The Romford Pelé cover art

The Romford Pelé

It's Only Ray Parlour's Autobiography

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The Romford Pelé

By: Ray Parlour
Narrated by: Paul Thornley
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About this listen

Ooh, ah, 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 humour and his hardworking 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 tirelessly 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 for his often underrated talent.

From his days as a schoolboy working on market stalls 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 enormous change in British football, the likes of which may not be seen again.

©2016 Random House Audiobooks (P)2016 Random House Audiobooks
Football (Soccer) Sports Celebrity Biography Funny Career Thought-Provoking Witty Inspiring

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Any additional comments?

A must for any Arsenal fans. Not a great work of literature but an honest description of what it takes to be a top footballer with lots of insight into the different people that made for a very successful period in the club's history. Couldn't stop listening, though it's a shame that Ray wasn't that narrator.

Nice story, shame Ray wasn't the narator.

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one of my all time favourite players for what he achieved staying in that team when he was supposed to be an average player. Great funny stories and a great insight

Great fun

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loved every second of this book, he's been one of my football heroes since I was a kid..it has everything!
even a slightly massive over the top stream of mentioning Tony Adams...the legend!

Great book!!

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Made me laugh out loud a few times, I loved this book and wish there were more like it.

Great stories, very funny

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What did you like most about The Romford Pelé?

very funny stories, sounds like Arsenal in the 90s was a wild team to play for.
ive listened to many of Rays hilarious stories on the radio but there even funnier 2nd time around.

What did you like best about this story?

focus's a lot of the good times of being a professional footballer/

Have you listened to any of Paul Thornley’s other performances? How does this one compare?

don't know

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

I laughed out loud a few times while dog walking

Any additional comments?

great read, not just for Arsenal fans

very enteraining read, im not even an arsenal fan

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