Assault victim puts pen to paper and scores a goal!

A YEOVIL man who was left fighting for his life after being assaulted in the town several years ago has been celebrating after seeing a literary labour of love come to fruition.

Mike Slade, 50, was left with serious injuries when he was viciously attacked in the street on his way home from a night out in Yeovil about ten years ago.

He was in a coma for a short time and spent several weeks in hospital and his injuries resulted in him suffering a loss of speech and limited use in one arm.

But football fan Mike was determined not to let the assault stop him from doing something with his life and he turned to writing.

It has taken him seven years to compile and write, but he has now seen his hard work pay off in the publication of The History of the English Football League Part One 1888-1930.

Mike, who uses his full name of Michael J. Slade for the book, gives the reader everything they want to know about English football and the early years of the national game from its creation in 1888.

PHOTO - TOP: The front cover of The History of the English Football League Part One 1888-1930.

PHOTO - RIGHT: New author Michael J. Slade.

The book includes every Football League result and the final league tables, to the first England international matches in the British Home International Championship results.

It also provides the tables and their statistics with the first games against overseas opposition, containing all the players and their teams.

The book has been published by American-based publishers Strategic Book Publishing and is distributed by Ingram Books and other wholesale distributors.

Mike, who is a Manchester City fan and is also well-known within the local Yeovil pool league, said: “Football is my life – as my girlfriend will tell you!

“I enjoy everyting about the game from its humble beginnings to the present day.”

Mike's girlfriend, Karen MacKinnon, said: “Considering what Mike went through when he was assaulted this is a great accomplishment for him.

“Typing a book of several hundred pages when you have limited use in one arm required a lot of determination.”

But the final whistle has not been blown yet on Mike’s literary adventure – he is now writing Part Two of his epic football history book.

The book can be ordered through http://sbpra.com/MichaelJSlade or at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com.

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