Ooh Aah, Stantona

'War doesn't start at nine in the morning and finish at five at night...As the war progressed I soon learned there was no time, dates or even an outside world, it was just an existence.'- Phil Stant's story is miles away from your usual footballer's rags-to-riches tale. He might have grown up like many sixties lads - idolising George Best and dreaming of playing at Wembley - but his life before professional football included bomb disposal, manoeuvres in the dark and seeing front-line action in the Falklands.Throughout his school days, Stant dreamed of gracing the pitch and hearing thousands of fans cheer his name. As his thoughts turned to an army career, however, he endured rigorous training and was soon engaged in combat and military exercises. Part of the task force that sailed to regain the Falkland Islands, Phil witnessed the defining moment in the conflict - the sinking of the Sir Galahad. He never gave up his love for football, and swapped the thrill and excitement of the battleground for the pitch, playing for a string of teams, including Notts County, Reading, Fulham, Brighton and Lincoln City.Phil writes about his extraordinary life from the days of 'jumpers for goalposts' to living in the barracks and his time on the frontline, onto the pitch and from the sidelines.Including an account of his return to the Falklands on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the conflict and with candid anecdotes told in Phil's frank style, this is a must-read with something for everyone.

Phil Stant was born in Bolton in 1962. When he left school he joined the army and began a military career before moving back to his primary love of football. He has played for an array of teams including Huddersfield, Fulham, Cardiff, Lincoln City and Brighton. He managed Lincoln City for a year in 2000 and continued to play football until 2001. This is his first book.