I am dedicating this book to the memory of my late father, William Joseph Ward. To my mother, Irene Ward, and my daughter, Melissa.
Also, my Uncle Tommy and Auntie Helen and my brothers and sisters, Susan, Billy, Tony, Irene, Ann and Andrew.
My four grandchildren, Deri, Zach, Isabella and Frankie. I love you all.
I couldn’t have written this book without the help of the following people and I’d like to personally thank them all:
Tony McDonald and his partner Susie at Football World, for their support and encouragement and for publishing my story.
Howard Kendall for contributing the foreword.
Mick, Danny and Gary Tobyn, Nick Harris, Peter McGuinness, Tony Murphy, Paul McGrath, Richie Harrison, Paul Downes, John Blake, Duncan Ferguson, Tommy Griffiths, Kevin Hayes, Tony Gale, Alvin Martin, Tony Cottee, Alan Dickens, Billy Bonds, Liam Daish, Paul Tait, Father Giles Allen, my niece Faye Butterworth, Murray Lyall, Yvonne Lyall, Nicola Kelly, Frankie Allen, Dave Davies, Jimmy Keogh, Steve Surridge, Ian Snodin, Phil King, Phil Banks, Braddy, Dave Hunter and Dave Small, who sent me copies of the Birmingham City fanzine, The Zulu.
I’ve met hundreds of decent prisoners during the past four years, too many to mention here. With their help and friendship, it has made my stay behind bars that bit easier. Thank you, in particular, to: Paul Dunn, Jimmy Sanders, Peter Wilson, Warren Cox, Andy Rogan, Lee Bonney, Nicky Ayres, Marvin Kane, Richie Harrison Senior, Little George, Big Danny, Big Leroy, Tony Molloy, Marzy, Ian Longy and John Young.
And to the one screw who helped me out when I needed it, he is a true fan of the ‘People’s Club’.
And to Paul Hill, framework director of GB Building Solutions for having the strength and character to employ me and to give me a second chance.
My publishers and I would also like to acknowledge and says thanks to the following for their assistance:
Danny Francis, Steve Blowers, Terry Roper, Jack McDonald, Anne Walker, Alison and Darron McDonough, Danny Judge, Gerry Dignan, Mark Robertson, Dave Evans, Tony Hogg, Tim Crane, Dave Alexander, Terry Connelly and the lads at Lynhurst Press (Romford).
References: John Laidlar, webmaster at:
www.altrinchamfc.co.uk and www.lusa.u-net.com
Our thanks go to Nick Harris and The Independent for allowing us to reproduce the Barry Fry and Joe Royle quotes, plus Stuart Pearce and Headline, publishers of Stuart’s autobiography Psycho.
Finally, I would like to thank my partner Michelle Hall for her love and support.
With apologies to anybody who may have been overlooked.
CONTENTS
Title Page
Dedication
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOREWORD BY HOWARD KENDALL
INTRODUCTION
1 BORN IN THE ATTIC
2 JOY AND SORROW
3 SLAVES TO THE PROS
4 GOODISON HEARTBREAK
5 THE KING AND I
6 WEMBLEY WOE
7 BAKER’S BOY LOSING DOUGH
8 ROYLE APPROVAL
9 HAPPY HAMMER
10 HARD MEN
11 LONDON LIFE
12 LOW MACARI
13 ANYONE FOR TENNIS?
14 THE MIGHTY QUINN
15 THE GREATEST FEELING
16 TROUBLE WITH MO
17 FIGHTING BACK
18 SHOOTING THE POPE
19 THREATENING BEHAVIOUR
20 GOODBYE GOODISON
21 WHO’S THE JOKER?
22 FRY-UPS, FLARE-UPS AND P**S-UPS
23 OUT OF THE BLUE
24 THE BIG FELLA
25 GISSA JOB
26 FOREIGN FIELDS
27 ANGER MANAGEMENT
28 ARMAGEDDON
29 UP TO MY NECK
30 MY WORST NIGHTMARE
31 PRISONER NM6982
32 DEATH IN THE WALLS
33 PHONES 4 U
34 GOING DOWN
35 TAKING THE P**S
36 FINAL COUNTDOWN
37 JORDAN’S TITS
38 TO HELL AND BACK
Copyright
By Howard Kendall
BY pure coincidence, I had just finished watching an episode of the TV police series The Bill when Mark’s publisher phoned me at home and asked if I would contribute this foreword. How timely!
I was obviously shocked when I heard that Mark had been arrested and then subsequently sentenced. I don’t want to go into what he was guilty of and why he ended up in prison for the past four years but when it happens to someone you know well and have become close to over the years, it’s obviously very disappointing.
But once I knew how long he would have to spend inside, I had no doubts whatsoever that Mark would be able to handle it. His outstanding qualities of resilience and determination that characterised his performances for me, firstly at Manchester City and then Everton, have again stood him in good stead.
Mark first came to my attention some eight years or so before I actually signed him. He was playing for Everton in a testimonial at Halifax one night in May 1981, just after he had been given a free transfer by manager Gordon Lee, who was in fact sacked later that day. I’d just been appointed as Lee’s successor when I was sat next to my assistant, Colin Harvey, at the game.
Despite being shown the door by the club he’d supported as a kid, Mark gave a typically honest performance that caught my eye at The Shay that night. I asked Colin if he thought the club was doing the right thing by letting ‘Wardy’ go and he mentioned that Lee had based his decision on Mark’s size and stature and doubted whether he had the strength to fully make the grade.
Although I accepted Lee’s verdict at the time and didn’t intervene, I made a mental note of Mark’s ability and the decision to let him go ultimately proved an expensive one for the club – I brought him back to Everton 10 years later at a cost of £1million.
After being released by Everton in the