Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Unforgettable
- Rugby, Dementia and the Fight of My Life
- Narrated by: Steve Thompson, Ben Cohen, Sir Clive Woodward, Colin Mace, Sir Ian McGeechan, Lewis Moody, Maria Armstrong, Paul Grayson, Andy Robinson
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
£0.00 for first 30 days
Unforgettable
Buy Now for £29.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
**Winner of the Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year Award 2023**
**Winner of the Rugby Book of the Year Award 2023**
**Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2022**
RUGBY, DEMENTIA AND THE FIGHT OF MY LIFE
In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup. Steve Thompson was in England's front row, at the heart of the match, and at the heart of the scrum - one of sport's most violent battlegrounds.
But triumph came at a cost. Today, he remembers nothing about playing in that final. In his words, watching the tape back is like watching a ghost.
The years of hurt, and the culture of sucking up punishment and coming back for more, have taken a terrible toll. Steve has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and serious progressive brain damage. Steve and his wife Steph had a happy family life planned, with decades ahead of them. Now he needs to capture these elusive memories for the sake of his children, before they disappear forever.
With stories contributed by his world-cup winning teammates and his former manager, Sir Clive Woodward, Unforgettable is raw, powerful storytelling. This tale of hope and courage stands as testament to the ultimate strength of the human mind - and to a man no longer pushing himself to the limit for competition, but for his own place in the world.
Listeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"As brave as they come." (Gareth Thomas)
"So powerful. This book might just change the way you think about sports forever." (Sir Clive Woodward)
What listeners say about Unforgettable
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 21-08-22
worth a read to anyone, not just rugby fans
Absolutely opening to the pains,struggles, highs and lows of his career and life. Narrated by himself, some may consider slightly single toned, however you feel like Steve is sat there with you telling you face to face. Eye opening account to the reality of what is being sugar coated by the world of rugby.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Wallace
- 08-08-22
Inspiring
I hope by telling your story the changes that are required now happen. Very moving account . Thank you for sharing this with us .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cat
- 09-02-24
Fascinating and Heartbreaking
An amazing story. Hopefully the powers that be in sports and beyond will listen. Thank you for sharing it Steve.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Aaron Joyce
- 03-12-22
Very informative and hard hitting
Book was okay, the story i found fascinating and also heartbreaking. Steve narrating the book himself really adds a bit of oomph to it too, you can tell he is a down to eart joe soap that made it to the big time with rugby done anything any boy dreams of to have them now memories within other peoples heads and him having to start each day a new, struggling with simple tasks of daughters names and everyday chores. Good easy read but one where i wasn’t hooked i kept having to take a break and come back.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- shona
- 16-02-23
Thank you
i have been involved in grass roots rugby for over 20 years, a nurse for over 30 and the mother of 2 rugby playing sons. i have seen the effects of concussion on rugby players and have been working for the last 10 + years trying to spread the word about the dangers of traumatic brain injury. Unions have started to take notice, but getting grassroots rugby club committees to understand that the game is not the same as when they played (pre 1995). i’m sorry you and your family are going through this but thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing this book and giving the cold hard facts that concussion needs to be taken serious. i have always explained that the brain is like a ripe peach in a jar, shake it up and it gets bruised. that’s what happens to the brain.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chalkie
- 05-06-22
Heartbreaking
As a life long lover of rugby this is a heartbreaking tale of a sporting great. So eye opening. I would recommend anyone who has played, watched or been involved in rugby or contact sports to have a listen and make yourself more aware.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 16-07-23
Truly Unforgettable
This man is a legend of a ugly player & now likewise for writing this book.
It is thought provoking & sad but also very informative about the condition.
Highly recommend to everyone.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- TrudyW
- 01-05-24
Enlightening
I knew nothing about rugby but after listening to Steve’s life I became interested. I also felt concerned for any child playing a contact sport at school, There were some very sad parts of his life which has led him to be the strong character he is. He is coping with his dementia extremely well on the surface. Read this book it’s an eye opener and I shall never look at a game of rugby in the same way again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- James Larner
- 02-10-23
A must listen- honest and inciteful
Don't mind admitting some parts are a tough listen but also essential. Inspirational and yet heartbreaking.
Hearing Steve narrate his own story really brought up home.
essential for any rugby fan and sports fans in general.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- LS
- 29-10-22
A must read !
So much more than a book about rugby and the 2003 World Cup.
This is a heartwarming and equally heartbreaking book about one man’s story to help bring more awareness to the dangers of head trauma in sport. Highly recommended and an absolute must read for any parents of new rugby kids x
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!