FORMER Cherries captain David Stocks is to host a book signing event following the release of his autobiography.

Entitled ‘In the shadows’, Stocks shares stories from his time both in and away from football, with the assistance of editor and friend Steve Wright.

That included his stint with Cherries between 1966 and 1972, a spell which saw the club relegated from the Third Division under Freddie Cox and promoted with John Bond at the helm.

Stocks, now 80, takes a detailed look back through his life, starting with his early upbringing in London having been born during World War II.

After opting for football over cricket, the defender would join Charlton Athletic, making his professional debut at Anfield against Liverpool as a teenager.

The story winds on to Stocks taking his coaching badges before playing against some of the greats of the game in the likes of Geoff Hurst, Gordon Banks, Stanley Matthews and Bobby Moore.

A big portion of the book is dedicated to his time at Cherries, which he describes as the place he played the “best football of my career”, after joining from Gillingham.

There are insights into working under Cox and Bond, why he would kick the opposition dressing room door before a game, facing Liverpool at Dean Court in front of more than 24,000 fans, relegation, captaincy and playing alongside Ted MacDougall.

There is also a fascinating weekly diary of what a typical seven days would look like for an AFC Bournemouth footballer in the 1960s.

Stocks also outlines how he battled back into the plans after being sent to play reserve matches at West Howe, being part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ with Roger Jones and Terry Gulliver, the promotion campaign and how his time at the club came to an abrupt end.

Stocks would go on to play for Torquay United, combining football with a role teaching at Castle Court School in Wimborne.

He suffered two leg breaks during his time with the Gulls, eventually retiring and moving into a completely different career away from football.

Stocks would keep his eye in and maintain fitness by playing on the Bournemouth non-league scene at varying levels until eventually hanging up his boots for good.

The book also includes ‘interludes’, with snippets from some key figures on Stocks’s journey.

He ends by revealing his ‘Best XIs’ of players he has played with and against.

Anybody interested in buying the book, available for £12.99, should contact debra07@outlook.com with all profit going to Alzheimer’s UK.

Stocks is set to hold a book signing event in the Vitality Stadium club shop ahead of the Premier League clash with Arsenal on Saturday, September 30.