Adrian Webster holds one of his previous books aloft

FORMER Colchester United player and coach Adrian Webster has penned another football book which he hopes will inspire youngsters to follow their dreams and pursue a career in the game.

Sounders Together, Friends Forever has been written with former team-mate Tony Chursky, who became a close friend during their time together at Vancouver Spartans, in the early Seventies.

It is Webster’s fifth football book and, once again, he will be donating all proceeds to Children with Cancer.

Chursky will be donating his share to the Bikes For Kids Ministry.

Webster, 67, played his part in the famous United States soccer revolution of the Seventies, when the star-studded North American Soccer League was in its pomp and paved the way for the sport’s rise in popularity in the States.

His illustrious career saw him rub shoulders with the likes of Pele, George Best and Bobby Moore.

“The book came about after talking with my publisher, Jenni Conner,” said Webster, who is now assistant manager at FC Clacton, working alongside first-team boss Tom Austin.

“I had a couple of ideas, one of which was to do a book with Dave Gillett, my good friend and former team-mate with the Sounders.

“Like myself, Dave was there from the beginning and still lives in Seattle.

“The other idea was to do one with Tony, who I first met in 1972, when I went to play for the Vancouver Spartans.

Halstead Gazette:

The cover of Sounders Together, Friends Forever

“At first, Tony was a bit reluctant but, after giving it a bit of thought, he said he’d do it.

“He wanted it to be not just about our journey but also about how it shaped us during our playing days - the people who had a profound effect in supporting our journeys and how it formed who we are today.

“It was much the same for me and hopefully it’s a message to young players that if you have that dream to become a pro you have to work hard.

“Along the way there will be obstacles but, like in all walks of life, it’s how you deal with them.

“I’m really grateful to have been able to stay in football up to my retirement and to now be helping young Tom over at Clacton.”

Former Monkwick School pupil Webster is no stranger to the publishing world.

His first book, Eternal Blue Forever Green, was about his journey growing up in Colchester and then going to North America.

He also published a 134-page illustrated book to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Sounders’ showpiece game against New York Cosmos, which was played in front of a crowd of nearly 36,000 in Portland.

Webster’s latest book before this one, A Guide to Soccer and Coaching Ade’s Way, was released last September.

After nearly 20 years in the States, Webster returned to Essex in 1991 and linked up with former club Colchester, undertaking several roles including Centre of Excellence Manager and within the youth set-up, at Layer Road.

He spent a decade working at the Colne Academy, in Brightlingsea, before being tempted out of retirement by former Colne student Austin.

Sounders Together, Friends Forever is available online via Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Nobo and OverDrive.