Steve Paterson

[northernscum]

Anyone else listening to the interview on Sportsound earlier tonight? Talk about a rollercoaster of a career / life. I remember when he was manager of Huntly in the HL, he had them almost unbeatable for a few seasons. I wonder just how good a manager he would have been if it weren't for his demons?

He is certainly honest enough about his behaviour....http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37501055

[EddardStark]

Gambled away £1m apparently.

[northernscum]

21 minutes ago, EddardStark said:

Gambled away £1m apparently.

Aye, that's pretty heavy duty numbers, considering that a fair chunk of it was 35 years ago.

[Toepoke]

Heard some of it. Quite an interesting guy to listen to, and he certainly has a story to tell! 

Edited October 2, 2016 by Toepoke

[Return of Yermaw]

from his autobiography:

Steve Paterson was set for fame and stardom with Manchester United in the 1970s, but from the age of sixteen he became gripped by an addiction to gambling before descending into alcoholism and debt. He became a soccer mercenary in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, but his gambling and ruinous lifestyle followed him everywhere. Despite his personal problems, Paterson became a successful football manager, first in the Highland League and then, leading Inverness Caledonian Thistle all the way to the brink of promotion to the Premier League before taking the reins at Aberdeen Football Club from which he was sacked as his drinking and gambling escalated. By then, he had spent more than GBP 1m on gambling over a 30 years period and racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt. In November 2008 Paterson decided to confront his addictions and booked into the famous Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire. He has now turned his life around and today works as a social worker helping youngsters in the north of Scotland. This candid and brutally honest memoir recounts the heady days of footballing success, twinned with the devastating hubris of his addictive personality. It is a heart-rending and insightful account of one of the most fascinating players and managers in the Scottish game.

just a fantastic read. much better than your "and I was lucky enough to go on and score a hat-trick" guff that permeates the majority of football books........

[northernscum]

36 minutes ago, Return of Yermaw said:

from his autobiography:

Steve Paterson was set for fame and stardom with Manchester United in the 1970s, but from the age of sixteen he became gripped by an addiction to gambling before descending into alcoholism and debt. He became a soccer mercenary in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, but his gambling and ruinous lifestyle followed him everywhere. Despite his personal problems, Paterson became a successful football manager, first in the Highland League and then, leading Inverness Caledonian Thistle all the way to the brink of promotion to the Premier League before taking the reins at Aberdeen Football Club from which he was sacked as his drinking and gambling escalated. By then, he had spent more than GBP 1m on gambling over a 30 years period and racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt. In November 2008 Paterson decided to confront his addictions and booked into the famous Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire. He has now turned his life around and today works as a social worker helping youngsters in the north of Scotland. This candid and brutally honest memoir recounts the heady days of footballing success, twinned with the devastating hubris of his addictive personality. It is a heart-rending and insightful account of one of the most fascinating players and managers in the Scottish game.

just a fantastic read. much better than your "and I was lucky enough to go on and score a hat-trick" guff that permeates the majority of football books........

Aye, I am not one for the autobiography type books, usually. But I think I will give this one a try.

[deecie]

13 minutes ago, northernscum said:

Aye, I am not one for the autobiography type books, usually. But I think I will give this one a try.

It's by far the best one i've ever read.

 

[aaid]

15 hours ago, Return of Yermaw said:

from his autobiography:

Steve Paterson was set for fame and stardom with Manchester United in the 1970s, but from the age of sixteen he became gripped by an addiction to gambling before descending into alcoholism and debt. He became a soccer mercenary in Hong Kong, Australia and Japan, but his gambling and ruinous lifestyle followed him everywhere. Despite his personal problems, Paterson became a successful football manager, first in the Highland League and then, leading Inverness Caledonian Thistle all the way to the brink of promotion to the Premier League before taking the reins at Aberdeen Football Club from which he was sacked as his drinking and gambling escalated. By then, he had spent more than GBP 1m on gambling over a 30 years period and racked up thousands of pounds worth of debt. In November 2008 Paterson decided to confront his addictions and booked into the famous Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire. He has now turned his life around and today works as a social worker helping youngsters in the north of Scotland. This candid and brutally honest memoir recounts the heady days of footballing success, twinned with the devastating hubris of his addictive personality. It is a heart-rending and insightful account of one of the most fascinating players and managers in the Scottish game.

just a fantastic read. much better than your "and I was lucky enough to go on and score a hat-trick" guff that permeates the majority of football books........

I'm sure it is, but that phrase "soccer mercenary" always cracks me up. 

[Toepoke]

Andy McLaren's is a good read from a similar perspective...

 

[sbcmfc]

13 minutes ago, Toepoke said:

Andy McLaren's is a good read from a similar perspective...

 

I didn't like his, seemed to blame everyone but himself.

Peter Marinello's was one I enjoyed.

[neilser]

Tony Adams' autobiography, Addicted, covered similar territory and was excellent too.

[Graham of Montrose]

1 hour ago, neilser said:

Tony Adams' autobiography, Addicted, covered similar territory and was excellent too.

Got to agree, both good reads.
Another good read is Paul McGraths' story.

 

[Mitre]

Out of all the jakey fitba player books, the Peter Marinello and Garrincha ones are the best I've read.

[scottishgraham1971]

Garrincha was a great read, and a great football player

[Angus_Young]

I enjoyed Steve Paterson's book. He is at least honest, unlike a lot of the other, self indulgent Mince.

Paul Merson's was much the same and well worth a look.

[scoobydoo]

On 10/4/2016 at 0:56 PM, Mitre said:

Out of all the jakey fitba player books, the Peter Marinello and Garrincha ones are the best I've read.

me, as good as garrincha was, I never thought I'd ever see him mentioned in the same sentence as Peter Marinello. 

[Dandydon]

Nonsense to say Paterson has turned his life round.