Dante Friend - Catch a Falling Star: The Autobiography of Neil Young

CATCH A FALLIING STAR

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NEIL YOUNG

With Dante Friend

*

To My Brother Chris, My Mother Alice & My Wife Carmen

Preface

The word legend is over-used in football but legend is the only word that does justice to the great Neil Young. The scorer of the winner in the 1969 FA Cup Final victory over Leicester, another in the European Cup Winners Cup Final in Vienna a year later and of course, Citys two-goal hero up at Newcastle in the thrilling championship decider of 1968. These are feats that no future Manchester City player is ever likely to repeat.

For many years now friends, family, supporters and colleagues of Neil have asked him about his story. Why did we hear so little of him after he left the club in the early 70s? What has his life been like since? Few I think are quite prepared for the reality Neil writes about here.

Nevertheless, a huge number of City fans care passionately for Neils wellbeing. Weve all heard stories on the grapevine that he wasnt too well or that his life was heading down a rocky road and at last Neil has put pen to paper to give his side of an often traumatic story.

Of all the people he could have asked to help him write this book, Im honoured that he asked me, someone who was born long after City showed Neil the door. Yet while I never saw him play I was brought up with the Neil Young legend and, having got to know him in recent times, I can tell you I couldnt wish to find better personal friends than Neil and his amazing wife, Carmen. Hes a true gentleman but hes also very funny with a good sense of humour and an infectious laugh. Im truly honoured to have helped make all this happen.

I had feared that if Neil didnt think seriously about writing his memoirs, not only would he live to regret it but future generations of City supporters would miss out on his life story. Im glad to say that his story can now be told.

The name of the book, Catch A Falling Star, is also the title of one of Neils favourite songs. As youll discover shortly, Neil enjoyed the highlife in his pomp, he sampled the nightclubs and he loved being appreciated by the City fans because he was one of them himself - to this day he has the club in his heart. There have been some desperately sad times too and only now does Neil feel the time is right to lift the lid on some of these periods in his life.

The history of Manchester City would have been all the poorer had it not been for the contribution of Neil Young. So take a bow sir, take a bow. You deserve the highest recognition.

Dante Friend

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to three people. My mum, my brother Chris and my wife Carmen. Firstly, my brother who taught me most things about this great game called football. Secondly my mum for showing me endless love throughout my life and finally, my wife Carmen for being there for me when I was very ill and wanting love and attention for nearly the last two decades of my life.

I could not have achieved the things Ive done and I probably wouldnt even be here today without these three lovely people. I hope you will find my life story interesting and trust you enjoy reading about a true blue and a player who loved the club he played for at the peak of Manchester Citys finest years. Because for nearly a decade we were the best team in Manchester and City supporters were truly proud to say they supported City.

Neil Young

Foreword by Fred Eyre

It should have been a formality for the all conquering

Ducie Avenue under-12s football team as we prepared to meet local Moss Side rivals Heald Place in a vital top of the table clash. After all, we had never ever lost a game, so this one shouldnt be a problem although they did have that tall, gangly kid with the great left foot playing for them.

To say that Neil Young played us on his own that day would probably be a little unkind to his team-mates but that is how it seemed to me as we fought an honourable 2-2 draw and from that day Neil and I became the best of friends.

From our respective school teams we progressed together to play for Manchester schoolboys until chief scout Harry Godwin signed us as ground staff lads for Manchester City at the age of fifteen.

Life was wonderful as a young apprentice at

Maine Road , training and playing with players who weeks earlier we had been watching from the terraces and even menial jobs like cleaning boots, mopping the dressing room floor and sweeping out the gymnasium were not really a chore to us because we had lots of laughs together.

We dreamed one day of winning the FA Cup, the first division and of course a European trophy. Unlikely but who knows maybe? But for now there was the small problem of buckling down and trying to win a regular place in the clubs B team!

For a couple of seasons, everything went according to plan for us both, lots of games for the junior teams, exciting times in the FA Youth Cup, lots of goals for Neil!! And then our careers took off in totally different directions. Neils rocketing skywards, mine the complete opposite.

From the moment Mercer and Allison joined the club, handed Neil the number ten jersey and encouraged him to play to his strengths, everything clicked nicely into place for him.

There are great goal scorers and there are scorers of great goals. One or two players in Manchester City s glorious history have scored more goals than Neil Young but nobody has scored more great goals, more stunning goals, or more important goals than he has.

I saw most of them, even helped him with a pass or two for a few of the least important ones so it was no surprise to me when that trusty left foot scored the most memorable of them all at Wembley in 1969 to win the FA Cup for Manchester City and make one of his dreams come true.

I was so thrilled for him that day. If it couldnt have been me then I am glad it was him, my lifelong pal, because I can honestly say that of all the players I have ever played alongside, Neil Young is my absolute favourite

Alice In Wonderland

My childhood, much like my later life, might be described as a rollercoaster ride. Before I had turned sixteen I had witnessed the abuse of my mother by my father and seen death at close quarters, enough one might think to send anyone round the bend. Yet, looking back on those years I regard my childhood as a great time of innocent fun and one all-consuming passion football. Life, for all that was going on in the background, was simpler then if I had a ball at my feet I was happy.

I suppose the story starts back on February 17th 1944 when my mother, Alice Bradshaw, gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. I weighed just 4lb 2oz and I was premature. Id spent the past few months kicking her belly from the inside with my left foot so she must have known there and then I would play for City! I spent the whole of my first year in Booth Hall Childrens Hospital, only leaving two days after my first birthday. Is it any wonder then that once I finally got out of hospital all I wanted to do was stay outside and have a kick-about!

To this day I dont know what was wrong with me. I was a yellowy jaundice colour for a while though. Eventually I made it home to the family residence -

Whitmoor Road in Fallowfield .

My mother came from a sporting background. One of her relations had played rugby league for Salford and I suppose sport was in my blood. I always think back to when I first discovered the game of football, certainly at school we were all football barmy.

Autumn, winter and spring Id play football at my school, Wilbraham Juniors. In summertime it would be football and cricket. Funnily enough, although I kick with my left foot, my right was not too bad. I write with my right hand and bowl with my right hand at cricket. I bat left-handed though and play golf left-handed. Good mixture, dont you think!

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