A rugby genius, yet 'only' a one-cap wonder. A young thug,
who received a bravery award while in prison. A misfit, yet a cult hero to
some. Jekyll and Hyde in rugby boots.
David Bishop saved two people's lives, overcame a broken
neck, and inspired Pontypool to new heights. On the flip side was violence,
prison and a huge, career-defining WRU ban. His League career didn't play out
smoothly, nor did a stint coaching Pooler, and then came drug addiction,
divorce, depression and a stroke.
Undeterred, he picks his way through a tumultuous life
looking for answers, laughing and crying in equal measure. An extraordinary,
no-holds-barred account, laced with humour, warmth and a rare candour. A rugby
book like no other.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"Bishop is the best player in the northern hemisphere... He is a team in his own right, and that says it all... He's magic." - Brian Thomas, Neath and Wales
"David Bishop is the best scrum half in Welsh rugby since World War Two. Surely there has never been a more dynamic and deadly
attacker among scrum halves... the complete one-man army." - John Billot, Western Mail
"The best one-cap wonder in the history of Rugby Union or Rugby League. Or probably any other sport for that matter. His display against Gloucester in 1982 was the best example of a one-man team performance I have ever seen on a rugby field." - Peter Jackson, Daily Mail
"Genius sportsmen and women are often complicated individuals, and my friend David Bishop certainly comes under both those headings!" - Craig Bellamy, Wales footballer and manager
"There lurked throughout the land a horde of players guilty to a man of sins far more heinous than the punch thrown by David Bishop." - Eddie Butler, Pontypool, Wales and Lions
"Playing outside The Bish, you had the ultimate armchair ride... He was a comic book hero sort of player." - Mark Ring, Cardiff, Pontypool and Wales
"David Bishop is the greatest Welsh scrum half I ever saw at club level, and by a distance. He was better than Gareth [Edwards] at club level because he was brilliant all the time... The game was denied something special by the refusal of Wales to pick him." - Bobby Windsor, Pontypool, Wales and Lions
Sprache
Verlagsort
Produkt-Hinweis
Fadenheftung
Gewebe-Einband
Illustrationen
Maße
Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 153 mm
Dicke: 34 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-912631-60-5 (9781912631605)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
David Bishop came back from a broken neck to become a huge talent for Pontypool RFC in Rugby Union in the 1980s before going on to switch codes and play for Hull KR in League (see synopsis).
Co-author Brendan
Gallagher, an award-winning sports journalist, was the 'Pontypool man' for the South Wales Argus
and South Wales Echo in Bishop's Rugby Union heyday between 1985 and
1988. A graduate of Hayter's sport agency, he was a sports correspondent,
columnist and feature writer at the Daily Telegraph for almost 20 years
and has covered 45 sports in over 50 countries, focusing especially on rugby,
cycling, athletics, basketball and all things Olympics. He has also written
official histories of the Rugby World Cup, the Giro D'Italia and Great
Britain's involvement with the Olympics, and is co-author of autobiographies
from Brian O'Driscoll and cycling legends Nicole Cooke and Bradley Wiggins.
Foreword by Craig Bellamy 7
Introduction: Stolen Dreams 9
1 Irish Town 19
2 Rugby for Beginners 33
3 Misspent Youth 39
4 Mother and Baby Doing Fine 52
5 Love at First Fight 58
6 Violence as a Way of Life 68
7 Prisoner A79816 85
8 Joining Pooler 104
9 Lucky to Escape with a Broken Neck 121
10 Cup Glory with Pontypool 146
11 One-Cap Wonder 163
12 The Punch That Ruined My Life 181
13 The Crazy Gang 206
14 The One and Only Pross 222
15 Rugby Heaven with Ringo 236
16 Tough Going Up North 258
17 Stormy Days with Rovers and Great Britain 274
18 Baseball 293
19 Return of the Prodigal Son 302
20 Coping with Charlie 324
21 Walking My Way Back to Fitness and Sanity 341
22 Absent Friends 351
23 In My Opinion... 358
24 It's All About Me 365
Appendix 1: Mamma's Stew 371
Appendix 2: Playing Record for Pontypool 372
Appendix 3: Rugby League Club Appearances 374
Appendix 4: Rugby League Career Summary 377
Appendix 5: Sendings-Off - The Facts 379
Acknowledgements 380
