The latest in his Blades related writing, Sheffield United supporter and author Danny Hall is in the process of putting together the autobiography of former Blades keeper Paddy Kenny, ‘The Gloves Are Off’.
The stopper is sure to set the record straight with his take on an eventful and unpredictable career in the game.
Signed by Neil Warnock in 2002, Kenny joined the Blades whilst Simon Tracey was attempting to recover from a knee injury. Initially on a three-month loan deal, Paddy cemented his place as the number one, was signed permanently and went on to win the player of the year award in his first season with the club.
Making himself popular with supporters from early on, the keeper went on to make over 270 appearances for Sheffield United.
Having failed a drugs test during the 2009 play off campaign, Kenny served his nine month ban, only for his return to end up being only fleeting. Kenny signed for Neil Warnock again, this time in charge of Queens Park Rangers who invoked a £750,000 release clause in the players contract seeing the keeper end his Blades career in controversial circumstances.
Sure to be full of interesting anecdotes for supporters, the book is due for release in the autumn and closer to the time S24SU.com will be running a competition to enable members and readers to win a copy.
We can exclusively reveal the cover and an excerpt from the book on Paddy’s signing for the Blades…
This move seemed different, though, somehow. This was it now. Moving up to Division One, to a club the size of United? I was absolutely terrified.
To be fair Warnock did his best to reassure me. “It’s the biggest club you will be at in your life,” he told me. “Just enjoy yourself and do what you can do… what I know you can do. No-one is up your arse. I’ll just let you be. There is no pressure on you whatsoever.”
I must admit, it felt like there was. On my debut, in a friendly at Baslow the day I’d signed, on their tiny pitch next to a kids’ playground, there were three or four thousand there. For a friendly. I was used to playing in front a few thousand every week, for league games. “Oh, shit!” I thought to myself. “What have I come to here?”
Whenever I go to Bakewell I drive through Baslow, and I have a little smile to myself at the memory every time.
Watch this space for more on the book, along with details on how to get your hands on a copy nearer the time of publication.
If you are unfamiliar with Danny’s other books and need some reading material, his other Sheffield United related titles ‘He’s One Of Our Own‘ and ‘We’re Not Going To Wembley‘ are currently on offer at £9.99 and can be purchased via the Vertical Editions Website.
