Title: I'm Not Really Here
Author: Paul Lake
Published: 2011
Publisher: Century
When the long list was revealed for 2011’s William Hill Sports Book of the Year there was one book missing that many felt was a shoe-in for the shortlist. Surprisingly the judges omitted Paul Lake’s I’m Not Really Here, a brutal and honest autobiography about potential being thwarted by injury and a reminder that not too long ago, Manchester City weren’t awash with Middle East oil money.
Paul Lake was a fantastic prospect for Manchester City until a knee injury ensured that Lake would be a footballing ‘what if’ – those what ifs are what Lake had to deal with having to retire prematurely from the game.
I’m Not Really Here opens with a fantastic juxtaposition. Firstly there is Lake describing the build-up to the opening day of the 1990/91 season where unsure of whether he’ll have a place in the squad, when manager Howard Kendall tells Lake that not only will he start, that he is naming Lake club captain. For a diehard City fan, Lake has everything he could ever dream of, having that summer been part of the provisional England squad for Italia 90. Contrast this elation to five and a half years later when Lake finds himself in a Bolton hospital following a knee operation. One week previously he has retired from football. He tries to get out of bed to fetch a newspaper when his knee gives way; blood spurts everywhere and Lake himself howling and crying. The difference couldn’t be starker.
Lake’s climb up the footballing ladder is real Boy’s Own stuff which finds him establishing himself at the club he grew up supporting, surrounded by a loving family and on the cusp of international football. Whilst all of this isn’t uninteresting it merely provides the backstory to what follows: surgery followed by rehabilitation followed by breakdown followed by further surgery, a vicious circle that couldn’t be broken. Whilst Lake still had hope of playing he worked hard to get back but his knee continued to break down finally forcing Lake into the realisation that he would have to retire.
Following retirement Lake had lots of opportunity to dwell on what could have been, what scenarios would allow him to have played again. It is in these moments that Manchester City don’t come out too well, especially those in the boardroom who Lake feels could have done more for him. Lake appears as a thoughtful and considerate man, who is clearly jaded by his time on the sidelines at Maine Road.
After retirement, Lake offers a brutal slice of reality for those who are unceremoniously booted out the game – he admits to depression and struggling to deal with the adjustment of not having football in his life. Lake eventually gets his life back on track by returning to college and training as a physiotherapist and returning to club football. Eventually he works in broadcasting and returns to Manchester City (now oil rich and relocated from Maine Road) in a community and charity role. Whilst Lake may not have reached the peak of his potential he has been able to deal with this awful injury that has happened to him and he appears to be a happy and rounded individual, not something you can say for many former footballers.
Buy I'm Not Really Here from Century
You can follow Paul Lake on twitter: @Paul_Lake