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  • Fifty Years of Hurt

  • By: Henry Winter
  • Narrated by: Charlie Anson
  • Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (57 ratings)
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Fifty Years of Hurt

By: Henry Winter
Narrated by: Charlie Anson
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Summary

England invented football, codified it, became champions of the world in 1966 but humiliatingly then forgot how to play the greatest game of all. England took their eye off a ball they arrogantly thought they owned, allowing other nations to run off with it.

It has been 50 years of hurt since Bobby Moore lifted the World Cup trophy at Wembley, and in this groundbreaking book Henry Winter addresses the state England are in on the golden anniversary of their greatest moment. Part lament, part anatomy of an obsession, both personal and collective, it analyses the truth behind the endless excuses and apportions the blame for the crimes against English football but is also a search for hope and solutions.

Fifty Years of Hurt weaves more than 40 exclusive interviews with the biggest names in the game - Jack Charlton, Alan Mullery, Peter Shilton, Glenn Hoddle, John Barnes, Chris Waddle, Gary Lineker, Ian and Mark Wright, Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Roy Hodgson - with a narrative dissection of the highs and lows of five decades of football.

And as well as players and managers, Henry Winter talks to the fans, to agents, to officials and to the governing bodies about every aspect, good and bad, of English football to provide answers to the question: where did it all go wrong? It is a passionate journey by a writer with vast personal insight into the national team, with unprecedented access to all areas of the game, but also by a fan who wants his England back. The 50 years of hurt must end.

©2016 Henry Winter (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks

What listeners say about Fifty Years of Hurt

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Could do with an update post Euro 2016 ....ICELAND

Excellent analysis of the state of the English Game. Interesting contributors but felt slightly dated by the release prior to England's appalling exit to Iceland - could do with an update.

Would still recommend a listen though.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ok read, nothing revolutionary

A mediocre read, quite repetitive in content (use this old player more, use that player more) didn't particularly rate the narrator. An ok read for football fans but there are much better (ferguson s book) fairly disappointed

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great insight into England’s years of hurt.

Great to hear so many ex pros and ex managers having there say on England, and the problems surrounding the national team. Sounds like the problems start much higher up and cascade down to the first team, but will that ever change without complete overhauling from the top down. Fascinating insight into the workings of the England team, hopefully we see a positive change in the next few years and the end to the years of hurt!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Decent insight

Jumps around a bit but overall a really good analysis of what is wrong with England football and what needs to be done.
Narrator needs to brush up on some pronunciations of players' names though (Peter "Withee", Ugo "Ehiogoo" etc) but that's a minor quibble really.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Weak narrator!

What made the experience of listening to Fifty Years of Hurt the most enjoyable?

Good story ruined by the narrator, who started well, but seemed to get tired as the chapters went on

What other book might you compare Fifty Years of Hurt to, and why?

Not applicable

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He was poor!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me cry (not really as it is only a game of soccer) when once again England went out in the quarter final against Iceland, you could not make it up! I would love to hear what Henry Winter would have said about Roy our illustrious manager then...

Any additional comments?

Good book, shame about the narrator.

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