho' Dennis... and many more.

 

Saints and Sinners features 26 star interviews in 24 chapters. Open if you dare...

  • Claus Lundekvam talks openly and honestly about his battle with drink and drugs and tells how close he came to committing suicide.
  • Alan Shearer’s illustrious career nearly ended before it began as a drunken prank went horribly wrong. He and Neil Ruddock tell how the striker’s toes were left hanging by a thread.
  • Mark Dennis knows he is lucky to be alive after being stabbed twice. “Psycho” looks back at his colourful life on and off the field.
  • Without doubt the hardest man to pull on a Saints shirt was Jimmy Case. The “silent assassin” reveals some of the tricks of the trade.
  • Like father, like son-in-law! Brian O’Neil and David Prutton both reflect on collecting then record bans with O’Neil also reliving a series of hilarious alcohol-related incidents.
  • They say you have to be crazy to be a goalkeeper – John Burridge was sectioned! He talks about his depression after hanging up his boots at the end of an extrovert playing career.
  • A goodwill visit to Jersey turned sour as Terry Hurlock and David Speedie had a bar brawl. Micky Adams tells how he tried to break it up – and ended up in the cells himself.
  • Bruce Grobbelaar gives his version of the infamous “match-fixing” trial. There are also interviews with Terry Hurlock, James Beattie, Rickie Lambert, Iain Dowie and many more.

 

Click here for more information, or to read a sample from Saints and Sinners.

 

Graham Hiley is the author of the Saints Miscellany and Saints: On This Day. He also co-wrote Matthew Le Tissier's autobiography Taking Le Tiss. He covered Saints for the Southern Daily Echo for 13 years before joining the club as managing editor of the website and matchday programme. He then took over as editor of the official Premier League website and now lectures in sports journalism at Southampton Solent University.