Publisher's Synopsis
Manchester United was the first English team to make the foray into the European Cup, participating in the tournament despite the express disapproval of the Football League. They were also the first English winners of the trophy. Over the years, United's European adventures have spanned tragedy - the 1958 Munich Air Disaster - and triumph - three European Cup wins - and have provided no shortage of memorable stories. Despite United being only the eighth most successful club in the competition's history, the United name is irrevocably linked to the European Cup. 'The Pride of All Europe' explores the reasons why. With interviews from fans, personal anecdotes and excerpts from football archives, this book looks back at the history of the club and their greatest - and worst - moments. 'The Pride of All Europe' celebrates Manchester United's triumphs in European football, concentrating on ten key stories from the twenty-five seasons and six decades the club has participated in the Europe's premier competition, interspersed with brief, first-hand fan accounts of those fabled United "Euroaways." In this detailed study, Andrew Kirby dissects the rich history of Manchester United in Europe. This is the one book that every true Manchester United fan ought to read. Praise for Andrew Kirby: 'A brilliant look at the finest players we've seen during Fergie's reign, and indeed, the club's entire history. A must read for any red.' Scott the Red, Editor: Republik of Mancunia United Blog 'As a Manchester United fan I found it really interesting and the author knows his stuff. I recommend reading it.' - Angela Bowman, Manchester United fan 'This book takes an intelligent, thorough and witty look at the players who served Fergie during his reign at Man United. The perfect gift for the red devil in your life! Sam Sharp, Manchester United fan 'I definitely recommend this to anybody interested in football in general and Manchester United in particular. Buy it now!' - Michael Hopkins, Manchester United fan. About the Author Andrew J Kirby's sports writing has featured in BBC Sport magazine, and on the Radio Five Live website. He has held a Manchester United season ticket for the entirety of the Sir Alex Ferguson reign at Old Trafford, and regularly follows the Reds across Europe and beyond. He is also the author of 'Fergie's Finest'. He also writes award-winning crime fiction as AJ Kirby, and has published five novels including Sharkways and Paint This Town Red, which was shortlisted for the Guardian's Not the Booker Prize 2012.
