TONY BOOK

Born: 04 September 1934

Came from: Bath City   Went to: Manchester City

First game: 22 August 1964   Last game: 07 May 1966

Appearances: 93 (93/0)   Goals: 3

Remarkably, given the career he went on to have, Book did not play in the Football League until he was 30. He was still playing at 40, and following his spell at Argyle, became a true club legend for Manchester City.

He was born in Bath, and after leaving school at 16, he became an apprentice bricklayer and played amateur football as an inside-forward for Peasedown Miners until he was called up for National Service in 1952. While playing for his Army team, Book converted to the full-back position and had a trial with Chelsea, courtesy of a recommendation from Army teammate Frank Blunstone (who Chelsea signed from Crewe whilst on his National Service), but Book was not taken on.

After completing National Service, Book returned to his bricklaying job in Bath and also played for Frome Town. During the 1955-56 season, Frome suffered financial difficulties and sent letters to all their players permitting them to leave if they wished. Book showed his letter to a colleague, who played for Bath City in the Southern League. He in turn informed the Bath chairman, and Book signed for the club in January 1956. He went on to spend over eight years at Bath, becoming captain and winning the Southern League title in 1960. In the 1962 close season, Malcolm Allison became Bath's manager, beginning a long association between the two.

In May 1964, Allison began a brief spell as coach of Toronto City in the fledgeling and short-lived ECPSL (Eastern Canadian Professional Soccer League), and he persuaded Book to go with him. By that stage, Book had made almost 400 appearances for Bath. In June, Allison left Canada to take over at Home Park for his first spell as Argyle's manager, beginning in early July, and in August, Book followed him to Plymouth, having been voted the best full-back in Canada. The story goes that Allison fibbed about Book’s age, saying he was 28, concerned that the Home Park board might not pay £1,500 for a 30-year-old.

However, pay they did, and at nearly 30 years old, Book arrived at Home Park in August 1964 with no Football League experience. His performances in the Second Division soon repaid the faith shown in him by Allison, as he established himself in the Argyle team. Book was the complete right-back - a good tackler, plenty of pace, coolness under pressure and a willingness to get forward. He played 93 times, scoring three goals, and was a virtual fixture in the side in the 1964-65 and 1965-66 seasons, during which Argyle finished mid-table in the second tier.

Book's stunning form for Argyle saw him follow Allison again, this time to Manchester City. Allison had left Argyle in April 1965 to become Joe Mercer’s assistant, and in July 1966 he persuaded Mercer to sign Book, by then nearly 32, with Argyle receiving £17,000.

He spell at Maine Road defined a legacy. City rose in the nation’s top division, Book was named the club's inaugural Player of the Year, won the Football Writers’ Player of the Year and was also made captain, before the Sky Blues won the Division One title in 1967-68, their first top-flight success in 31 years, and their last until 2012. He also won the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup, City's first European trophy, and played until the age of 40. He played more than 300 times for City, and is regarded as perhaps their finest-ever captain and was given the nickname 'Skip' which stayed with him for the rest of his life.

In November 1973, Manchester City manager Johnny Hart resigned due to ill health, and Book took temporary charge. He was named assistant manager when Ron Saunders became the next manager. At this point Book retired from playing to concentrate on management. Saunders was sacked after less than six months, and Book again took on the caretaker role, and was appointed permanent manager one game later. The first notable victory of Book's management was a 1-0 Manchester derby win, best known for the back-heel scored by Denis Law at Old Trafford (often credited somewhat inaccurately with relegating United; they were relegated but not due to Law). In his first full season as manager, City finished in eighth place, an improvement upon the previous season's 14th.

In 1976, Book's City side won the League Cup, making him the first person to win the competition as both player and manager. He managed City between 1974 and 1979, later becoming their Head of Youth Development and overseeing an FA Youth Cup success. He also stepped in on two more occasions as caretaker-manager, in 1989 and 1993.

Book held two honorary positions: he was Honorary President of Manchester City and Life President of the Manchester City Official Supporters' Club, and in 2004 was inducted into Manchester City's Hall of Fame.

Tony passed away in January 2025, aged 90 and Manchester City opened a book of condolence for his passing.

He had performed dignitary duties for Manchester City in the 2024-25 season, marking an almost 60-year connection with the club. 'Skip' was remembered by the football world and City in particular as much for his humility, work ethic and general kindness as he was for his incredible footballing achievements.