Last of the Goalhangers

Jamie Cureton is a true English football star - the only man to score in the top 10 divisions of the game, or as otherwise known, the only man to "complete football". But unlike many of the sport's other heroes, Cureton's legacy centres not just on what he did - but what he didn't do... Because he said no to one of the biggest opportunities a player could have: The chance to be part of Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary Class of '92 squad. Who knows what may have happened if a then teenage Jamie, a rising star of Norwich, had accepted the offer to join Manchester United alongside David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Phil and Gary Neville?But his fateful decision led him down a different path - one which earned him almost cult status with his fans. Now considered one of the great goalhangers, his "have boots, can travel" attitude saw him play more than 1,000 matches over three decades at more than 20 clubs, including Norwich City, Bristol Rovers, Reading and QPR. Last October, Cureton, 50, was playing for lower league side Kings Park Rangers FC when he made history. He netted his 390th goal of his career - and became the first player to score in all 10 levels of English football, from Premier League to the 10th tier. Now, in his memoir, Last of the Goalhangers, Cureton looks back at the pros and cons of his fateful past decisions, reflecting on what might have been - and what was. He discusses how the game has changed, shares anecdotes from on and off the pitch and reflects on his mistakes - from living a hedonistic double life of drink, 'bombing amphetamines" and partying in the 90s to his bankruptcy scares and bizarre decision to smuggle £40,000 out of South Korea....in his underpants. Writing with his trademark self-deprecating humour, Cureton weaves a fantastic tale of fate, tenacity, passion, resilience and a stubborn determination never to hang up his boots.