Sober
Page 33
Secondly, thank you Simon & Schuster and in particular, Ian Chapman. Thank you for your faith, patience and understanding. I love you Ian C and hope that we will remain friends forever.
Pops, you really are an exceptional woman, I thank God that I was sober so we could be together. I rarely make things easy for you, last September and the previous year when my heart nearly gave up on me especially. You were so brilliant and so strong that I truly don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you for your strength, love and constancy. Deep down it’s all about you really . . . Oh, and a P.S, thank you for finding Jay Lucy – without her, you know what a mess we’d be in. You may not be the original Jay, but you are by far the best.
Clare, Ollie, Ambs, Atty, Hec, Chick – at your moments you drive me mad (I’m sure the feeling’s mutual). But what madness and what joy you bring to me. Each one of you a big, fat slice of love.
Sandra, as ever. Fifty years you’ve looked out for me. I’ll never stop looking out for you.
The Teacher family, thank you for showing me what family love is.
James W, I said at our first meeting that I know how to play football and get drunk but I don’t know who I am. Well James, thanks to our continuous therapy, it has taught me how to do football, how to stay sober and at last to know who I am.
Lastly, I would like to thank the thousands and thousands of AA members that I have shared with over the last twenty years. I believe my higher power works through people and there is no such thing as coincidences. Bill W couldn’t have got sober without Doctor Bob and vice versa. I couldn’t have stayed stopped without the help of other addicts, thank you HP for a life beyond my wildest dreams!
INDEX
A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
(the initials TA refer to Tony Adams; SC to Sporting Chance)
Abramovich, Roman, 146, 164
AC Milan, 127–8, 173
Adams, Alex (father), 22, 42, 47, 53, 61–2, 68, 92–4, 327
and colleague’s death, 48
funeral of, 96
illness and death of, 92–3, 95–7
influence of, on TA, 92–3
last Christmas of, 127
TA’s later grief over, 102–3
and TA’s Twelve Steps, 318
Adams, Amber (daughter), 21–3, 62, 67, 127, 172
in hockey final, 161
Adams, Atticus (son), 115, 135, 172, 183, 208, 325
first Christmas of, 127
Adams, Caroline (mother), 22, 46, 47–9, 68, 93–4, 327
illness and death of, 47–8, 96
TA’s later grief over, 102, 206
and TA’s Twelve Steps, 318
Adams, Clare (stepdaughter), 21–3, 67, 127
son born to, 237
and TA’s Twelve Steps, 319
Adams, Denise (sister), 127
Adams, Hector (son), 62, 135, 172, 208, 235
Adams, Iris (daughter), 195, 208
Adams, Jane (first wife), 10, 21, 22, 32, 93, 319
TA meets and marries, 6
Adams, Oliver (son), 21–3, 47, 62, 67, 127, 172, 304–5
as TA’s best man, 126
and TA’s Twelve Steps, 319
Adams, Sandra (sister), 127
Adams, Tony (see also Alcoholics Anonymous; Sporting Chance):
alcoholism acknowledged to fellow players by, 20
ankle injury of, 26
at Arsenal, see Arsenal FC
and Aston Villa buy-out plan, 237–8
boat owned by, 22–3
caravan owned by, 22
cars owned by, 22
