Talksport talking to author of Bert Trautman On Now

[OxBlue]

On Hawksby and Jacobs sometime this hour 13:00-14:00?

 

[scall11]

It was advertising a book that's just come out, Trautmanns Journey by Catrine Clay.

Sounds like a good book, it's here on Amazon:
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trautmanns-Journey-Hitler-Youth-Legend/dp/0224082884" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trautmanns-Jour ... 0224082884</a>

For anyone who doesn't know the full story as to how Bert ended up in a City shirt, buy this book, it's a fascinating story. Here's a quick review from the Independant:

He was known to the Manchester City faithful as Bert when he started playing in goal at Maine Road in 1949, but he was born Bernhard in Bremen in 1923. By the time he joined the Hitler Youth as a 10-year-old he was called Berni, while his comrades in the Luftwaffe knew him as Bernd.


Trautmann's extraordinary odyssey has been told before, but this revisiting is utterly compelling. Catrine Clay spent many hours talking to Trautmann, still pin-sharp at 86, and has fashioned her material into a minor masterpiece.

When the paratrooper, a veteran of the Eastern Front, Arnhem and D-Day but still only 22, arrived in Britain as a prisoner of war, he was overwhelmed by the kindness he received, and so began a love affair with Britain in general and Lancashire in particular, a love which was reciprocated.

His football career in England, including the 1956 FA Cup final when he famously played the last 16 minutes with a broken neck, occupies only a fifth of this book but, to paraphrase C L R James, "What does he know of football who only football knows?"

 

[ColinBellsjockstrap]

Bert was a wonderful servant to City.

One of the first matches I attended was his testimonial in 1964.....Great night, at the end he came over the tannoy and thanked all the City fans for the kindness they had shown to him......

 

[bronco]

my dad and i had the pleasure of meeting bert a year ago - the man is a true gent as well as being a legend . i am amazed nobody has thought about making a film about his life story ? i am sure if he had played for our stretford neighbours it would have already been done !

 

[Ticket For Schalke]

going a charity lunch with him next month, really looking forward to it.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

going a charity lunch with him this month, really looking forward to it.

Cutting it a bit fine aren't you?

 

[Ticket For Schalke]

going a charity lunch with him this month, really looking forward to it.

Cutting it a bit fine aren't you?

haha well picked up, march has seemed to go on forever.next month.

 

[goosed]

my dad and i had the pleasure of meeting bert a year ago - the man is a true gent as well as being a legend . i am amazed nobody has thought about making a film about his life story ? i am sure if he had played for our stretford neighbours it would have already been done !

I believe Warren Clarke wrote a screenplay, playing Bert, but he was never able to find the finance.

 

[bluefandk]

going a charity lunch with him this month, really looking forward to it.

you lucky SOB.

And no I am not at all jealous.