Customer Reviews

Goodfellows

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Great reading. If you lived in Detroit in the 50's you will remember St Ambrose. Mr. Gosselin captures their story and this era in the Motor City.

I absolutely loved this book. As a former east sider and a graduate of the first graduating class (1956) of Austin Catholic High School, I remember Coach Tom Boisture from that 1955 football season. In fact, I interviewed him for the Austin Friar, our school paper, as the sports editor.

This book starts during the summer of 1956, right after I graduated from high school. It very adequately covers an era when high school sports were big in the city of Detroit, especially on the east side. The Goodfellow Game was the biggest game of the year.

There is one slight correction concerning an athlete at Austin who graduated in 1957. His correct name was Don Messing, not Don Messie, as he is referred to in the book. Other than that error, the author did a terrific job.

Not only has Rick Gosselin done an historically accurate job of describing how tiny St. Ambrose High School became the football champion of Detroit in the 1950's and 1960's, he has also revealed an intimate portrait of Catholic schools in the same era. The priests, nuns, coaches and players who gave the school its winning spirit are profiled, as well as the behind-the-scenes political maneuvering and recruiting tactics that took St. Ambrose from obscurity to triumph. Gosselin's well-honed writing style make this a fun and exciting read for any fan of high school football, anyone who ever attended parochial schools, or anyone with ties to the Detroit area.

...the book about Divine Childs first few years in the Catholic League. They didnt lose a game their first 4 or 5 years in the league. I would like to read this book too

I bought this book for my husband - and now virtually every one of his friends has had a turn reading this book. They grew up in the City of Detroit and attended Catholic School - so not only could they relate on a personal level, but the insight regarding the present day teacher's dilema over authority and disciplin is spot on.

This was a light read, and really enjoyable for the man in my life, and the men in his!