Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography

by Eric Bristow

3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 · rating details · 23 ratings · 0 reviews

Eric Bristow is considered to be the greatest darts player of all time and one who pioneered the game’s move from the pub on to the TV screen. He was an unmistakable figure on the oche during his 1980s heyday, with his trademark blonde highlights and red Crafty Cockney t-shirt, and became renowned not just for the number of world titles he won but for his arrogance on stag Eric Bristow is considered to be the greatest darts player of all time and one who pioneered the game’s move from the pub on to the TV screen. He was an unmistakable figure on the oche during his 1980s heyday, with his trademark blonde highlights and red Crafty Cockney t-shirt, and became renowned not just for the number of world titles he won but for his arrogance on stage and off it. His autobiography is a candid account of his rise to the top and reveals his humble beginnings in London’s East End, where gangs like the Richardsons ruled the streets through a mix of fear and torture. Eric would often walk home at night with a claw hammer stuffed down his pants for protection. Cat burglar, shoplifter, thug: Bristow was all of these during his early street-fighting years, but it was darts that proved to be his salvation, introducing him to a new world of beer, babes, and undreamed of success. He won his first world title in 1980 and dominated the scene for the next decade, winning four more. In his rapid rise to the top he gives fascinating insights into the characters that pioneered darts in those early days and helped establish it as a major TV spectacle. Players like Jocky Wilson, a hard-drinking Scot who now lives his life penniless and as a recluse; John Lowe, the stone-faced Englishman who was Bristow’s main rival; Cliff Lazarenko, who Bristow once tried to match drink for drink and ended up with alcohol poisoning; and Keith Deller, the young upstart who caused the biggest upset in darts when, unseeded, he beat Bristow in the 1983 Embassy World Final. When Bristow’s career finally began to slide at the end of the decade he trained his protégé Phil "The Power" Taylor, turning him into the most successful player darts has ever known. Bristow holds nothing back as he reveals his battle with dartitis, a psychological condition which left him unable to let go of the dart and almost destroyed his career; his relationship with girlfriend and former women’s world darts champion Maureen Flowers; and his occasional all-to-public falls from grace. ...more

Hardcover , 344 pages

Published December 1st 2008 by Random House UK (first published 2008)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Or buy for

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Crafty Cockney , please sign up .

Be the first to ask a question about The Crafty Cockney

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 36)

filter | sort : default (?) | rating details

Kev Bennett rated it 5 of 5 stars
Sep 30, 2015

Shane IceCream rated it 4 of 5 stars
Aug 24, 2015

Simon Zohhadi rated it 3 of 5 stars
Aug 04, 2015

Stuart Thomson rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jul 17, 2015

The G rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jul 02, 2015

Dan Stapleton marked it as to-read
May 01, 2015

Glenn Keenan rated it 5 of 5 stars
Apr 16, 2015

David Joyce rated it 3 of 5 stars
Mar 25, 2015

Steve Parkes rated it 4 of 5 stars
Feb 15, 2015

Carly marked it as to-read
Jan 17, 2015

Robin Williams added it
Jan 14, 2015

Simon Porter marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2015

Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2014

Robin Moore marked it as to-read
Dec 22, 2014

Daniela Arciniega rated it 1 of 5 stars
Nov 15, 2014

Nick Brown marked it as to-read
Oct 10, 2014

David Parry added it
Nov 01, 2014

Martin Bray marked it as to-read
Jun 12, 2014

Sam J rated it 2 of 5 stars
Apr 11, 2014

Bobby Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars
Feb 08, 2014

Cameron Ashworth rated it 4 of 5 stars
Feb 05, 2014

Aaran Kirk rated it 4 of 5 stars
Jan 06, 2014

Iain Johnston rated it 5 of 5 stars
Nov 18, 2013

Christopher Woods rated it 4 of 5 stars
Nov 15, 2013

Mark Cooper rated it 5 of 5 stars
Oct 15, 2013

Ally T added it
Sep 28, 2013

Hayley added it
Aug 10, 2013

Lesbaxby rated it 3 of 5 stars
Mar 31, 2013

Mark Maguire marked it as to-read
Feb 27, 2013

Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars
Feb 07, 2013

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Books by Eric Bristow

Eric Bristow: The Autobiography: The Crafty Cockney

More…

Share This Book

Share on your website

title link	preview: The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography
avg rating	preview: The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography Goodreads rating: 3.61 (23 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7412082-the-crafty-cockney?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320480601l/7412082.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7412082-the-crafty-cockney?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography by Eric Bristow[/url]

+ Share on your website

Trivia About The Crafty Cockne...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

See a Problem?

Preview — The Crafty Cockney by Eric Bristow

The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Books by Eric Bristow

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About The Crafty Cockne...

See a Problem?

Preview — The Crafty Cockney by Eric Bristow

The Crafty Cockney: Eric Bristow: The Autobiography

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic Discuss This Book

Books by Eric Bristow

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About The Crafty Cockne...

new topic
Discuss This Book