Tony Book

RIP Tony Book

We are saddened to hear of the death of former Argyle player Tony Book at the age of 90.  

Tony’s story was an amazing one. He did not play league football until he was 30, but was still playing at 40, and became a true club legend for Manchester City.  

Born in Bath, Tony was a bricklayer, and served national service, playing football for the Army and for local sides, eventually joining Bath City.  

In 1964, manager Malcolm Allison left Bath, to move to Toronto, and he persuaded Book to go with him. Within a very short period, Allison left Canada to take over at Home Park. He moved to bring Tony with him once more – and the story goes that Allison fibbed about Book’s age, saying he was 28, concerned that his age may play against him when being signed.  

Book became a Pilgrim, and played 93 times, scoring three goals, at full-back. He was a virtual fixture in the side in the 1964/65 and 65/66 seasons, during which Argyle finished mid-table in the second tier.  

Allison left Argyle to become Joe Mercer’s assistant at Manchester City, and Allison persuaded Mercer to sign Book, by then 32, at Maine Road.  

For a man appropriately named Book, the story was only just getting to the best chapters.  

City rose in the nation’s top division, Book was named Player of the Year and then captain, before the Sky Blues won the Division One title in 1967/68, their first top-flight success in 31 years, and their last until 2012.   

Book continued playing until he was 40, winning the Football Writers’ Player of the Year, lifting the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup. He played more than 300 times for City, and is regarded as perhaps their finest ever captain.  

After retiring from playing, he managed City between 1974-79, later becoming their head of youth development and oversaw an FA Youth Cup success, and stepped in on a couple more occasions as caretaker manager.  

Known affectionately as Skip, Book was known just as much for his humility, work ethic and general kindness as he was for his incredible football achievements.  

Our very best wishes go to Tony’s friends, family and all who knew him.  

Manchester City have opened a book of condolence for Tony, which can be found here.