charity involvements of, 67–8, 227–8 (see also Sporting Chance)
and Chongqing, see Chongqing Lifan FC
depression hits, in China, 301–2
on Desert Island Discs, 205–6
dogs owned by, 90–1
drink-driving offence of, 14, 67, 93
early alcohol experiences of, 5, 313–14
on fear-of-flying course, 220–1
Ferguson tries to sign, 29–30
at Feyenoord, see Feyenoord FC
first marriage of, 6
first wife rejects, 10, 21
French villa bought by, 47
at Gabala, see FK Gabala
German ancestry of, 42
and Granada, see Granada FC
heart problem of, 243–8
hernia operation on, 36, 67
homes owned by, 22, 24
and Hong Kong incident, 16–17
Italian holiday of, 102
James’s article on, 184
Japan visit of, 68
knee problems of, 7, 10
London Sports Personality award of, 71
and management diploma, 101
MBE honour for, 36
media hack phone of, 46, 94, 266
media interest in, 94–5
media ‘outing’ of, 328
and medication, 303
meditation by, 305–6
and mother’s death, 47–9
other interests of, 67, 89
and paparazzi, 94
parents remembered tearfully by, 102–3
picked for England under-16s, 4
play sponsored by, 89
at Portsmouth, see Portsmouth FC
prison sentence on, 14, 15, 67, 93, 301, 314, 325
Pro Licence of, 127, 128–9, 134, 135–6, 276
and prostitutes, 32
and retirement, 59–60, 87, 98
and SC, see Sporting Chance
school days of, 3–4, 99
scouting performed by, 132–3, 196
second marriage of, 125–6
and sendings-off, 21
and sports science degree, 98, 99–102, 104–5
statue of, 26, 267–8
testimonial for, 59
on Today, 232–3
UEFA A Licence of, 104, 120
UEFA B Licence of, 97–8, 104, 117
and UNICEF charity series, see Soccer Aid
at Utrecht, see Utrecht FC
Wembley appearances record of, 41
Wikipedia page of, 89
woman stalks, 90–1
writers’ and art awards judged by, 89
at Wycombe Wanderers, see Wycombe Wanderers FC
Addicted (Adams), 53, 66, 71, 317–18, 324, 328
Adebayor, Emmanuel, 133
Ajax FC, 133
Al-Anon, 185, 234
Alcaraz, Lucas, 308
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA):
and acceptance, 315
in Baku, 241
and Best, 81
Came to Believe book by, 316
in China, 304, 305
credo of, 40
and FEAR acronym, 302
and Higher Power, 27, 48, 61, 104, 139, 311, 316, 317, 318, 322
in Holland, 129
new friends made in, 68, 69–70
sayings of, 48, 66, 125, 205, 224, 237, 274
TA’s ‘chair’ talk at, 311–12
TA’s sponsor in, 315
Traditions of, 327–8
Twelve Steps of, see Twelve Steps
Alexander, Jack, 327
Allardyce, Sam, 101, 167, 275–6
Allen, Greg, 49
Allen, Keith, 114
Amisco, 150
Ampadu, Kwame, 260, 298
Ancelotti, Carlo, 173
Anderlecht FC, 238, 253
Andersen, Jan Bech, 258
Anderson, Jerome, 53
Anderson, Viv, 271
Anelka, Nicolas, 26, 36
Antonov, Oleksiy, 242
Anya, Ikechi, 122
Argentina national side, 27
Ark Foundation, 74
Armstrong, Gary, 98, 100,
105
Arsenal FC (see also Graham, George; Wenger, Arsène; individual tournaments):
and development coaches, 285
double won by, 15, 25, 59, 64
and European Under-17
Championships, 259
first Emirates season of, 150–1
Hong Kong tour by, 16–17
improvements to stadium of, 37
more overseas players join, 20
Portsmouth’s visit to, 177
power struggle for, 260–1
support staff at, 272
TA captains, 19, 63
TA joins, 5, 13
and TA statue, 26, 267–8
