Engage
The Fall and Rise of Matt Hampson
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- £6.99
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- £6.99
Publisher Description
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE
CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR
'Engage!' was the last word Matt Hampson heard before dislocating his neck while in rugby training with other young England hopefuls.
On a cold, grey, overcast day in 2005, the cream of young English rugby gathered at a Northampton training ground. Matt Hampson, 'Hambo' to his mates, was one of them. He had dreamt of playing rugby for England ever since he had picked up a rugby ball at school. His skill, conviction and dedication had brought him to the cusp of realising that dream, in an England U21 team that included Olly Morgan, Toby Flood, Ben Foden and James Haskell. But as the two sets of forwards engaged for a scrum on the training field, the scrum collapsed and Matt, who played tight-head prop, took the full force of two opposing sides. In that moment his life changed forever.
Paul Kimmage went to visit Matt as he recuperated, and wrote a piece for the Sunday Times which won him his third successive SJA sports interviewer of the year award. They struck up a friendship and here, Paul tells Matt's whole story, in all its intimate detail. From the build-up to the dreadful day, to Matt's recuperation, to his struggle to adjust to normal life again, to his family and friends, to other tragic incidents on the rugby field, to the response of the RFU, this is a story of terrible sadness yet unadorned triumph and joy, of anger yet of reconciliation and peace . . . of a boy who became a man.
Customer Reviews
Incredible
Matt Hampson's story is truly incredible. It's really well put together in this book and gripping throughout. It's a must read for fans of Rugby and the scrum.
Engage
An amazingly inspiring story - a fantastically well written and a book that I simply could not put down. I am left in awe of Matt, his amazing parents, family, and have a new found respect for Leicester Tigers, upon hearing of the club's unstinting loyalty to Matt post accident. I particularly admired Anne Hampson's gutsy fight on behalf of her son both whilst he was in hospital and also with the RFU who yet again have seriously let themselves down by their conduct - in this case by abrogating their duty of care towards a junior player injured whilst on international duties. Matt's courage is nothing short of awe inspiring and his book has left me absolutely determined to remember how lucky I am and to live life to the full.
Engage by Paul Kimmage
A truly remarkable story of the courage of Matt Hampson, who was paralysed whilst in training with the England under 21 team. Matt, the word inspirational does not seem adequate to describe you. Paul Kimmage has written this with real feeling and in a quite unique way that transports you to the front row of the audience (no pun intended)
Tom Brown