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Kieron Dyer speaks of pride over memoir Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late during Portman Road launch
Kieron Dyer launches his new memoir during an event at Portman Road. Picture: GREGG BROWN
Former Ipswich Town star Kieron Dyer has said he hopes young people reading his new memoir can learn from the mistakes he made as a youth.
Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late, has been released. Picture: GREGG BROWN
The official launch of Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late was held at Portman Road tonight, with special guests including Dyer’s ex-Newcastle teammate Jermaine Jenas.
Speaking to this newspaper at the event, Dyer said: “I’m excited, it is the perfect place to be, it’s where I started my career. We are in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite, he played a massive part in my career, he played a massive part in my book.”
The 39-year-old, who made front and back page headline throughout his controversial career, said he held nothing back in the book.
He added: “I have left it all out there, I haven’t cut back, it’s very honest, even if it makes me look like the immature fool that I was when I was younger but I’ve matured and I’ve learnt from those experiences.”
Speaking about the motivations behind the book, Dyer said: “I did it because of the secret I had and because now I’m a coach with the kids so it’s like an education tool, like this is what you do and this is what you don’t, and it’s in print and hopefully it helps them. If people change their opinion of me or think I’m a decent bloke that’s just an added bonus.”
Dyer has been commended for using his book to reveal he was sexually abused as a child by a family member.
Tonight’s launch event is raising money for Suffolk charity Fresh Start – new beginnings, which offers therapeutic support to children who have been through similar trauma.
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Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late was officially released this week but it had already been serialised in The Mail on Sunday.
Jermaine Jenas attended the launch to support friend, Kieron Dyer. Picture: GREGG BROWN
Dyer said he wasn’t prepared for the media storm that followed.
He said: “It’s been nonstop because it was serialised in a national paper, the phone hasn’t stopped and the amount of media obligations I have had to fulfil, it’s been more stressful than actually writing the book.
“I’ve been up and down the country, I’ve been on every TV show, I’m glad it’s come to an end. This will be the last thing I do and then there will be no more promoting the book.
“Everyone who has read the book who is close to me are very proud of it and that’s what I am, I’m proud as well.”
Kieron Dyer speaks to media at the launch. Picture: GREGG BROWN
