David White, Joanne Lake

Shades of Blue

The Life of a Manchester City Legend and the Story that Shook Football

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Details

Imprint: O'Mara Books

Publication date: 02/02/2017

ISBN: 9781782437703

Subject: Non-Fiction

Category: Biographies

Binding: Hardback

Size: 234 x 153 mm

Extent: 288 pages

Illustration: 16pp colour photographs

Territorial Rights: UK and Commonwealth ex Canada

Edition Status: Out of Print

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Summary:

The life of a Manchester City legend and the story that shook football.

David White was born in Manchester in 1967 with football flowing in his veins. Driven by his football-mad dad, David’s prodigious talent was spotted early and he soon signed coveted schoolboy forms for Manchester City, the team that he’d supported since boyhood. A meteoric rise through the club’s ranks led to his first-team debut at the age of eighteen, and he continued to light up Maine Road’s right wing for the next eight years. It was a career that would take him to the heights of playing for his country.

But David’s performance on the pitch was frequently blighted by a lack of confidence and consistency, traits that baffled his fans and family. Only David knew the real reason behind his struggles. Only David knew who had shot his confidence to pieces. Only David knew that, aged just eleven, he had been sexually abused by his football coach, Barry Bennell.

Shades of Blue tells the story of David’s extraordinary life: his passion for football, the drama of his games and his fight to outrun the shadow of that early abuse. Having spent years feeling that he had to conceal his secret in order to protect his father and his football career, it is only now that David has felt able to give a full and honest account of his life – one with a powerful message that aims to repair the damage at the very heart of the sport.

Reviews:

A must-read for all football fans, another timely reminder of the humanity, and hence the human vulnerability, of our football stars

Manchester Evening News

Sales points:

  • David White is a former professional footballer, who played for Manchester City from 1985 to 1993

  • Both David White and Joanne Lake will be available to discuss Shades of Blue. David is particularly keen to raise awareness of abuse-related issues within the world of football.

  • Like genre-defining titles before it, such as A Life Too Short, Beware of the Dog, and indeed I’m Not Really Here, this is a book will appeal to fans of football and non-fans alike

  • Includes a 16pp colour plate section

About the Author:

David White

David White was born on 30 October 1967 in Manchester, England. A former professional footballer, he played as a forward from 1986 to 1997. He is best remembered for his eight-year spell at Manchester City. He also played for Leeds and Sheffield United, and was capped once by England.

About the Author:

Joanne Lake

Joanne Lake is a ghostwriter whose first book, I’m Not Really Here (the story of ex-Manchester City footballer Paul Lake) became a Sunday Times best seller and was voted FourFourTwo’s Football Book of the Year. In 2016 she collaborated with World Cup referee Howard Webb on his autobiography, The Man In the Middle, after which she joined forces with former Manchester City and Leeds United winger David White to create his memoir, Shades of Blue. While she specialises in sport, Jo also enjoys working with individuals from the world of music, comedy, drama and politics. She lives in south Manchester with her husband, her two kids and her crazy cat.