Record-breaking ex-footballer Simon Garner releases new autobiography

A new book chronicling the life and career of former Blackburn Rovers, West Bromwich Albion and Wycombe Wanderers star Simon Garner is now available to buy.

And a host of former players and managers have got in on the act, giving their views on a club legend who remains a much-loved former player even three decades after leaving the club.

In his book, Simon Garner: One Last Shot, the striker reveals what it was like to be a 1980s football star in an autobiography that charts his long career as a prolific striker, including his 14 years at Blackburn Rovers where he became the club’s all-time leading goal scorer.

The book expands on the 2003 autobiography There’s Only One Simon Garner, which was written with former journalist Richard Slater. This time around, the book has been co-written with another ex-journalist, Dan Clough.

Garner, who lives in Buckinghamshire and works as a painter and decorator, said: “The last book did pretty well but 20 years on I thought there was more to say, and it was great to have so many of the lads I played with and some of my old managers get involved as well.

“I loved being a footballer and I still love football now, but there’s so much you forget about until you actually sit down and talk about it for something like this. So many great memories have come flooding back.”

The book includes guest contributions from some of football’s big names, including Kenny Dalglish, Martin O’Neill, Ossie Ardiles, Mark Atkins, Mike Newell and David Speedie.

Garner scored 194 goals in a 14-year career at Ewood Park before moving to West Bromwich Albion and Wycombe Wanderers, where he helped both clubs to promotion. A move into non-league was cut short when Garner was found guilty of contempt of court and spent four weeks in jail, before resuming his football career at Wealdstone where he would win his first league title.

Following successful stints at Windsor and Eton and then Flackwell Heath, he called it a day in 2000.

But that wasn’t the end of the story and the book also digs into a life after football.

The book, published by Northpoint and priced at £12.99 or £16.99 for a signed copy, is available to buy at www.simongarnerbook.co.uk