Win a copy of Dean Court Days - Harry Redknapp's Bournemouth story

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I was lucky enough to own one of the early copies of Dean Court Days, written by AFC Bournemouth supporter and podcaster Michael Dunne. It is a great read and a book that I couldn't put down this summer, as a relived Harry's playing career at Dean Court and the Cherries charge to League Two with a momentous FA Cup win over Manchester United along the way. You can own a copy of the book as well thanks to Pitch Publishing that have kindly offered three copies as prizes to readers of Cherry Chimes.

The inspiration for the book came from Michael Dunne's own disappointment that Harry Redknapp’s days at Dean Court have featured only fleetingly in his biographies. While Harry is well documented for his managerial career at West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur it seemed only right that there should be a more detailed account of his years at Dean Court. Now, with the cooperation of Harry himself, the tale of his rise from barely remembered player to the country’s brightest young manager is told for the first time.

Harry Redknapp learnt his transfer craft at AFC Bournemouth, as finances were always tight and you soon see what a sharp operator Harry is in the transfer market. The book also follows how Harry took the Cherries out of the Third tier for the first time and how he bounced back from relegation and from almost losing his life to nurture his son, Jamie, from schoolboy sensation into one of Britain’s most expensive teenage footballers.

Featuring interviews with team-mates, colleagues and friends, and painstakingly researched archive material, this is an inside account of Redknapp’s years at Dean Court, as well as a history of two decades in the life the Cherries. You will find out:

· How Redknapp’s playing career in England fizzled out before he reached 30, in the shadowlands of reserve team football and the treatment table
· What Harry did when his Bournemouth team-mates plotted to oust their unpopular manager
· How Redknapp almost quit the game at the end of his playing days to become a taxi driver after he lost all his money to an American con man
· What happened at AFC Bournemouth when George Best signed for the club and comedian Jim Davidson joined the board of directors
· How Bournemouth’s persistent financial problems saw Harry rapidly hone his skills in the transfer market to build a winning team
· How Redknapp wrestled with his dual roles as a father and manager when guiding his son Jamie to football stardom
· How Harry resolved to temper his obsessive work rate after almost losing his life in Rome – only to return to management and repeat his mistakes
· Why Redknapp incurred the wrath of his devoted following at Dean Court when he left the Cherries after nine years at the helm

Free to Enter Competition
We have three books to give away. To be in with a chance of winning is send an email to cherrychimesblog@gmail.com with the answer to this question - Which Bournemouth manager signed Harry Redknapp in June 1972?

Send in your answers by 12pm on Wednesday 10 October 2018.

Good Luck!


Thanks to Pitch Publishing for sponsoring this competition on Cherry Chimes.