The Day My Dream Ended

Book excerpt: As a child, growing up Dublin, Jimmy Holmes dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. Spotted in the local youth team by the great Matt Busby and invited to go to Manchester United, he was persuaded, instead, to sign for Coventry City, heralding the start of a glittering career in football. The young Jimmy had it all ahead of him, or so he believed, but just a few years later, a serious injury brought an abrupt end to his dreams. In this frank autobiography, Jimmy reveals how he endured years of heartache and disappointment following the accident as he struggled to come to terms with the fact that his time as a First Division footballer was over. From being highly sought after, representing the Republic of Ireland and playing top flight football, Jimmy suddenly found himself looking for ways to continue in the game he loved, before pursuing a new career in the police force. With forewords by Glenn Hoddle and Johnny Giles, The Day My Dream Ended tells the compelling story of Jimmy's meteoric rise to the top of his game and beyond, and the untimely end of one of the most promising football careers of his generation.