RIP Tony Book: Made in BA11
- Zeb Baker-Smith
- Jan 15
- 2 min read
Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, celebrates the life and career of one of our own who became a great of the English game.
All of us at Frome Town FC wish to add another to the outpouring of tributes for Tony Book, a former Robin, who has died at the age of 90.
Upon completing his National Service, Book joined Frome Town (under the management of Willy 'Bill' Norman) in the summer of 1955 at the age of twenty having previously played for Peasedown Miners Welfare.
A cultured right-back who occasionally played right-half, he soon became a crowd favourite and with the side beginning to struggle following promotion to the top flight of the Western League, he was pushed up front with positive effect.
None more so than in a remarkable nine-goal thriller against Bridgwater in March 1956 when he scored all five in a breathless 5-4 win but sadly, for the Badgers Hill faithful, it was to be his last outing in a Frome shirt after 39 appearances and thirteen goals that season.
Bath City snapped him up, made him captain and in a successful seven-year stint there, the Southern League title was captured before a move to Plymouth Argyle in 1964 and a Football League debut at thirty years old.
Manchester City signed him for £17,000 in 1966 where he captained them to a string of domestic and European honours before stepping up to become their manager from 1974-79, winning the League Cup in 1976 and missing out on the title to Liverpool by a single point the following year.
Never capped but a true giant of the English game, he is fondly remembered at every club he played for.
RIP Tony Book.
Listen to the latest episode of the Dodge The Question podcast!
Steve & Zeb chat with First Team Coach and Head of Analysis, Tom "Bondy" Bond.
You can also listen on Frome.FM radio every Friday at 5pm (repeated on Saturday 3pm)
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Man City fan from the 50s here; brought up near Manchester, and a regular on the Kippax from 1966 to '72, when I moved away. Now live in Mells, but now and again pop down to watch Frome Town, I was delighted to find that Tony had played for Frome, and wonder how many other such had ended up playing league football, especially at the top level like Tony.
I was aware of his humble beginnings; that he made such a success of his career in his 30s a testament to him. He was an fine full back, and a great captain
That picture of him at Wembley holding the FA Cup - I was there, and for next year's…
RIP Tony Book: Made in BA11. Very often, I hear about great leaders and mentors at work who always leave behind a rich legacy, and Tony Book was no exception. His passion for the game graced the team with his tireless commitment and attachment to the community, for which he will always be remembered. Through his inspiration to never give up striving for excellence, I came across Help My Assignment. Just like Tony, it helps me approach my academic challenges with determination and focus.
That's a lovely article 'The Jupster' - very well done. Much appreciated. I don't think I ever saw Tony play. I did see Manchester City lose 2-1 at Westham during the time he played for them but he didn't play that particular day. Hurst & Peters scored for Westham and Francis Lee got a penalty for City.
His son Kim, a goalkeeper, also played for us before going on to play for a number of lower league sides. He played in the Northampton team that Manchester United beat 8-2 at Northampton in the FA Cup 5th rd, 1970, with George Best putting 6 past him. Brian Kidd got the other two and the nomadic Frank Large got both Northampton go…