The Beautiful Game

MANY BOYS, OF COURSE, dream of becoming footballers. The young Clive Tyldesley, though, wasn’t one of them. According to his thoughtful, often funny and above all heartfelt new book, the only thing he ever wanted to be was a football commentator.

Well, as we know, this was one boyhood dream that came true. Clive began his career in local radio, before moving to television, where he was made ITV’s chief football commentator after Brian Moore’s retirement in 1998. He held the post until last year when, to his clear but not over-dwelt-on distress, he was informed by a