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I have just finished reading Annis ‘My Story’ and it’s a brilliant read so without giving any spoilers away here is my quick review.
1. Hooliganism
It would be absolute nonsense for Annis to write a book about his life without mentioning his self-confessed participation in football hooliganism.
Annis very much sees himself as a product of the times (late 70’s & the Nineteen Eighties) where frankly a large percentage of young boys/men took part in football related violence and the casual dress code. Times were completely different back then and if you are old enough to remember, you will know it wasn’t usual for youngsters to get involved with football violence because there was simply nothing else.
" Annis goes on to give graphic accounts of clashes with other firms and also describes how he first got involved as a naive 14 year old and how he went on to develope close bonds with other Soul Crew members which last until this day.
There is no glorification and no apology either for his part in football violence, but he does in no uncertain terms warn every reader that getting involved in football violence today is absolutely stupid and quotes an example of a friend who has lost everything (including his liberty) despite only being a bystander at the game against Chelsea. "
2. The Writing
The book is so well written and it flows fluently from page 1 to 287. There is no fancy language or hidden agendas and there is great use of the narrative and descriptive lines. At times the book reaches out and envelopes you in the tension, for example I was gripped by the story about Annis facing a 2 week Crown Court trial for affray and the affect it had on his parents and also his meeting with Sam Hammam at his house when he gave Sam a few home truths.
3. Sam Hammam
Anyone who thinks Sam gets an easy ride in this book will be totally shocked. Annis is almost brutal at one point in pointing out the failings of Sam (which he said to his face), although he never wavers from his belief that Cardiff City would be nowhere without the intervention of our ex-Chairman in the year 2000.
There are also some surprises as we find out who Langston are and the likelihood of what the very near future holds for the loan note problem.
4. Family
Being a soppy sod this is probably my favourite part. Over the past 10 years or so Annis has gone through a fundamental change in his family make up and almost overnight he went from a family of himself and his parents, to a family of a devoted wife and gorgeous daughters. His parents died in close proximity to each other and this changed the man forever.
That said the years when he and his father worked on different entrepreneurial projects is amazing stuff. Everything from nightclubs to hotels as well as getting involved with the cheap cosmetics industry years before Vincent Tan had ever thought of eCosway.
5. Cardiff City
After his family CARDIFF CITY AFC are obviously the most important thing in Annis’ life. I often got the feeling that he thought of the club as extension of his own family, may be even the little sibling he never had and as a result he cared deeply for the club and would fight tooth and nail to protect it.
There are many tails about clashes with board members, protest marches and my favourite ditty when he went into the players changing rooms to confront Alan Durban! Come on anyone who remembers him would pay a lot of money to have done that.
All in all I can’t recommend this book enough. It goes above and beyond Shattered Dreams and gives a fantastic insight into an incredible lifestyle about a passionate guy who is determined to succeed in everything he does.
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link
http://www.annisabraham.co.uk/books/buy-books/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Available on this site/Amazon and Waterstones.
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