Lost in France: The Remarkable Life and Death of Leigh Roose, Football's First Superstar - Softcover

"Particularly poignant. To coincide with the 100th anniversary, tells his story but also the story of how author Spencer Vignes solved the mystery of what happened in Roose's final hours and where he was laid to rest." --Backpass magazine

"The full sensational, charismatic and ultimately harrowing tale told in the pages of Spencer Vignes' truly wonderful biography. An evocative, swashbuckling read - and every word of it true. It's a lump in the throat read. And like so many Great War tales, wretched and tragic." - Liverpool Echo

"Roose was arguably the most famous sportsman in Britain during the early years of the 20th century; a playboy, scholar, maverick and soldier who changed the face of goalkeeping forever. Imagine Paul Gascoigne with a university education." --Cambrian-News.co.uk

"When one national newspaper put together a World XI to take on another planet, Leigh's was the first name on its team sheet. But in 1914, one of Britain's most famous sportsmen went off to play his part in the First World War. Like millions of others, he would die. Unlike millions of others, nobody knew how or where. Until now." --SunderlandEcho.com

Leigh Roose: The Welsh football star who never came home from WW1." --ITV.com

"Great praise is due to author Spencer Vignes for bringing Roose's story to life and for persisting following an unexpected setback that prolonged the book's gestation period by nine years. Football fans will consider the wait worthwhile for Lost in France is a genuinely compelling tale." --SportsBookoftheMonth.com

"A joy to read. This is the story of a man described by the author as, "playboy, soldier, scholar and maverick", and one that had been lost in the annals of time, until now. An absorbing story of a larger than life character and innovator in the football world and is indeed a poignant and timely tale given that it is 100 years since the Battle of the Somme." --FootballBookReviews.com

"Vignes has come up trumps and hit the jackpot. Tells the story of an amazing man who was a total one-off. Vignes' effortless and elegant prose is worthy of the task of commemorating the incredible story of such an outstanding individual. A poignant and moving book of the life of a true character and innovator that should not be ignored or missed." --Greville Waterman, BFCTalk

In 1914 one of Britain's most famous sportsmen went off to play his part in the First World War. Like millions of others, he would die. Unlike millions of others, nobody knew how or where. Until now. Lost in France is the true story of Leigh Roose: playboy, scholar, soldier and the finest goalkeeper of his generation. It's also the tale of how one man became caught up in a global catastrophe - one that would cost him his life, his identity and his rightful place as one of football's all-time legends. Lost In France is the biography of goalkeeper Leigh Roose, football's first genuine superstar, a man so good at his position on the field of play that the Football Association made one of the most significant rule changes in the game's history just to keep him in check. Small wonder that when the Daily Mail put together a World XI to take on another planet, Leigh's was the first name on its team sheet.