There To Be Shot At

Tony Coton is considered as one of the best goalkeepers never to play for England. In There to be Shot At, he tells his extraordinary life story for the first time.

Born in Tamworth, Coton overcame rejection at Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers to claim legendary status at three other clubs during a career in football that is now well into its fourth decade.

Tough and uncompromising, Coton was regarded as one of the infamous 'Birmingham Six' group during his time as the number 1 at the club he supported as a boy, Birmingham City. He joined Watford during Elton John's tenure as chairman, where his relationship with future England manager Graham Taylor bloomed.

Coton, though, would not represent his country and here, he explains why. Six tumultuous years at Manchester City ended when he moved to fiercest rivals Manchester United, where he later was appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson's first goalkeeping coach during the most successful period in the club's entire history.

A reflective man with strong views on the direction of modern football, Coton deals with the minutiæ of goalkeeping: what it takes to succeed, how to improve – whether, as commentators say, you really need to be mad to be one.