Jackie Sewell

Aston Villa Football Club is steeped in football history and many books have been written about their successes. Alongside their achievements on the field, they have produced a number of star players who have made significant contributions to football history. One such player is the unsung hero Jackie Sewell. Sewell enjoyed his most successful period as a professional footballer at Villa Park, but he also graced the fields of English football with Notts County and Sheffield Wednesday. In 1951 he was transferred from Nottingham to Sheffield for a world-record fee and was known as the footballer who was worth his weight in gold.This biography is based on in-depth interviews with Jackie and research using his massive collection of football memorabilia. The book includes photographs of previously unseen personal memorabilia that Jackie has stored meticulously and kept private until now. Jackie pioneered soccer in three African countries, establishing the coaching programmes which have resulted in virtually every current Premier League side having an African contingent of players. In 1953 the England international side were acknowledged as being the world champions, until one fateful day at Wembley when they were crushed 63 by the then Olympic champions, Hungary. Jackie talks openly about his memories of that game and the reasons why England were so heavily defeated. This book is a must for all football fans, but particularly supporters of Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Hull City (where Jackie ended his career). It recalls a time when the game was bigger than the players and success was not measured purely in monetary terms.