Ben Smith takes a look over the new autobiography from Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor…
If ever there was a year deemed suitable for Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor to write a book entitled ‘A Year in My Life’, you’d have to say the time period covered in this – his second release – was a fair 12 months to choose.
The 16-time world champion earned his sixth and seventh consecutive Blackpool crowns in 2013 and 2014 respectively, but there wasn’t the level of success in between those triumphs that Taylor had become accustomed to.
The book, ghosted by Mike Walters of the Daily Mirror, begins in July 2013, and sets the record straight over an incident in Gibraltar that lead to ‘cheat’ allegations against Taylor, and a rift with Eric Bristow – who Taylor refers to as the brother he never had.
‘The Crafty Cockney’ isn’t the only former world champion Taylor likens to family. Adrian Lewis, like Bristow, has a whole chapter dedicated to him. The Power details his father-son-like relationship with the 29-year-old, and provides a running commentary on their epic Grand Slam semi-final encounter, a match he believes to be his best ever.
Encounters with some of his biggest rivals, namely James Wade, Mike Gregory, Raymond van Barneveld, and most recently Michael van Gerwen, are also revisited in detail as Taylor drifts away from the last 12 months from time to time.
Those who have been avid viewers of the game over the past year will know that Taylor has been somewhat toppled by van Gerwen, who has taken over as world number one, and champion of the world. We’re given a recap of results that led to that changing of the guard, and an insight into Taylor’s thoughts and mindset during that process.
Whilst it’s good fun to recap the year’s events, there isn’t particularly much to learn if you saw the action unfold yourself.
Some may see it as arrogance, some consider it confidence befitting of a man with so many trophies in his cabinet, but Taylor does suggest that many of the defeats suffered throughout 2013-14 were more deep seated than the fine margins that determine success.
What’s unquestionably evident upon reading the book is that Taylor is in the right trade: not just as a professional darts player, and a glorious one at that, but as a sportsman. Taylor constantly references other leading figures in the sporting world – the likes of Carl Froch, Rory McIlroy and Ronnie O’Sullivan are all namedropped and admired by a man whose mother is of the opinion that ‘nobody will ever go on to match what Phil has achieved: not in darts, tennis, snooker, golf or any other sport’ – and it’s difficult to argue.
This autumn appears to be somewhat of a peak time for sports autobiographies, with both Kevin Pietersen and Roy Keane’s efforts garnering seemingly endless attention. But this book is nowhere near as explosive, controversial, or, to be honest, ‘must-read’ as those from early October.
Perhaps ‘A Year in My Career’ would have been a more fitting title for this 310-page hardback – as the majority of the content is based around darts, and the battles he faced on the oche.
That isn’t to say that he ignores his personal life. Divorce, detox, and even escapades with singer Robbie Williams are touched upon in a predominantly pleasant, easy to get through book, but if you aren’t particularly tungsten-savvy then I suggest this one is just the wrong side of the wire.