The extraordinary memoir of ex-Manchester City player Paul Lake.
‘Best football autobiography ever? Unquestionably.’ Metro
Magnified Pictures Ltd (Personal Best) have optioned the rights to former Manchester City footballer Paul Lake’s autobiography, I’m Not Really Here, to develop as a film.
Paul Lake says, ‘I’m thrilled and flattered that I’m Not Really Here is going to be made into a film. Getting my story into print was special enough for me, so the prospect of it reaching the cinema screens is nothing short of mind-blowing.’
The filmmakers, Jessica Levick and Keri Collins, say, ‘Paul’s story is a powerful human tale of triumph over adversity, and we immediately saw the enormous potential to turn it into an equally powerful film, with the heart, soul andhumour of Paul’s voice at its core. It’s much defined sense of time and place will enable us to create a visually rich world that contains a dramatic yet uplifting story at its heart.’
Published in 2011, I’m Not Really Here tells the story of Paul Lake, former Manchester City player and England Captain in the making, whose career was cut short when he ruptured his cruciate ligament; sustaining the worst possible injury that a footballer can suffer. Neglected, ignored and misunderstood by his club after a succession of failed operations, Paul’s career began to fall apart. Watching from the sidelines as similarly injured players regained their fitness, he spiralled into a prolonged bout of severe depression. With an enforced retirement from the game he adored, the death of his father and the collapse of his marriage, Paul was left a broken man. Set against a turning point in English football, I’m Not Really Here is the powerful story of love and loss and the cruel, irreparable damage of injury; of determination, spirit and resilience and of unfulfilled potential and broken dreams.
I’m Not Really Here
On publication last year the book raced into the top ten and is now out in paperback, published by Arrow Books.