TA’s first trophy with, 14
TA’s interest in coaching/management roles at, 262–70
TA’s new contract with, 52–4
TA’s reasons for choosing, 186
and TA’s recommendations as scout, 132–3
and TA’s retirement thoughts, 59–60
TA’s return to, 272–3
and TA’s Twelve Steps, 319
trophy drought at, 291
under-18s at, 259–60, 277, 283, 285, 295, 296, 298–9
Arsenal Legends XI, 227
Arsène Wenger (Cross), 270
Ashley, Mike, 95, 167
Ashworth, Dan, 275, 277, 283
Aston Villa FC, 88, 114, 127, 147, 181
buy-out plan for, 237–8, 291
Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick, 243
Avignolo, Maria Laura, 141
Azerbaijan national side, 207, 240
Azerbaijan Premier League, 201
Azizov, Zaur, 228, 241
Baines, Leighton, 178
Balotelli, Mario, 194
Banfield, Neil, 263–4
Banks, Gordon, 80
Barcelona FC, 37, 49, 101, 175, 293, 294
Barker, Darren, 228
Barnet FC, 220
Barnsley FC, 159
Baros, Milan, 155, 158–9
Barton, Joey, 178, 230, 234, 235
Bates, Ken, 321
Baup, Elie, 135
Bayern Munich FC, 50, 139, 294
Beardsley, Peter, 40
Beckenbauer, Franz, 108
Beckham, David, 28, 30, 44, 96
Beckham, Sandra, 96
Beckham, Ted, 96
Beeks, Ivor, 109, 111, 113–14, 118–19
Been, Mario, 128
Belenguer, David, 296
Belhadj, Nadir, 165
Bellerin, Hector, 271
Berbatov, Dimitar, 132
Bergkamp, Dennis, 20, 26, 30–1, 36, 59, 64, 65, 129, 282
Best, Calum, 68
Best, George, 80–1, 185
Birmingham City FC, 116
Blair, Tony, 39, 255
Blake, Noel, 277, 282
Bland, Colin, 233, 234, 235–6
Bloomfield, Matty, 122
Blum, Ivan, 295–6
Boixel, Philippe, 25
Bolton Wanderers FC, 150, 175
Bond, Kevin, 144, 170
Boothroyd, Aidy, 135
Booy, Foeke, 134
Borg, Anton, 244, 302–3
Borussia Dortmund FC, 242, 243, 290
Bould, Steve, 24, 26, 36, 65, 120, 187, 263–4, 269, 271
Bournemouth, AFC, 110, 159, 170, 180
Bourret, Caprice, 31–5, 57, 75, 95, 126, 160
Bracewell, Paul, 97
Bracewell-Smith, Nina, 260–1
Brady, Liam, 259, 264–5, 266
Bramall, John, 75–6
Brard, Stanley, 228–9, 238, 258
Brentford FC, 89, 90
Bridgewater, Sue, 101
Brighton & Hove Albion FC, 114, 116
Bristol City FC, 130, 146, 181
British Olympic Association, 72
Brondby FC, 258
Brooking, Trevor, 134, 282
Broomfield, Ian, 147
Bruno, Frank, 227
Bundesliga, 42
Burnham, Andy, 232
Burtenshaw, Steve, 63, 153
Burton, Deon, 207, 210
Burton, Terry, 108, 160, 174, 256, 265, 266–7
Caesar, Gus, 187
Campbell, Sol, 45, 65, 148–9, 158, 182, 271
Capellas, Albert, 229
Capello, Fabio, 44, 184
Cardiff City FC, 116, 146, 159, 160
Carew, John, 51
Carlisle, Clarke, 86
Cawley, Pete, 111, 112–13, 121
Celebrity Big Brother, 35
Celtic FC, 59, 192–3
Chagall, Marc, 126
Champions League, 29, 37, 50–1, 55, 107, 127–8, 139, 158, 173, 272
proposed extension of, 294
Chang Woe-Ryong, 306
Charlton Athletic FC, 54, 89
Chelsea FC, 15, 53, 58, 82, 90, 112, 135, 154, 159, 164, 167, 173, 294
youth coaches at, 285
Chongqing Lifan FC:
league position of, 306
shows interest in TA, 296
TA joins, 298
TA’s brief to improve, 306
TA’s reports on, 306
Chronicles (Dylan), 107
Churbishley, Alan, 166
Churchill, Winston, 255
Clapton, Eric, 141
Clarke, Greg, 293
Clichy, Gael, 271
Clough, Brian, 256
Colchester United FC, 112, 113
Cole, Andy, 148, 153
