Ray Parlour

Nicknamed 'The Romford Pele' for his solid but unglamorous image, Ray Parlour is one of the most well-loved Arsenal players of the last few decades. A loyal club servant for over 14 years (1992-2007) he is revered among the Arsenal faithful for his down-to-earth Essex charm, his mischievous sense of humor and his hard-working performances on the pitch. Often in the shadows of his flashier teammates, he didn't have the flair of a Pires or an Henry, but he worked tirlessly to become an integral part of many of George Graham's and Arsene Wenger's greatest sides, including the Invincibles of 2004. In this wonderfully funny and candid autobiography full of side-splitting stories, Parlour looks back fondly on his life and career. From the all-day drinking sessions and banter of the Tony Adams years, to the antics he got up to with his more cultured continental teammates, teaching Thierry Henry cockney rhyming slang and Dennis Bergkamp how to play golf, this is a portrait of a man who was as loved as much for his personality as well his often underrated talent. From his days as a trainee cleaning boots, to playing alongside the world's finest players in the Champions League, it is also the rags-to-riches story of a career that spanned enromous change in British football, the like of which may not be seen again.

The Romford Pelé

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER The Trophies ... The Tuesday Club ... The Prawn Crackers ... Marc Overmars may have given him the nickname, but the Romford Pele is a legend in his own right. Over 16 action-packed years, from a trainee scrubbing the boots of the first XI, to a record-breaking 333 Premier League appearances, Ray Parlour’s never-say-die performances, curly locks and mischievous sense of humour have gone down in Arsenal history. Battling tirelessly on the pitch, often in the shadows of his star-name teammates, Parlour won three premier league titles and four FA Cup trophies with the Gunners. But he was also the heart and soul of the dressing room, the training ground and the after work drink. From nights out with Tony Adams, to teaching Thierry Henry cockney rhyming slang, from playing golf with Dennis Bergkamp to trading Inspector Clouseau jokes with Arsène Wenger, this wonderfully funny and candid autobiography looks back on a golden age of the beautiful game, reliving the banter, the stories and the success. Ray Parlour is an Arsenal legend. During his 16-year career he won 3 Premier League titles, 4 FA Cups and the UEFA Cup. One of the most underrated players of his generation, he was also part of Arsenal’s famous Invincible team of 2003/4, which went the entire Premier League season unbeaten. He is now a regular pundit for TalkSport and Sky Sports. He enjoys a short back and sides.

Ray Parlour

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