Peter Marinello was set to be the footballing sensation of 1970. His record GBP100,000 transfer from Hibernian to Arsenal made front page headlines and he was instantly hailed as the new George Best, ironically scoring within 16 minutes of his debut in front of the Stretford End at Old Trafford.

Within weeks of his move, he had appeared on 'Top of the Pops', secured a modeling contract and had his own football column in the "Daily Express". But drinking (he names both Best and Princess Margaret among his occasional drinking partners) and reckless behaviour - he was kidnapped in Nigeria while on tour with Hibs and lost his virginity in front of six team mates- were already a part of his life.

In three years at Arsenal, Marinello played only 51 games and was eventually transferred to Portsmouth (having previously secured an incredible move to Juventus which broken down when Italy did not lift their imported player restrictions). The book also includes details of the time he spent playing for Canberra City!

More drinking, involvement with gangsters, his wife running off with a DJ, swindled out of all his money and bars in his native homeland, being arrested for attempted murder and, having to buy heroin for his addicted son! More recently he was declared bankrupt in Scotland and earned a living by selling ice cream from a van on England's south coast.

I was a regular on the North Bank when Marinello signed for Arsenal, and amongst my programme collection is one baring his signature. Older Arsenal supporters will remember how his career started with that wonder goal and most will remember when it could have turned for the better - a quarter final tie at Highbury against European Cup holders Ajax. Clear through in the opening minutes he put his shot and Arsenal career wide. That tells you Marinello was at Highbury during that 1971 double season but he didn't play enough games to warrant a medal and lists not making the 1971 Cup Final team as one of his biggest disappointments.

This is one of the best Arsenal player autobiographies I have read (Tony Adams 'Addicted' being my second best sports book of all time) . What really comes across is that he has no bitterness towards his 'wasted' career, that despite some all of the lows, and there were many, his love of live saw him through. What also comes across his is incredible love for his wife, which despite the infidelities on both sides, grew stronger. Today he finds himself nursing her through her chronic illness and he is still involved at youth level with the game he loves. This is no masterpiece of literature, and is a very light read but it is an extraordinary story.

Check out the book at www.amazon.co.uk and here are a few more interesting links to check out...

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/stor ... 12,00.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/art ... ture.shtml
http://norwegiangooner.blogspot.com/200 ... nyone.html
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football ... 434951.ece

Thanks for the information. I will try those links. The North Bank was my 'home' also for much of the 60's & I remember Peter Marinello very well but by 1970 I was following the Gunners from Aussie.