Zico: An Autobiography of a Non-League Footballer - Tapa blanda

At the age of 26 Ryan-Zico Black takes us on an honest journey into his life in football. From his time in his birth place of Guernsey in the Channel Islands right up to the present day as he plyes his trade in the Unibond league. This book shows the many ifs and buts and the different turns of events that he has had as he seeks to make it in the professional game, a dream he still harbours today. In the days where many footballers achieve celebrity status all too quickly and are keen to put into print, not that you could blame them with all the money they recieve for doing so. This book is a truly refreshing change and is indeed told from the not so glamorous side of the beautiful game.

I was born in1981 in Guernsey. I had always dreamt of being a professional footballer from an early age like alot of kids. From signing schoolboy forms at AFC Bournemouth I thought I could make my dream reality. After being released at 16 and knocked back form 7 various clubs I thought it isnt going to happen. I was then thrown a life line by the then Morecambe manager Jim Harvey. I was signed in the academy at then Conference club and a year later I was in the first team and being capped for Northern Ireland Under 18 side against Ukraine in Kiev in a 80,000 all seater. There wasnt that many watching {just to add}, maybe a thousand but amazing all the same. Every game ive played in since and every penny that I have made from football has been a bonus because at 17 I thought it was all over before it had begun. I stayed at Morecambe for nearly 6 years and played in 2 great cup runs getting into the 3rd round both times playing in the game against Premiership side Ipswich Town who were 3rd in the league at the time. I was then capped at Under 21 level for Northern Ireland. After leaving Morecambe due to a contract dispute I then went to Northwich Victoria, Glenavon {Irish Premier League}, Lancaster City, Kettering Town who Gazza was then manager and made me his first signing, Barrow, and a brief stint in Spain. I am back at Lancaster playing in the Unibond league. My dreams are still there, im not finished by a long shot. After leaving Kettering and having alot of time to think about things I felt I wanted to write everything down, so I have.