Cole, Ashley, 53, 270–1
Coleman, Chris, 287
Community Shield, 167
Comolli, Damien, 266
Cooke, Marty, 62, 65
Coppell, Steve, 137
Costa, Diego, 307
Cox, Arthur, 43
Cranie, Martin, 166
Crewe Alexandra FC, 123
Cross, John, 270
Crouch, Peter, 165, 181, 182
Cruyff, Johan, 117, 228–9, 282
Cukaricki FC, 242
Daily Express, 288
Daily Mirror, 46, 266
Daily Telegraph, 193
Dalziel, John, 145, 179
Darlington FC, 123
Davies, Alan, 232
Davies, David, 42
d’Avigdor-Goldsmid, Rosemary, 126
d’Avigdor-Goldsmid, Sarah, 126
Davis, Paul, 24, 30, 97
Davis, Sean, 149
de Guzman, Jonathan, 130, 133
de Vrij, Stefan, 130
Dealtry, James, 102
Defoe, Jermain, 155, 176–7, 181
Dein, David, 43, 52–3, 54, 58, 260, 261, 291
Den Haag FC, 175
Deportivo La Coruña FC, 38
Desert Island Discs, 205–6
Diarra, Lassana ‘Lassie’, 155, 156, 159, 165, 168, 177
Dickinson, Jimmy, 150
Dinamo Tbilisi FC, 242
Diop, Papa Bouba, 154, 161
Distin, Sylvian, 154, 158, 159
Dixon, Lee, 20, 24, 35, 36, 50, 74, 88–9, 96, 187, 246, 271
coaching session witnessed by, 116–17
and TA’s China prospect, 299
Dodo, 241, 242
dos Santos, Giovani, 178–9
Douala, Roudolphe, 148
Drenthe, Royston, 130
Duut, Henk, 128
Dyke, Greg, 293
Dylan, Bob, 66, 107
Dynamo Kiev FC, 29
Dzeko, Edin, 174, 175, 178, 179
Eastleigh FC, 145
Edu, 20
Edwards, Michael ‘Eddy’, 151, 174
Einstein, Albert, 274
Elizabeth II, 36
Emirates Stadium, 26, 37, 77, 151, 261, 267
Arsenal’s transition to, 270
England national side (see also individual tournaments):
academy of, 281–2
better coaching needed for, 281
Capello appointed manager of, 44
Eriksson appointed manager of, 43–4
Hoddle appointed manager of, 40
Keegan appointed manager of, 40
> McClaren appointed manager of, 44
and major-tournament finals, 281
TA captains, 17–18
TA quits, 45–6
under-16s, TA picked for, 4
under-21s in, 276
younger players underused by, 283
Eriksson, Sven-Goran, 43–4, 46, 88, 155, 179, 198, 298, 307
Euro 88, 45
Euro 92, 15, 45
Euro 96, 1, 7, 17–18, 41, 43, 63, 275, 276
Euro 2000, 39–41, 44, 275
Euro 2012, 264
Euro 2016, 274–5, 277, 296
Europa League, see UEFA Cup
European Cup Winners’ Cup, 15, 38
European Under-17 Championships, 258–9
Evans, Terry, 112–13
Everton FC, 5–6, 26, 59, 228, 285
Evra, Patrice, 159
Ewen, Norman, 71
FA Cup, 15, 25, 28–9, 31, 51–2, 57–8, 109, 151, 156–61, 181, 183, 190
The Far Corner (Pearson), 101
Farah, Mo, 227, 255
Fazackerley, Derek, 43
Feel the Fear . . . ( Jeffers), 90
Ferdinand, Les, 138, 141
Ferdinand, Rio, 44, 45, 158
Ferguson, Alex, 28–30, 77–8, 101, 153, 158, 187–8, 202, 247, 256, 276, 288, 291
Fernandinho, 307
Fever Pitch (Hornby), 67, 107
Feyenoord FC, 128–34, 174, 228–9
TA approached by, 128
Financial Times, 89
Fiorentina FC, 37
Fiszman, Danny, 30, 53, 260–1
Fiszman, Sally, 261
FK Baku, 201
FK Gabala, 290–1
academy for, 212
chain of command at, 212
crowds double for, 218
dissatisfaction with progress of, 221
downward slide of, 239–40
England visit of, 220
and Europa League success, 242–3
fans’ forum at, 209
finances of, 239, 248
Hryhorchuk rebuilds squad at, 241–2
improvements at, 214, 218–19, 226, 238
kit lacking at, 214
league record by, 218
lower club defeats, 222