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Former Bristol Rovers player Nick Tanner tells remarkable journey to Anfield in a new book
Former Bristol Rovers player has his story told: From A Field To Anfield
John Evely
Nick Tanner joined Jeff Stelling on the second leg of his March for Men
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Former Bristol Rovers player Nick Tanner's remarkable football story, which saw him go from Mangotsfield to European champions Liverpool has been told in a new autobiography.
Published this week, From A Field To Anfield, charts Tanner's rise from grassroots football – via British Aerospace and Rovers – to the First Division champions.
Tanner said: "It's not just a Liverpool book, it's not just a Bristol Rovers book, it's a football book from somebody who has actually made it from grassroots to the top flight."
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Tanner's story, recorded by former Bristol Post chief sports reporter Steve Cotton, is not one of spending years mollycoddled in an academy system and having success handed to him, but of graft, days spent working in a factory before making it to the top, and being sold to Bristol Rovers by non-league Mangotsfield United for a couple of floodlight bulbs.
Tanner was a member of the last Liverpool squad to win the title, was in the stands at Hillsborough in 1989, and scored a Merseyside derby goal at Goodison Park, so his tales naturally include Anfield legends and A-list events with Kenny Dalglish and the rest.
Equally, though, his is an inspirational story for any budding footballer about just how far hard work and relentless dedication can take you if you are willing to put in the yards.
Tanner compared his rise to the top of the game to Leicester City's Jamie Vardy - who made the now unusual step of playing non-league football before getting his break in the Premier League later in his career than most.
Tanner also opens up on the personal impact of his career-ending injury, his management career back at non-league level along with his various ongoing struggles.
And one of the hardest working men in football is still grafting away, this time posting out his own books and lugging them round to signings. 'Postman Pat' is what Tanner jokingly called himself.
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness to appear at Mangotsfield United next month
The book includes memories from prominent figures from football's recent history including his Liverpool manager Graeme Souness and Phil Thompson.
Graeme Souness won 15 trophies during his playing career at Liverpool (Image: Duncan Raban/Getty Images)
Tanner said: "I had a little tear in my eye when I read some of the comments from the managers, because I hadn't read them until Steve gave me the finished book."
Tanner and Souness will be visiting Mangotsfield's Cossham Street clubhouse on Friday, September 8, for a meet and greet event with the Liverpool legend before he shares some of his favourite football stories. The event is raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK - tickets are still available here .
Tanner will be signing copies of the book at the Souness event, but if you can't get there you can order signed copies from the man himself, here.
The book is also available on Amazon.
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